Carbon County news., 1937-09-10


ceptable to everyone.
At last the finished product was
given to a COMMITTEE on style
to polish up its phraseology. Out
of that committee, headed by
Gouvereur Morris of Pennsyl-
vania, had come the sonorous,
"We, the people of the United
States, in order to form a more
perfect Union, etc., etc." as the
preamble of the completed doc
ument which they would now be
asked to sign on this seventeenth
day of September in the Year Of
our Lord, 1887.
There are still a few who are
unwilling to sign. Morris wins
over some of them by suggesting
that they approve of the docu-
ment as representatives of their
states, even though they may dis
approve of it personally. Three
of them are obdurate. Elbridge
Gerry of Massachusetts and Ed
nund Randolph and George Ma
son Of Virginia still will not sign.
Doubts and Fears.
But there are enough of the
others who will sign to guarantee
that their labors have not been in
vain. Even so, they are none too
sure that they have wrought well
and, instead of a feeling of Ella
ton that their task is ended,
there is an atmosphere Of doubt
and gloom in the room as the
convention adjourns. That atmos-
phere is reflected in the letter
which George Washington will
write to the Continental Congress
in submitting the final draft of
the Constitution. In it he said:
In Convention, September II, 1887.
SIR, we have now the honor to submit
to the consideration of the United States
in Congress assembled, that Constitution
which has appeared to us the most ad.
NlSGdUIGs
The friends of our country have long
seen and desired, that the power of max
ing war, peace and treaties, that of levy.
ing money and regulating commerce,
and the correspondent executive and
judicial authorities should be fully and
effectuaIly vested in the general govern.
ment of the Union: but the improperly
of delegating such extensive trust to
one body of men is evident-Hence re-
suits the necessity of different organi.
cation.
It is obviously impracticable in the
federal government of these States to
secure all rights of independent sover-
eighty to each, and yet provide for the
into society, must give up
share Of liberty to preserve the rest.
The magnitude Of the sacrifice must de.
pend as well on situation and circum.
stance, as on the object to be obtained.
It is at all times difficult to draw with
precision the line between those rights
which must be surrendered, and those
which may be reserved: and on the pres
ent occasion this difficulty was increased
by difference among the several States
as to their situation, extent. habits. and
particular interests.
In all our deliberations on this subject
we kept steadily in our view, that which
appears to us the greatest interest of
every true American, the consolidation
Of our Union, in which is involved our
felicity, safety, perhaps our
national existence. This important con.
seriously and deeply i'm |
pressed on our minds, led each State |
N the Convention to be less rigid on |
points of inferior magnitude, than might |
nave been otherwise expected; and thus |
he Constitution, which we now present, |
S the result of spirit of amity, and of |
hat mutual Difference and concession |
which the popularity of our political |
situation rendered indispensable.
That 1t will meet the full and entire |
APPRECIATION of every State Is not per. |
laps to be expected; but each will doubt. |
ess consider. that had her interests been |
alone consulted, the consequences might |
lave been particularly disagreeable or |
INJURIOUS to others: that it is liable to |
IS few exceptions as could reasonably |
laVe been expected, we hope and be.
ieve, that 1t may promote the lasting |
Welfare OF that country so dear to us
I'll, and secure her freedom and happi.
less, Is our most ardent wish.
With great respect. We have the honor
o be, SIR, Your Exce1lency's Most
)bedient and humble Servants.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT,
BY unanimous Order of the Convention.
AS the last signature had been
fixed, Benjamin Franklin had
'ointed to the sun that was paint
d on the back of George Wash
ngton's chair and said to a fell
ow-delegate: painters have al