Smyrna times., 1943-12-02
DELAWARE DAY
TUESDAY, DEC. Z
GOv.BacOn, Commission Ask
Citizens to Participate
i'm Celebration
RICH IN HISTORY

commemorating the 156th anniver-
sary of this states ratification of
the Federal Constitution. The spec
ial Commission appointed by the
Governor, E. Paul Burkholder,
chairman, Rev. John j. Sheehy,
and Howard A. Davis, ask Della
ware citizens to participate in some
program marking the day. Fol-
lowing is the proclamation: Where
as, on December Z, 1887, Delaware
became the first State to ratify the
Federal Constitution; and Whereas,
The General Assembly of State of
Delaware by Resolution duly ap-
proved on the twenty-ninth day of
November, A. D., 1888, authorized
and directed the Governor to issue
a proclamation calling attention to
the significance of this historical
event; and Whereas, This march of
freedom begun by Delaware was
challenged by the totalitarian ma
tions of the world one hundred and
fifty-four years later to the day;
Now, Therefore, I, Walter w.
Bacon, Governor of the State of
Delaware, in accordance with the
authority in me vested, do herbey
designate Tuesday, December Z,
1943, as Delaware Day and ask the
citizens of the State of Delaware to
pay tribute to our forefathers for
the part they played in the found
ing of our country and to re-dedi-
cate themselves anew in the strug-
gle for the preservation of our ma
ton and it's way of life during
these trying times. / further sug-
gest that flags of our State and
Nation be displayed and that suit
able exercises in commemoration
of this important event be staged
in all schools, churches and civic
organizations. In Testimony
Whereof, I, Walter w. Bacon, Gov
ernor of the State of Delaware,
have hereunto set my hand and
caused the Great Seal of the said
State to be hereunto affixed, at Do
yer, this twenty-ninth day of No
vember, in the year of Our Lord
one thousand nine hundred and for
ty-three and of the Independence of
the United States of America, the
one hundred and sixty-eighth. By
the Governor, Walter w. Bacon.
Secretary of State, William j..
Storey.
Historical Sketch
In December, 1887, 156 years
ago, a group of thirty deputies, ten
from each County especially elect
ed for that purpose, met in Dover
to consider the ratification of the
Federal Constitution. This Consti-
tuition had been prepared by Con-
vention representing the Colonies
that had gained their independence
from the Mother Country. In its
call the Convention was charged
with the task of amending the
Articles of Confederation under
which the Colonies had been gov
erned since their ratification in
1871. But, after due consideration,
it was decided that it would be bet
ter to prepare an entirely new doc
ument. Therefore, from May II,
to September II, 1887 in Independ-
ence Hall, in the City of Philadel-
phia, this Convention worked under
the leadership of George Washing
ton of Virginia, and produced a
completely new Constitution. Pro-
vision was made in this document
that it should become effective
when ratified by the Conventions
of nine States as between the
States so ratifying the same.
Battle Began 1887
The battle for ratification began
in the Fall of 1887, and it was a
battle indeed. Rhode Island for
sometime refused even to call the
required Convention, and did not
ratify until May 20, 1890, and then
only by a vote of "a to 80. 1t will
be recalled that no representative
from Rhode Island signed the Con-
stitution submitted to the States
for ratification. New York ratified
on July 26, 1888, by a vote of 80
to %. In Pennsylvania, which was
the second State to ratify, five days
after Delaware, enough delegates
to keep a quorum were forcibly
held in their seats until the vote
could be taken. In Massachusetts,,
the majority of delegates elected
were against the Constitution for
reasons well stated by a country
member: "These lawyers, and men
Of learning and moneyed men that
talk so finely, and gloss over mat
ters so smoothly, and make us poor
illiterate people swallow down the
pill, expected to get into Congress
themselves; they expect to be the
managers of this Constitution, and
get all the power and all the money
into their hands, and they will
swallow up all of us little folks,
(CQnfinued IN PpOa Tour1