ution is now adopted by all the States and I have much satisfaction； and perhaps some vanity； in seeing； at length； a great work finished； for which I have long labored incessantly。〃* * 〃Connecticut's Ratification of the Federal Constitution；〃 by B。 C。 Steiner； in 〃Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society；〃 April 1915； pp。 88…89。 Perhaps the most striking feature of these conventions is the trivial character of the objections that were raised。 Some of the arguments it is； true； went to the very heart of the matter and considered the fundamental principles of government。 It is possible to tolerate and even to sympathize with a man who declared： 〃Among other deformities the Constitution has an awful squinting。 It squints toward monarchy； 。 。 。 。 your president may easily become a king 。 。 。 。 If your American chief be a man of ambition and ability how easy it is for him to render himself absolute。 We shall have a king。 The army will salute him monarch。* * 〃Connecticut's Ratification of the Federal Constitution；〃 by B。 C。 Steiner； in 〃Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society；〃 April 1915 pp。 88…89。
But it is hard to take seriously a delegate who asked permission 〃to make a short apostrophe to liberty；〃 and then delivered himself of this bathos： 〃O liberty！thou greatest goodthou fairest propertywith thee I wish to livewith thee I wish to die！Pardon me if I drop a tear on the peril to which she is exposed； I cannot； sir； see this brightest of jewels tarnished！ a jewel worth ten thousand worlds！ and shall we part with it so soon？ O no！〃* * Elliot's 〃Debates on the Federal Constitution；〃 vol。 III。 p。 144。
There might be some reason in objecting to the excessive power vested in Congress； but what is one to think of the fear that imagined the greatest point of danger to lie in the ten miles square which later became the District of Columbia； because the Government might erect a fortified stronghold which would be invincible？ Again； in the light of subsequent events it is laughable to find many protesting that； although each house was required to keep a journal of proceedings； it was only required 〃FROM TIME TO TIME to publish the same； excepting such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy。〃 All sorts of personal charges were made against those who were responsible for the framing of the Constitution。 Hopkinson wrote to Jefferson in April； 1788： 〃You will be surprised when I tell you that our public News Papers have anounced General Washington to be a Fool influenced & lead by that Knave Dr。 Franklin； who is a public Defaulter for Millions of Dollars； that Mr。 Morris has defrauded the Public out of as many Millions as you please & that they are to cover their frauds by this new Government。〃* * 〃Documentary History of the Constitution；〃 vol。 IV； p。 563。
All things considered； it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that such critics and detractors were trying to find excuses for their opposition。 The majorities in the various conventions can hardly be said really to represent the people of their States； for only a small percentage of the people had voted in electing them； they were representative rather of the propertied upper class。 This circumstance has given rise to the charge that the Constitution was framed and adopted by men who were interested in the protection of property； in the maintenance of the value of government securities； and in the payment of debts which had been incurred by the individual States in the course of the Revolution。 Property holders were unquestionably assisted by the mere establishment of a strong government。 The creditor class seemed to require some special provision and； when the powers of Congress were under consideration in the Federal Convention； several of the members argued strongly for a positive injunction on Congress to assume obligations of the States。 The chief objection to this procedure seemed to be based upon the fear of benefiting speculators rather than the legitimate creditors； and the matter was finally compromised by providing that all debts should be 〃as valid against the United States under this Constitution asunder the Confederation。〃 The charge that the Constitution was framed and its adoption obtained by men of property and wealth is undoubtedly true； but it is a mistake to attribute unworthy motives to them。 The upper classes in the United States were generally people of wealth and so would be the natural holders of government securities。 They were undoubtedly acting in self…protection； but the responsibility rested upon them to take the lead。 They were acting indeed for the public interest in the largest sense； for conditions in the United States were such that every man might become a landowner and the people in general therefore wished to have property rights protected。 In the autumn of 1788 the Congress of the old Confederation made testamentary provision for its heir by voting that presidential electors should be chosen on the first Wednesday in January； 1789； that these electors should meet and cast their votes for President on the first Wednesday in February； and that the Senate and House of Representatives should assemble on the first Wednesday in March。 It was also decided that the seat of government should be in the City of New York until otherwise ordered by Congress。 In accordance with this procedure； the requisite elections were held； and the new government was duly installed。 It happened in 1789 that the first Wednesday in March was the fourth day of that month； which thereby became the date for the beginning of each subsequent administration。 The acid test of efficiency was still to be applied to the new machinery of government。 But Americans then； as now； were an adaptable people； with political genius； and they would have been able to make almost any form of government succeed。 If the Federal Convention had never met； there is good reason for believing that the Articles of Confederation； with some amendments； would have been made to work。 The success of the new government was therefore in a large measure dependent upon the favor of the people。 If they wished to do so； they could make it win out in spite of obstacles。 In other words； the new government would succeed exactly to the extent to which the people stood back of it。 This was the critical moment when the slowly growing prosperity； described at length and emphasized in the previous chapters； produced one of its most important effects。 In June； 1788； Washington wrote to Lafayette： 〃I expect； that many blessings will be attributed to our new government； which are now taking their rise from that industry and frugality into the practice of which the people have been forced from necessity。 I really believe that there never was so much labour and economy to be found before in the country as at the present moment。 If they persist in the habits they are acquiring； the good effects will soon be distinguishable。 When the people shall find themselves secure under an energetic government； when foreign Nations shall be disposed to give us equal advantages in commerce from dread of retaliation； when the burdens of the war shall be in a manner done away by the sale of western lands； when the seeds of happiness which are sown here shall begin to expand themselves； and when every one （under his own vine and fig…tree） shall begin to taste the fruits of freedomthen all these blessings （for all these blessings will come） will be referred to the fostering influence of the new government。 Whereas many causes will have conspired to produce them。〃 A few months later a similar opinion was expressed by Crevecoeur in writing to Jefferson： 〃Never was so great a change in the opinion of the best people as has happened these five years； almost everybody feels the necessity of coercive laws； government； union； industry； and labor 。 。 。 。 The exports of this country have singularly increased within these two years； and the imports have decreased in proportion。〃 The new Federal Government was fortunate in beginning its career at the moment when returning prosperity was predisposing the people to think well of it。 The inauguration of Washington marked the opening of a new era for the people of the United States of America。
APPENDIX* *The documents in this Appendix follow the text of the 〃Revised Statutes of the United States〃； Second Edition； 1878。 THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE1776 IN CONGRESS； JULY 4； 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America When in the Course of human events； it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another； and to assume among the Powers of the earth； the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them； a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation。 We hold these truths to be self…evident； that all men are created equal； that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights； that among these are Life； Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness。 That to secure these rights； Governments are instituted among Men； deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed； That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends； it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it； and to institute new Government； laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form； as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness。 Prudence； indeed； will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes； and accordingly all experience hath shown； that mankind are more disposed to suffer； while evils are sufferable； than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed。 But when a long train of abuses and usurpations； pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism； it is their right； it is their duty； to throw off such Government； and to provide new Guards for their future security。Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies； and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government