Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-28
ghe aaahita Badly Eagle Sunday Dorue, april Is,

ances, establish commerce and do all other
| acts and things which independent States
may Of right do" including every power Of
distinct nationality and supreme sovereign
| ty. Such was the Union in its origin and
such the rights and duties of its Govern
ment.
General Washington, with wretchedly
clothed and often half fed army, sustained
the cause OF the revolution through more
than six anxious years His march upon
General CORVALLIS, at Yorktown, was,
perhaps, the most splendid episode OF the
war. The surrender of that officer on
October 10, 1871, virtually put an end to
hostillties, although it was not until March,
1852, that the British House Of Commons
voted to authorize the King to make peace
with America On the 10Th of April, 1888,
eight years to a day after the war broke
out, the good news that it was over was an
nounced to the army by its beloved chief.
Thus ended contest which was, according
to the greatest of the English statesmen of
the period, "a most accursed, wicked,
barbarous, cruel, unnatural, unjust and
diabolical war"
New York was not evacuated until No
vember 25, 1888, when America was left to
her new destiny General Washington's
farewell to his officers and departure from
New York took place few days later
December A. previously to his repairing to
Congress and resigning his commission
that he might once more enjoy the peace of
his "beloved Mount Vernon" after an
absence Of over eight years. The affecting
scene that occurred at Annapolis on De-
cember 81, 1888, when he resigned into the
hands Of Congress his commission as COM
dor oh SC too xa
repetition. The years which Immediately
followed his return home were varied by
incessant tributes of admiration coming to
him from the civilized word at large, and
by the continual presence of visitors Of all
distinctions.
The independence Of the United States
was acknowledged by Great Britain on No
vember 3d. 1852, when the terms of pre-
liminary treaty were concluded between
the two countries, the credit of which was
mainly due to the splendid abilities of Ben
jamin Franklin. He had already assisted in
the negotiation of the first treaty of the
United States with any foreign govern
mont-France. ale the treaty OF peace
was unpopular in England, it was received
in America with unbounded Joy.
The weary struggle for independence was
over, and, having obtained it, the next thing
was what was TO be done with it In relation
to the futurel Those who represented the
Nation in Congress, while generally agreed
in patriotic feeling, were not agreed even
on the fundamental principles of govern
ment. The first step in this direction was
the appointment by the Continental Con-
gress, in June, lT6, then sitting at Phila-
delphia, of a committee to frame articles Of
perpetual union. A plan was reported four
days later, but 1t was not until March, 1871,
that the articles were finally adopted. The
government that went into effect on that
day had no executive, no judiciary and only
the semblance Of a legislature. Congress
consisted of one House, presided over by a
President chosen each year by the delegates
from among their number. 1t could not en-
force a treaty nor law when made, nor
impose any restriction On commerce nor fix
a tax of any kind to raise revenue These
difficulties were not slow TO appear, and the
only remedy by way of amendment, but
this was a tedious pr ocess, as to do SO re-
quired the consent Of each one of the thir-
teen members Of the Union. Endeavor
after endeavor resulted IN failure.
Every other means having been tried, Con-
gress approved In February, 1857, the call
for a Constitutional Convention of the
States at Philadelphia in the following May
Virginia was the first to act. Rhode Island
alone refused TO attend. Seven States made
quorum and this number was present in
the State house on the 25th of the month.
General Washington was at once called to
the chair. A committee was appointed to
prepare rules and an adjournment was
taken to the 2Stb. Nine States then an
sWered to their names. The delegates
were a most remarkable body of men.
Scarcely one among them but had become
more or less famous. The serious work of
the convention was opened by Edmund
Randolph on the morning of May 60 After
laboring for three months and half the
cons titution WAS finally agreed to and or
dered to be engrossed. Washington was
the first to sign. The other delegates pres
ent affixed their signatures one after
another in the geographical order of their
States, beginning with the East. As the
Southern members were af1xing their
names, Franklin, looking toward the Presi-
dents chair, on the back of which was cut
a sun, said 10 those about him that painters
had found it difficult to distinguish rising
from a setting sun.
81 have" said he, soften and often in the
course of the session, and the sohcitude Of
my hopes and fears as to its issue, looked
at that behind the President without being
able to tell whether it was rising or set
ting. But now, at length, know that it is
rising and not setting sun"
When the convention rose that evening it
rose never to set again.
BY the provisions Of the constitution the
ratification of it by nine States was neces-
sary to put it in force. New Hampshire
was the ninth to ratify. This was done in
June, 1888. 1.-The Good Ship Constitution"
as the Federalists delighted TO call that in
strument, was now fairly launched, and the
next thing to be done was TO select q Presi-
dent. The first Wednesday in January,
1889, was fixed upon by Congress as the
day for choosing Presidential electors, the
first Wednesday in February for the meet
ing of the electors and the first Wednesday
in March as the day the constitution was to
become law.
Five weeks later the Congress of the Con-
federation expired ANONYMOUSLY for want
Of quorum.
What Is Fame?
Senators and Representatives are pretty
well known men in Washington, and they
do not need letters of introduction when
they visit the various departments. One of