The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-06

1t Is well known that Gov. George Clinton
was the most resolute and powerful of The
opponents of the Constitution framed at Phil
adelphia in 1888. He had revealed much earlier
his unwillingness TO surrender any Of the rights
Of the State Of New York. On March 10. 1851,
the New York Legislature, in conformity with
the request OF the Congress of the Confedora-
ton. passed an act providing that the duties
granted TO Congress should be levied and col
lected in such manner and form. and under
such pains. penalties and regulations. and by
| such officers as Congress should. from time TO
time, make, order. direct and appoint
, Gov. Clinton strongly objected to this measure.
and refused to surrender the revenues collected
under it on the ground that New York, AS an
independent colony. had associated with the
other colonies merely for the purpose Of mutual
assistance and protection. and should not he
| expected 10 give up this source of wealth to
the nation AT large. He was severed, criti-
| cized by the Federalists for his course, and de-
nounced as n demagogue. lie vas largely
| instrumental in securing the repeal Of the law.
Subsequently. the Congress of the Confedera-
| ton devised a new system Of impostS which
, was agreed upon on April Is. 1888 By way
Of compromise, congress now gave 10 the
States the power TO appoint the collecting
officers, but this proviso was subsequently
annul!ed by bestowing the power Of removal
upon the Federal authorities. All the States,
however, except New York. accepted the new
scheme. New York, in Difference 10 %,linton's
opinions, withheld lis assent. In 1888. the
state Legislature passed an act conceding
the customs revenue To the Federal Govern
ment. but reserving tho sole power of levy
ing and collecting the duties" Gov. Clinton
was now recognized as an important person.
age throughout the thirteen colonies By
virtue OF his position as Governor, and Of the
stand which he had taken as an Ant-Federalist,
his influence not only prevailed in his own
state. but reached far hey ond its boundaries.
He was a far more important individuality
than any OF his successors have been in the eyes
Of the Confederaoy at larRe because he was
an ardent advocate of the doctrine of States.
Rights, a doctrine then steadily expanding.
and because the power OF the State was then
recognized by a large proportion Of the people
as superior 10 that Of any Federal Govern
ment. for the reason that the States. by with
drawing from the confederation could destroy
the Federal Government. whereas the latter
lacked the power 10 destroy n single State.
The Congress Of the Confederation refused
to recognize the act passed ny the New York
Legislature in 1880. and. by a resolution. re-
quested Gov. Clinton TO call the Legislature
together in extra session for the purpose OF
reconsidering the subject. The Governor re-
fused to listen to the pressing and repeated
supplications Of Congress" on the ground
that, under the Constitution, he had no author
ity TO convoke the Legislature except on extra
ordinary occasions. and that the present juno
ture did not seem 10 him 10 justify such a course.
Not content with swapping his fingers at the
Federal Government. Clinton proceeded to
act independently against Great Britain. In
the ninth decade Of the last century. the United
States could build ships for one-third Of the
money which they cost in England. Before
the war, the profits derived by Great Britain
from the use Of American shipyards had been
enormous. Now that the war was over, the
extensive trade established between the United
States and the West Indies aroused the COW
etousness n the British shipowner. In July.
l7s3. an order in Council declared that, there
after. all trafic between the United States
and the British West Indies must be conducted in
British-built ships owned and nayigated by
British subjects. Even in direct comrnerce
with England. American ships we're restricted
10 those articles tnat were produced in the
States Of which the owners were citizens. a linz
itation that weighed heavily upon Our EXPORT
ers. Many Americans clamored for reprisals
against England. but the Congress. governed
nv the Articles OF Confederation. we're power
less. II remained for the State of New York
N take the lead. Under Gov. Cinton's direc-
ton that State retaliated by laying a double duty
upon all goods imported in British vessels
Other States favored legislation OF a retalistory
sort, but. for want Of cooperation. no uni
-, a,,Il Ia ncroadupop S,raFvo,al
a new non-importaion agreement, and a few
desired to strengthen the powers of Con-
gress: Massachusetts, went so far as to suggest
the calling Of a convention Of all the States
To amend the Articles Of Confederation. Dur
ing the year iIsS. ten States passed acts grant
ing " Congress the power Of regulating COM