The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-07-26

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bring peace and accommodation.
When Maryland's suggestion was
read in the Virginian assembly, there
was prompt acquiescence. Virginia
asked all the states Of the Union Jan
uary, 1850 to send delegates to gen.
eral conference to be held at Annapo-
lis on the first Monday in September,
to consider and recommend such addi-
lions to the powers Of congress as
might conduce to q better regulation
of trade.
Washinaton's Grave Charge.
"There Is more wickedhess than ig-
norance In tho conduct of the states,
or, in other words, in the conduct OF
those who have too much influence In
the government Of Them" Washington
wrote holly to Henry Lee, upon hear
ing to what lengths contempt Of the
authority Of congress had been car
ried; land until the curtain IS with
drawn, and the private views and self
ish principles upon which these men
act are exposed to public notice, I
have little hope Of amendment without
another convulsion."
Perhaps the conference at Annapo-
lis would withdraw the curtain and
give the light leave to work puri'
f1cation; and he waited anx1ously for
the issue.
The States Apathetie.
But when the commissioners assem-.
.bled they found only five states repre-
sented-Virginia, Pennsylvania, Della
eware, New Jersey and New York.
Maryland had suddenly fallen indif
ferent, and had not appointed dele.
gates. New Hampshire. Massachu.
sets, Rhode Island and North Caro-
lima had appointed delegates. but they
had not taken the trouble to come
Connecticut, South Carolina and Geor
gia had ignored the call altogether.
The delegates who were in attend.
ance, besides, had come with only the
most jealousy restricted powers; only
New Jersey, in her great uneasinesa
at being neighbor to the powerful
states of New York and Pennsylvania,
had authorized her representatives to
consider how far q uniform system
In their commercial regulations and
other important matters might be nee.
essary to the common interest and
permanent harmony Of the several
states
Hamilton's Stirring Appeal.
The other delegates had no such
scope; all deemed it futile to attempt
their business In so small a conven.
ton; and 1t was resolved to make an.
other opportunity.
Alexander Hamilton Of New York
drew up their address to the states,
and in it made bold to adopt New Jer.
sey's hint, and ask for conference
which should not merely consider
questions of trade, but also devise
such further provisions as should ap-
pear to them necessary to render the
constitution Of the federal govern.
ment adequate to the exigencies of the
Union"
Hamilton held with Washington for
q national government.
Congress Indifferent.
He had been born and bred as a lad,
in the West Indies, and had never
received the local pride of any colony.
state into his blood. He had served
with the army, too, in close intimacy
with Washington, and, though twenty.
i've years his captains junior, had
seen as clearly as he saw the deep
hazards OF nations birth.
The congress was Indifferent, II not
hostile, to the measures which the ad.
dress proposed; and the states would
have acted on the call as slackly as be.
fore, had not the winter brought with
1t something like q threat OF social
revolution, and fairly startled them
out of their negligent humor.
Tho Rebellion Of shays.
The central counties Of Massachu-
setts broke into violent rebellion, un-
der one Shays, veteran of the Revolu-
tion-not to reform the government,
but to rid themselves of 1t altogether;
to shut the courts and escape the pay
ment Of debts and taxes.
The insurgents worked their will for
weeks together; drove out the officers
of the law, burned and plundered at
pleasure through whole districts, liv-
ing upon the land like hostile army,
and were brought to a reckoning at
last only when a force thousands
strong had been levied against them.
States Sympathize With Shays.
The contagion spread to Vermont
and New Hampshire; and, even when
the outbreak had been crushed, the
states concerned were lrresolute in
the punishment of the leaders.
Rhode Island declared her sympathy
with the insurgents; Vermont offered
them asylum; Massachusetts brought
the leaders to trial and convic:
ton, only to pardon and set them free
again.
Congress dared do no more than
make covert preparation to check q
general rising.
Washington's Indignant Protest. :.
You talk, my good SIR wrote
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