The St. Louis Republic., 1901-02-24
ANNIVERSARIES.

ON March ]. 17s1. was completed the rati-
ncation OF the article of confederation he
tween the States, an accomplishment that
developed into the Government Of the
United States when the Constitution was
adopted, seven years later. Bancroft says:
With the year ISL. when the Ministry OF
Great Britain believed themselves In DOS
session OF the three southernmost States
and were cheering CORVALLIS to complete
his glory by the conquest of Virginia; VIII n
Congress was confessedly without tn
means TO recover the city of New York:
when a large contingent from France was
at Newport, serious efforts for the creation
OF a Federal Republic began, and never
ceased until 1t was established. The peop'e
OF New York, from motives of the highest
patriotism. had already ceded its claims to
Western lands. The territory northwest of
the Ohio. which Virginia had conquered.
was. on the second Of January. surrendered
to the United States of America. For this
renunciation one State and one State only
had made delay. On the twenty-ninth Con-
gress received the news SO long anxiously
waited for. that Maryland. by resolution
Of both branches of her Legislature, had
acceded to the confederation. seven men,
bers only in the House voting in the mega
tive. Duane. who had been taught by
Washington that greater powers to Con-
gress were indispensably necessary to the
wellbeing and good government of public
affairs" instantly addressed him: LET Us
devote this day to Joy and congT atulaton,
since by the accomplishment of our Feder-
al Union, We are become a nation. In a
political view, 1t IS Of more real Importance
than a victory over all our enemies. We
shall not fail of taking advantage of the
favorable temper of the States and recon-
mending for ratification such additional ar
ticles as will give vigor and authority to
Government" The enthusiasm of the mo-
ment could not hide the truth-that. with
out amendments. the new system would
struggle vainly for life. Washington an
swered: ''Our affairs will not put on diff
ferent aspect unless Congress is vested with
or will assume greater powers than they
exert at present"
The Legislature OF Maryland quickly
transformed Its resolution into an act. The
delegates, having full authority. in the
presence Of Congress, on the first day Of
March, 17S1 subscribed the articles of con-
federation, and its complete. formal and
final ratification by all the United States
was announced to the public: to the ex-
ecutive of the several States: to the Ameri-
can Ministers in Europe. and through them
to the courts at which they resided; 20 the
Minister Plenipotentiary of France in
America; to the Commander-in-Chief. and
through him to the army. Clinton ccmmani-
Gated the important event to the Legis-
lature of New York, adding: This great
national compact established our union"
March 2, 1896. was the day on which
Texas declared her independence of Mexico
The Texas convention met on Tuesday,
March i, at Washington. on the Brazos.
and organized by electing Richard Ellis
president. and H. s. Kimball secretary. on
the following day the delegates solemnly
declared the political connection of Texas
and Mexico forever at an end, and. as the
representatives Of the people of Texas. con-
stituted her a free. sovereign and inde-
pendent Republic. fully vested with all the
rights and attributes which properly be-
long to independent nations.