Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-31

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the articles Of confederation are now better
understood. We all recall That In Novem-
Der, 1777, Congress subNitted the articles Of
confederation to the state Legislatures for
ratification Within Afteenec months they
were ratified by all the states except Mary
land. Our state refused ratification until
those states claiming the rosthwestern back
render their claims Of western territory TO
the confederation THIS action Of Mary
land led directly to the FORMATION OF the
claims and long after Massachusetts
abandoned her shadow claims to the west
ern lands. The area OF Michigan, Wiscon-
sin. Illinois. Indiana and IeOhio thus be-
came the common prepertyo Of the confed-
Grafton. And 50 Hanson and Daniel Carroll,
after this triumph had been Secured, largely
by their efforts, signed the articles Of COM
federation: It was Maryland that during
the period Of Hansonss service led the way
to acquire national domain, and thus laid
broad and deep the foundation OF our fed
eral union. For his share IN this pregnant
service John Hansons name will be ASSOC
ciated forever with laying the cornerstone
Of our great nation Out OF this first ordin-
ance grew the ordinance OF 17S4. and later
Constitution and the United States Of Amer
ica For this act alone rIohn Hanson Is
worthy of his place in the Hoodly company
gathered In the old hall OF Representatives.
L
complete, and on November 5, 1871. John
Hanson was elected the first president OF
the congress of the consideration. ..
Great Honor to Maryland.
.'By this election to the presidency OF
Congress John Hanson became in a political
sense the foremost person in the United
States and represented its dignity. His
title was president of the United States in
Congress assembled After the decisive
victory at Yorktown President Hanson had
the felicity to welcome General Washington
and present him to Congress, then sitting
in Philadelphia
Charles Carroll.
Reviewing the life of Charles Carroll OF
Carroliton, Mr.. McComas said:
Charles Carroll of Carrollton was born
at Annapolis September 70, 1877. His
grandfather, Charles Carroll. the attorney
general Of the province. came over to
MARYLAND in 1883. His father, Charles
Carroll, was one Of the richest men Of his
day and country. 1t was the custom OF
wealthy colonies to send their sons over
the sea for education and travel. So young
Carroll, sent as a boy OF eleven years to
the Jesuit College at St. Omers. and later
to colleges at Rheims Sand Paris, was
student at the Temple in London at twenty.
Eight years Of London life to an accom-
plished young colonist who at the Grown
and Anchor more than once met DR.. john
son and Sir Joshua Reynolds, now and
then dined with Burke heard Charles Fox
expatiate upon liberty, or time and again
listened to the eloquence and saw parlia-
ment bow before the greatness of the
elder Pitt, inspired young Carroll with the
ideals of the noblest Eng1ishmen. He came
home to Annapolis at twenty-eight years
of age. The news Of the stamp act OF
1765 soon stirred with unwonted anger
against their king the pleasure-loving colo
nists Of the little capital and Of the prov
ince.
Long before his fellows Carroll had ad-
yocated independence and m advance OF
Union. He had declined election to the
congress Of the confederation because he
foresaw It's powerlessness.
"Washington and Gates. commissioners
from Virginia, met Carroll Stone and
Samuel Hughes, commissioners from Mary
land, to arrange to open and extend the
navigation of the Potomac. They met De-
cember %, 1884, at Annapolis. and later at
Mount Vernon. The Maryland report asked
that Pennsylvania and Delaware should be
included. because the scheme of navigation
included canal between the Delaware river
and the Chesapeake. The outcome was the
Annapolis convention Of 1885, which led to
the federal convention which framed our
Constitution. -AN
THUS the signers ofathe declaration had
part in the beginning Of the Constitution.
corner stone Of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road, which he helped 4oAprDmote. He who,
with Washington. forty years before sought
by the Potomac navigation scheme to unite
the Ohio with the sea. Still 4 farseeing fed
eralist statesman at efghty-ffve years Of
age. foresaw that the American Union could
not have endured until our day without the
railroads. For political and social purposes
railroads and steamships, telegraphs and
telephones. have made our vast country as
compact and intimate as was New England
a century ago..