Resource Center OLLibrary
|
1787] |
|
173 |
prosperous states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan,
Wisconsin, and eastern Minnesota, -- and thus get money to pay off
the war debt of the Revolution. That belief helped to hold the
country together.
196. The Articles of Confederation are set
aside and a New Constitution adopted, 1787. Still, even with
this hope to brighten the sky, the outlook was dark enough.
Washington, Franklin, Madison, Hamilton, -- in a word, the ablest
men of that day, -- thought the prospect anything but encouraging.
It seemed to them that unless we secured a better form of
government than that which the defective Articles of Confederation
provided (§ 192) the newborn republic was likely to die in
its cradle.
At last (1787) a convention of fifty-five
members was held in Philadelphia to make a new Constitution.
Washington presided over this convention, and a majority of the
state legislatures sent their chief men to take part in it. The
convention held a secret session of nearly four months, and had
many stormy debates before the articles of the new Constitution
could be agreed upon. At one time Benjamin Franklin (§§
135, 152, 157, 163, 183) and other eminent men nearly despaired of
any successful result. But by three judicious
compromises1 the great work was finally
1 The first
important question of debate was between the delegates from the
small states and those from the large ones in regard to
representation in Congress. If the representation rested wholly on
population, then the large states would, of course, have entire
control.
This question was settled by a compromise or
mutual concession by which it was finally agreed that Congress
should consist of two houses: (1) the House of Representatives
chosen by the people of the different states and representing
them; (2) the Senate, or Upper House, consisting of two members
from each state. (See the Constitution, in the Appendix, Article
1, Sections 2 and 3.) In the Senate the small states stand equal
to the large ones.
The second great question was whether
slaves should be counted in reckoning the number of the population
with reference to representation in Congress. The North insisted
that they should not; the South (where slaves were very numerous),
that they should. The contest on this point was long and bitter.
Finally, it was agreed that three fifths of the slaves should be
counted with reference to both representation and taxation (though
the slaves themselves were of course neither represented nor
taxed). (See the Constitution, Article 1, Section 2, Paragraph 3,
"Three fifths of all other persons." These "other persons"
were slaves.)
The third and last question was in regard
to commerce and to protection of slaveholders. It was agreed that
Congress should have the entire control of commerce (the states
had had it before). (See the Constitution, Article 1, Section 8,
Paragraph 3.) Furthermore, it was agreed that the importation of
slaves might be prohibited after 1808. (See the Constitution,
Article 1, Section 9, Paragraph 1; these slaves are called
"such persons." The word "slave"
|
174 |
|
[1787 |
completed. The opening lines of the Constitution show first,
who made it, and secondly, why they made it. It begins with these
ever-memorable words:
After the convention
had accepted the new Constitution, it was sent to the different
states to be voted upon by the people. Those who favored it called
themselves Federalists, while those who opposed it, because they
thought it gave the national government too much power, called
themselves Anti-Federalists.
THE "SHIP OF STATE"
But in time all of the
states decided to adopt it. The man who did the most to convince
them of the wisdom of such a course
does not occur in the Constitution.) It was also
agreed that runaway slaves should be returned to their owners.
(See the Constitution, Article IV, Section 2, Paragraph 3, "No
person [i.e. slave] held to service,"
etc.) The first Fugitive-Slave Law was passed in 1793.
If the compromises between the small states and
the large, and the North and South, had not been made, the
Constitution would have been rejected, and we should probably have
split up into two or three hostile republics; even after its
adoption it took the better part of a year to get the states to
ratify it.
|
1789 ] |
|
175 |
was Alexander Hamilton1 of New York. When the city
of New York celebrated the adoption of the Constitution (1788) a
ship on wheels representing the "Ship of State," or the
Union,2 was drawn through the streets by ten milk-white
horses. Hamilton's name was painted in large letters on the
platform upholding the vessel.
197. What the New Constitution did for the
Country. The Constitution went into effect in 1789. It
accomplished six great objects, not one of which was provided for
in the old Articles of Confederation (§ 192).
I. It gave the nation a head, the President of
the United States, and made it his duty to see that the laws made
by Congress should be faithfully enforced.
2. It gave Congress full power to raise money by
taxation to carry on and defend the national government.
3. It gave every citizen of the United States
equal rights in all the states, with liberty to buy and sell in
all parts of the country. This secured freedom of trade throughout
the Union.
4. It gave Congress the control of all foreign
commerce, and the sole right to levy duties or taxes on imported
goods.
5. It gave Congress the entire control of all
the territory and public lands of the nation.
6. It established the Supreme Court of the
United States with full authority to decide all questions and
disputes in regard to the powers of the national government.
1 Alexander Hamilton
was born in the West Indies, 1757. He went to New York in 1772 and
entered Columbia College. He took part in the Revolution and
gained the friendship and esteem of Washington. After the
Revolution he earnestly advocated the forming and adoption of the
Federal Constitution. As Secretary of the Treasury of the United
States he put the nation on a permanent financial basis. Many good
judges consider him the ablest man who ever occupied that office.
He restored public confidence and helped to establish trade and
industry by his successful advocacy of the first tariff and the
first United States Bank. Daniel Webster said of him: "He smote
the rock of the national resources, and abundant streams of
revenue gushed forth. He touched the dead corpse of Public Credit
and it sprung upon its feet." Hamilton was killed by Aaron Burr
(§ 219) in a duel in 1804. The whole country felt the
irreparable loss of this great statesman and patriot.
2 See Longfellow's "Building of the
Ship," last part, lines beginning
Sail on, O Union, strong and great!
|
176 |
|
[1789 |
A few years later ten very important
amendments were added to the Constitution.1 They were
called a "Bill of Rights." They secured still further protection
to the rights and liberties of the people. For this reason many of
the Anti-Federalists (§ 196) who had strongly opposed the
original Constitution now gave it their hearty support.
198. Summary. The Revolution made us an
independent people; the Constitution completed the work by making
us a United people, -- a true American nation. Now, to use the
words of John Adams, "the thirteen clocks all struck
together."
1 The Amendments to
the Constitution are certain additions to it made for the purpose
of extending and improving it. See Appendix, pages xx-xxiv. Two
more amendments were adopted between 1798 and 1804, the Eleventh
and Twelfth, the first of which exempted a state from suit 11 by
citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of any
foreign state," and the second changed the method of electing the
President of the United States. After the Civil War the
Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments were adopted
relating to the emancipated slave& and to the reconstruction
of the seceded states. Since then (1913-1920) three more
amendments have been adopted. The first of these relates to the
income tax, the second to the election of United States senators,
the third to the prohibition of the manufacture or sale of
intoxicating liquors. The total number of amendments is now
eighteen.
