those great and invaluable privileges for which they have so arduously and honorably contended." This report was adopted, and the subject of raising revenue was again presented to the states, which took at different times various and inharmonious action. The subject was again before Congress on the 3d of March, 1786, and once more on the 23d of the following October. But these proceedings accomplished nothing, except to arouse public attention to the necessity of taking prompt measures for securing sufficient revenue to meet the exigencies of the government. The agitation deeply impressed the public mind, and prepared the people for the changes which, of necessity, must soon be made. THE ANNAPOLIS CONVENTION. In 1786 recommendations similar to those adopted by New York in 1782, were made by several states. This resulted in the appointment of delegates from Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, who met at Annapolis, on the 11th of September, 1786, at the invitation of the legislature of Virginia, to consider how far a uniform system in their commercial relations might be necessary to their com mon interest. But only five of the thirteen states being represented, and the delegates being satisfied that their powers were too limited to accomplish what the country demanded, contented themselves with drawing up a report, which was laid before Congress and the legislatures of the states. The report recommended the call of a general convention of delegates from each of the states, "to meet at Philadelphia, on the second day in May next, to take into consideration the situation of the United States; to devise such further provisions as shall to them seem necessary to render the constitution of the federal government adequate to the exigencies of the Union; and to report such an act for that purpose to the United States, in Congress assembled, as, when agreed to by them, and afterward confirmed by the legislature of every state, will effectually provide for the same." The proceedings of this meeting were communicated to Congress, which considered the subject and adopted the following resolutions: "WHEREAS, There is provision in the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union for making alterations therein, by the assent of a Congress of the United States, and of the legislatures of the several states; and whereas, experience hath evinced that there are defects in the present confederation, as a means to remedy which several of the states, and particularly the state of New York, by express instructions to their delegates in Congress, have suggested a convention. for the purposes expressed in the following resolution; and such convention appearing to be the most probable means of establishing in these states a firm national government: "Resolved, That, in the opinion of Congress, it is expedient that on the second Monday in May next a convention of delegates, who shall have been appointed by the several states, be held at Philadelphia, for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation, and reporting to Congress and the several legislatures such alterations and provisions therein as shall, when agreed to in Congress, and confirmed by the states, render the federal constitution adequate to the exigencies of government and the preservation the Union." The several states complying with this resolution appointed delegates to meet in convention at the appointed time and place. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 1787. When the recommendation was made which had been advised by the Annapolis convention, the advocates of a strong government acted with the utmost energy to induce all the legislatures to send delegates to the convention and to select for that purpose the most distinguished men of the country, "that their very names might suffice to keep the party of anarchy within bounds.” The presence of Washington at the convention was deemed of the utmost importance, for he held a place in the hearts of the people which no one else occupied, and such as no other can occupy again. Everything he touched seemed to be invested with a kind of sacredness, while to impute wrong motives to him was a "species of high treason and an unpardonable offense against human nature." He did not wish to act as a delegate, but after mature deliberation he did so, only because he saw in the convention the only hope of a future union of the states. The delegates began to convene on the 14th of May, 1787. Eleven days passed before a majority of the states was represented. George Washington was elected president. Six signers of the Declaration of Independence appeared as delegates, and took part in the proceedings. The members of the convention realized the immense responsibility which rested upon them, and felt sure that their only alternative was mutual concession of the ruin of the country. It was decided to carry on transactions with closed. doors, that an excited people might not parade before the country the proceedings of the convention at a time when they could not be properly understood and defended. A goodly number of the delegates would not restrict themselves to a literal interpretation of their powers. They were authorized only to propose amendments to the Articles of Confederation; but they were convinced that all such attempts would only "postpone the day of ruin, and that the source of evil could be destroyed only by giving the constitution a national basis." They did not hesitate in their choice between exceeding their powers, and the preservation of the country. It would have been dangerous to the future of the country if this decision, when first made, had been known to There were disputes and dissensions in the convention which were difficult to be allayed. On two of the most important questions the delegates were so opposite in their views that it seemed almost impossible to mediate between them; for attempts at compromise appeared to widen the gaps between the opponents. When every prospect of an understanding seemed to have vanished, the white-haired Franklin proposed that henceforth the sessions should be opened with prayer, for since the wit of man was exhausted, there was no hope of help except from heaven. The vital points at issue were the equality of state representation and protection to the interests of slaveholders. After the lapse of nearly four months, the delegates agreed upon a plan, and on the 17th of September unanimously resolved that it be adopted by the states represented at the time. The convention declared that the consent of nine states should give force to the new constitution, so far as these nine states were concerned. The instrument was now before the people for adoption; but the difficulties to be surmounted here were equal to those which had appeared in the convention. ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION. The moment the proposed constitution was made public the particularists began to wage a most severe and energetic opposition. Moderation and reason seemed to forsake them; the most fanatical assuming the lead and using weapons most blunt and brutal. The strong government men were called federalists, and the particularists, anti-federalists. The federalists, who favored the constitution, were at first less in number than the particularists. Their prospects were gloomy, and the struggle before them was difficult. They fought with experience and understanding, and their arguments were such as to gain numbers from the opposing ranks. For ten months America was a debating school between the federalists and the anti-federalists, the former having the ablest writers, and, with a few exceptions, the most influential speakers. Each state was a battle ground, and its action was watched with eagerness by both parties, as its decision would have a tendency to turn the scale for or against the constitution. In December of 1787, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey took favorable action upon the new government. Delaware has the honor of being the first state to ratify the constitution. Pennsylvania was carried by political strategy. The constitutionalists having the ascendancy in the legislature, called a convention, but gave only ten days for the choice of delegates. This cut off the anti-federalists of western Pennsylvania from all chance at participating in the convention. To gain time the opposition absented themselves, leaving the convention without a quorum, but two of the absentees were carried into the house and held in their seats while the quorum thus secured adopted the constitution. It was alleged by those who protested, that but thirteen thousand of the seventy thousand votes in Pennsylvania were represented in the convention. The federal constitution was carried by a vote of forty-six to twenty-three. In Delaware and New Jersey the vote for the constitution was unanimous. The example of the powerful state of Pennsylvania was a great stimulus to the federalists. In January, 1788, Georgia ratified unanimously and Connecticut by a handsome majority. But the real toil now commenced, for the first enthusiasm of the cause had spent much of its force. The anti-federalists were fully organized and had developed unexpected strength in the states which had not taken action. Rhode Island would not call a convention. Five states had ratified; nine were necessary; and |