South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-16

for permission 20 keep the slave
trade going till 1905. Ii went hard
With some Of the states 10 give up
tht right 20 impose import duties
on shipments from other, states.
New York was determined TO make
every Connecticut farmer pay inn
port duties on every dozen eggs ne
brought 20 the city 20 sell. and Con-
necticut retaliated by refusing 10
ship any firewood 10 New ! ork. The
privilege Of having little scraps like
this was very precious 10 the 10 free
and mighty independent states. and
this mean compromise was adopted
10 make II possible for the national
government 10 take over commerce
regulations. To her everlasting
honor, Virginia voted against the
compromise and did IL on the ground
10 is almost the only large-mindcd
and righteous act OF any Of the
-redtcr states in the convention.
George Mason said. Every master
of slaves is petty tyrant. They
bring the judgment of heaven on
country. As nations canno, be re-
wdrded or punished in the next
world. they must be in this Bv an
inevitable chain Of cause and effect.
providence punished national sins
with nationally calamities." That
was what Virginia said about slaS cry
in 1891 But New England and the
far south made the bargain. and
II went through against the protest
OF Virginia. The convention hoped
that In 20 years slavery itself would
end.
small states Dissatisfied.
But still the constitution could
hardly have been carried. And so
an arrangement was made 10 secure
the favor of the smaller states by
swing them equal ton in
the senate with the larger states
and making legislation impossible
without concurrent action OF both
bodies. That bought over Rhode
Island and Delaware and other small
states Though Rhode Island backed
out Of the bargain), and without
this nothing could nave been accom-
plished. For our noble constitution
could have been adopted by the far
seeking and unselhsh leadership of
the great states. All the states. large
and small, were too petty too Jeal-
Gus. too selfish. TOO prone TO ask how
their local Interests would be affect
ed
SO the proposed constitution was
submitted FIRST OF all to congress.
Whose voice was FIRST raised regard
ing it? That or Richard Henry Lee.
who IL years before had moved the
adoption of the declaration Of in
dependence. Did ne move 10 adopt
the constitution? He did not He
organized the forces to oppose It
Who stood next 10 him? Nathan
Dane, the able leader of the delega-
tion from Massachusetts. And who
next? The solid delegation from
the great state of New York. They
were not going 10 have any league
of nations
Big States Hold Out.
For eight days the three great
states of New ork, Massachusetts,
and Virginia tried 10 obstruct the
measure. and they were past mas
tiers in all the arts OF obstruction.
But at length the congressional vote
was taken and the constitution was
transmitted to the several states
Pennsylvania was first TO approve
II for submission TO the vote Cor a
constitutional convention. She car
ried il by a vote of 81 10 10 in her
legislature. which had but one house
4 - n D
quorum, and the minority deter
mined TO defeat the constitution by
staying away, two members Of the
minority were taken violently from
their rooms and forcibly held in their
seats in the legislature, where. NUT
tering and using bad language, they
were compelled 10 sit during the
brief space of time required for the
vote. which went through. 40 10 ?.
I'm this dlgnided and far-vlsioned
manner did the first state legislature
/ league of nations.
djIttcr Campaign.
Then followed stump speeches.
I pamphlets. CariCatuTes and vilifca-
ton, which is more instructive than
edifying 20 remember. What need
had the l. colonies for a new con-
stituton? Were not the articles of
/ COME Iteration good enough for US
Had we not under them whipped
Great Britain And who were these
I men no we're trying 10 cut the Is
I colonies loose from their We'll known
policy and send them 10 certain
I wreck IN their folly Washington
7 who was Washington \ good sen
eral maybe. but what did he know
I bout politics, There We're not
lacking those who openly denounced
him as an old fool As for Hamil-
I ton lie was believer in monarchy
anyway Franklin was an old do
tard who had come back from
France 10 bring US into bondage tO
European ideals.
And how was the new govern
I ment 10 work? There would have
I TO ne a president. doubtless: and
what was a president but a puppet
/ kins9
II one Of the states set into trou-
+ BILE must another state set her out
IL Rhode Island continued 10 mud
die matters as she always had done
must NaSsaC husetts stand response
/ Ele- 10 Delaware went TO war .us'