New-York tribune., 1907-12-24
CONSTITUTIONS ORIGIN.
Senator Knor Credits 1t to Franklin
Instead of Pelatiah Webster.

Philadelphia Dec. 23.-At the New England So
ciety dinner at the Bellevue -Stratford tonight
United States Senator Knox spoke OF "Pennsyl-
vania and New England and Their Relation TO the
Constitution
Senator Knox began his address by referring to
De Tocquevilies statement that the Constitution
of the United States rested on "a wholly novel
theory, which may be considered great discovery
In modern political science" that the federal gov
should not only dictate. but should execute
its own enactments. He proceeded to quote from
a recent magazine article by DR.. Hannis Taylor.
which credited this discovery TO Pelatiah Webster.
whom: he called the original designer architect
OF the present Constitution OF the United States
and that he it who gave to the world the
path breaking idea of federal government operat-
ing directly upon the citizen and not upon the
states corporations" Or. Taylor had also
ferred neglect by his fellow countrymen of
this native Of Connecticut and adopted of Penn
sylvana. Senator Knox took issue with this con-
clusion in regard to Mr.. Webster and said:
For the sake of the truth of history and for the
purpose of acqutting the patriotic and intelligent
grave accusation of neglecting inspired states
man, have made sufficient research to justify mo
plead not guilty to the Indictment preferred against
ee h m Gf ta on.
basic idea that made our existing federal Consti
federal government operating directly upon the
citizen and and not upon the states as
CLAIM, to & resting upon the fact that he
Sos n 'as to- Congress C se . eavns s
recognition -s Of the claim on Websters behalf that
had ever been proponnded by any one and that
utterance of any other man.
There had been an effort to bring about a feder-
alton Of the hos,sd ameIean colonies IN which that
nine years before Pelatiah Webster's pamphlet OF
sa m IL 'bs BY nhe
tee of the Pryy CognciI y, Of Ensand Ian called the
and familaTiy known the Lords Of Trade. '''D
In 15a by direction cssa Of The the M Lords Of Trade
X {nalsS nations + The Eaglish siaealslss VIII
gates to this convention Massachusetts author
to e the purpose Of the call to enser Into articles
of union confederation for the general defence
America er as Wen in time Of peace as Of war
The Massachusetts SUGGESTION was discussed at
plan for general federation. which afterward
as ae ns bsoy sn ah plan and
Council The council was TO be endowed with
3 dfe
not upon the colonies themselves political units
OF the fedora ton. The Grand Council was have
the power to appoint executive officers Upon the
es svy
treaties with the Indians a s. Isulate the indian
and administer all matters of general concern.
l think it cannot be disputed tha, the Franklia
h an psh
Tao as e shs de s t by
federal power operate directly upon the citizens of
the colonies and not upon the colonies themselves,
of which idea Mr.. Taylor says: Around this fun
damental concept all lesser things cluster
do not seek to detract iota from the lust
fame of Pelatiah Webster and / honor the distin-
guished 1urist. Mr. Taylor, for his dsinterested
discovery OF a great political principle.
l gratefully admit his claim that a Pennsyi-
vaniau promulgated the greatest single effective
federal principle civilization has produced and
do detract from New England's share n he
honor when j claim the evidence establishes that
the man entitled to the credit of its first public
announcement born in Massachusetts and not
, Connecticut; that his name Franklin, not
Webster.
The Albany plan was promptly and unanimously
rejected by the colonies doubtless because OF this
wholly novel idea OF a central government oper-
atng directly upon the citizen The local feeling
ct the time too strong. Franklin fully real
lied this and I'm his plan of federation submitted
10 Congress IN 1775 he abandoned it and expressly
provided that the general treasury should be su,-
piled through taxes levied and collected under the
laws Of the respective colonies.