Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1887 — RETROSPECTIVE. [ARTICLE]

RETROSPECTIVE.

The Constitution-Makers and Their T*ik. As Independence Hall was the birthplace of the liberties of the colonies, so also was it the birth-chamber of the nationality of the confederated States. For it was here, in the summer of 1787, that the convention met to devise a better form of government than the confederation, which was little more than a thread holding together the conflicting interests of the different sections. The convention met in May, with delegates representing all the states except New Hampshire and Rhode Island. George Washington, one of the delegates representing Virginia, was chosen President. It was a wonderful bcdy of men, chosen to grapple with questions which had never been solved, indeed, never before been confronted by statesmen. Happily they were the intellectual aristocracy of the democratic colonies, with character and mental qualities suited to their task. Among them were Hamilton, by right the father of the Constitution, a man preeminently a statesman, broad-minded philosopher, and practical, high-minded gentleman. Franklin, than whom none was more experienced in the affairs of state, Washington, Madison, Gouverneur Morris, Rufus King, Robert Morris, Pinckney, an 1 Randolph. Active work was begun by the convention on May 24, but little progress was made for some time. The convention was from the start perplexed by doubts. Says a historian of the Constitution: “The framers of the Constitution assembled for their work amidst difficulties and embarrassments of an extraordinary nature. No general concert of opinion had taken place as to what was possible to be done. Whether it were wise to hold a convention; whether it were even legal to hold it, and whether, if held, it would be likely to result in anything useful to the country, were points upon which the most opposite opinions prevailed in every State of the Union." The convention had no precedents to guide its action ; the diversity of opinions and interests of the colonies represented by the delegates made it seem probable that no agreement could be reached, and at last a final adjournment was proposed. Dr Franklin, then in his 82d year, arose, and, addressing the President, said: “How has it happened, sir, that while groping so long in the dark, divided in our opinions, and now ready to separate without accomplishing the great objects of our meeting, we have hitherto not once thought of applying to the Father of Light to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard and graciously answered." The venerable philosopher then moved that the daily sessions of the convention be opened with prayer, but his motion does not appear to have prevailed. A final adjournment was not taken, however, and the convention pursued its work. In September all the provisions of the proposed constitution were referred to a committee for revision. This work was completed on Sept 12 and then ratified by the convention. Copies were sent to the several States for ratification, and in the spring of 1789 the new republic was an accomplished fact. A Century’s Growth. A hundred years are gone since Washington promulgated the American Constitution, and the question arises, by what standards shall its wisdom be measured? It was ordained at a time when the population of the country was less than 4,U0j,000, and thirteen States constituted the Republic. It may be well for the reader to have before him the figures showing the growth of population, unprecedented in the history of nations: Year. Population. 1790 3,929,214 1800 5,308,483 1810 7,293,881 1820 9,663,822 183012,866,020 184017,069,453 1850 23,191,876 186031,143,321 187033,558,371 188<)50,155,783 1887 (estimated'6o,ooo,ooo During this growth the Constitution, the organic law of the Republic, has been equal to every emergency. But this is not the only test of the apparently more than human wisdom of the American Constitution. With an increase of population there came a demand for additional States. Kentucky and Vermont in 1791, Tennessee in 17.16, Ohio in 1801, Louisiana in 1812, Indiana in 1816, Mississippi in 1817, Hlinois in 1818, Alabama in 1819, Maine in 1820, Missouri in 1821, Arkansas in 1836, Michigan in 1837, Florida, lowa, and Texas in 184', Wisconsin in 1847, California in 1850, Minnesota in 1858, Oregon in 1859, Kansas in 1871, West Virginia in 1862, Nevada in 1864, Nebraska in 1867, and Colorado in 1975. These twenty-five empire States took their places in the great Republic and on the flag of the nation. The Republic had marched across the continent, but the Constitution extended its mighty arms and held them all fast in protecting embrace. There it stands, the sublimest monument to human wisdom in the matter of government the world ever beheld. Original Draft of the Constitution. In gathering the material for a life of Edmund Randolph Mr. Moncure D. Conway came upon what seems to have been the original draft of the Constitution of the United States. It was found among the papers of his friend George Mason, author of the Bill of Rights. The manuscript is liberally annotated by another member of the convention, James McClure. Scribner’s for September contains an article on the subject from the pen of Mr. Conway, also a foe simile of the manuscript. So far as Mr. Gladstone was right in calling the Constitution a birth from the brain of man the credit therefor seems to belong more to Edmund Randolph than to any other man. Then and Now. When the Constitution was framed 100 years ago there were thirteen States in the Union. Now there are thirty-eight, and one vast Territory of 600,000 inhabitants. The population of the United States in li9o, when the first census was taken, was 3,929,214. It is now nearly or quite 60,000,0)0. There were then about 1,500 Federal officeholders in the country. There are now more than 100,000. The total net ordinary receipts of the United States in 1792 were §3,661,006. In 1886 they were §336.439,000. The total net ordinary expenditures in 1792 were §8,269,000. In 1886 they were §242,183,000.

“Paradoxical as it may seem,” replied Snaggs, “a stag party is one to ■which the dears are not admitted. ” Pittsburg Chronicle.