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measures taken for the submission of the Constitution to the people, for their deliberation upon the question of its adoption. The delegates in the national Convention reported its action on the 25th of October, 1787. The House on the 29th of the same month, unanimously recommended to the legal voters of the State to meet on the 4th Tuesday in November then next and elect three delegates from each County to meet in a State Convention on the 11th of December, 1787, to determine whether to approve or reject the Constitution. This Convention met at the time appointed and organized by the appointment of John Stephens, as President, and of Samuel William Stockton, as secretary. It seemed impressed with the gravity of the occasion; adopted rules for its government and then solemnly resolved: "That the Federal Constitution be read by sections, and that, as so read every member make his observations thereon; that after debating such section, the question be taken whether further debate be had thereon; and if determined in the negative, that the Convention proceed in like manner to the next section, until the whole be gone through; upon which the general question shall be taken, whether the Convention in the name and on the behalf of this State do ratify and confirm the said Constitution." All this was done without haste, with due deliberation and on the 18th of December, just one week from the first day of the Convention, the Constitution was unanimously adopted without a single amendment. On the next day the members marched in solemn procession to the Court House where the new organic law of the Republic was read to the people.

Since that time fifteen amendments to the Constitution have been passed, in pursuance of its fifth clause, twelve of which have received the assent of the Legislature of New Jersey. The majority of the Assembly withheld its approval of the XIIIth, XIVth and XVth amendments, but they were ratified by a sufficient number of States to give them the full force of Constitutional law.

The advantageous results of this Constitution to New Jersey have been incalculable. Her position between the two large preponderating States of New York and Pennsylvania, connected with the fact that although she has a large extent of sea coast, there is no port on her ocean front into which foreign commerce enters, has made her citi. zens dependent for many necessary supplies on the two cities of New York and Philadelphia.

The Federal Constitution of 1787 has received much consideration

from subsequent historians, but it is doubtful whether any one of these has succeeded in tracing the origin of this remarkable document to its real source. It was by no means the invention of the sages and statesmen who composed the Convention that finally wrought out this grand Its beginning must be traced to a period long prior to the close of the XVIIIth century-to the germ and growth of that indomitable spirit of the Anglo-Saxon which wrested the Magna Charta from the despicable John Plantagenet, at Runnymede; which impelled Hampden, Selden, Pym and their fellow patriots to antagonize Charles I, in their battle for the rights of British subjects; which mercilessly decapitated that same Charles and raised Cromwell to be ruler of England and which sent good men and true from home and country and friends to rear in the wilds of a western home an empire dedicated to freedom.

That same spirit which incited the English patriot to such glorious deeds in the cause of freedom came to this western world and more than two hundred years before the adoption of the Constitution, in 1787, made itself heard here, faintly, it is true, at first, but in louder and more forceful tones as time went on. In 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh came to Virginia with a charter containing the first germ of that recognition of popular rights, which by a process of evolution through the succeeding two centuries, finally culminated in that palladium of liberty sent out to the world from the new Republic on the 17th day of September, 1787. During those two centuries the establishment of the rights of the people through charters, concessions and constitutions had been constantly going on; none of them more strongly expressed the doctrine that all government must come from the people than did those two immortal documents, the "Grants and Concessions" of Berkeley and Carteret and the "Concessions and Agreements" of West Jersey; none of those which were granted to the American colonies so fully recognized the inherent rights of the citizen and none made more ample provision for the protection of those rights.

But, while all this may be true, the Constitution of 1787 was forced in many instances upon unwilling States, who adopted it from stern necessity and not because it was approved. Subsequent experience, however, has taught the descendants of these opposing citizens that it was the wisest gift ever made to any people. What, most of all, led to its formulation was the calamitous results arising from the adoption. of the Articles of Confederation.

By the force of the provisions of that Constitution, New Jersey has been enabled to protect her agriculture and manufactures, for both of which she is admirably provided by her fertile valleys and her mines. and numerous streams. Her course, since its adoption, has been progressive on all the lines of National prosperity, and now she stands foremost among the States in the acquisition of those appliances which make up an influential commonwealth.

Since the Revolutionary war and that of 1812, up to the adoption of the Constitution of 1844, the Judicial and Civil History of New Jersey can be written on a few pages.

After a long and somewhat acrimonious discussion between the Commissioners appointed by the two governments, for the purpose of establishing peace between England and America, the Articles of pacification were signed on the 30th of November, 1782. Those articles were most advantageous for the Republic and were secured by the skill and perseverance of the American Commissioners, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and Henry Laurens. They were, however, merely preliminary and the treaty of peace did not go into effect until January 20, 1783. Lafayette was the first to receive tidings of the pacification, which were sent him by letter received March 24th of the same year. The American Commissioners forwarded a copy of the treaty early in April, and on the 19th of that month the war was ended. But prior to that date the declaration of peace had been celebrated with imposing ceremonies at Trenton.

Peace had come at last; grim war had ceased, and the patriot soldiers returned to their farms and their shops, soldiers no more, but citizens assuming the duties of civic life in the country they had saved. The Legislature was now freed from the care of providing for soldiers in the field, and, although it had never lost sight of the true interest of its constituents, yet, now, it could give undivided attention to the protection of those appliances which peculiarly demand the fostering care of the law making power. The three branches of the government, the executive, legislative and judicial, were united in their efforts to aid the people in their attempts at recuperation; the people responded willingly and gladly to the demands made upon them by the exigencies of the times. It was a sublime spectacle-the self-sacrificing spirit, the ready alertness, the cheerful performance of duty, which at that crucial hour animated all classes. The people of the State were essentially a religious people, and one of their first tasks was the rebuilding

of their houses of worship, many of which had been burned by the enemy. In many instances, where, although church edifices escaped destruction, more commodious ones were needed, it was amazing to witness the energy and promptness with which those wants were supplied.

This same indomitable spirit was manifested in all directions; the people were animated with one impulse-to shake off the evils resulting from the war, to free themselves and their families from the hard, grinding poverty which had followed them. The country was free, they were all freemen, the Republic was theirs, and they resolved to make it worthy of the home of Liberty. They were eminently successful in their efforts. In a very few years the State was on the high road to prosperity; manufactures were firmly established; mines were opened; and the wealth stored by Nature in the rugged hills of New Jersey, was made subservient to its success. In all the avenues from whence come appliances for a Nation's best growth, the industries of the commonwealth were stimulated and protected. Wise men were selected for Governors and members of the Legislature. William Livingston, of whom mention has already been made, after thirteen years' service as the Executive of the State, was succeeded by William Paterson, who held the office until 1792. The successors of Paterson, up to the year 1844, when another Constitution was framed, were fifteen in number, ten of whom were of the political party known as Democrats and the others were Federalists. These terms, at first, were intended to represent two political parties, one of which favored the cen tralization of power in a general government and the other opposed that principle. The Federalist party, which supported the Constitution, was led and largely influenced by Alexander Hamilton, whose masterful spirit controlled and guided it, at first, to victory. Its op position to the war of 1812, and the Hartford Convention aided materially in its total destruction. It disappeared about 1820 and other parties arose under different names and with various principles. The following is a list of the Governors of New Jersey with the times of their service:

William Paterson, Federalist..
Richard Howell, Federalist..

Joseph Bloomfield, Democrat.

.1790-1792.

.1792-1801.
.1801-1803.

In 1802, there was a failure to elect a Governor, in consequence of a tie vote in the Legislature, and John Lambert, President of the Council and a Democrat, acted as

Governor, in pursuance of a provision of the Constitution of 1776. In 1803 Joseph Bloomfield was re elected Governor and held office until 1812.

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In 1829, Garret D. Wall, Democrat, was elected, but declined, and, in the same year, Peter D. Vroom, Democrat, was elected and held office until 1832.

A few years before this time, the name Federalist, as distinctive of a political party, had disappeared and the two great parties were known by the names of Whig and Democrat, though the Whig party by no means assumed the principles of the Federalists.

Samuel L. Southard, Whig.

1832-1833.

Mr. Southard, during his term was elected United States Senator and Elias P. Seeley, Whig, was elected for the balance of his term.

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Constitution of 1776 Lacking; Attempt made to Change, in 1790; In 1844, Act Passed to Elect Members to Convention to Prepare New Constitution; Provisions of Act; Isaac H. Williamson, President; Alexander Wurts, Vice President; Mr. Williamson Resigns; Wurts Elected President; Convention finished its Labors June 29th, 1844; Constitution Signed, Presented to the Governor and Filed in Office of Secretary of State; People by Large Majority Ratified It; Changes in Government Created by New Constitution; Difficulty about Senatorial Districts; List of Governors Since 1844; Decision of the Courts as to the Constitutionality of System of Dividing States into Legislative Districts.

It was very soon ascertained, after the peace between England and America, that the Constitution of 1776 was not adapted to the growing. necessities of the Commonwealth. As early as 1790, an attempt was made in the Legislature to provide for the election of members to at Convention to revise the Constitution. But this attempt failed.

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