The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-04-30
THE BIRTll or THE RgpUDLIc.

Thirteen SOvGrolgnIisB Make u NntlOu-ThC
Work of tho Constitutional Convention.
Only Washington Could be President.
New FORK Tribune,
When Chancellor Livingston, placing
one hand on the railing Of the balcony
of the old Federal Hall, and lifting the
other high above him, called out to the
multitudes in the streets below, "Long
live George Washington, President OF
thh United statesI'-a long, grand
shout arose from ten thousand patriotic
threats and the first act Of National Gov.
eminent in America Twas accomplished.
All day long the people gave expression
to their rejoicingS. All day long bands
played and soldiers pafaded, cannon
doomed aud bells pcaled joyously. All
day long men shook each others hands
and pledged their loyal faith TO the new
Constitution and to the noble man, fore.
most among them all, whom with one
voice the whole land bud chosen as Its
first Executive.
But there were many in the multitude
aud many throughout the now united
country whose faces wore an anxious
and Ominous aspect, and who shook
their heads doubtfully. The Constitu.
ton had not been adopted without a
mighty struggle. Arrayed against It in
every State was a powerful opposition
whose patriotism and sincerity were be-
yond all question. Governor Clinton in
New York; Patrick Henry and Richard
Henry Lee In Virginia; Elbridge Gerry
in Massachusetts,; Sumter and Burke In
South Carolina; Whitehill and Findley
IN Pennsylvania; Wadsworth In Con.
neutlCutj Athcrton In New Hampshire,
and Chase, Mercer and Martin In Mary.
land, were some OF the valiant and earn
est men who had freely offered their
lives for their Country's defence, but
who stood out in violent hostility TO the
National scheme OF the Constitution.
They were not impressed with the dis
asters that had come upon the land In
the effort to preserve harmony among
thirteen separate sovereignties, or else
they Inscribed such evils as they were
compelled to acknowledge TO other
causes than the ieCbleness Of tho central
authority.
Those were days in which the com
mon people were held In small esteem,
and nothing Ia more remarkable thar
the part they took In tho establishment
OF the Government The war, had en-
tailed sacrifices which even the lowliesl
Of them sorely felt, and they were bound
not 10 lose by internal dlssenSions anG
icAlousles the prize they had so hardly
won. They were sensltlyOto the Sneeri
and prophecies OF thOir enemies who
falling 70 subdue them, were wBitlni
gleeiully expOCtant OF tile reign Of dis
cord. They were not long In perceiyini
that anarchy was tho inevltabl end oil
government which was without inhercn
authority, which rendered tho CREATE
dependent upon the less which pros
sessed no function nor the right 10 ere
Rto one, which resolved In blindness AM
dpCreed In impotence.
Their Congress, whose early achieve
nenIS were magnificent, the Congress
that, coming together al "a sort oi colo
MAI gOnltTuuUul llhu bplAuu tuouvNVEulBl
power, had raised tho equipped armies
had launched nAvlCB upon the sea, ha
commissioned generals, had sent OF
ambassadors, had entered into treaties
lad proclaimed independence, had form
cd International alliances, had contraCte
debts and levied taxes, and, pertormin
all the highest Offices Of supreme poYe
had brought the war 10 q successful ent
was now fallen into pltliul conLomp
All liz glorious deeds were forgotten,
had noEso much asa home kicked abot
from post 10 pillar, lls authority dehe'
la promises laughed al, lie recommend
tons ignored, Il had become tile butt
vliiCule and the object Of National d.
gust The country was oppressed viii
d debt for which provision yeg nelthl
made nor possible, Tho States We
violating treaties 10 which tho Who
Nation was committed, RebelllonB wei
breaking out here and there, which I