between government and liberty: the former is the shield and protector of the latter. The question must be between this government and the Confederation, which is no government at all. This is to be a government of laws, and not of men." From the second day of June the war was raged at Richmond with alternate hopes and fears. Finally, having by her delay yielded to New Hampshire the honor of that conclusive sanction which the ninth State could give to the new Union which she herself initiated, Virginia, by a vote of eighty-nine to seventy-nine, ratified it, being the tenth State, on June 25, 1788.

The friends of the Constitution awaited the action of the remaining States with less anxiety, now that the three outstanding States were wholly separated from each other, and whether single or confederated would be powerless against the Union. The convention of New 'York met while that of Virginia was still in the throes of the great debate. There had been a certain concert of action, through Richard Henry Lee and Governor Clinton, of the enemies of the Union in the two States. Clinton organized and led them in the convention of New York, and was chosen its president, and had the aid of the two seceders, Yates and Lansing. The friends of the Constitution had the benefit of the great ability of Hamilton, Jay,

and Chancellor Livingston. On the eighth day of their session the news arrived that New Hampshire had given the requisite vitality to the Constitution. Nine days later came the report that Virginia had joined the Union. The courage of the anti-unionists, who formed the majority, was broken. They sought a dignified retreat, as in Virginia and Massachusetts, through propositions of future amendment. One of them even proposed to ratify, reserving the right to secede if the amendments should fail. Against this Hamilton spoke with such force that the mover himself abandoned it. But Lansing in substance renewed it. Then Hamilton read the opinion of Madison, just received, that such a condition would vitiate the ratification, affirming that "the Constitution requires an adoption in toto, and forever," thus early crushing the theory of secession. Then the conditional propositions came to an end, and a legal form of ratification was agreed to (there being some absentees), by a vote of thirty to twenty-seven, on July 26, 1788.

There remained North Carolina, which had in August, 1778, refused to ratify prior to amendment. She gave up her opposition to the Constitution only after the organization of the new government, dating its ratification from the 21st of November, 1789. Rhode Island lingered without until May 29, 1790.

At last the sun was risen in the heavens, the clouds were dissipated, and all the planets were moving in their respective orbits, their centrifugal impulses balanced by the attractive bonds of the powerful central luminary, which shed upon them light and warmth and force.

XI

SEQUEL OF AMENDMENTS

TIME was required for both States and people to adjust their opinions and their affairs to the new institutions of government. The majority in some of the conventions had not been fully convinced either as to the extent of the powers surrendered by the States and acquired by Congress and the Judiciary or of the security of each State and its citizens in the exercise of rights not conceded to the Union. Sources of revenue hitherto enjoyed by the States were to be given up, and new sources must be found. What new laws would be passed by this new legislature in which the citizens of each State had so small a share of authority? How should they grow to recognize other States as their sisters and their citizens as brothers? How soon would selfishness give way to equality and fraternity? Would the habit of affection for one's own State ever permit the growth of a superior affection for the union of all the States? Which of the two forces, centrifugal or centripetal, was destined to predominate in the future? The azure sky of patriotic hope was not without its auguries of fear.

The action of the conventions of such important States as Massachusetts, Virginia, and New York in recommending certain amendments to the new Constitution, which had also the concurrence of other States, rendered their early consideration desirable in the interest of harmony and contentment among the people, now directly charged with the national govern

ment.

The first national Congress, therefore, proposed to the several States twelve amendments to the Constitution, covering the points appearing to be most reasonably insisted upon by the States. The first of these proposed to control in a different manner the number of representatives in the first branch of Congress. The second proposed that no law varying the compensation of senators and representatives should have effect until after a succeeding election. Neither of these was ratified by a sufficient number of States to give it validity.

The remaining amendments, being now the first ten articles of amendment appended to the Constitution, and held to be limitations upon possible claims of power by the national government, were ratified by ten States. No returns were made by the States of Massachusetts, Connecticut, or Georgia of their action on them.

The eleventh article of amendment was pro