South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-16
Satisfying Old Sam Adams
BY WILLIAM {. BARTON
From L. Indepcndcnt.l


In 1875 there was an alliance OF
10 small states. who fought Ger
man king then reigning in Great
Britain. in order 20 make one cor
ner Of the world safe for democracy.
That war came 10 a successful ter
mination. and then the question be
came a pressing one whether de
mocracy was safe for the would
For several years there was a s-taa-
ton closely akin 20 anarchy. After
several years OF uncertainty and
near-anarchy. 81 was decided 20 try
the experiment OF creating a league
Of 3 small nations banded together
20 preserve peace and promote the
common welfare. In order 20 Sc
cure these ends. the federal consti-
tuition was prepared and submitted
10 the states; the same instrument
which constitutes the model for the
proposed League OF Nations.
Secret Meetings.
The constitution convention met
IN independence hall, with George
Washington in the chair The
EftENAAkn were AAfaA III Hf-fafN. anu
what was done was u,- revealed
for 80 years. when the journals kept
by James Madison were published.
u is well that the people did not
know from day 20 day what was
happening. To is well that the three
great states OF Massachusetts. New
York and Virginia did not know
how their precious Liberties were
being tempered with. or they might
have called their delegates home II
was felt by the convention that IL
the discussions were secret. the del
egates could wrangle with perfect
freedom, and II they came finally 10
agreement the - states would have
only the agreement to consider and
not any OF the material OF the de
bate. That was fortunate If the
IL states. and especially the three
or four largest ones, had been able
10 fling into the faces Of their re-
turning delegates some of the things
which they had said on the floor
saying 10 them. "Why did you vote
for an instrument OF which you
yourself said this" the IS colonies
might have gone 10 the bow-wovvs
and the bolsheviki-
Constitution Submitted.
Finally. the constitution was
adopted by the convention. and sub
mitted 20 the 13 states.
And they all saw what a noble in
strument IL was. and FASTENED "a
adopt IT.
Not quite in that fashion
But the great states were first Il
see how great an instrument it was
Not exactly.
when George Washington went
back 10 Virginia and submitted the
fruit OF his toll. Patrick Henry rose
in heat and shouted. Even from tn,
man who saved us by his vaIor.
Will demand a reason for his con
duet Why does this instrument
say. We. the people, Why does il
not say. We the states 20 " And
Patrick Henry was not alone in his
demand.
How did the constitution Of the
United States get itself adopted? on
Is merits? Well. hardly. It's adop-
ton was the result OF a number OF
compromises and Of sops thrown &c
Cerberus.
Southern States PlaCated.
First OF all, the favor OF the
southern states was secured by Civ.
.ng them more than their share Of
delegates in congress. They wer,
permitted representation not only or
their free citizens. but a representa-.
ion. in reduced proportion, on then
slaves. That insured the favor. o.
he Carolinas and Georgia. and Vir
yinia acted as kind of stakeholder
IN that arrangement; for Virginia
while a slave state, was represented
n the convention by men who earn
astly desired the end of slavery. TIL,
.hree states south Of Virginia wer,
determined never to accept the con
stitution unless they secured repre-
sentation for their slaves. and with
out those three states the consti
tuition could not have been adopted
So they were first won over by thi
compromise Five slaves were per
nitted 20 count as many as thre
white men. and Georgia and tn
carolinas became advocates of tn
constitution
New England's Bargain.
The next thing was a bargain be
tween New England and the soutl
by which the new federal govern