X THE ACTION OF THE STATES IN THE question came first before each legislature whether they would even call a convention. Second, should it be promptly called or deferred to await the action of other States? Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, and his confederates in different States were indefatigable in disseminating hostile views and their plans for the defeat of the Constitution throughout the Confederacy. Against them, most fortunately for the country and the Union, were arrayed its equally indefatigable friends. Hamilton, Madison, and Jay contributed those remarkable and historical commentaries on the proposed Constitution known as "The Federalist," and now preserved as part of the history of the nation. The entire press of the country was engaged on the two sides. The courage and violence of assault on one side were met and resisted by an equal bravery and resolution in defence. Above all leaders on either side rose the great and revered figure of Washington, who, from his retreat at Mount Vernon, expressed his patriotic hopes and wishes in numerous communications, which reached and influenced the controlling characters in many States. The cry of the nationalists was, "Union or dissolution, -the Constitution or anarchy." The discussion went on in every corner of the various States, in private conversation as well as in public assemblies. The inimical effort was made in several of the States to declare the ratification conditional upon amendments to be adopted; but Madison gave the opinion that such action could not be construed as a ratification. It must be unconditional or the State could not be included in the Union. The influence of Monroefortunately, a much weaker character than Madison was cast against the Constitution. Jefferson, from beyond the seas, proposed a cunning measure of opposition that came near proving fatal to a complete union. He recommended the adoption of the Constitution by nine States in order to bring it into existence, the others standing out until proposed amendments should be adopted. This evil counsel produced bad fruits, but they fortunately failed to ripen into the threatened results. Delaware, least of the sisterhood, was first to decide. With joy and with unanimity her voice was given for ratification on December 7, 1787. Pennsylvania was but little later. Her con vention was earlier in session, but, thwarted by a resolute minority, the debate was prolonged and her action delayed. On the 11th of December, Wilson, still the strong champion of the new Union, declared, “This system is not a compact; I cannot discern the least trace of a compact; the introduction to the work is not an unmeaning flourish. The system itself tells you what it is, — an ordinance, an establishment of the people." By a vote of forty-six to twenty-three Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution on the 12th of December, 1787. - New Jersey next, and only later by a day, gave her ratification to the Constitution "and every part thereof," with unanimity of voices, on December 13, 1787. Georgia began the new year with her unanimous assent, given on the 2d of January, 1788. Next came Connecticut, whose statesmen had done so much to build the new edifice, and whose judge, the learned Johnson, had presided over its final grace of form. By a vote of one hundred and twenty-eight to forty this State gave her adherence to the new plan of government on January 9, 1788. Friends and enemies alike now fixed their eyes on Massachusetts, the State next to Virginia the most important of those whose action was awaited. Her delegate, Elbridge Gerry, had refused to sign, and had made public his reasons therefor. He was defeated for the state convention by his townsmen. But elsewhere strong opponents of the new government were elected, and a count showed its friends to be in a minority. By wisdom in action, by reason in debate, and chiefly by personal influence and solicitation, enough votes were won over in the end to secure an approval of the Constitution by a vote of one hundred and eighty-seven to one hundred and sixtyeight. Massachusetts, after a hard, long, and doubtful struggle, thus brightened the hopes of patriotic Virginians on February 6, 1788. Maryland lay too near Virginia to escape the infection of the hostility developed in that State by Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, and other dissidents. But on the great question her people were sound in most of the counties. The number elected of enemies of the new Union was not large, but their opposition was very bitter. Her convention gave its approval, by a vote of sixty-three to eleven, on the 26th of April, 1788. In South Carolina the seeds of Virginia discontent, and of a possible Southern confederacy, had been widely sown. The fruit was a persistent opposition offered by several leaders of public opinion. After ten days of contest for defeat or postponement of the ratification, the friends of the Constitution carried the day, by a vote of one hundred and forty-nine to seventy-three, on the 23d of May, 1788. One State more, and the new government could be inaugurated! New Hampshire had modestly awaited the action of larger States. Now the ambition of her unionists was to signalize their State by completing the sanction of the Constitution. This was done while the debate was still prolonged in the Virginia Convention; and New Hampshire became the ninth State, by a vote of fifty-seven to forty-six, on June 21, 1788. In Virginia there was a contest of the greatest obstinacy, with few, if any neutrals. Henry, Grayson, and Mason led the hostile forces. Madison, Pendleton, Marshall, and Randolph (now reconciled) confronted them at every point in defence of the Constitution. Patrick Henry sounded the trumpet of state sovereignty with the cry, "The Constitution is the severance of the Confederacy. Its language, we, the people,' is the institution of one great consolidated national government of the people of all the States, instead of a government by compact with the States for its agents." Pendleton rallied the unionists to the cry, "Who but the people can delegate powers, or have a right to form government? There is no quarrel |