The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, September 14, 1887, Image 1

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UTK SUMTER WATCHMAN, Established April, ISSU. "Be Just and Fear not?Let all the Ends thon Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's " Consolidated Aug. 2, 1881.1 SUMTER, S. C, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1887. TKUK SOUXBEON, Established June, 15^6 ' New Series?Yol. til. So. 6. Pg.6li3h.od 070X7 TST?dnes?&y, BT N- Gr. OSTEEN, SUMTER, S. C. TERMS : Two Dollars per annota?in advance. ADTIRT?81MKST5. One Square, first insertion.$1 00 Everysufeseqoen? insertion. 50 Contracts for three months, or longer will be made at reduced rates. All communications which subserve private interests will becharged for as advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respect will be charged for. THE BISHOP VILLE HIGH SCHOOL, ~ " AT 9 BISHOPVILLE, & ?. A SCHOOL FOR Teoog Ladies and Gentlemen. THE COURSE OF STUDY is thorough, practical and exhaustive. Complete la ail departments: Primary, Grammar and High School, embracing ten grades. It pre pares students for College or for business, so ciety and life. In point of climate, health and morality, Bishopvillehas few equals and no superior in South Carolina. . With the pure air and free- j dorn of the country it combines many of the i conveniences of the town. Board can be secured in the best families of j the tow^ at eight dollars per month. The Trustees bave secured the services of Profs. Stokes and Nash and no pains will be { spared to make the school in every way 1 worthy of public patronage. ,Pcpf. Stokes, in connection with his regular j .'collegiate course, took the Normal Course in one ofthebest Normal Colleges of the land. Since his graduation he has been engaged four years in graded school work. Prof. Nash is a graduate of Davidson Col lege, and has been engaged for several years in teaching. The Fall Session of this School begins Sep tember 5, 1887, and continues until December 23. The Spring Session begins January 2, 1888, and conti unes to June 1. " Tuition reasonable. For circulars and in formation regarding board, tuition, &c, ad dress, inclosing stamp, G. EDWIN" STOKES, Principal, Bisbopvilie. S. C. b0a2? of trustees. J. L: PARROTT, Pres., W. J. BARRETT, Ssc, A. C. DURANT, W. D. SCARBOROUGH, W. R. DIXON, JNO. F. KELLY. Aug. 17 r SUMTEB INSTITUTE. THE EXERCISES OF THE II INSTITUTE will be resumed on Thursday, Sept. 1,18S7. Extensive and expensive additions have been made to tbe premises. Competent instructors in all Departments. Pupils will find it to their advantage to enter promptly. For terms. &c. apnlv to Mrs. L. A. BROWNE, Miss E. E. COOPER, ' July 27-t*15 Principals. THE SUMTER HIGH SCHOOL FOR BOTS, Affording superior advantages J :in ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS, j gFand the CLASSICS, will reopen MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1887. L. W. DICK, ] f > Principals. A. C. McINTOSH, j TUITION?From $2 to $5 per month. BOARD?with the principals, $12 per mo. For further information apply to PRINCIPALS SUMTER HIGH SCHOOL, Lock Box No. 49 Jun 8 Somter. S C. W?FF?RD COLLEGE. Spartanburg, S. C. JAS. H. .CARLISLE, LL. D., President. Seven Professors, with corresponding chairs of instruction. Fall Session begins Oct. 1st. 1887. For catalogue address J. A. GAMEWELL, Sec. of Faculty. WOFFORD FITTING SCHOOL. Four large brick buildings. Boys are pre pared for College Separate business course. Board in institution $10 a month. For fur ther information applv to - A. G. REM BERT, Aug. 24. Head Master. NEW STORE, NEW GOODS. WE ARE OPEN AT SCAFFE'S OLO STAND, A-nd have a Siock of Clean, Fresh Goods. -o We have many articles in our DRY GOODS stock that were bought for Less than Manufacturer's Cost, that we will dispose of at a sacrifice. It is to tbe advantage of purchasers to Call and examine our Goods before buying elsewhere. SPECIAL STOCK, GROCERIES. We give special attention to this stoc!:, and we intend to keep the Best G-oods, and will dispose of them at a small profit. We believe in "Quick Sales and Small Frofits" AH Goods delivered in the city free. JUST RECEIVED * A Large Lot of Whips, which were Bought at a Sacrifice, and will be disposed of accordingiv. Come aad see them. COME QUICK, or you- may be just too late. 8. L & C, W. KINSMAN, SUMTER, S. C. Sept 7 POWDER Absolutely Pure. This powder never varies. A marvel of purityy' strength and wholesomeness. More economical than the ordinary kinds, and can not be sold in competition with the multitude of low test, short weight, alum or phosphate powders. Sold only in cans. ROYAL BAK ING POWDER CO., 106 Wall-st., N. Y. W ?ISP ggS I EASY! .319 iMpa Should be used a few months before confinement. Scad for book " To Mothe&s," mailed free. BB?ncLS EegtjjLatoe Co., Atlanta, Ga. Catarrh Cream Balml U.S?. Cleanses the Head. Allay IN FL A M A TI ON '. Heals the Sores-I Restores the SENSES OF TASTE! Smell, Hearing A quick Belief. A positive 6Vre.j|AY-FEVER A particU- is Applied into e?.cb nostril and is agreeable. Price 50 cents at Druggists ; by mail, registered, 60 cents. ELY BROS., New Y'ork Office 235 Greenwich Street. HAY FEVER is an inSamed condition of the lining mem brane of the nostrils, tear ducts and throat, affecting the lungs. An acrid mucus is secret ed, the discharge is accompanied with a burn ing sensation. There are severe spasms of sneezing, frequent attacks of headache; watery and inflamed eyes. Ely's Cream Balm is a remedy that can be depended upon to relieve at once and cure. SOUTH &AB0?N? "G?LLEGE. Sixteen Instructors: 5 Scientific,3 Literary ! degree Courses, 5 Shorter Courses, Post? j Graduate and Law Courses. " Tuition $40 Matriculation $10, Rooms Free, j Table Board Sil and $?2.5? j*7" month.. Ez penses about S19 0. Tuition free by.Law to applicants filing ! with College treasurer a certificate of inabili ty to pay, signed by himself and guardian or parent with opinion of County Commis sioners, or Judge of Probate, or Clerk of the Court, that the statement is true, for further particulars applv to President J. M. McBRYDE, Columbia, S. C. FURMAN UNIVERS!!/. GREENVILLE, S. C THE NEXT SESSION WILL BEGIN Wednesday SEPTEMBER 28TH. The Collegiate department includes the full Col lege curriculum. There is also a preparatory department thoroughly organized. Expenses have been reduced. For information or cata logue, address, July 20. PROF II. T. COOK. WILLI AMSTQN FEMALE COLLEGE, WILLIAMSTON, S C. THE FALL SESSION OF THIS P0P?- j lar lustitution will open on Monday, Sept. 12, 1887, under better auspices than j ever. Its thorough scholarship, quiet loca- j tion, pure Pied mont air, finechalvbeate water, j excellent board, first class advantages at very ! low rates, area!! well known. The President will come up from Wright's i Hotel in Columbia, Saturday, September i0. j to escort pupi s to the College. For full information, address REV. S. LANDER, A. M. D. D., Ang. 24. 1337-4t. President! ! Patrick's Military Institute, ! ANDERSON, S. C. FORMERLY LOCATED at Greenville, j has been removed to Anderson, where ' more commodious buildings have been secur-i ed- Trie next session begins .September 14. ! For circulars, etc., address J. B. PATRICK, Principal. Aug. 17 Anderson, S. C. COTTON BATTINK MATTRESSES. TTC THERE WE SPEND ALMOST HALF VV of our lifeshoutd be made as comfort- I able as possible, and for the purpose of! aiding this good work, and making some j money, we now offer the best COTTON BAT- ; TING MATTRESS ever put upon this market. I Three grades now made?$5.00, $6.0!>, $7.00. ' Sample and full information at Store of j Treasurer, A. Moses. Satisfaction guaranteed in every case, or money refunded. SUM TER C? TTON MILLS. I THE TEMPERANCE WORKER, Removed from Columbia, S. C. A Live, Temperance Paper, Published Semi-monthly in SUMTEIi, S. C. Under the Editorial management of Rev. II. F. C?keitzberg, g.w.c.t. of i.o.g.t. of s. c. ?and? Rev. J. S. Mattison, Assisted by an able corps of Editors. The patronage and influence of all frienos of Temperance is solicited. Terms only t>0 \ cents a year. To advertisers desiring a wide Circulation, it ?fters an excellent medium, Ou business, address N. G. OSTKEN. Publisher. THE CONSTITUTION. How, Wlien and by Wliom It Was Adopted. CENTENNIAL CELEBKATION To Be Hold in Philadelphia Sept. 15, 16 and 17. History of the Movement Leading to tbe Adoption of the Document?Portrait* of Some of the Men Who Had a Hand In Its Preparation and Who Took Part in the Adopting Convention. Copyrighted bv the American Press Association. Oaf readers are already apprised of tbe fact that it is proposed to hold a centennial celebration of the adoption of the constitu tion of the United States, in Philadelphia on the 15th, ICth and 17th of September. Not all who know this aro familial* with the causes that led up to tho adoption of the consti tution and the history of the movement One hundred years ago there was no United States of America. There was no nation on this continent?only English, French, Spanish and Portuguese colonies from Hudson's hay to the Rio de La Plata. There iras in this country no president, no cabinet, no senate and no national treasury; there was no public credit, no power to create a national revenue, no authority to secure union at home and respect abroad. Even the piratical Burbary states sneered at the talk of American power. The contribution box was passed Sunday after Sunday in New England churches for means to ransom American saiiors in Algerian captivity. The last?the definitive?treaty of peace had been signed at Versailles on Sept. 3,17S3, and the army had been disbanded with a mere fraction of its pay. None of the treaties recognized the ex istence of a new nation?tbe independence and sovereignty of thirteen colonies, each by name, were separately acknowledged. The public securities were steadily declining, tbe worn soldier of liberty sought his desolated home with only wounds and glory for his pay. Not because the country was poor?it was admittedly rich in resources that; could soon be converted into cash?but there was no central power; thero were thirteen sepa rately independent sovereignties bcund to gether only by a vague something which could not be celled a charter of union, was illy define;! -is a confederation, and scarcely merited even the title of a league or compact. Each state had its own arm}*, its own currency and banking system, its own com mon iai marine, its own system of ad minisrr.nti ::!. and, above all, its own system Of east .-::s duties, one state iarilhng against another, in short, each state held in itself th complete power of the sword and the purse, and only obeyed the mandate of the conlV-.-.i-rntion congress so far and at such time r.~ the *>tate chose. The adverse vote of one state could defeat an important law. Th-.' plan was in imitation of that of the united provinces of the Netherlands in the prwedhig century?a very poor model in deed, and very badly imitated. The system alm^t ru?ied the united provinces, and was Utterly unsnitcd to a confederation in which the area of a single state was greater than that <-f the Netherlands. There had been three government??Colo nial, Revolutionary or Continental, and Con federated. The Colonial had ended in revo lution, the royal governors flying to British j shins and the pc-oplo seizing the power; the Continental began to take form in the first congress at Philadelphia, September, 1774, but could not l>e called complete (if it all) till a few weeks after the Declaration of Inde pendence; and it expired peaceably in March, 1781, when the last state (Maryland) acceded to the Articles of Confederation, and the con gross then in session at once proceeded to ; act under its new powers. The Colonial had expired in revolution and the Continental had grown slowly into the Confederated; and now the Confederation was dying of dry rot. \ It only had power to 'request" of the states; ! each successive requisition was met with j more indifference until, on Nov. 1, 17S4, Robert Morris announced that he could pay j no interest on any foreign loans and a very small fraction of the domestic claims, and that he saw no way of securing a revenue under tho Confederation?then resigned his post as superintendent of the finances in a tone that seemed like a wail of despair. INDEPENDENCE HALL. .Ml these years, however, the spirit of union was growing fast. There had been from the first a few who could "think con tinental ly," as the phrase was. They saw in patriotic fancy a time when all this country should form "an empire of free republics in dissoiubly united." 2?Iost active among these wero Washington, Hamilton, Madison, Gouverneiir Morris and Gen. Philip Schuy ler. They had many ardent supporters; but the mass of mankind are naturally decentrali zation ists. The citizen stands for his neigh bors as against the next neighborhood, for his county as against the state; he loves his own state, and it is not till it becomes truly great that his heart sweils with pride at thougnt of his nation. The states' rights principle in our S3*stem is one that needs little cultivation? only intelligent direction. So the "Strong Government Whigs,'! as they began to bo Called, worked cautiously. Every schoolboy knows the repeated difficulties Washington had with their sovereignties, tbe states; how often, he appealed for a stronger central power, how often he had to literally beg tho state au:borities to stand by him. And if the local feeling has more than once proved too strong within the memory of living men, what mtist it have been when as yet no glori ous memories clustered about the general government, when there was but a vague promise of union, but an ideal nation? Nevertheless; there were a few conditions which made Americans one people. Though planted in adverse interests at intervals stretching over 1*2(5 years, with forms of gov ernment varying from the extreme of pro prietary ship u? the extreme Democracy of Connecticut and Rhode Island, representing at least six great branches of Christianity, and extremely diverse social and industrial conditions; the colonies st ill had many mon points of resemblance than of difference. They all had the same language and substan tially the same literature; they all claimed the 1 liberties of Englishmen and judged cases mioii the principles of the English common law; they were all planted by men who longed for a larger liberty, and were ril swayed by the same necessities as ? gainst wii.i nature and the Indians, and most ??f ail, perhaps, the native born Americans wero similarly transformed from the European type by breathing the ;<ir and seizing upon the opportunities <>f a now continent. The result was apparent in this: the animosities | of the Seventeenth century l>etween Puritan ! and Quaker, and Yankee and Dutchman, Protestant nnd Catholic had yielded so I rapidly that in the middle of the Eighteenth ; century but a trace remained; Catholic j Charles Carroll, Liberal Stephen Hopkins j and Free Thinking PitriUn Franklin joined in the public devotions without hesitation, and the new comer from Europe remarked with amazement that there was already the one American type, with local variations less than marked the counties of England, from Boston to Savannah. While the Lincolnskireman still laughed at the " babble" of the Cornishman, and both of them regarded the Yorkshireman as an "out languidged vurriner," it was but barely pos sible (and seldom that) in the continental con gress to distinguish, the accents of the Geor gian and the Bostonian. The written lan guage was absolutely one; the most acute critie cannot decide by the internal evidence in which colony any document of that timo was produced. The same books were read, and often exchanged the length o[ a conti nent, and at the foot of the Biue Ridge as at the head of the Hudson were many men like Madison and Jefferson, of powerful intellects and of vast and varied reading. The Amer icans were one far more truly than the Eng lish of that day and more than the English and Scotch now are. MOVEMENT FOR A GENERAL GOV ERNMENT. It is not possible to assign an exact date to the movement for a general government?it was m the air. In 1643 the three New Eng land colonies joined in a short lived confed eracy against the Indians and the Dutch. In ICSI a common movement againsc the six nations of Indians united all the colonies but South Carolina. The attempt of James II to restrict colonial liberties led to temporary unions, but the British revolution of 1688 brought in William and Mary, w ho restored the colonial charters. John Locke then drew up a plan for a cap tain general and one assembly for all the colonies, Dut parliament refused to consider it. In 1G97 William Penu (in England) pro posed a congress of two members from each colony, but the ministry of that aBih^^s^i^c^sA; ' day refused it. In ^^^^^^^ 1754 Benjamin Franklin drew up a ben. franklin*. very good plan of confederation, but could not get 'it considered. In 17G5 nine colonies were represented in a conference at New York. Finally, on the 5th of September, 1774, thelnrst Continental congress met at Phila delphia, and tHereafter the tendency toward union was irr?sistible till the declaration of independence, July 4, 1770. It is not easy to define the powers of the Continental congress, they were so augmented by necessity and so supplemented by the colonial legislatures and local committees of safety, which exercised almost despotic powers. The movement for a better organ ized government was already in progress. Tom Paine issued his brilliant pamphlet iu favor of a national government, and Alex ander Hamilton warmly seconded Paine's argument in many letters and addresses. Paine was a revolutionist, Hamilton an or ganizer; Washington followed as the mod erator. He first ventured to use the word "empire," meaning, as subsequent letters j show, an "empire of republics.'"' After tak ing command of the army ho often urged the members to consider "that power and weight which ought of right to belong only to the whole." Four years he continued to urge a stronger central power, and iu March, 1779, wrote to George Mason, of Virginia: "I lament the fatal policy of the states employing their ablest men at home. How useless to put in liue order the smallest parts of a clock unless the great spring which is to set the whole ia motion is well attended to. Let this voice call forth you, Jefferson and others to save their country;3 Yet it took the congress two years to complete the articles of confedera tion and nearly two more to get them sanc tioned by all the states, only to Cud them in efficient within six mouths after their adoption. On the 1st of March, 1781, the delegates from Maryland subscribed the articles; on the second it was taken for granted that the new government was in force, and within th? j month several members complained of the want of sudcient powers. On the 10th, James Madison introduced anew clause, that the states should givo congress the power to compel a recalcitrant state to perform its obligations. On the 2d of May it was re ferred to a committee of one from each state; on the 20th of July they reported a substi tute, that congress might in time of war lay an embargo for sixty days af.d name receivers of oublie money, after it had been collected by str.te officers. On the same day Edmund Randolph presented the resolutions of the Virginia legislature, that congress "ought to have more power.7' In July und August Hamilton issued a series of papers called "The Continentalist," in which he vigorously urged a moro complete union, a central executive and a national revenue. But all in vain. Soon after Cornwailis surrendered, the British hastily concentrated in two or three ports, ready for embarking; even* ono went wild in expectation of an immediate close of the war. and the "more perfect union" was ignored. Philip Schuyler, Alexander Hamil ton and others had just before this persuaded the great state of New York to agree that duties should "be collected in such manner and by such officers as congress should di rect," and Virginia had consented to a similar measure; but the other states w?ro so slow that the opposition had timo to rally, and both concessions were re voked or ignored. New Y?rk, however, for the first, proposed a cou von; ion to form a new constitution. Hamilton drafted the resolutions, his father-in-law, Schuyler, urged them vigorously, and they passed both houses of the legislature by unanimous vote. There after they were the platform, the store house of texts and arguments for the "Strong Gov ernment Whigs." Finally all the states but Rhode Island consented to a national revenue from customs duties; the negative of the one s:ate ruined the scheme, and thus the weary seesaw went on four years longer, till the con federation was without cash at home or credit abroad, and was fast sinking into contempt. In Virginia the issue was debated almost in cessantly for six years, Washington and Madison leading the nationalists, Richard Henry Leo contending for separation and state sovereignty, Patrick Henry advocating only a strengthening of the existing confed eration. Pressure from without had kept Americans united during the war; a renewal of that pressure was needed to force a mor.: perfect union, and it came exactly at the right time. When the British parliament met after the peace of Versailles the liberal element pro posed a renewal of close intercourse with America and "free trade on liberal princi ples." When asked what guarantees they could secure, they were forced to reply that they knew of no power to bind the .?'parato colonies; a reaction set in and ceased not till Great Britain had adopted the most scringen? navigation Jaws and every practical method bf crippling tho trade of Americans. When this was known in the states, then u ml ?er of those who could "think con mentally" in creased suddenly and rapidly. Virginia es pecially advanced toward extreme national views. Jefferson said that his first choice would l*e no navigation laws, no distinction 's^^'?a bet ween ports, and 1,10 f,v<v;t r,,ssil',u _- _^.yr^?. commerce; but as Great Britain had ]^._;'*s$ eh. ..se; I otherwise, -V we um>c have a ^ '.M^ government that. * e<-u!d meet her in the same spirit. Rhode Island, as '/?^ffr u<unl. rest.! v.-t! that tyl ^fVfe. each state should do ... ., if-' its-own retaliating: T,/.-' but almost every where else there at.exant.ek Hamilton, was a movement toward union. The slates began measures to Surrender their western lands to the general government, and the movement progressed so rapidly that it was completed before the constitution. Congivss had already established a mint and Federal win. The Raid:of North .Amer ica had booh set up. Settlements in iii<? west ern territory were in rapid progress, and the settl'ts"were impatient for exnet statements of their relations to government. Already Spain was harassing the border with un friendly legislation. Treaties with the Iu- ! dians were imperative and wars probable, j Kentucky and her neighbors were demand. ing, m daily louder tones, free navigation of , the Mississippi, or-.? On all sides foreign j and domestic questions pressed tho demand j for a stronger central government; yet a few | states held back and the others delayed out j of deference to them. .Meanwhile Fit!; was ; ; enforcing the British navigation acts against i the United States with the utmost severity, i and the "Strong Government Whigs'7 were j j making converts. The powers of established ! j churches in tho several states were greatly | J curtailed; religious freedom became general, j and by local acts the rights of a citizen in any ; state were freely accorded to immigrants from j other states. And the clause on this subject I in the constitution is the only one more ob scure, at any rate more awkwardly worded, than the laws it superseded. Commerce be tween tho states was being bettor system atized. In short; the country was traveling slowly toward a sort of unit}-. But the war between debtor and creditor was raging with great severity; tbe "soft money men" of many localities dreaded a general government which would abolish legal tender paper; there were riots in divers places, and Capt. Daniel Shay's rebellion in Massachusetts. Com merce, finances and foreign affairs demanded a stronger government. On March 2S, 17So, commissioners from the two states of Virginia and Maryland met at Mount Vernon to form a plan for the joint navigation of the Potomac?George Mason and Alexander Henderson for Virginia, Dan iel-of-St.-Thomas Jenifer, Thomas Stone and Samuel Chase for Maryland, all assisted by "Washington. Their special work was quickly done, so they discussed general politics, and ended by drawing up a plan of union for the two states involving uniform money and taxes. Maryland promptly acceded and asked that Delaware and Pennsylvania might; be added. Virginia argued these matters till Jan. 21,17S0, then by large majorities in both branches invited all the other states to meet her in convention at Annapolis, Md., on the first Monday of the next September. The sixth congress was in sessiou, and South Car olina, by Charles Pinckney, led the move ment for a new government. Ee proposed a number of amendments to the articles giving the central government more power, but was defeated by the extremists. Those who wanted no change and those who wanted an entirely new system were alike opposed to reform. The Annapolis convention met, but three states sent no delegates and others ar rived so lato that the short sitting was over before they could act. The few present united in an able appeal to con gress to order a national convention. Even this action excited violent criticism. Tho Nationalists were iu despair, when Madison, of Virginia, raised them again to hope. On his motion the general assembly unanimously resolved on a Federal convention, to meet at Philadelphia, May 2, 1737, and draft an en tire constitution to be presented to the states. As soon as the news reached New Jersey that state, on the 2Cd of November, acceded and chose its delegates.* Pennsylvania followed iu December, North Carolina in January and Delaware in February. Congress next ap proved the measure, and then the states fol lowed one by one?all but Pdiodo Island, which refused to act as usual. But Mary land, dl>tracted_by a fight over paper money, did not elect tiil near the end of May, and New Hampshire was a few days later. On the 14th of May, 17S7, the day finally set, onh* Pennsylvania and Virginia wero represented; but their delegates repaired to the state house, organized and were soon joined by others. On the 17th came South Carolina, on the ISth New York, on the 21st Delaware, on the 22d North Carolina. On the 25th William Churchill Houston, of New Jersey, previously detained by illness, arrived, and so the seven states needed for a quorum were represented?from the south, four states; with nineteen members; from the north, three states, with ten members. On motion of Benjamin Franklin Washington v. as unanimously chosen president of the conven tion. On the 2Sth the delegates from Massa chusetts and Maryland arrived. It was a convention of learned men. There were nitre graduates of Princeton, four of Yule and six of other colleges: at least seven were of some : eminence iu literature; one, a native of Scot laud, had taught iu her first universities; a very large proportion were well read lawyers, and nearly all had had long and valuable training in the stvte legislatures or congress. And to these men was submitted this prob lem: How shall we combine these sovereigns into one sovereignty? How shall wo take just enough power from the thirteen to form a government sufficient for all general con cerns, especially commerce and foreign affairs, and yet leave all other powers unim uaired iu each state? THE CONVENTION. Their work may be detailed historically or analyzed by themes. For many reasons tho second plan is the better, chiefly because it avoids detail and makes the conclusion clearer. Four general schemes were suggested: First?Tho extreme Federalist or National ist plan : That tho states should be practically abolished; reduced to mere departments, and on their ruins one strong government estab lished?"on the British model," added Hamil ton. The convention took one good look at this plan and rejected it?unanimously. It does not appear that they did more than merely listen to its oreseutation. Second?Tho extreme states' rights plan: That the Confederation should be strength ened a little, so far as to havo an independent revenue and exercise some control over com merce, each state to retain its absolute sove reignty as before. The convention con sidered this at some length and rejected it, not quite unanimously. Third?The moderate Nationalist plan. Fourth?The moderate states' rights plan. Out of the last two, by. compromise, the convention evolved the present constitution, with the understanding that it was to be con strued according to the plain meaning of tho words on these three basis principles: First?That the power of the ling, the sword and the national purse (and these con stitute sovereignty) should be vested exclu sively in the national government. Second?That as to these, the public prop erty, especially the land, cerla.'u general functions, and all foreign affair.:., the peo^I* of the United States should constitute cerf? nation. Third?That just chough?and 7:o mon? power.-, should be taken from the states to constitute a government for tlie.se general purposes, and all other powers remain in the Slates as before. James Madison came with tho outline of a constitution already formed and employed the days of waiting in urging its mam points upon the delegates who first orriv.-d. i'A mand llandolph had elaborated certain priu- j eiplesin addition to thoseof Madison. Wash ington had drawn up tiie heads of these oai stitutions. Paterson. of New J<v<r\\ ha<S a plan which was mere!;,' to strengthen, the eon toleration. And it was known that Con necticut was coining with still another. "The New Jersey system."' said, those who' spoke first, "is federal, the Virginia system national; in the first the powers llovv tYoni the state governments, but in the. latter Jhey derive authority from the [?copie "f the states." Aiul even before the convention met, the extreme states' rightparty hud sounded an alarm about the Virginia plan. , William Jones, of North (tan.in.a, refused to serve, as hi' understood the convention was designed to subordinate the stales, and was replaced by Hugh Williamson", an "original free soiler," who wanted slavery excluded from all new states. Patrick Henry. ! homas Nelson mal Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, refused to accept their appointments, as they would not act under tin- Virginia ivs ihitious, and Wi fe replace?I by men of much < > - note I b::: ardent nationalists. Edmund Uaudoiph J wavered. His first intent was to v?>te f?--r a ; mere st rengt hening of the confed?-r;:. ion, but. i Iiis personal reor?rdpointed to nationalisai as | his final position. Tin ugh but '^5 years old, j he had borne a very ac ive part iu the revo lution and was now governor of Virginia. To him, therefore, was intrus teil the duty of j presenting the "Virginia plan**t?>the eonveu- ; tion, which lie did May Cu iu a preamble and ; fifteen. rcsoJatioiiR. Tlv y de.-laivd for a national legislature of two branches, with specific powers over national concerns;, a nnlioual executive to be chosen by the legislature and eligible for but j one term; a council of revision to examine , and approve the acts of the legislature before they should goiuto force; a national judici ary, substantially sucb as wo now bave; a national revenue to be collected from the states by quotas, and the right of suffrage in each state should be the basis of enumeration for apportioning the quota; new states tobe admitted on terms of equality, and each state to be required to have, and to be guaranteed", a republican form of government. This pian contained two notable clauses. Une provided for representation in both branches accord ing to population ; the other suggested that oniy "free inhabitants" should be counted for representation. We do not find in the scanty accounts that the latter proposition attracted much attention, but the former at once provohed fierce opposition from the smaller states. Charier; Pincknoy, of South Carolina, only 20 years old, presented a series of resolutions very similar to those from Vir ginia, and both were referred to a committee of one from each state. On the morning of the 30th Nathaniel Gor bam, of Massachusetts, offered a resolution that "A national government ought to be es tablished, consisting of a supremo legislative, executive and judiciary." Pierce Butler, of South Carolina, now passed over from the Confederationists to the Nationalists, saying that the division of powers between three de partments, the democratic branch coming di rect from the people aud holding the power of the purse, had removed his objections. So the Gcrham resolution, passed, Connecticut only voting in the negative; New York di vided. Next day the first clause of the Vir ginia plan, that there should be a national legislature of two branches, passed without bebate, Pennsylvania alone voting in the neg ative. Three weeks later she withdrew her neg ative, and the vote was made unanimous. All the powers of the legislature were agreed upon the same day. On the 1st of June the executive was taken up and debated long and earnestly. The veto power was conferred by the votes or eight states against Connecti cut and Maryland.. The judiciary was de bated for a week and settled nearly as we now have it. Then came the hard fight as to equality of representation; and the first settlement was that each state should have at least one senator and others in some propor tion to its population. The remaining Vir ginia resolutions were gone through with rapidly, and iu thirteen sessions the work on them was complete. But the smaller states had been deprived of equal representation, and their discontent s<->o:i took active form. New Jersey organized and led the oppo sition of the smaller states. Connecticut, by Roger Sherman, had already presented and vehemently urged that might be called the moderate states' rights plan, but it was merged in the "New- Jersey plan," which Paterson presented on the 15th of June. It provided for a legislature with a single house, and was Generally less national than the "Virginia plan." The convention debated this five days, and by the vote of seven states rejected it. In the midst of this debate Hamilton introduced his plan?for extreme centralization. It was "praised by everybody but supported by nobody," says one member in his memoirs. It was, in fact, a plan for an elective mon archy, with democratic features?very much such a government as that of England now is, x?^*-Sv? or would be if the .-y.Vy m o n arch were elected "for life or good behavior." fe? From the 10th of ?^*?3? June to the 2d of July the conven tion debated almost constantly on one subject?the rights B*^f?P|( of the states, ?spe to W?^i^^M^ cia-uy tho right t WiV&^FZ&f *A'VA equal repr?sente fir^^f ' tion. Connecticut ;/% 11 now took the lead, PATRICK IIEXST. ?nd by ?oger g'uei-_ man proposed a compromise?that there should bo equal representation in one branch and proportional in tho other. On the 2d of July five states voted for it and five against it, Georgia divided and New Hampshire was not present. So the matter was referred to a committee of oua from fach state, and, as the conven tion wits in a very hot temper over it, on adjournment of three da3-s aftef *he 3d was voted, in the hope that rest and the celebration of the 4th would restore har mony. The final settlement was in favor oi equality in the senate. As sooi i as this was done Paterson. Sherman and Ellsworth passed ove/ to the Nationalists, and thereafter voted for every measure to strengthen the general gov ernment. Paterson was for tho rest of his life an ardent and extreme Federalist. Tho basis of representation in the lower house, or democratic branch, excited Ion* discussions on the slavery question ; but th* agreement on a three-fifths enumeration of the slaves was nearly unanimous. The next ten days were devoted to drawing the Hue between state and nai ional powers, and per fecting the general outlines of the constitu tion. Meanwhile the states had completed the cession of their western lands, and con gress (the congress of the old confederation being in session contemporaneously with th?j convention) had adopted the ordinance oi 1TS7, for the government of the territory north of the Ohio and west- of Pennsylvania, so the convention* nexc task was to provide for a territorial system. Fr :n the 17th to the 2G:h of July the con vention debated the general outlines of the constitution, adopted some restrictions on the powers of the states, agreed unanimously that the states were to retain all powers not specifically taken from them, but that it was unnecessary to so state in the constitution; appointed a control:Sec of three from the north and two from the south to fornsBlate tne work so far done, and then adjourned tc Aug. 0. The committee of detail consisted of Gorbam, Ellsworth, Wilson, Ran dolph and John But ledge?tho Jart an eminent scholar of South Carolina, ot great experience in congress and statu legislature, being chairman. On Aug. G they presented each member of the con vention with n printed copy of their draft of a constitution: and thence to Sept. 1<) i: was thoroughly discussed hi detail. From the middle t<> the end of Augustshiv ory was debated with great earn est a ess and the compromise agreed upon, the word Slave" bei rig emvfiiily excluded from the Constitution. The method of choosing thj pre.-i.h-nt was ?ong-aud warmly debated: the resuit was the most awkward clause in t!:o instninvoiir. The judicial system of the United States was settled with little heat, after which it was decided that the e>'::s:i:u tiou should be submitted to conventions, chosen for that purpose <?nly, in the states, and shonid go into operation in the adopting slat.s so<m as they numbered nine. A emum:tree of five was named tc) make- tho compile draft? Madison. Hamilton. King. Johnson a; 1 CrOuv?*rueur Morris?and tho last named wruti; the tfoal c?*py. And now a new diinculty ar?>so: a.few members refused to sign the completed instrument, hud declared they would oppose its adop tion in their states. Washington. Ham ilton, Madison and Frank i in labored with them most earnestly. Finally :d? sig?:'"?? il but (ferry. Mn>o:i and Randolph. So the unanimous consent of the eleven states lii>i-<'v:S.was secured on Monday, the 17th of Septv.mber: ti:-" coir.er.tiou adjourned, th<i members ob-.r-i : i:--r ami ti.eu retired, says Washing:-m. "to meditate on the mo mentons work which ha l been executed/7 ADOPTED BY THE STATES. Put t.h?*contestw:is not over. indeed, the bittcjrst tight was to conic; for only friends ..- .v of the new consri &/r -~^\ tut ion consulted ta serve in the coh \^WJ v.-,tiou; Avhileeuc '"iiS ?vmamed al ]"'Jyfy borne to right i;i 3.;"-/.-' w.tb. ir s r a J es. J II r^g^Unssa.-lu.setts, " Now York amUVir. e,inia the uproar was terrific. The ? > opponents savagely rontendeil that tha " :> ?; new constitution riTlT.tP SCI117VLE1U n-;is despotic, 1? contained no I>* 11 of rights.it made no pro visions ?f* Mvnr?' tho cit izens against illcgnf powers; there was nothing about the right of coiisci.ehcv, the troeiloin of the press, the trial by jury, excessive bails, lines, forfeitures ot oomvsbive military estabiislunents. It* ! friends replied that tue whole instrument wal j a bill of rights, since the general government j could exercise no powers except such as wer j granted, and tbe states could devise as jnauy I safeguards as they chose. Neverthcless{ ! they generally consented that these thingi j should be provided for in amendments, though insisting (and truly, too) that they wer* ! needless. The first fight came on in the con I gress still in session, which was, indeed. naked j to approve its own annihilation. Richard Henry Lee opposed tho new government be cause it was too strong; Graysoij, alsa of Virginia, because it was too weak. AU the New York delegates, Melancthca Smith at their head, opposed it on the ground that New York could not afford to surrendei her customs duties. Finally congress do cided to submit the constitution to the states without special recommendation. But Rich ard Henry Lee was implacable. He and Grayson had been outvoted by their thre? colleagues, and so Virginia was recorded in congresses for the constitution. He now stirred up opposition in every state, scatter ing many thousand copies of his "Letten from the Federal Fanner." Madison and Hamilton replied in The Federalist, white Washington exerted himself iu Virginia against Harrison, Neisou and Patrick Henry. The Virginia assembly met on tbe third Monday in October, and wrangled till March before ordering a" convention; and then the dato of its meeting was postponed to the first Monday in June *17SS)? "The debates of this convention furnished a most valuable guide to the intent of the framers and tho meaning of the constitution: but this is no place for de tails. Suffice it that atter long and heated discussion, and only upon the pledge of its supporters that the constitution should be amended, the Virginia convention ratified it on the 25th of June, 1TSS, Oythe narrow mar gin of eighty-nine yeas to seventy-nine nays. In Delaware the legislature hastened to say that it "could not find language to express the joy of the people." and called a conven tion at once. That body, as soon as organ ized, unanimously ratified the constitution oa Dec. C, 1787. Tho Pennsylvania convention met Nov. 20, mid after three weeks* debate, ratified the constitution on Dec. 12 by a vote of 40 to 23. Twenty-one of the minority signed a protest "that tho powers vested ic congress would lead to an iron handed des? potism, with unlimited control of the purs* and sword." New Jersey's convention met Bee. 11, 1737, read tho constitution by section! for a week, and on the 18th ratified it unani mously. So the union of the central statet was complete. Georgia also ratified unani mously and without debate. Jan. 2, 1788, firing thirteen guns as the signing progressed. Connecticut, with very little opposition, rati fied Jan. 9,17SS. by a vote of 12$ to 40. Thea came the great battle royal iu Massachusetts The delegates in that state were elected iu the heat and fury following the Shay:s insur> rection, and eighteen "rebels'7 had scats U the convention. The friends of the constitu tion confessed themse'.ves iu a minority z\ the start, but the}* gained by concession an-J the Maine delegates saved tho day (Maim was then a district of Massachusetts). Foi three weeks the opposition offered every ob* jf-e: ion that the mind of man can conceive religious, commercial and fiscal, the lack of a bill of rights, the want of a religious test, the matters. They then tried all possible schemes of del**; another convention was proposed* a reference of the matter back to congress etc- Finally, when the friends of the con stitution had promised all sorts of amend ments, the ratification was squeezed through, Feb. 0.17SS, by the painfully small majority of 1S7 to 103. Boston was wild with en thusiasm for the new government, and celebrated with exceeding great joy. New Hampshire had substantially the same fight, with variations; so lhe*-frieuds of the constitution proposed an adjournment till June, hoping that the infiuence cf other states would heio them". Finally, on June 21, 17SS, after agreeing to twelve amendments, the ratification was carried by 57 against 40. This was the ninth state, and so the existence of the new Union was soured. Maryland, after a short but very spirited debate, had ratified, April 20, by Go votes to 11. South Carolina's convention met at Charleston on the 13th of May, debated ten x^'^^f>^ days, but with "^^i^X great calmness and courtesy, and on te^^?? the 23d ratified, by O ^>^v^- a vote cf 140 to 73. Ityj^V I^lggf Tfcc New York -/A$V ^il^2^ convention met on wIc&jSZ?* ./.Jza Juno 17. "mid de bated with much earnestness till Juiv 20," then ratified by the close vote of 00 against 27, elbhidge gerry. with the under standing that numerous amendments were to be adopted or another Federal convention called at once! North Car olina's convention met July 21, and on the 1st of August declined immediate ratification by a tic vote?1S4 to 1S4. Tho ! next day, however, tho convention provided ! that congressional laws as to commerce should be iu force in the state just as if she had ratified. After the new government was fairly established North Carolina acceded, Nov. 21, 17S0. Rhode Island, as usual, was in opposition to the last; unrepresented in the convention and in the first congress, she rati fied May 29, 1790, tho last of the thirteen. . J. II. Beadle. Mrs. Sarah Jackson. The Mistress of the White House Over Fifty Years Ago. Mr3. Sarah Jackson, who died at the riermuag-e on the ?ib, now remembered by but few people, was for fonr years, or nearly four years, the most promiucDt lady of the land, the mistress of the White House. A boot the commencement of General Jacksou7s second term, bis adopted son. Andrew Jackson, Jr , married Miss j Sarah York, of Philadelphia, a young lady of accomplishments, of good family : and great personal beauty.* The adopt ed son, who was a nephew of Mrs Jack son, brought his young bride to the White House, where she was received j by the P.csidcnt, who was a widower? ! Mrs Jackson having died after his first election and before bo became president ?with r!>:? a?T.'c?io-gite and manly dig nity which onl> so prorU ? father could show to a now daugh'er bronght into the family. His son was his private secretary, ami (he new daughter was put. in charge of the house. She provrti to be a most devoted daughter and loving wife. General Jackson was a peculiar man. The loss of his wife four years heft->rc had chang ed his whole Wt'?. All his letters?let ters to members of the family and friends ?showing that during all his Srst term ho was grieving over his great less. His letters are fuil of his affectionate ad miration for her memory. He would, in a fetter to a female friend, recount with the simplicity of youthful affection and sorrow, tho virtues and loving qualities of his beloved wife, and to the family ut home he would inquire about the tomb where his wife lay. Tin- new daughter came in and took! the place it; the heart of the great sol- j dier?as near as it was possible?of the wife he had so Ions mourned. She was-! a!i that the old hero could desire. 9hej adorned the white honsc;she was a loving wife, and she was so gentle and devoted to the general that his heart was warmly attached to her. Many of his letters t? bcr have been preserved and 'i hey Show that, after the death of his wife this ??gw daughter had the sec ond place iu his hear*. But whoa bis term expired the old ; general came back to the Hermitage.. In time he died, leaving' to his son and the faznily a fine estate. This was lost and the family were in straitened cir-, j cumstances. There bas been eonfasion ; often in regard to the two men?An-< ! drew Jackson Donelson and the adopted. : son cf Old Hickory. Donelson was the ; came of both and both were related to j Mrs. Jackson. The adopted son was ! christened Andrew Jackson, Jr. The. i son died in 3857 and Tuesday the once j beautiful bride, the .mistress of the. i White House, the old hero's greatest, j comfort and solace in his old age, passed. j away at the age of eighty-one. The funeral took place at the Hermitage. - She leaves only two children living,.' Colonel Andrew Jackson of West Point, ', who was an artillery oScer in the late war en the Southern side and..made a. reputation, and Mrs. Dr. John Law-, reuce. One sod, Samuel, Tras killed at' Chickamauga. Mrs. Sarah Jackson .was a noble. Christian woman, beloved .by everybody' who knew her.?Nashville American. Our State Contemporaries?' A Life of J. C. Cal?o?in' 'Charleston Sun. < . The Wilmington Star says a call is now making upon ex-Presid?nt Davis to write a life of J. C. Calboun. .After' Yen Hoist's prejudiced biography this would seem necessary. The late Hon.. R. M. T. Hunter, cf Virginia, one of' Mr. Calhoun's most ardent political dis ciples, for the last four years of his lifo had been collecting material for a biog raphy of the great states man. It would be interesting to know how far be pro ceeded with the work or whether it was ever actually begun. The same thing may be said of the life of Calboun which the late Mr. T. Pinckney Starke, of this State, had in course of preparation. You Hoist, the German biographer, visited. Charleston while preparing' his alleged biography cf Calhcun and ex pressed opinions, at a 'gentleman's din ner table oo South Battery, which con vinced all preseut that his book would be so prejudiced as to be utterly worth less to any man seeking to learn the truth of the life and political principles of the illustrious Southerner. The only published sketches of Mr. Calhoun's life, except ephemeral notices and the brief articles in the various encyclope dias, are Yen Hoist's Life, Jenkins' Life, a cheap and very unsatisfactory book more suited for children than men ; an anonymous biography, supposed to have been written by K. M T. Hunter, and published by the Harpers, when Mr. Calhoun was prominently spoken of for the Presidency, and the short but excellent sketch of Calboun'a domestic life by his friend and protege, Miss Mary Bates. A Dead Letter iaW. Laarens Advertiser. Nothing shows more plainly that we have too much legislation, than the fact that we have iaws on our statute books that are totally disregarded. It js the duty of the State to uphold her Cotrrts, to uphold the administration of justice, and to enforce every Act of the legisla ture to the letter. When a law is con'-' tinually disregarded, something is" wrong either ?n the law itself or those whos8 duty it is to take the initiative step iu enforeeing it. To the quiet, honest, civilized citi* zens, it is a matter of the greatest won der, to find respectable people in this country go about from day to day, arm ed cap-a-pie more after the manner of highwaymen, or midnight marauders, than peace-loving citizens of South Carolina, especially when there is a penal statute forbidding the carrying of concealed weapons. A few days ago a 'mad dog' made a run across the public square, in this town, and in less than thirty seconds, not less than half a dozen pistols were drawn from the hip-poc5ets cf those in reach cf the vexed canine. What effort is made anywhere in this State to enforce t5is htw. Never is there a case reported, unless the prose cutor happens to have ajfrudge against someone, who he cannot rcaeh other* wise. If the law is enforced so far as try have any appreciable effect, it is a good coc, bat otherwise, it is very bid, in that it places law abiding men at th? : mercy of the lawless. What Wilmington Cotton Bayers are Doing. Under the head 'A Nut for Cotton Men to Crack,' the Charleston Netcs and Courier piinU the following: 'I tell you what it rs/said a local o&eial of the Atlantic Coast, Line to a reporter for the Neics ana Courier, yesterday. 'Wilmington is going to pu^ii Charleston mighty close for cot ton this year. As things stand at the present, she is drawing cotton from right uudcr Charleston's nose, and it is not railroad discrimination that's doing it, either. S!:e bas sect her cotton bujers over into South Carolina, and they are now at work on Charles ton's stamping grounds, buying cotton ; which ought to come here, and ship : ping it to Wilmington. 'As a matter of fact, to my knowl edge, Wilmington has at the present time two cotton buyers stationed at Uishopviile, who are buying cotton for Wilmington shippers', and yet there is not a single buyer there from Charles ton, although ISishopviflc belongs pro perly to our district. How can Charleston expect to get this cotton^ if it does notsend somebody th?re to boy it ? Bishopv?Hc is the centre cf a fine cot* ton country, and since the completion of the road to Atkins, connecting it with the Aflantic Coastline, bas devel oped into an important cot Con market. There is a splendid field to work in there if Charleston wants the cotton, and it is much the same way at other places. Wilmington has cotton buy crs at Florence, Manning, Timmons vtlle and other important cotton centers, and a great deal of the cotton from that section is going to Wilmington instead of coming to Charleston, just simply because Wilmington has people there to look after her interests and Charleston has not.' ?????+*^mm*t The intellectual name of gatherings of Bostou ladies for luschig ; and knit I ting is railed Sock-ra-tcai?N. 0, Pkkayvnc.