Smyrna times., 1889-04-03
For the Smyrna Times.
a New Government.

Mr.. Editor :-1789, 1889, 100 wears.
Measured by centenarian this would
not seem long for memory forgets to
mark the distances of time. Though
he would not remember the first in
augural under the new constitution,
the death of citizen George Washing
ton would seem an occurrence of YES
terday for such is the strength of
childhood memories. But living at
the rapid rate most Americans now do.
1t Is not surprising that these events. a
few years past, should be seen "as
through a glass darkly" and become
covered with the mists Of time and the
MOSES of forgetfulness.
Shortly we will celebrate in New
York the Tooth anniversary of the
New Republic. At least, some "aUiU
cetebr0te," but that it will be anything
more than show to the great crowds
there that day, am not prepared to
believe.
Having now what few Americans
have-a little time, have been using
some Of it reviewing the events in the
first establishment Of our system of
government. The date being appro-
pirate, may l, with your permission,
startle or refresh the minds of your
readers with those events now vivid to
my own. Ancient or modern history
reveals no system like it, and it still
stands alone. This fact may lead some
OF your readers into more minute
study of its history for its perpetual
ton depends entirely on its citizens
knowledge of the system before it can
attain its purpose or fulfill its re-
Quiremcnts.
In the first days of Sept. 1856, dele
gates from New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia,
sat in convention at Annapolis, Md.
Strange to say, Maryland was not rep
resented. They were considering the
subject Of mutual trade between the
States aud their commerce with other
nations and lamenting their lack of
power to improve the order Of things.
Before they adjourned they called
another convention TO meet at Phila-
delphia in May 1887. Seven States
had chosen delegates to this conven-
ton before the congress of the old con-
federation approved their call. Five
States more then sent delegates max
ing twelve States, represented by fifty
five delegates. Rhode Island sent
none.
They were ostensibly called to re-
wise as they saw fit The Articles Of
Confederation" which had never
amounted to but little more than tie
Of friendship. The Congress organized
under them had few powers and it was
optional to the individual States
whether its acts should bind them. A
right stormy season did they have for
nearly four months. Sept. 18th, they
wrote st the bottom of our Constitu-
ton, Done by the unanimous consent
of the States present" instead of mem
bers present. They wished to show
their constituents some work for time
spent, and by placing it in this form it
was hoped those who did not give per-
sOnal consent would at least sign it.
Only thirty-nine names however, ap-
pear at the bottom. The New York
delegation except Alex. Hamilton,
went home in disgust, two of Mary
lands did likewise.
State's-rights, slavery and the i'm
pOrtation of slaves, and the question of
equal representation in the upper
house to all the States, were debated
with venOmous fury but finally fell
asleep with compromises before the
convention adjourned According to
the instrument if nine or more States
should ratify, this constitution was to
become the rule Of government for
them.
All the states then had slavery ex-
cept New Hampshire and Massachu-
sets whose new State constitutions
provided for its abolition.
The Constitution now went before
Congress, which without a word to
recommend submitted it to the States
where all the bitter words rocked
asleep in the convention, awOke to
! harry it. Elbridge Gerry led a deter
mined opposition in Massachusetts,
Gov. Clinton in New York, and
! Patrick Henry thundered his elOquence
against it in Virginia. North Carolina
rejected it outright, New York posi-
lively refused to ratify it until they
had agreed to invite the States to a
new convention to which it should be
submitted for amendment. Rhode
Island did not ratily. Pennsylvania
was almost ready to reconsider her
ratification in 1888. Ten States haC
ratified before New York was reached
Delaware, New Jersey and Georgia
unanimously. In the other States il
met with more or less determined and
bitter opposition. The majority of The
States offered list of amendment!
before they ratified. Even then tn,
majorities in the conventions of New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York
and Virginia were very slender and
they were ready for a new national
convention. 1t is very doubtful
whether a direct vote of the peOpl,
would have ratified the action of thei
conventions in all four of these States
Eleven States had ratified when tn
Congress Of the Confederation set tn
first Wednesday in March 1889, as tn
day the new constitution should be
come n law, which in that year fell OF
March 4th All the opposition it en-
gendered was, in brief, because its on
ponents thought that it establishe,
some new kind Of monarchy.
The city Of New York was the DC
litical centre of the States. Congress
had sat there several successive years
Il was then scarcely half the size of th
present Wilmington. Thither tn
chosen representatives Of the new sys
tenn were to betake themselves. Th
old City Hall, corner of Broad an
Wall streets, was renovated and re
modelled with money subscribed by th
citizens, rechristened Federal Hall an
thrown open to the new represents
tives. March 4th had passed, the cit
now seemed to move under a subdue
enthusiasm, but as the weeks rolled o
il changed to anxiety. Some reprl
sentatives had long distances betwee