Evening journal., 1908-12-15
MAKING OF THE
CONSTITUTION
Josiah Marvel, Addressing
Democrats, Tells Of Della
wares Leading Action

A lecture on Making the Federal
by Josiah Marvel was the
feature Of the monthly meeting Of the
Fifth Ward Democratic Club last night
in the Young Mems Democratic Club.
No. SIT Market street. The lecture was
the first Of a series to be delivered by
leading men OF the party of this city.
Mr.. Marvel had given much time and
energy to the preparation Of the lee
ture, and it was an interesting eXposi-
tion OF the birth and growth OF that
instrument which has placed the
United States among the foremost
countries Of the world.
After detailing the preliminary meet
ings and occurrences that led mp 20
the drafting of the constitution. Mr..
Marvel told of the opposition that de-
veloped 70 the signing and ratification
of the Constitution I'm Massachusetts,
VIRGINIA and other states. and added:
Things looked dark. The most hopeful
men feared for the results and the first
ray OF sunshine came from our little
state OF Delaware. on November 10th,
1857. the state of Delaware adopted a
resolution calling the State convention. 1t
was duly convened. and on December eth
tho following ratification was adopted
and forwarded TO Congress;
" We, the deputies of the people OF
the Delaware State in convention, met,
having taken IN our serious consldera-
tion the Federal Constitution proposed
and agreed upon by the deputies of the
United States In a general convention held
at the city OF Philadelphia on the seven
teenth day Of September, in the year of
our Lord one thousand seven hundred
and eighty-seven, have approved. assent
ed to. ratified, and confirmed. and by
these presents do, in virtue of the power
and authority TO us given, for and I'm be-
half OF ourselves and our constituents.
fully. freely, and entirely approve or as
sent to, ratify, and confirm, the said
constitution.
Done in convention. at Dover. this
seventh day Of December. in the year
aforesaid. and in the year Of the inde-
pendence OF the United States OF America
the twelfth
In testimony whereof we have here
unto subscribed our names.
Sussex county--John Ingram, John
Jones. William Moore, William Hall.
Thomas Laws. Isaac Cooper. Woodman
Stockley, John Laws, Thomas Evans,
Israel Holland.
Kent county-Nicholas Ridgely, Richard
Smith. George Fruit. Richard Bassett,
James Sykes Allen Mclean, Daniel Cum
Minis, Sr.; Joseph Barker, Edward White,
George Manlove
New Castle county-James Latimer.
president; James Black. John Black,
John James, Cunning Bedford, Sr.; Ken
sey Johns. Thomas Watson, Solomon
Maxwell Nicholas Way, Thomas Dun,
Cunning Bedford, Jr.
a.. 81 To all TO whom these presents
shall come. greeting:
Il. Thomas Collins. president of the
Delaware State do hereby certify that the
above instrument OF writing is a true
copy Of the original ratification of the
Federal Constitution by the convention Of
the Delaware State. which original ratih
cation is now in my possession.
" In testimony whereof. 1 have caused
the seal of the Delaware State to be here
unto annexed.
"Thomas Collins
"It IS due to this act of patriotism in
a time OF the very greatest darkness that
our little State has received the honor
freely acceded 20 IL by It's sister states
through all the years that have followed.
Other states followed and ratified IN the
following order;
PENNSYLVANIA, December 12. 1857; New
Jersey. December 1s 1851; Georgia, Janu-
airy @ l7Ss; Connecticut, January .. 17SS;
Massachusetts. February 6. 17Ss; Mary
land. April 2s. 17SS; South Carolina. May
%. i7SS; New Hampshire June q, 17SS;
Virginia, June 25. l7ss; New York. July
&c. 17Ss; North Carolina, November n. 17S9;
Rhode Island. May o. 1890.
THE constitution provided that when
nine states had ratified Congress should
take proper proceedings 10 put the con-
stitution into operation. and when the
ratification Of New Hampshire, which was
the ninth state, was received by Congress
on July .. 17SS. an act was adopted on the
same day providing as follows;
Resolved. That the first Wednesday In
January next be the day for appointing
electors in the several states which. be-
fore the said day, shall have ratified the
said constitution; that the first Wednes-
day in February next be the day for the
electors to assemble in their respective
states, and vote for a President; and that
the first Wednesday in March next be the
time, ana lnc present seat oA Non6itSH tiie
place. for commencing proceedings under
the said constitution
"The first Wednesday I'm March. 17Ss
fell on Wednesday, the 4th, and It is due
20 this fact that the terms of our Presi-
dent and Congress expire on that day.
but because of various delays Washing
ton. who had been chosen the first Presi-
dent under the constitution. was not in
augurated until the soth day of April. 1850.
and on that day the Government under
the constitution started in operation. and
it is most fervently hoped that the end
cannot be foreseen."