confederation was impracticable. It gave to the congress no means of enforcing its laws upon the states, and the states disregarded the recommendations of congress with impunity. The congress had no power to lay taxes or collect a revenue for the public service, nor could it regulate commerce, either with foreign nations or among the several states. The public debt incurred. by the war was very great, and the articles of confederation in no way provided effectual means for its payment." "It became evident in a short time that distress and ruin would overspread the country, unless some different and more vigorous form of government was adopted. This discouraging state of affairs led to the proceedings which finally terminated in the formation and adoption of the present federal constitution." The government of this country may be said to have passed through four forms:

(1) The Colonial.

(2) The Revolutionary. (3) The Confederate.

(4) The Constitutional.

The colonial governments ended July 4, 1776, when the declaration of independence was passed and the union was formed.

The revolutionary government, which practically commenced at the meeting of the first continental congress, or, as some would say, at the meeting of the second continental congress, assumed full powers at the declaration of independence, and continued to the final ratification of the articles of confederation, March I, 1781.

The confederate government extended from the rati

fication of the articles of confederation to the 4th of March, 1789, when the constitution, having previously been adopted, went into effect.

The constitutional government has been in operation from that time until the present, and to that we are now to direct our attention.

CHAPTER XI.

ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION.

CONVENTION AT ANNAPOLIS. - An attempt, which originated with Virginia, was made early in the year 1786, for the appointment of commissioners by the several states to consider the subject of the trade and commerce of the United States, and how far a uniform system in their commercial regulations might be desirable and feasible for their common interest and permanent well-being. It was proposed that these commissioners report to the several states an act relative to this great object, which, when ratified by the states, would enable congress to better provide for the efficiency and unity of our commercial relations. It was agreed that commissioners should meet at Annapolis, Md., in September of that year. The meeting was held at the time and place appointed. Commissioners were present from Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, a minority of the states. Delegates had been appointed by New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and North Carolina, but they did not attend.

So small was the number of states represented, that the delegates did not think proper to proceed to the important business which had brought them together. They were also satisfied that they ought to be entrusted with more ample powers, embracing other objects in addition to the mere regulation of trade and commerce.

They therefore prepared an address and a report to be submitted to congress, and to all the states to concur "in the appointment of commissioners to meet at Philadelphia on the second Monday in May, 1787, to take into consideration the situation of the United States, to devise such further provisions as should appear to them necessary to render the constitution of the federal government adequate to the exigencies of the union, and to report such an act for that purpose to the United States in congress assembled, as, when agreed to by them, and afterwards confirmed by the legislature of every state, will effectively provide for the same."

In February, 1787, the delegates from New York, having brought the matter before congress, that body, by resolution, declared that it was expedient "that the convention of delegates, who shall have been appointed by the several states, be held at Philadelphia, for the sole and express purpose of revising the articles of confederation, and reporting to congress and the several legislatures, such alterations and provisions therein, as shall, when agreed to in congress and confirmed by the several states, render the federal constitution adequate to the exigencies of the government and the preservation of the union."

THE FEDERAL CONVENTION. It was in obedience to this vote of congress, that there assembled at the statehouse in Philadelphia, on the 14th day of May, 1787, a body of gentlemen, who, for experience in governmental affairs, knowledge of the history of nations, practical statesmanship, and pure patriotism, has seldom been equalled in the world's history. A majority of the states, however, not being represented, the members present

adjourned from day to day, until Friday, May 25. The convention then organized, and George Washington, a delegate from Virginia, was unanimously elected to preside over their deliberations. All the states were represented except Rhode Island. Many of the foremost men of the states were members of this convention. Among the most distinguished of them may be named, besides Washington: Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris and Gouverneur Morris, of Pennsylvania; Alexander Hamilton, of New York; James Madison, of Virginia; Charles Pinckney and Charles C. Pinckney, of North Carolina; Roger Sherman, from Connecticut; and Rufus King, from Massachusetts.

It will be borne in mind, from what has already been said, that the object of calling the convention was merely to revise the articles of confederation. It soon became apparent, however, to the convention that, in the judgment of the majority of the members present, the old form of government was so weak and defective, that the only wise and proper thing to be done was to form an entirely new constitution.

For full four months, from May to September, continuing their work vigorously through all the summer months, this convention proceeded, until, on the 17th of September, the constitution of the United States, which, with its several amendments, since adopted, is now the supreme law of this country, was adopted and signed by the members of the convention. This convention is known as the federal convention. Its debates, so far as they have been preserved in the journal of the convention, and in the Madison papers and otherwise, are of a most interesting character, and well worth the