, 1927-06-15
Edward Black Receives Honorable Mention
For Essay Submitted in National Contest

small states. Some delegates favor
ed one plan, some another. The re-
suit was the first and probably the
greatest compromise for which our
country is famous; which said that
Congress should be composed of two
houses; the upper n or Senate to
be composed of two senators from
each state. irrespective of its size,
who were to have one vote each.
The lower house was to be compos-
ed of representatives from each
state according to population. This
latter body was given exclusive
right to introduce measures for the
raising of revenue.
Another question over slavery
arose. The extreme South desired
to import slaves without restriction
but the other states were opposed
to II. On the other hand the North
wanted the Navigation bills passed
in Congress like any ordinary bill.
The South argued that a two-thirds
vote should be required, for other
wise her agricultural interests
would be enlarged.
There difficulties of opinion brot
about a last. great, compromise.
The South agreed to permit all
Navigation bills to be passed as
other bills, in return for certain
privileges. They were to be allow
cd to import slaves without restric-
ton for the next twenty years, the
tax on these slaves not to exceed
ten dollars each. Also exports
from the United States were never
to De subject to taxation.
Although the above mentioned
difficulties were probably the great
est with which the trainers of the
Constitution had to contend, others
arose over various problems. One
of these was. the method of election
and the tenure of office of the
president: but we are proud t say,
that all such matters were wisely
adjusted and remain unchanged
to the present time.
After many weeks of earnest and
diligent labor. the Constitution was
completed and signed by delegates
from twelve states. Then came
the most trying problem of all:
getting the people to accept it.
This was to prove no easy task.
Nine states had to ratify it in order
to put it into operation, between
the states, thus accepting it. AS
stated elsewhere the Philadelphia
Convention had no legal right to
frame this new document. This
naturally prejudiced people against
it. The majority of the popula-
ton did not fully appreciate the
evils of the Articles of Confedera-
ton and even those who did were
SO attached to their state govern
ment that they were 10th to surren-
der any of its authority to al
National government. These facts
made the outlook for ratification
anything but bright.
But on the other hand, the auth
ors of the Constitution were men in
whom the public had confidence.
Such men Is Washington, Hamilton,
Madison, Franklin, Robert Morris,
Roger Sherman and others had SER
we'd their country wisely and well
on many occasions. This was the
greatest factor of all in favor of
ratification.
These men and other able LEAD
ers and public men, travelled about
the country espousing the cause of
the Constitution. Powerful speeches
were made and brilliant and IN
lvincing arguments were published
In it's behalf.
Those opposed to it put forth
great effort to prevent the accep-
lance of his new untried method
of government. Many such men
were in the Legislature of the sew
eral states and were able to WELD
much influence against it, since it
was the legislatures who were to
accept or reject 1t.
After long and occasional bitter
contests the new Constitution
emerged victorious. What a won
derful victory 1t was! How far
reaching were the results! Little
did our forefathers dream of the
stupendous influence the results OF
their labor would WELD, not only
in the building up of this nation
but in the uplifting and betterment
of the whole world,
The present generation is faced