The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-05-16

maps another dreadful ConniCt IS I'd Oe r.
sustained Ifto please the people we
offer what we ourselves dlsapprove,
how can we afterward defend our work
Let us raise standard to which the
wise and honest can repair the event
is in the hands of God"
Freed from the limitations Of its en-
and the question: of the
adoption of its work. the convention
erected its government upon the eter-
nal foundations Of the power of the
people. 1t discussed the delusive theo
ry of compact between independent
States, and derived national power
from the people Of the United States.
1t broke up the machinery OF the Con-
federation and put in practical opera
tion the glittering generalities of the
Declaration OF independence. From
chaos came order, from insecurity came
safety, from disintegration and civil
war came law and liberty, with the
principle proclaimed in the preamble
of the gfeat charter: ''We, the people
of the United States, in order to form
a more perfect union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide
for the common defense, promote the
genearl welfare, and secure the bless
ings of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity, do ordain and establish this
constitution for the United States.
With a wisdom inspired OF God, to
work out upon. this continent the lib
ertv of man, they solved the problem
of the ages by blending and yet pre-
serving local self-government with Ma
tional authority, and the rights of the
States, under the articles of confedera-
ton, became bankrupt because it could
net raise four millions of dollars; the
Government of the Union, under the
constitution of the United States, raised
six thousand millions of dollars its
credit growing firmer as its power and
resources were demonstrated. The
Congress of the confederation fled be-
fore regiment, which it could not
pay; the Congress of the Union review
ed the comrades OF million OF its
victorious soldiers, saluting as they
marched the flag of the Nation, whose
supremacy they had sustained. x *
The pride of the State and the am
bition of their leaders, sectional jealo-
sizes, and the overwhelming distrust OF
centralized power, were all arrayed
against the adoption of the constitu-
ton.
Success was due to confidence in
5 Washington and the genius of Alexan'
der Hamilton. Jefferson was the IN
spiration of independence, but Hamil
ton was the incarnation of the consti
} ton. In no age or country has there
e appeared more precocious or amaz
ing intelligence than Hamilton. He
: gave life to the corpse of Nationa
e credit, and the strength for self preser
: vation and aggressive power to tn
d Federal Union. Both as an expound
e er of the principles and an administra
j tor of the affairs of Government h
stands supreme and unrivalled i
e American history. He captured tn
!, people or the whole country for tn
e constitution by his papers in the Fed
Z eralist, and conquered the hostile ma
J. iority in the New York convention b
J. the splendor of his oratory.
st But the multitudes whom no arg'
Y, ment could convince, who saw in tn
S. Executive power and centralized tore
S ofthe constitution under another nam
D. the dreaded usurpation of King an
rt Ministry, were satisfied only with Il
ne assurance, ssWashington will be Pres
is, dent" 1t quieted the alarm and ga
confidence to the timld and courai
u to the weak.
IN He alone could stay assault and /
e, spire confidence while the great al
nd complicated machinery of organic
re government was put in order and 5
r. in motion doubt existed nowhe
X except in his modest and unambitio
N, heart. His whole life had been spe
i've in repeated sacrifices for his countr.
tai welfare. and he did not hesitate nc
i'd though there is an undertone OF lne
ed pressible sadness in this entry IN
diary on the night of his departul
w, "About ten O'Clock l bade adieu
ad Mount Vernon, to private life, and
ute domestic felicity, and with 4 mi
ON oppressed with more anxious and pa
lille full sensations than have words to
the press. set out for New York with
of best disposition to render service
OF my country in obedience to IFS G
ant but with less hope of answering its
leir pectations.
Jaw No conquerer was ever accort
such 4 triumph, no ruler ever such
nf- welconis. In this memorable ma
em of six d.ys 10 the Capitol, it was
t of pride of States to accompany him v
Nth the masses Of their people to Il
ed borders, that the citizens OF the r
be commonwealth might escort
Let through its territory.
clu- Washington was never drama
but but on great occasion ne not only
ling to the full ideal of the event, he
eme came himself the event. One !
yton dred years ago to-day the process
ofty OF foreign Ambassadors, of ststes'
He and Generals, of civic societies