New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-28

men OF the Nation, men who had served IN Con-
greSs and the battlefield, whose talents were
conceded, and whose character WAS established
representing clever Of the thirteen warring SOW
crcigntcs, came together in Philadelphia, charged
TO frame Constitution under which it should be
possible 70 give republican and confederated gov
eminent fair and honest trial.
Upon all questions relating TO the Executive
of how many persons it should consist, how 1t
should be selected how long IT should hold office,
with what powers 1t should be endowcd-the Con-
vcntion was IN the nature OF things fOred0Omed
70 the livclicst kind of debate. But there were
certain men present who knew that il this con
>cntion failed to accomplish the work 1t had been
sent to do 10 other would be possible. and union
would be ont Of the question. There were the
greatest men there-Franklin. Washington. Ham
ilton. Madison--and they never once permitted
the Convention 10 90 in It's disputes beyond the
point from which the voice of Cancellation and
concession could not recall IL.
WashingtOns words in the Convention were
few, always spoken at critical moments. always
and instantly effective. He had now reached the
point in his career when his countrymen could see
nothing him that was not beautiful and Good.
when his personal enemies had al dropped into
rncritcd obscurity or had obeycd the promptngN
Of their better nature and acknowledged his purity
cninencc with that same dignity that same no
bIlity and generosity Of soul, that same unyIclu'
Ing devotion to his sense Of duty which he had
shown throughout the war These qualities had
rendered him in danger always resolutc and calm;
in defeat still hopeful and ever ready; superior
to jcalousics and chickering's never reSentful, and
when victory came modest and grateful 10 Heaven
and TO his generous country. Washington's great
Of a rcsourccful intellect. 1t was in the highest
sense the greatness Of a soul that knew no petty
sclG>hncss, but that, given over 10 the service
Of his country, was just, slow 10 thlnk Ill
OF any one, quick to forgive, utterly unpchdlhS
from It's exalted conception Of the night ana
trclcss IN its pursuit of what II esteemed g"od
for the common welfare This was the OPINION
entertained Of him by his contemporaries LETT Tor
our information upon Il thousand records. IL
explains tht remarkable position he held IN TINS
historic assembly, 1t explains how divided IN all
else no one Of his 3, 10000 cOuntrymcn 50 much
as thought of any other Chief Magistrate II IS
the necessary conclusion from all he SAID ana ana
and it remains to-day, 1t viii remain fncvcr, the
judgment IF al the world
Scvcra; Of the strongest men in the convention
were opposed to Wilson's motion in favor of a
SINGLE Executive. Randolph declared that unity
ana wanted an executive board composed of three
members from each of three divisions of the
country. Geographically described. Sherman
agreed with Wilson, but suggested council which
should lave both restraining and cocrcive powers
over the Executive Wilson protested that cOun-
ellis of this sort oitcnrr covered vcn@i practices
than prevented thcm." and on June his motion
prevailed seven States sustaining II against Dci-
ware MARYLAND and Ncw.iork. This vof" was
never reconsidcred. In the meanwhile In" tNceI'
1--WE powers had been defined, though somewhat
vaguely He was authorized TO carry IN" ci-
fc.t all National laws and appoint 10 all Offices
not otherwise provided FOR
Cfouvcrncur Morris one of the most accomplished
Of the Conventions literary men, revised III"
dra of the Constitution, being one of committee
If five 70 whom that honorable labor was confined
Thor report underwent some further revision, and
them on September -, the question came up upon
its adoption a, a whole Ii Wa plain that a MT
ioritv in each delegation were in favor OF adopt
ING if. but several important members cNpr' sScd
dissatisfaction and moved that II he sent 10
the States for such suggestions as they might
wish to make and then referred to another gen
oval convention Gerry of Massachusetts, AMI
IE,udolph and Masci Of Virginia, wcr' the pm
ciDal ,nolcontcnts Mason. who had dOHc 50 much
"a make il a Wis, and noble Dc 'umcnt, still slW
lrbjnd II Ilr grim shadow Of q throne. Gerry
affections were numerous and trivial, hut To il~
mind insuI rthlc h.'ndolph, jealous Of MADISON
would neither candIdY oppose nor openly I"N"F'
but underworld To- dodge. The States, however T.
uro7itlNM Gcrry's motion for new conNcnu'A
unanimously and then rs unanimously aH"iH'i
the Constitution ~ reported For various a''l-
lcutol causes several Of the delegates were denied
the precious boon Of placing their Si;n''uftI uhi.
it, hut only thcse three. GERRY, hahd'lph "'"
Mason positively refused 10 sign
WASHINGTON. fun Of happiness. lost no TINE III
,,au.rI,tinr 10 Congress his report ~ President
Coustitutiou and CONGRESS promptly sent II 1"
the State LEGISLATURES requesting tht th'N SUNNI
convention, of the people 10 act upon II. ne
o,,u,.i,i,u 10 il WAS centred III Virginia, New
C,,s were Patrick Henry, Governor lni"h ANA
Furidc, Gerry II had been ordered 10y Con
,rc>s that upon lis adoption by Ihhr Hl''rs Us
provisions should 20 I'M" operation ',I" nv
Iatinnol Government should >apcr~cdr the Con
fclcr,cv Ry th. first eff December DrEWalr>
convention was in session. and on D'rInhcr d"
II had unanimously adoIi'd thc "i'>' nu,i'n
Tan DAYS later Pennsylvania, by vote OF b" -
~ ;liro1 hands with Delaware. and IN another
,,.onL Nc,y-Icrscv bad also given unanimous
,nd favorable verdict Georgia celebrated Ia"
new year 10y giving another uAaulii'uN N"'' il,
favor of the nav charter OF government ana
Cnun,ct,cut presently. hy l?S AGAINST 80. came
into E,r The ohstructionsts had succ"'Nird IN
,yorl;ur ND a powerful party by TINS nm ana
rho progress of the country toward N''ioI.l
Government was attended with enormous dHH-
cultics everywhere. MI KINDS Oh 'iS'i""'S
,c>tin1s were made 10 defeat In" CONSTITUTIONS hni
n, trends kept constantly heior' Ia. p1hHr
m nd the altcrnatiVc>-thl> or anarcI'y-anu one
| nftcr another the States fell into line.
II.