登陆注册
5259600000039

第39章 CHAPTER VIII. THE UNION ESTABLISHED(6)

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 freedom--then 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.

同类推荐
  • 净土晨钟

    净土晨钟

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 诗家鼎脔

    诗家鼎脔

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说弟子死复生经

    佛说弟子死复生经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 华严经心陀罗尼

    华严经心陀罗尼

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 台湾私法商事编

    台湾私法商事编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 武则天大全集(共6册)

    武则天大全集(共6册)

    《武则天大全集(共6册)》,完整6部曲套装。从三岁到八十二岁,面面俱到,丝丝入扣!唯一一部从武则天三岁写到八十二岁完整一生的长篇传记史诗。武则天的82年人生,每一天都走在生死边缘,而她赢得了每一次决斗。武则天82年的人生,前31年,她卷入权斗漩涡,为活命从宫女杀到了皇后的宝座;后51年,她掀起腥风血雨,用女皇的龙袍确保了自己的安全。武则天的82年人生,每一天都走在生死边缘,而她赢得了每一次决斗。
  • 异域大道

    异域大道

    千百年来,一缕游魂自虚空中游荡,在这千载岁月中,黑暗以及寂静消磨了他的不甘,堙灭了生气,仿佛就在一切归于平静之时,他不偏不倚地落在了长宁市监狱里一个将死的少年身上。。。。。
  • 佛顶尊胜心破地狱转业障出三界秘密陀罗尼

    佛顶尊胜心破地狱转业障出三界秘密陀罗尼

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 奉子相夫

    奉子相夫

    才死三天,未抬出门,就有人来打娃,惦记老公?岂有此理,孰可忍,孰不可忍! 占了人家的躯壳,做了人家的娘,好歹替人家出头,维护奶娃权益,夺回奶娃他爹,看正妻死而复生,坚决打击狐媚小三...... 啥?俺没资格?俺可是三媒六聘,八抬大轿抬进你家大门,拜了天地宗祠牌位的!有木有?到底有木有?
  • 元始天尊说太古经注

    元始天尊说太古经注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 重生之废后夺权

    重生之废后夺权

    她费尽心思助他打下江山,他登基后,却一心的算计她,废了她的皇后之位,害死她腹中的皇儿。她爱他入骨,他却视她是一颗微不足道的棋子。她重生为人,势要夺他的江山。
  • 星耀卡尼迪

    星耀卡尼迪

    卡图古姆山脉,丰饶魔女凝望银月喟然长叹。北域地底,赤龙王翻动身体,带起滚滚泥浆。暗影之域,最后的泰坦枯坐着,仰望苍穹。伟力者们的力量日渐衰弱。而夺取了大陆主导权的人类却早已失去了昔日的雄心壮志,仰仗着骑士们的守护,龟缩于国土之中。纪元轮转,黑暗时代即将再临...一道星光坠临卡尼迪领,从此,世间光芒万丈!===================梅丘:这个世界真的有魔法存在吗?管家:听说南边的山脉里住着一只贤狼...书友群:798255726期待读者大大们的光临
  • 红颜倾世:娘子好腹黑

    红颜倾世:娘子好腹黑

    步弱,21世纪佣兵界第一人。一张倾城的美貌下藏着一颗千疮百孔的心,冷漠嗜血。虽如此,但此生她没有因为拼杀而死,却因误点自己的笑腰穴而笑死,世人叹怎一个囧字了得?然,不平凡的人怎可能就此平凡?血莲胎记,命中劫,命中难,今生喋血,终究是一朝变,世界颠,倾世容颜惊羡,他怎会是她?高手如云,一手狂澜,巧笑倩兮,前世今生,玩笑之大,她宁愿负了这无情的天下。
  • 三月桃花开

    三月桃花开

    本书是冰心儿童图书奖获奖作家邢庆杰先生的一部近作,作者向我们展示了一幅幅鲜活的社会画卷,具有浓郁的生活气息,同时人物的悲欢离合,也让人感叹不已。本书适合青少年阅读,是其认知社会的窗口、丰富阅历的捷径,又堪称写作素材的宝典。
  • 莫大人的往后余生

    莫大人的往后余生

    从家道中落到枝头凤凰不过是一纸婚书的距离。丈夫是爱妻控,女儿是小迷妹,家族是大靠山,除了腰酸腿软,睡眠不够外,婚后生活简直不要太滋润。 有人曾问钟茗:成功的秘诀是什么?钟茗:靠老公。有人曾问莫厉行:莫太太事业如日中天,家庭地位是不是有所提升?莫厉行:一直是王者,从未被超越。(婚恋文,强强联手,绝对强宠。)