| Show Z d evv 7 wi yfem yf Ef w arf bwy wrt rt isusi iSU Sj e 0 1 TW T tW 4 7 Mt 99 rt 2 w er aa xo y t sn xe t T jjr r r r effs ew S im by ELMO SCOTT WATSON HE date is september THE 17 1787 the place is independence ence hall in philadelphia where a little more than 11 years ago a group of 50 56 men had gathered to sign a document which declared that these united colonies are ond and by right ought to bo be free and independent states t now another group of men 55 this time has gathered here to sign another document and it is even more important than the declaration of independence with it they hope the people el the united states will form a moro more perfect union establish justice insure domestic tranquillity provide for the common defense promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity ap heaven knows theres need enough for all those during the last 10 years since november 15 1777 the new republic founded by the 56 signers of the declaration has been trying to function under the articles of cration and it been very successful there has been little enough tranquillity none too much of justice or com common m on defense or gone general ral welfare As for a 44 perfect union well there was basmore more than one despairing citizen who called his country the dis united states so the 55 65 men who lind gathered hero here on may 14 1787 to frame a durable form of government knew what a stern task there was ahead of them it was a familiar enough scene to six of thorn them roger sherman benjamin franklin robert morris george clymer clymor james wilson and george read they saw in this room tile the same furnishings which had been here op that july day 11 years ago whom when they signed the american magna charta there was the same massive mahogany desk and high back chair in which john hancock had sat as lie ho presided over the deliberations of the 56 immortals who were risking their lives by placing their signatures on that instrument of sedition near it was the tha chair ir in which had sat the secretary who recorded their proceedings charles thomson but now maj ma william jackson occupied charles Thom sons place and instead of john hancock another man sat in the presidents chair ills his indomitable courage even in the times that tried mens souls ills his will to win his unshaken faith had made independence a living reality instead of just juit a vague ideal to be hoped for so it was only right that george washington should preside do over the dell deliberations bora ot of the men who were to shape tile the destinies of the nation he had striven so mightily to bring into being and in au all truth they would need his strong hand to guide them during the next four months four bitter blonti hs for those were to bo be four months of debate argument controversy tro versy and bitterness as personalities and opposing viewpoints clashed and mens tempers grew short in the sultry heat ot of one of the hottest summers philadelphia had ever known wrestling with the tremendous task of trying to save a nation from chaos and working behind closed doors and closed windows they suffered terribly from the heat ond and they also suffered from weariness with the long windedness of some of the speakers speaker sl 1 more than once the great virginian had almost despaired in this stifling room lust just es as he ha had almost despaired on the snowy hillsides hill hUl sides of volley valley forgo for at times it seemed certain that the convention would break up with its task unfinished and he knew that meant the end of 01 the federal union for which he had fought during those lorig long years L ars from 1778 1776 to 1781 but more than I 1 once the cool head of wise old den ben franklin had saved savea the day b J 41 i 4 iti A 61 Z THE SIGNING OF THE constitution from the painting by albert herter in the supreme court state capitol madison wis once when they had reached an impasse he suggested that the tha delegates seek guidance in prayer what it if this did bring from alexander hamilton the tha sneering retort that no foreign aid was needed a thrust at franklins well known fondness for the french franklin could afford to ignore the taunt for his suggestion of the efficacy of prayer somehow shamed the angry delegates into n more reason able frame of mind and the business of the convention went on there remained innumerable points of difference of course all of which resulted in exhaustive and exhausting debate but tho del delegates 9 gates were mainly divided on the question of whether in tho new government one states influence should be equal to that of ony any other state and should bo be based on population edmund randolph of virginia and william paterson of new jersey submitted plans which were diametrically opposed randolph advocated representation in the two houses of congress according to population and paterson wanted only ono one house of congress and an equal vote for each state then stephen johnson son of connecticut had proposed 09 va al 41 4 or I 1 W M ft I 1 W fl I 1 14 X 4 kil GEORGE washington a compromise of 0 two houses with an equal representation in the senate and a proportionate ons one in the house his coUe colleague ngue oliver ellsworth moved the adoption of this plan and thus the first important compromise was effected more alore compromises then there arose the troublesome problem of regulation of commerce by congress it wa was s filled with as much cause for dissension as the question of representation sen tation in congress but the differences of opinion were ironed out to the satisfaction of all concerned and this danger was averted next the dispute over slavery came up to plague the tion makers but by making certain concessions to the southern states again they carried the ship of state safely over the breakers of sectional interest and thus it went on and on wrangle dispute threat coni compromise finally on july 25 the convention had turned over the job of making a final draft of the constitution to a committee on detail then it adjourned until august 28 26 when the delegates returned to their labors thero there was dispute again as they carefully studied over every sentence and every paragraph of the draft laid before them by the committee they tried to fix exact definitions wherever it seemed necessary and they made altera eions in an effort to compose a masterpiece which would bo be aci septable cep table to everyone it at last the finished product was given to a committee on style I 1 to polish up its phraseology out of that committee headed by gouverneur morris of pennsylvania had come the sonorous we the people of tho the united states in order to form a more perfect union etc etc as the preamble of the completed do document c which they would now be asked to sign on this seventeenth day of september in the year of our lord 1787 there are still a few who pre unwilling to sign morris wins oyer over some of them by suggesting that they approve of the document as representatives of their states even though they may disapprove of it personally three of them are obdurate elbridge gerry go rry of massachusetts and edmund randolph and george mason of virginia still will not sign doubts and fears but there are enough of the others who will sign to guarantee that their labors have not been in vain even so thy are none too sure that they have wrought well and instead of a feeling of elation that their task is ended there is an atmosphere of doubt and gloom in the room as the convention adjourns that atmosphere is reflected in the letter which george washington will write to the continental congress in submitting the final draft of the constitution in it he said la in convention september 17 1787 SITI SIR we have now the honor to submit to the consideration ot of the united states in congress assembled that constitution which has appeared to us the most ad vl seable the tha friends of 0 our country have long seen and desired that the power ot of making war peate peace and anci treaties that of levy ing money and regulating commerce and the correspondent executive and judicial authorities should be fully and effectually vested in tho the general government of 0 the union but the impropriety of at delegating such extensive trust to one body of 0 men la is evi evident derit hence re suits the necessity of 0 a dif dl Herent lerent organization it is obviously impracticable in tho the foe deral nl government ot of these states to secure all rights of independent sever cover to each and yet provide tor for the interest and safety of alt all individuals entering into society must give up a share of liberty to preserve the rest the magnitude of the sacrifice flee must depend as well on en situation and circumstance 3 as on the object to be obtained it Is at all times difficult to draw with precision the line between those rights which must be surrendered and those which may be reserved and on the present occasion this di difficulty was increased by a difference among the several states as to their situation extent habits and particular interests in all our deliberations on this subject t we 11 kept ept steadily steadily i in a our view that which appears apparis to us at the he greatest interest ot of every bvm true american the consolidation n a of f our union in which Is involved 0 our ur prosperity felicity safety perhaps our national nati 0 nal existence eA stence this impo important consideration seriously and deeply impressed on our minds led each state in n the convention to be less rigid on brints points of inferior maLmI magnitude tude than might have ave been otherwise expected and thus the constitution which we now present Is the result of a spirit of amity and ot of that mutual deference and conceal concession lo 10 which tho the rita peculiarity 0 of f our poetic al situa situation re rendered indish e that it will meet the luu full and entire approbation of every state Is not perhaps to bo be expected but each will doubtless consider that had her interests been alone consulted the consequences might have been particularly disagreeable or injurious to others that it Is liable to as few exceptions as could reasonably have been expected we wa hope and be I 1 absen exacted aleve that at it anay n ay promote the I 1 lasting welfare of that country so BO dear to us all and secure alcure her freedom and happl nesi neis is our most ardent wish with great respect we have the honor to be SIR your excellences most Obed obedient Jent and humble servants GEORGE WASHING TOW I 1 PRESIDENT by unanimous order of me convention As the last big signature nature had been amhed benjamin franklin had pointed to the sun that was painted on the back of george ing tons chair and said to a fel low delegate pointers painters have al afa CP rl 1 avi ecru UV YAa l t W e f ara xa w P 54 A ave 01 0 1 4 wi ct I 1 in f ww r I 1 0 Vs Wf fr r A al 7 S fo 1141 L L acs wm w at ways found it ft difficult to distinguish in their art a rising from a setting betting sun and I 1 have often and often in the course of this session and the vicissitudes of my hopes and fears to its issue looked at behind the president without being able to tell whether it was a rising or so netting t ting sun but now at length I 1 have the happiness to know that it is in a rising and not a setting sun prophetic den ben franklina Fran klinl klint one hundred and fifty years later a president of the united states will be calling upon his follow fellow americans to honor this dato data of september 17 and in so doing a affirm f our debt to those who ordained and established the constitution st we shall recognize that the constitution is an enduring instrument fit for the g governing of a far flung population of more than one hundred and thirty million engaged in diverse rind and varied pursuits even as it was fit tor the governing of a small nation of less than four million we shall think afresh of the founding of our government under the constitution ution how tt ft has served us in the past and how in the days to come coma its principles will guide the nation ever forward 0 western union |
