A general constitution for the American states was then framed. They entered into a perpetual union, or confederation* with each other, For their mutual defence and advantage ; they agreed, that delegates should be appointed by each state to meet in congress on the first Monday of every year ; that no state should be repre sented by fewer delegates than two, or by more than seven ; that each colony should have a single vote; and that the laws and decisions of the supreme assembly should be obligatory on all the provinces under its juris diction. Each state, however, was to be governed wholly by its own legislature ; and with the enactments of that legislature the congress had no right to inter fere. It was not difficult to perceive, that this constitu tion had not within itself sufficient energy to produce and ensure a vigorous administration of affairs. The congress had no authority over individuals; it had au thority over the states only as political bodies; it had no power to force even the states to a compliance with its injunctions ; and, in case of any quarrel, it could not prevent them from making war upon each other. Diffi culties occurred, and distresses were multiplied on every side. The army, though disbanded, had received only four months' pay ; the debts contracted by the congress, as well as by many of the individual states, had not been discharged, and therefore were daily increasing; and the government, possessing no revenue, could give no effectual value to its paper currency. Taxes were im posed by some of the provincial legislatures ; but as they were far beyond the means of the inhabitants, and levied with the utmost rigour, they occasioned very general discontent. And though it had been fondly expected, that, after the termination of the war, the commerce of the United States would revive, it was still embarrassed and languid.
in the midst of these distresses, it was proposed, that a general convention should be held, in order to frame a better plan of government, or so to alter the existing constitution, as to remedy the evils Which pressed upon the community. Accordingly, in the year 1787, dele gates from all the states, with the exception of Rhode Island, assembled at Philadelphia ; and, after choosing general Washington far their president, they proceeded to the arduous duty which they had undertaken to per form. Their sentiments were by no means as uniform as might have been expected. Sonic of the commis sioners were zealous advocates for a republican consti tution; and others wished, by elevating and strengthen ing the executive, to give to the new system a monar chical tendency and character. Hence arose the two parties in the American states, which have divided the councils of the nation, or obstructed its energy, from the sittings at Philadelphia to the present day. They have, in later times, been distinguished by the names of fede ralists and anti-federalists ;* the former consisting gene rally of those whose sentiments are believed to be favour able to monarchy ;f and the latter of those who have at tached themselves to republican principles. In the con
vention at Philadelphia, the opinion of such as wished to strengthen the executive part of the government seems to have prevailed ; for many articles of the new constitu tion gave high offence to the keener republicans. In the number of these we must reckon the celebrated Dr Franklin. But that eminent philosopher and statesman, relinquishing his private opinion, yielded to the deter mination of the majority, and received the constitution with all its defects. The speech which he made on this occasion is remarkable for the genuine spirit of patriot ism which it breathes: " In the long career I have al ready run," said he, " I have more than once been com pelled to abandon opinions which I had openly main tained, and which I thought well founded, from the deep consideration which I had given them. As I grow older, I am more and more disposed to question my own judg ment, and to pay respect to that of others. There are some men, as well as sonic religious sects, who imagine that reason is entirely on their side ; and that their op ponents plunge deeper into error in proportion as they depart from their opinions. Struck with these exam ples, which are but too common, I accept of this consti tution with all its faults, even supposing that I am not mistaken in my opinion of its faults: for I am persuaded that a general government is necessary to our safety ; and that no form of government, which is well adminis tered, is incapable of producing the happiness of the people. I think, also, there is reason to believe, that this constitution will be well administered for many years; and that it will not end, as many other govern ments have done, in despotism ; unless the American people shall reach that degree of corruption, in which, at once incapable of being directed by a free constitu tion, and unworthy of its blessings, despotism becomes necessary to their existence. I therefore give my vote for this constitution, both because, in the present eir umstanc es of the nation, I cannot ilope t.o see one. more perfect, and because I am not sure this is not as pc ace t as any it can have. I make a sacrifice of the opinion which 1 have expressed of its defects to the public hap piness. I trust, that, both for our own safety, its MelninTS Of the coniniunity, and for the sake of our posterity, we shall be of one lined, in recommending this constitution wherever our influence reaches ; and that, afterwards, our whole thoughts will he bent to its happy adminis tration. And I cannot forbear to form the w ish, that such of us as still entertain objections to this constitu tion, will follow my example, and, doubting a little of their own infallibility, will sign this constitutional act, that no question may be left of our own unanimit)." The effect of this speech was instantaneous and decisive ; the constitution was agreed to by all the members ; and the following general article s were transmitted, with many subordinate clauses, for the acceptance of the different states.