The Omaha morning bee., 1924-03-10

reason was we'll illustrated. In the
Massachusetts, convention when 1t
met the language of the anti-federal-
| lists was the language Of frenzy. They
attacked the makers and the support
ers of the constitution more than the
document itself. In fact, few outside
of the opposition leaders seemed to
know what was in the instrument.
and this was true generally in the
country. The lawyers, one member
charged. were to be the beneficiaries
Of the new government. THE men
of learning, the moneyed men. the fine
| takers" he said, make us poor,
| illiterate people swallow down the
| pill. They mean to get all the
| money into their own hands. and then
| they will swallow up us little folk
like the great Leviathan. Mr.. Presi-
dent: yes. just as the whale swallowed
up JONAH
| Another member, waving away the
great names paraded by the federal
| lists, declared in this matter he would
| not trust n flock OF Moseses."
A standing army, racks and gibbets
would be the mildest of the ''instru-
ments OF discipline" the federal gov
ernment would employ. it was pre-
dicted. Had | a voice like Jove.
thundered another delegate. II would
proclaim II throughout the world; and
had | an arm like Jove, / would hurl
from the globe those villains that
would dare to establish in our country
a standing army"
The result was long in doubt. and
the slender victory the federalists won
when they carried the constitution by
majority OF 20 was only gained by
their consent to accept some amend
ments to be proposed to congress.
Even this compromise was denounced
as the work OF "Judases."
Whoever walks down Federal street
| In Boston today can reflect that IT
acquired its present name from the
circumstance that this convention
was held in a building that stood on
that thoroughfare. then called LONG
Lane.
Massachusetts, ratified in February
| 1888. and Maryland, South Carolina
New Hampshire and Virginia follow.
ed In the spring and summer Of that
year; and although the new roof
was now a certainty, all eyes turned
on New York, where toryism and
anti-federallsm were known to be ir
a majority.
Led by Governor Clinton. the com
bined enemies Of the constitution
gained clear control OF the conven
tion. but they were in no hurry Il
act. They didn't want to come into
the union, but they were not at al
sure that they dared to stay out.
The battle for ratification was le,
by Hamilton. His arguments wer,
unanswerable, but Clinton had what
In politics. Is more effective than th'
most convincing arguments. Clintor
mad the votes. He had, moreover,
kind of argument that struck nearer
home 10 the self interest Of the state
New York had the chief port OF entr,
for the states and their carryin,
trade was largely in its hands. II New
| New York stayed out and could in
duce Virginia and North Carolina, tn,
great planter states, to stay out. too
they could join together and, takin,
In territory to the west, form n leagu,
of their own that would be a for
midable rival to the United States.
Such was Clinton's plan. Governo
Randolph of Virginia had refused I.
sign the constitution at PHILADELPHIA
and Clinton believed he would b.
against its ratification at Richmond
The New York governor broached hi
plan 10 the Virginia governor, an,
meantime the New York convention
marked time. But communication wa,
slow; Randolph. as II proved, was no
an irreconcilable; he came round I,
the Virginia convention. and Will
Clinton was indulging his dream yir
ginia ratified.
New York WAS now out on a limb
To stay out of the union alone. o.
with only North Carolina and Rhod
Island to keep her company. mean
commercial ruin. The United State
would erect customs barriers agains
N faa n orfno1tv JiI yot.- -