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federation were ratified, the states began to disregard them. The hand of a common enemy held over them, had, however, the effect of keeping them in some sort together. As that hand receded, the parts of the union, which it was solemnly declared should be perpetual, also began to recede from each other.

Some of the states passed navigation laws which interfered with treaties made by the United States with foreign powers. Disputes about territory arose.

But the greatest evil of all was the neglect or refusal of the state governments to raise the monies required by congress. Congress early in 1781 made arrangements for the expenses of the union by apportioning taxes among the states agreeably to the Articles of Confederation. But the state legislatures failed to comply with the requisitions made upon them. They declared that their constituents were utterly unable to bear further taxation. In the beginning of the year 1782 there was not a single dollar in the treasury.

At the approach of peace in 1783 the

army became disaffected for want of their pay. A proposition was made to take their dues by force, since they could not otherwise obtain them. It required all the wisdom and influence of Washington to prevent the meditated violence.

The states neglected to maintain a representation in congress. It was even difficult to induce them to send a sufficient number of delegates to constitute a quorum for transacting business. The credit of the government at home and abroad was ruined. In consequence of the inability to pay the officers and soldiers, the whole army was in 1784 reduced to less than eighty persons. Robert Morris, who by the appointment of congress managed the pecuniary concerns of the government, addressed letters to the governors of the different states, urging in the strongest terms the necessity that the states should comply with the requisitions of congress. In one of these letters he says, is this what is meant by pledging our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor, in support of independence? But it was all in vain. "Each

state yielding to the voice of immediate interest or convenience, successively withdrew its support from the confederation, till the frail and tottering edifice was ready to fall upon our heads, and to crush us beneath its ruins." America which had maintained herself with so much glory in the eyes of the world, was now in danger of being covered with humiliation and shame. From the weakness and inefficiency of the government, there were American citizens who openly advocated monarchy, and the enemies of liberty in Europe were beginning to exult over the ruin of our Republican institutions.

The first attempt towards relieving the country from its distress was made in Virginia, in 1785. The legislature of this state, at the suggestion of James Madison, proposed a convention of delegates to concert measures for the better regulation of foreign commerce. This convention met at Annapolis, in 1786. Its members were aware of the radical defects of the Confederation. They perceived that any thing short of a change of the system would be useless. They

suggested to congress the expediency of a general convention of delegates for the purpose of altering the Articles of Confederation. Congress recommended such a convention to the states.

All the states except Rhode Island acceded to the proposal. They appointed delegates to a convention which met at Philadelphia, May 25th, 1787. It remained in session until September 17th, 1787, almost four months. Instead of amending the Articles of Confederation, they framed a plan of government for the United States, almost entirely new. After much discussion, and much concession on the part of the members of different states with a view to the general good, the convention approved the plan with great unanimity. The convention comprised among its members wise and patriotic men. They were men who looked at the interest of the whole country. They loved not their own state merely, but the United States of America. They were willing to sacrifice local interests for the sake of the union. They saw that by promoting the interests of the

union, the interest of each of the states would in the end be promoted. They felt themselves to be citizens, not of New York, or Massachusetts, or Rhode Island, or Carolina merely, but of the United States of America. May their spirit ever reign in the hearts of the legislators of this union.

The plan which they approved was submitted to conventions of delegates, chosen by the people at large, in each of the states. It underwent much discussion in these conventions, in private conversation, and in the public prints. Many persons regarded it with alarm. They feared it would eventually destroy the liberties and the Republican institutions of America. In their view, it proposed to give the general government too much power. In about a year, however, nine states ratified the plan. It was, according to its terms, when ratified by nine states, to become the constitution of the states so ratifying it. New Hampshire was the ninth state which ratified it. Virginia and New York followed. In April, 1789, about forty-six years ago, the government of the United States was organized and went in

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