The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-08-24
SATISFYING Old SAM ADAM
By WILLIAM E. BARTON, from the Independe.
Lee Heads Opposition

Lee Heads Opposition
Pennsylvania had been first to ap-
prove the Constitution for submission
to a convention. But it was done,
as will be remembered, against the
protest Of two gentlemen held for
,ibly in their seats and fifteen others
locked in their rooms and refusing
% come out and vote. These prot
sstants organized a vigorous oppo-
sition, and Richard Henry Lee, of
Virginia, became the leader of it; for
Pennsylvania would be the first state
whose convention would vote. Then
rose James Wilson, whom we have
almost forgotten, and met the filibust-
ering and obstructive measures with
,alm reason and skilful parliament
;ary procedure. While Pennsylvania
was held up in this fashion Della
ware hurried vote and approved the
Constitution and New Jersey fol-
owed; but not till Pennsylvania,
forced to vote, adopted the Constitu-
ton by a two-thirds vote of 46 to
%. Only nine states out Of the
thirteen were needed, and one-third
# them approved in December, 1887.
To be sure, James Wilson was
hanged and burned in effigy for
what he did, and the almanac for
1888, containing the text Of the new
Constitution, was publicly curst and
burned with due ceremony in divers
and sundry places in this free and
enlightened land.
Georgia, already committed to the
measure by her slave representation
and the privilege of importing neg
roes for twenty years, ratified the
Constitution on January 2, and Con-
lecticut, grateful that New York
could not tax her potatoes and that
she had as many senators as Mas
sachusetts, followed just a week
later.
Massachusetts, Yields
Massachusetts, was the first of the
'arge states to come in. She came
with great travail of soul! In her
constitutional convention were,
among others, twenty-four ministers,
and to their everlasting honor they
were among the most intelligent and
progressive men there. But it is
doubtful how the matter would have
gone had not old Sam Adams changed
his mind. He sat for three weeks in
the convention and never opened his
mouth, and when he finally spoke it
was to utter three words, 81 am sat-
isfed." On FEBRUARY 6, 1888, Massa-
.husetts ratified the Constitution by
very narrow vote Of 1877 to 1853,
becoming the sixth state to ratify.
Maryland came in on April %, and
New Hampshire's convention met,
but timidly adjourned till June to see
what the other states would do.
South Carolina ratified in May, and
New Hampshire met again in June
and ratified, Virginia following after
q long and bitter debate, making one
more than the necessary nine states.
Most bitter was the controversy in
New York, where Hamilton won a
)elated victory with a small majority
If 80 to 81 on July 26.
Petty as were the large states, the
small ones, which had most to gain
" the union, proved even more petty.
North Carolina did not ratify until
George Washington had been Presi-
dent for some months and Rhode
Island became one of the United
States of America, May 20, 1870.
Had she waited just a little longer
Vermont, which was not one of the
original thirteen, would have gotten
in ahead, of her. For a year and
more it had been Rhode Island uber
allies; but Rhode Island came in,
with many misgivings for her pre-
cious rights, having so many sacred
interests to guard that she needed
two capitals, Providence and New
port.