Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-10

phia in the year 1887, which resulted in
the formation of the constitution of the
United States of America. From These
debates 1t is ascertained that the very
object of section of article Nv is the
division Of large states, when their pop
ulation becomes sufficiently large and
their interests are diverse enough to
justify the division. The proof of this is
as clear as the monday sun, and stands
out strongly In the debates on that part
of the constitution.
Curtis, in his constitutional History
of the United States," says on page 436.
that in the federal convention, sitting
at Philadelphia, in 1887, it was
Resolved, az the present
situation OF the states may probably
alter in the number OF inhabitants the
legislature (congress) of the United
States shall be authorized, from time to
time, to apportion the number of repre-
sentatives; and in case any of the states
shall hereafter be divided or enlarged by
addition of territory, or any two or
more states united, or any new states
created within the limits OF the United
States," etc.
The matter becomes still clearer as
the debates are followed upon this
point.
The following report of the proceed
lngs OF the convention is condensed from
Elliot's Debates of the Federal Consti-
tutional Convention.
The convention assembled in Nav.
and was composed of fifty-five delegates.
On August 29th, Gouverneur Morris of
Pennsylvania offered the following as q
substitute for the article 27, which
had already been proposed:
New states may be admitted by the
legislature into the union; but no new
state shall be erected within the limits
OF any OF the present states, without the
consent of the legislature of such state,
as we'll as of the general legislature"
Luther Martin of Maryland opposed
the latter part of the Morris substitute.
Nothing" he eaid, sswould SO alarm
the limited states as to make the con-
sent of the large states, claiming the
western lands, necessary to the estab-
lishment of new states within their
limits. 1t is proposed to guaranty the
states. Shall Vermont be reduced by
force in favor of the states claiming it2
Frankland Tennesseel and the western
county of Virginia [KentuckyJ are in
like situation
Mote: "Prior to 1881 only New
Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland
had their boundaries exactly defined.
The other states claimed territory west
OF their present area; some to the Mis-
sissippi; others Gas Virvinia) to the Pa
cific ocean," McCarty's statistician.
1888, page 1874. This was what Martin
meant Dy limited states.,I
Morris's motion to substitute was
agreed to, and article XVII was befora
the house as amended.
Roger Sherman of Connecticut on
posed the amended article XVII, as be-
ing unnecessary. 1.-THE union cannot
dismember state without its consent"
John Langdon of New Hampshire
said: II think the Morris substitute
will excite q dangerous opposition to
the plan (of the federal constitution). :"
Gouverneur Morris OF Pennsylvania.
said in reply: "On the contrary the
small states will be pleased with the
regulation, as it holds up the idea of
bismembering the large states"
William Samuel johnson of Connecti-
cut moved ito insert the words here
after formed, or after the words shall
be- SO as to save Vermont which is al
ready state" Agreed to.
Mr.. Morris moved to s'strike out the
word limits and insert the word 'juris-
diction, as Vermont is already exercis-
ing sovereignty, though within the as
serted limits of New York" Agreed to.
Mr.. Martin of Maryland moved to
postpone article XVII as amended, and
to take up the following:
The legislature OF the United States
shall have power to erect new states
within as well as without the territory
claimed by the several states, or either
OF them, and admit the same into the
union; provided that nothing in this
constitution shall be construed to affect
the claim of the United States to vacant
lands ceded to them by the late treaty
OF peace"
In support of his proposition he urged
the "unreasonableness Of forcing and
guaranteeing the people of Virginia be-
yond the mountains, the western people
OF North Carolina and Georgia and the
people OF Maine to continue under the
states now governing them without the
consent OF those states to their separa-
tion."
The Martin proposition was then put
to vote, New Jersey, Delaware and
Maryland only voting In the afirma-
tive, and 80 it was lost.
The Morris substitute as amended
was then agreed to, this time the three
aforementioned states voted in the mega
tive, and so article XVII was adopted
as amended.
John Dickinson of Delaware moved to
add the following clause:
Nor shall any state be formed by the
junction of two or more states or parts
thereof, without the consent Of the iegis-
lature OF such states, as we'll as Of the
legislature of the United States. -
Agreed to.
The committee on style and arrange
ments then polished the rhetoric of the
article as amended and adopted, and
brought out section of article Nv in its
present form.
Such is the history of the formation Of
that part of the national constitution.
According to it's author it's intention ia
the dismemberment of large states
whenever desirable.
lTo BE Continued
IA