The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-07-01

1.-THE Hanson thesis, which has had its own
variations in the course of its career has now
assumed substantially this form: John Hanson
was the first President Of the United States,
because he was the first President of congress
under the articles of confederation, the first
stitulion of the United States. This is the basic
argument of the Hanson proponents, and it is
TO this argument that shall, in the main,
devote examination.
was John Hanson actually the first Presi-
dent Of congress under the articles Of confed-
Grafton? Those articles, it should be recalled.
were adopted by congress on November Is, III,
and two days later were sent forth TO the
eral states with a plea for their speedy adop-
ton. Some of the states readily assented, others
ratified with certain provisos, while still others.
led by Maryland, held back until their views
with regard to the disposition of the western
lands should be agreed to.
by July, ITS, all the states except Mary
land New Jersey, and Delaware had ratified
the articles as they stood and a few months
later New Jersey and Delaware also came for
ward with their notifications; but Maryland
stood stoutly by her demand respecting the west
ern lands (and most praiseworthS demand it
was), and not until her demands had been es-
sentially complied with did that state agree to
ratify.
The final step taken on the first of
March, 1871, when the delegates of Maryland in
pended their signatures to the articles of con-
federation.
AT the time of Maryland's ratification of the
confederation Samuel Huntington of Connecticut
president of congress and had been since
September 2S, 1779. There was no new election
of a president of the body at that time, but on
July 6, 1871, President Huntington gave notice
TO congress that the state Of his health would
not permit him to continue longer in the exer-
nF he Jr1Tio Of praS md IN,
July 9 congress chose as his successor Samuel
Johnston of North Carolina.
ION the following day. however Johnston pre-
sented his declination, offering such reasons as
were satisfactory whereupon Thomas Mexican
of Delaware elected President Gully 10Y.
Mexican served as President of congress until
the election of John Hanson, on Monday, No
vember 3.
1T is to be observed. then, that two Presi-
dents, Huntington and Mexican, had served be-
tween March l and November 3, 1871, and an
other had been chosen but had declined the Of
fee. A chief question therefore is whether the
Presidents between March 1 and November 5,
1871, served under the articles Of confederation,
whether John Hanson was the first TO serve
under and by virtue Of That instrument. The
question hinges on whether the articles Of con-
federation were actually in force during that
interval"
Doctor Burnett declares that they were actu-
ally in force. He continues:
ITO contend, as do the protagonists in behalf
of John Hanson the first President of the
United States, that the articles Of confederation
did not come into force until the first Monday
in November, 11S1 is TO contradict official record
and official Interpretation.
"As instance of the lengths to which this
contention has been carried, recent biogra-
pher of John Hanson, after asserting that the
election of John Hanson of Maryland was the
first act Of congress of the United States. on
its first day of existence proceeds TO lay down
this strange doctrine:
Between the signing of the articles and this
first Monday in November no government was
actually in existence, though congress continued
to transact business simply because there
a great deal of pressing business TO transact
He then remarks that, during those few months
there was a provisional president called Thomas
Mexican, who elected with the definite
understanding that he 10 retire with the
formation of the first government November 81
1T is scarcely necessary to point out that,
aside from the evidences of fact already adj
duced the argument that no government was
actually in existence from March / to Novem-
Der 5, ISL is fallacious and entirely contrary
to long accepted legal Interpretation.
1T is true enough that, prior to the adoption
Of the articles of confederation, there
written document accepted as constitution or
fundamental instrument Of government Of the
United States, but numerous governments have
fourished and do flourish without any such
written instrument. 1t may not be amiss, In
this connection to point out that the congress
itself, on the thirteenth Of September. 1779,
laid down the doctrine that these states now