Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 December 1892 — THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. [ARTICLE]

THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.

Historical Facts Cunuueted with the Draft, ingot*that Instrument. Finally it was decided that the federal constitution, aa bow 4»ompletmL should be presented to the Continental Congress, and then refeired to special conventions in all the State* for mtificaton; and that when nine State*, or twothirds of the whole number, should have ratified, it should it once go into operation as betwoen such ratifying Slates. -- - - Whion the great document was at last drafted by Gouvernour Morris, and was all ready for tiic signatures, the aged Franklin produced, a pat/er.wltich was read for hint, os his voice was weak. Some parts of this constitution.'he said, jie did not approve, hut lie was astonished to find it so nearly perfect. Whatever opinion ho had of its errors he would sacrifice to the public good,. and he hoped that every member of the convention who still* had objection* would on this occasion doubt n little of his own infallibility, anil for the sake of unanimity put his name to this instrument, Hamilton added his plea. A few members, he said, by refusing to sign, might do infinite mischief. No man’s ideas could be more remote from the plan than his were known to be; but was it possible for a true patriot tq deliberate between anarchy and convulsion, on the one side, and the chance of good to be expected from this plan, on the other ? From these appeals, as well as from Washington’s solemn warning at the outset, we see ho w distinctly it was realized that the country was on the verge of civil war. Most of the members felt so, but to some the new government seemed fur too strong, and there were three who dreaded despotism even more than anarchy. Mason, Randolph, and Carry refused to sign, though Randolph sought to qualify his refusal by explaining that he could not yet mako tip his mind whether to oppose or defend the constitution when it should bo laid before the people of Virginia. He wished to reserve to himself full liberty of action in the matter. ’That Mason and Gerry, valuable as their service had been in the making of the constitution, would now go home and vigorously oppose it, there was no doubt. Of the delegates wh<? were present on the last day of the convention, all but these

three signed the constitution. In the signatures the twelve States which hail taken part in the work were all represented, Hamilton signing alone for New York. Thus after four months of anxious toil, through the whole of a scorching Philadelphia s»mßißF,aftey eornestbui sometimes bitter discussion, in which more than once the meeting had seemed on the point of breaking up, a colossal work had at last been accomplished, the results of which were most powerfully to affect tho whole future career of tho human race so long as it shall dwell upon the earth. In spite of the highwrought intensity of feeling which had been now and then displayed, grave decorum had ruled tho proceedings, and now, though few were really satisfied, the approach to unanimity was remarkable. When all was over it is said that many of the members seemed awestruck. Washington sat with his head bowed in solemn meditation. The scene was ended by a characteristic bit of homely pleasantry from Franklin. Thirty-three years ago, in tho days of •Csoerge Uv, before the first- urafcfco rings*' of the Revolution had been heard, and when the French dominion of America was still untouched; bofoie the banishment of the Acadians or the rent of. "Craddock, while Waahinirfoa was &ti|l surveying lands in the wilderness, w Idle Madison was playing in fife nursery and Hamilton was not yet born, Franklin had endeavored to bring together the thirteen colonies in a f-dcral union. Of tho famous Albany p’ca of lent, tho first outline of a federal ccia'ituaon for America that was ever made,, he was tho principal if not the sole author. When ho signed his name to the Declaration of Independence in this very room, his years had rounded tho full period of three score and ter. Flo von years more had passed aad he had been spared to seo tho noble aim o' his life accomplished. Thoro wus still, no doubt, a chance of fi.ilur*, but hope now reigned in tho old bread. On the back of tho lTeridwnt's quaint black arm-elm ; r there was a half-sun, w nil its gilded, l v.-s. As the meeting was brenklug tip and Washington ,-rono Franklin pointed to the choii,’cud made ii r. i**? lor prophecy. “As ILr.ve been sitting here all these weeks,” said ho, “I i‘.„vo often wondered whether yonder svi is rising or setting. Hut now I know that it is a rising sun!” —John Fiske, in Atlantic Monthly.