The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-01
THE BIRTH OF THE NATION.
HOW WE GOT OUR CONSTITUTION.
The Struggle over Its AdoPtion-what We
owe to Paul Revere And the Boston
Northumberland Adams CONVEX
sion-Crisis in American History.

Northumberland Adams CONVEX
sion-Crisis in American History.
Two years ago gave THE SENTINEL's
readers a short history OF the struggle to form
the constitution of the United States and the
union formed by it. Notice that use the
word Struggle" for such 1t was and 1t con-
tinued about as long the struggle for indie
pepdence The states were slow in adopting the
articles of federation-Maryland being the
last to ratify in March, 1871. BY these articles
congress was the sole representative OF the gen.
eral government until 17S9, when II was super
seeded by the present government. There was
no union under the articles of confederation, as
the states acted independently OF and in many
instances entirely repudiated the authority of
congress. 1t seemed, therefore, almost a hope
less undertaking to form "a more perfect
union" But the patriots like Washington,
Madison, Hamilton, and many Others worthy of
mention did not hesitate to made the effort.
Washington was indeed the center of all hope.
After reSigning his commission in the army he
preferred repose at Mt. Vernon for the re-
mainder of his days, but upon the solicitation
of Madison, Jay, Randolph and others, be again
to accept the appointment of delegate from
Virginia to the convention at Philadelphia.
That he had sad forebodings of the future
appears from many of his letters. In Il letter
to Col. HUMPHREYS he took a gloomy view of
the condition of the country and then wrote;
'Yet would wish anything and everything
esssyed TO prevent the effusiOn of blood and to
avert the humiliating and contemplate figure
we are about to make in the annals of man.
kind"
In writing to Gen. Knox, he says
81 do assure you that even at this moment
when | reflect upon the present aspect of our
affairs, it seems to me like the visions of a
dream. - In bewaiIing which | have
often done with the keenest sorrow, the death
of our much lamented friend Gen. Greene who
died in 1866, have accompanied my regrets
of late with query, whether he would not
have preferred such an exit TO the scenes which
1t is more than probable, many of his comPa-
triOts may live 10 bemOan."
In another letter to Col. HUMPHREYS, speak
ing of the opposition to the congress under the
articles OF confederation, he says: The wheels
of the great political machine can scarcely con-
tinue to move much longer under their present
embarrassment. Congress- am told, seri-
ously alarmed and hardly know which way to
turn, or what TO expect. Indeed, my dear gen.
eral, nothing but good Providence can eXtri-
cate us from our present difficulties and pre-
vent some terrible conclusion
Many more extracts of the same tenor might
be given from the letters of Washington and
those of his correspondents, who comprised
the most distinguished patriots in the land, but
the above will furnish sufficient evidence that
he was thoroughly alarmed at the condition OF
the country during the two or three years prior
to the meeting OF the convention at Philadel-
pha in MAY, 1881
The greatest opposition to the formation of
new constitution came from New England.
Deputies from the states of Delaware, Penn
sylvania, New Jersey and New FORK responded
to the call of Virginia, and met her deputies at
Annapolis, Md. in November. 1886, and these
deputies recommended congress to call a con-
ventiOn to revise the articles of confederation.
Congress referred the matter TO a committee,
composed of one member from each state, and
this committee, by one majority, recommended
the calling of the constitutional convention.
The history of the opposition to the measures
which led 10 the adoption of the constitution
and Union is very interesting. There is very
little of il found in school histories and in these
histories not much prominence is given TO the
untiring efforts of those who brought about
the meeting of the conventions; who
assisted in the formation of the consttu-
ton, and who afterward labored TO secure
It's adoption. All these secured a great
victory and now that the blessings of their wise
for hundred years, the history OF this strug-
gle should be read eagerly, and become as
familiar. that of the struggle for independ-
ence. Those who have given the subject little
or no attention rest under the deluSiOn that the
people who were unanimously and closely
united in achieving independence, manifested
the same unity in favOring the adoption of the
constitution and Union. il may be we'll at this
time that this delusiOn should be dispelled,
and that all the facts should be known by the
~,rrt,y. r,A
constitutional government and the Union
worthy OF the highest praise, and their work
and memories should not be forgotten by
grateful people.
Madison, the father of the constitution,
and his associates completed their labOrs on the
18th of September, 1857, and Immediately the
struggle commenced over the adoption of the
constitution by the states.
The history of the interval between the adj
iournment OF the convention and the Inaugural
ton of Washington on April 80, 1889, while IL
is intensely interesting. at the same time dspels
much Of the glamour which has surrounded
some of the states and many of the citizens of
that day Now that the country is celebrating
the one hundredth anniversary OF the nations
birth it may be well TO seek information as to
who were the friends of the infant. History
discOseS that there were very large number
of people who did not favor writing the word
nation with even a little much less with big,
an" 1t will be found that in some of the
states where the infant was adopted by c0nVen-
tions the majority of the people were opposed
TO this action, and in others, the majority was
very small.
The constitution was submitted TO conven-
tons, called in each state 10 consider it, and
the following are the dates of ratification and
the votes:
DelawGre-Dec. 6, 1857, unanimously.
Pennyslvania-Dec. Il, 17S1, IS to %.
New Jersey-Dec. is, 1857, unanimously.
GeOrgia-,Jan. :, 1888, unanimously.
COnnecticGt-Jan. 9, 17SS. 12S to 40
Massachusetts-Feb. d. 17SS, 1877 to los.
Maryland-April 20 1883, % 10 II.
South CarOlina-May g. l7SS, l49 to 70.
New Hampshire-June q, 1888, 81 TO "a.
Virginia-June %, 1885, 50 to 70.
New York-July &c, 17SS, SO to q.
North CarOlina-Nov q, 1769.
Rhode lsiand-May %, 1890.
1t will be noticed that North Carolina and
Rhode Island did not adopt the constitution
until some time after the Inauguration OF
Washington. OF course they did not vote at
the first presidential election and while New
York had adopted the constitution six months
before the election, she also did not vote for
the first president.
As soon as the constitutional convention ad-
journed the constitution became the subject of
ridicule in Pennsylvania, and a bitter contro-
versy was carried on in this state until IL was
adopted by the state convention. The honor
of securing its adoption by this state
is about equally divided between Frank
lin and a Mr.. Wilson, who both were
delegates 10 the convention that formed IT. |
referred in my former article TO this Mr.. Will
son, and said that he was one of the ablest
-