The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-08-17

lions Of Europe do at this time Allt
glance to the crown was conceded, and
foreign relations Engand's control wa
admitted; but as to affairs here on th
continent. government was elaine
and exercised. The revolution took plac
When 1t became clear to the colonies tha
Great Britain meant to put an end t
this local sef-government.
After the Declaration of independence
ana lts ratification by each state. eac
one OF the thirteen colonies most certain
~ considered itself a sovereign state
The only bond of union was a commo
cause and common danger. Their dele
cations to the congress did not bind Their
to confederation any more than thei
committees of correspondence had done
1heir relations one to another were moth
Ing in the world but hearty coopera tiol
against common enemy.
Virginia, for instance. not only create,
republic with written constitution
(the first on record. but created a cur
rency. ratified the treaty with France, ant
sent an agent to Europe to contract
loan.
BY states. the declaration was adopted
In congress; by states, it was ratified b,
, the people. And, since the allegiance tC
Great Britain had been thrown off. there
was absolutely no bond of union between
| the thirteen states. They had simply
agreed to confer with each other on mat
| ters concerning the common cause. and
this conference was held through dele
gates appointed for the purpose. and the
meeting of these delegates went by the
rame Of congressman was all.
At any time one or more of the states
! could omit TO send delegates, and SO drop
| out OF the conference. IT was In the con
ference of May. 1915. that the first "ar-
ticle Of confederation and perpetual
union" were agreed on in Philadelphia.
| In terms this was a confederacy call
| ed 1.-THE United Colonies OF North
America"
When independence had been declared
the word ''colonies' was changed to
states" by act OF congress.
This confeleracy existed until July T.
177S when It was abolished by the com
munities which had made it. and which
had declared that It should be perpet-
ual.
Congress put aside the old form and
adopted a new set Of articles of "Confed-
GRAFTON and Perpetual Union" Again the
vote was by states In congress. anG by
states on the question of ratification
this new confederation Where had she
been between l77S and 1851? What was her
political status? She was no longer a col
ony of Great Britain. She was not a
member of the new confederation. And
the old confederation had been abolished.
If she not a sovereign, indcpend
ent state what was she?
Grafton. new conssfrdr,, oAXep qdt$g 1T 1T
violation of instructions. These are sub
mitted back to the states. acting as
states-separately and in convention
The neW government IS to 20 into eff
feet wheuever ratified by nine states
What right have nine states to break
ND the old government? The right of
partners to draw out of the partnership
business.
Nine states do ratify-ot hers do not
What is the attitude OF he new gov
eminent TO those which hye not rati-
fed?
The old confederation is lestroyed, the
new government goes on utlout them
those outside are independat states, just
as Mexico, South Americ and Canada
are Independent OF the new govern
ment
When George Washingh was elect
ed president Rhode Islal sand North
Carolina were not In thelnion. Were
they still in the old conferation? That
had been abolished. If no,overeign in
dependent states. to be de: with as the ,
new government would d with other {
foreign states, what werehey?
At the time the delegai to the con- {
vention of 1857 were dsreiding instruc- '
| lions and making a ne constitution /
1t was uncertain how their work a
would be approved. In tifrst draft of V
the paper the language led was the p
same as that which had en- used for Il
merly n
The old articles of confratlon bound b
thirteen colonies by name/ d
The Declaration of Incidence claim Il
ed the independence of rteen states Il
by name. &
The new articles of conration bound VI
thirteen states by name 81
In the treaty of peackreat Britain t.
recognized the independ OF thirteen
different states by named recognized W
the right of each state cal with the be
estates. rights ana props of British lie
subjects in each state "
| The first draft of elstitution Of &c
1887 used the words, WE people Of
the United States of'-llg the same br
| thirteen states winch 1SSn Unlted
Colonies" But inasmtas no bne fro
could tell which of ttates might 7
ratify, it was decided ave off the 80,
names. The reason wa.the simplest ~
and the oest; delegates cnot possibly 90,
know in advance what sWould agree ~
to the radical changes had made -
Yet upon this failure anne in ad w.
vame' ave $500 " ~ ae "uop' tne leg
Daniel Webster built 5great con- .,'
stitutional argument.
TO each state it w4matter OF No.
choice whether to go he new ar ,,.,-
rangement or to stay t1d the peo- -
pie, except. as they coed the sep
arate states. had notNhatever to -
do with 1t. ~,
The very delegates vide the con- .'Iei
stitution and signed 1T the same p1
form of signature by which had 1I1.
} been in use all the tinwhere was .'i''
there the slightest ind that any ~
90, s+otss IMPACT pie
, CHAPTER H. SHo'
> Mr. Jefferson had ndled Month peop
1 cello before he receive4 President Me
3 Washington a pressing Ion to en- oeh'
ter the cabinet as seso state. 'or
e Had he been free to che service go
he liked best he would stunned to bn
S France. Yielding to thre brought crea,
n to bear he consented ttsthe ca BIZ the
r net position, and in MN, entered oil p
= | office COulC