The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1919-06-13

ohiy idiBt-lllHutu ana righteous act
Of any OF the greater states in the con-
ventlon. George Mason said. Every
master of slaves is petty tyrant.
They bring the Judgment OF heaven on
a country. As nations cannot be. re-
warded or punished in the<next world,
they must be In this. By an inevitable
chain OF cause and effect, Providence
punished national sins with national
calamities." That was what Virginia
said about slavery in 1887 But New
| England and the far South made the
bargain, and 1t went through against
the protest Of Virginia The conven-
ton hoped that in twenty years slav-
cry itself would end
Small States Dissatisfied.
| But stin the Constitution could
hardly have been carried And so an
arrangement was made to secure the
| favor of the smaller states by giving
thsm equal representation in the Sem
ate with the larger states and making
| legislation impossible without concur
rent action OF both bodies. That bought
over Rhode Island ana Delaware and
other small states Though Rhode Is
land backed out of the bargain), and
without this nothing could have-been
accomplished. For our noble Consti-
tuition could not have been adopted by
the far seeking and unselfish leader
ship Of the great states. All the states,
large and small, were too petty, too
jealous too selfish too prone to ask
how their local interests would be
affected
So the proposed Constitution was
submitted first Of all to- Congress-.
Whose voice was first raised regarding
III That of Richard Henry Lee who
eleven years before had moved the
adoption OF the Declaration OF indie
pendence. Did he, move to adopt the
Constitution? He did not He organ
lZed the forces to oppose IT, Who
stood next to him? Nathan Dane, the
able leader OF the delegation from
Massachusetts And who next? The
solid delegation from the great State
of New York. They were not going To
have any league of nations.
Big States Hold Out.
For eight days the three great states
OF New York. Massachusetts, and Vir-
ginia cried to obstruct the measure,
and they were past masters in all the
arts OF obstruction. But at length the
Congressional vote was taken ard the
Constitution was transmitted TO the
several states
Pennsylvania was first TO approve it
for submission TO the vote for a Con
stitutional convention She carried II
by vote OF as to 10 in her Legisla
ture, which had but one house As AZ
the minority determined to defeat the
Constitution by staying away. two
members OF the minsritg were taken
violently from their rooms and forcibly
held in their seats in the Legislature,
where, mutterins and using bad Lam
guage, they We're compelled to sh dur
ing the brief space OF time required
FOR tho vote, witch went through, a.
TO 2. In this dignified and far-visioned
manner did the FIRST State Legislature
go on record M favor of the neY league
OF nations.
Bitter Campaign.
Then followed stump speeches. pam
phlets, oaricatures and utilization.
which is more instructive than edify-
ing to remember. What need had the
lAlNtNn NpiOlucs lui u now NDIlhh-
tutions We're not the Articles OF Con-
federation good enough for us? Had
we nob under them whipped GAsat
Htain2 And who were these men
who wese trying to cut tho Thirteen
Colonies loose from their well known
policy and send them to certain wreck
In their folly? Washingtan-vho was
Washington A good general, maybe,
but what did no know about politics?
There were not lacking those who OPP
emily denounced him as an old fool. Az
for Hamilton. he was q believer In
monarchy anyway Frannm was an
old dotard. who had come back from
France go bring US into bondage to
European ideals.
And how was the new government
to woJk2 There would have to be a
president, doubtless, and what was a
president but a puppst king7
III one OF the states got ipto trouble
must another state get her out? Ii
Rhode Island continued u middle
matters as she always had done, must
Masachltetts stand responsible? n
Delaware went TO war must New York
send soidiSrs to defend her?
Lee feads OPposWton-
Pennsylvania had been first to APP
pi'rve tins Constitution for submission
to convention. But 1t was done, as
will he remeihbered against the pro-
test OF two gentlemen held turcihly in
their seats and fifteen Others locked
in their rooms and refusing to come
out and vote. These professionals or
ganized q vigorous opposition, and
Richard Henry Lee, OF Virginia. be-
came the leader OF It; for Itennsylyania
would be the frat state whose convsn-
ton would vote. Then rose James
Wilson, whom we have almost forgot
ten, and met the filibusteriRg and OBJ
struetive measures with calm reason
and skiIful parliamentary procedure.
While Pennsylvania was held up in
this fashion Delaware hurried vote
and approved the Constitution. and
New Jersey followed: but not till
Pennsylvania. forced to vote, adopt
ed the Constitution by a two-thirds
vote of - to - Only nine states out
OF the thirteen we're needed, and one
third OF them approved IN December.
1897.
To belsMe. James Wilson was hang
ed and burned In effigy for THAT he
did. and the almanac for 1888. contain
ing the text of the new Constitution,
was publicly curst and burned with
due ceremony In divers and suadry
places In this free apd enlightened
land