Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-05-04

but oven buIouRn lnb OlnhoTlhn QGrl
ness shot a flame which illumined the con
ing century, and kept bright the beaco
fires of liberty. The architects Of eonst
%tutional freedom formed their institution
with wisdom which forecasted the futur,
They may not nave understood at first tn
whole truth, but, for that which they knew
, they had the martyrs spirit and the cru
saders' enthusiasm = y
The government of the republic by a Cor
gress OF States, a diplomatic convention @
the ambassadors OF petty commonwealth
after seven years trial. was falling
aSunder. Threatened with civil war anon
l its members, instruction and lawlessnes
rife within the States, foreign commerce
ruined and internal trade paralyzed. its cur
rency worthless, its merchants bankrupt
its farms mortgaged, its markets closed, il
labor unemployed, IL was like a helpless
wreck upon the ocean, tossed about by TIL
tides and ready to be engulfedin the storm
Washington gave the warning and calleC
for action. 1t was q voice accustomed I,
command, but now entreating. The vet
Grams of the war and the statesmen of the
Revolution stepped to the front Tn,
patriotism which had been misled, but haC
never faltered, rose above the interests Of
States and the iealousies of Earring Con,
federates to find the basis for union. at il
clear TO me as A, b, c. said Washington
that an extension Of Federal power:
would make us one of the most happy,
wealthy, respectable and powerful nations
that ever inhabited the terrestrial globe.
Without them we shall soon be
every thing which is the direct reverse. ]
predict the worst consequences from a half
starved, limping Government, always NOV
ing upon crutches, and lettering at every
step" The response OF the country was the
convention of 1857, at Philadelphia. The
Declaration of Independence was but the
vestibule of the temple which this ~illustri-
Gus assent Y erected With no successful
precedents TO guide, it auspiciously worked
ont the problem of Constitutional Govern
ment, and of imperial power and home
rule, experimenting each other in promot-
ing the grandeur of the Nation, and preserv-
ing the liberty of the individual,
The deliberations of great councils have
vitality affected, at different periods, the
history of the world and the fate of EN-
pires; but this Congress builded, upon pop
ular sovereignty, institutions broad enough
to embrace the continent, and elastic
enough to fit all conditions of race
and traditions The experience of
Il hundred years has demonstrated
for us tbs perfection of the work, for de-
Tense against foreign foes, and for self
preservation against domestic insurrection,
for limitleSs expansion IN population and
material development, and for steady
growth in intellectual freedom and force.
Its continuing influence upon the welfare
and destiny of the human race can only be
measured by the capacity of man to cult
vate and enjoy the bOundless opportunities
of liberty and law. The eloquent character
iZation Of Mr.. Gladstone condenses its
merits: THE American Constitution IS the
most wonderful work ever struck off at a
given time by the brain and purpose of
man"
The statesmen who composed this great
Senate were equal TO their trust Their
c nClusl0nS were the results of calm debate
and wise concession. Thor character and
abilities were so pure and great as to com
mand the confidence of the country for the
reversal Of the policy of the independence
of the State of the power of the general
Government, which had hitherto been the
inya1iable practice and almost universal
opinion, and for the adoption of the idea OF
the Nation and its supremacy.
Towering in majesty and influence above
them all stood Washington, their President
Beside him was the venerable Franklin,
who. though eighty-one years of age.
brought to the deliberations of the Conycn-
ton the unimpatred vigor and resources of
the wisest brain, the most hopeful
philosophy, and the largest experience of
the times. Oliver Ellsworth, afterwards
>''Nh 'h'bAN VI AIlb tAlAl'A hltttAT,
and the profoundest iurist in the
country; Robert Morris, the Won
dertul iinancier of the ReyO-
luton, and GOuyerneur Morris. the most
versatile genius OF his period; Roger Sher-
man, one Of the most eminent Of the sign
ers Of the Declaration OF Independence and
John Hutledge, Rufus King. Elbridge Gerry.
Edmund Randolph and the Pinckucys, were
leaders OF u%neqUalcd patriotism, courage,
uIflitNr md l,rYyfnyr. ,rlFlL 1-.--. zee. II.A.
ilton and James Madison, as original think
ers and constructive statesmen, rank among
the immortal few whose opinions have for
ages guided Ministers of State and deter
mined the destinies OF nations.
There were no examples to fOllOw, and the
experience OF its members led nart of them
to lean toward absolute Capitalization as
the only refuge from the anarchy Of the (
confederation, while the rest chung to the {
sovereignty Of the States, for fear that the {
concentration of power would end in the J
absorption OF liberty. The large States did {
not want to surrender the advantage Of 9
their position, and the smaller States saw I
the danger to their existence. i
At this crisis the courage and confidence d
needed to originate a system weakened J
The temlpOri2ing spirit OF COMPROMISE I
the convention with the alluriug i
proposition Of not proceeding faster than
the people could be educated to fol 3
low The cry, Let us not waste {
our labor upon conclusions which will
not be adopted, but amend and
adjourn was assuming startling unan
unity. But the supreme force and majestic
sense OF Washington brought the assem-
blage TO the lofty plane Of It's duty and OPP
portunity He said; 1T is too probable
that no plan we propose will be adopted
Perhaps another dreadful conflict is to be
sustained. If to please the people we offer
what we ourselves ~dlsapprove, how can We
afterwards defend our work; Let us raise
a standard to which the wise and honest
can repair; the event is in the handsof God
Freed from the limitations of its envir H.
ment, and the question Of the adoption OF
its work. the convention erected its Gov
eminent upon the eternal foundations OF
the power Of the people. II discussed the
delusive theory Of a compact between in
dependent States, and derived National
power from the people OF the United States.
1t broke mp the machinery of the Confeder-
alton and put in practical operation the
glltterlng generalities OF the Declaration of
Independence. From chaos came order. from
insecurity caIne safety, from disintegra-
ton and civil war came law and liberty,
with the principle proclaimed in the pre-
amble Of the great charter. I'VE. the PEG
pie oil the United states. in order to form a
more perfect union, establish Justice, in
sure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense. promote the general well
fare, and secure the blessings 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 liberty
OF man., they solved the problem OF the
ages by blending ana yet preserving local
self government with National authority,
and the rig Is Of the States. with the
majesty and power OF the Republic. The
government Of the States, under the ar
ticles OF confederation became bankrupt
because II could not raise four millions Of
dollars; the Government OF the Union. IN
der the constitution Of the United States,
raised six thousand millions of dollars, its
credit growing firmcr as It's power and re-
sources were demonstrated The Congress
OF the confederation fled from n regiment,
which it could not pay; the Congress OF the
Union reviewed the comrades of d million
Of its victorious soldiers, s~aluting as they
marched the flag Of the Nation, whose su-
premacy they had sustained . y =
Tho pride OF the States and the ambition
OF their Leaders, s%ecti0nHl iealousies. and
the overwhelming distrust OF centralized
power, were all arrayed against the adop-
ton OF the cons tuition
Success was due TO confidence in Wash
ingvon and the genius OF Alexander Ham
iltOn. Jefferson was the inspiration Of in
dependence, but Hamilton was the in
cafnation OF the constitution. In no age
nor country has there appeared a more pre-
cocious or amazing intelligence than Ham
ilton. He gave life TO the corpse OF Nation.
al credit, and the strength tor self.preser-
walton and aggressive power to the Federal
Union. Both az an %cxpounder OF the prin-
ciples and an administrators OF the affairs of