The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-04-17

has genius for Independent research,
by the teachers of the public schools,
by every one, young and old, who is
imbued with the spirit of inquiry, to
obtain a clear understanding of the
course of events, the agitations and
discussions, out of which has arisen this
fair fabric of freedom.
Briefly summarized, the course Of
events which preceded the 30th of
April, 1889, was as follows: While the
war of the Revolution was yet In prog
ress, and even before the adoption of
the Declaration of Independence, the
continental congress had appointed
committee to prepare plan of colonial
confederation. The committee re-
ported articles of confederation, which
were debated from time to time and
finally adopted by congress in 1777.
Four years bad elapsed, Yorktown had
surrendered and the war was practically
ended before, in March, 1871, the thir-
teen states had ratified the articles and
congress assembled and began to act
under their authority. For seven years
that body, without any clearly-defned
powers, without the semblance of
formal authority, had been exercising
all the important functions of govern
ment. 1t had raised armies, conducted
a great wa, negotiated treaties, formed
alliances, declared the colonies free
and Independent states, solely by the
tacit consent of the people. The arti-
Giles of confederation recognized the
supremacy of the states, but the states
neither recognized what little authority
congress reserved for itself nor mani
tested any respect for that body. The
states became a law unto themselves.
Anarchy reigned, and Washington and
his compeers were filled with appre-
hension lest their attempt to establish
a government should fail.
In this emergency, in 17S6, Virginia
invited the states to conference.
Only five responded, but these carried
the proposition of convention of all the
states to congress. That body approved
the suggestion and called national
convention to revise the articles of con-
federation. The convention met in
May, 1887, and continued in session
till September. The idea of patching
up the articles of confederation was
abandoned, and under the leadership of
a few of the great spirits of the day the
federal constitution under which the
government is now administered was
finally adopted. The constitution was
reported to congress, and by that body
submitted to the states for ratification
A brisk campaign began. During the
canvass for the ratification appeared a
series of remarkable articles in favor
of the constitution, contributed by
Hamilton, Jay and Madison under the
nom de plume CT Publius," Their
views prevailed. Nine states, the num-
Der required, ratified the constitution.
Congress designated the first Wednes-
day in January, 1888, for the choice of
presidential electors. On the first
Wednesday in February the electors
met and chose George Washington for
president and John Adams for vice
president The first Wednesday in
March was fixed for the assembling of
congress and Wednesday, April 30, for
the Inauguration of the first president,
and this event, the one hundredth an
niversary of which is near at hand, the
nation is preparing to celebrate.