Southold High School - Snuffbox Yearbook (Southold, NY)

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THE SNUFF BOX which had now taken the form of a state, had some expectation of a union due to the knowledge that a common bond must unite them or they’d perish, but they made the grave mistake of fashioning their powers superior to those of the federal government. (1) . However, the famous historian Bancroft said of this system, a better one could not then have been accepted; but, with all its faults, it contained the elements for the evolution of a more perfect union.” (2) . Profiting by another mistake in the old system, in which a selected body of men wielded all powers, three separate departments of government were created: legislative, executive, and judicial. This wise procedure prevents the encroachment of one department upon another —a situation which could easily lead to monarchy. What a total failure this first experiment proved to be! What luckless years were the next seven! Their expanse might well be termed the Critical Period,” for they spelled a crisis in American history. Great Britain and Spain held American rights to count for nothing but contempt, while there was the dire threat of domestic anarchy. Commercial, boundary and tariff disputes between the States almost caused serious wars, the currency declined alarmingly in value, and the country was needlessly slow in recovering from its fight for liberty—all because the central government was unmistakably weak. Washington made note of this in 1786, I predict the worst consequences from a half starved, limping government, tottering at every step.” Finally, through the medium of Shay’s Rebellion, the Annapolis Convention, and the sudden increase of lawlessness, men realized that something drastic must be done. The body of men that assembled in Philadelphia, in response to the call that had been issued, represented the ablest statesmen of the land, who had, in addition to their noble patriotism and pure motives, a broad and helpful political experience. The task before them was great and arduous because upon their achievements rested the ruin or prosperity of America. Under the guidance of such brilliant men as Madison, Hamilton, Franklin and Washington the convention successfully brought to an illustrious conclusion the two-fold problem of creating a strong central government and of determining the relations of this government to individual citizens as well as to States. The latter sentiment was first discussed in a pamphlet written by Pelatiak Webster in 1783 and gradually took form in the debates of the convention. This idea of national unity among the population did not pass, however, without being severely attacked by representatives of state sovereignty. A strong central government was fashioned by correcting the mistakes and weaknesses of which the articles had made an ostentatious display. Under the articles there was no guiding executive or national judiciary, while the Constitution provides for a President with sufficient authority, and a Supreme Court. This furthers union by creating a chief for America and by preventing prolonged quarrels, for the Supreme Court’s decision is final. Two reasons for the failure of the government in 1786 were the 18

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THE SNUFF BOX Indians who made savage attacks upon the little seaboard dependencies. But when France’s colonial empire in North America fell, dragging in its wake the diminution of the red man’s power, the desire for union abated. The colonies were combined in 1765, nevertheless, to protest against the oppressive stamp tax, and such strength had their opposition that Parliament was forced to abandon that way of gaining revenue. Again in 1772, Massachusetts, under the leadership of Samuel Adams, made an important step toward concerted action. All towns in this colony had appointed committees of correspondence for the express purpose of apprising each other of chief events, foreign and local. At the instigation of Virginia, this system was extended to all the colonies, and was helpful in feeding the flame of liberty and also effective in diffusing the doctrine of resistance. During the months which followed, the agitation grew to such immense proportions that when the English monarch, George III, scorned the colonists’ Olive Branch” petition and hired Hessian troops to coerce them, the bond of loyalty, which, up to this time, had been deemed indestructible, was torn asunder. In a fever of excitement, and heedless of the grave consequences which might arise, a movement was made in Congress to declare independency of England. Thomas Jefferson penned the document which still arouses admiration and enthusiasm for its eloquence and democratic principles. This declaration did not induce all the colonists to lay down their allegiance to England and fight for liberty. The question has often, and rightly, been asked, During the Revolution were the States one nation or thirteen?” Indeed no colonist thought the Declaration of Independence binding, but regarded it simply as a joint resolution in order, to use the phrase Franklin coined, that they might all hang together.” Consequently, the first great peril to the colonies lay, not in England’s overwhelming numbers, but in American disunion. One-third of the population was of the Tory element, and what was worse, a good many people sold their produce to the British army for a handsome sum while Washington’s brave men were suffering from starvation, and lack of sufficient clothing. Still others, prompted by selfish and wicked motives, refused to contribute their share of the taxes for the support of the Continental Army unless the war was threatening their own colony. Lack of organization in the army exposed the common soldier to cruel privations, for he was improperly clothed and armed. Is there small wonder, then, that recruits were not forthcoming and that desertions frequently occurred? The only signs of union during the very distressing years were the First and Second Continental Congresses which assembled at Philadelphia in 1774 and 1775, respectively. The Second Continental Congress acted in the capacity of a governmental body until a new one was formed. A national government was inaugurated in 1781 under John Dickinson’s articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union. Each colony, 17

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THE SNUFF BOX lack of funds, for it was government by supplication, and the restricting of the ratification of an amendment to the approval of all States. These shortcomings were remedied under the Constitution by allotting to Congress the powers of laying and collecting taxes, and having an amendment proposed by two-thirds of the State Legislatures and ratified by three-fourths of them. This provision implies futurity of the government by giving it power to support its operation and by opposing hasty changes in its form. No more commercial animosities which tend to disrupt amenities are to be harbored, for Congress now has control over interstate commerce. We might say that the Constitution is founded upon compromise, figuratively speaking, between liberty and union. Never before, in the history of the ages, had men balanced these two essentials so finely. The world gazes with admiration upon a document so near perfection in this respect, a thing which man had for so many centuries tried in vain to bring about. Greece, in her furious outcry for liberty, had not visualized the great strength that union procures, so her vast empire decayed and died, leaving her only memories of those once glorious days, when she was queen of the ancient world, to console her. Rome realized the need of union, but made the mistake of strangling the child Liberty, and for this sin she suffered consequences. It was decreed that our Revolutionary fathers should be left to join these two opposing forces in perpetuat wedlock, so that we could profit by the benefits of both. Webster showed he understood the value of combining these two qualities when, in later years, he cried with a majestic ring in his voice: Liberty and Union,' now and forever, one and inseparable!” When the Constitutional Convention adjourned the Seventeenth of September, a great work had been accomplished. A document had been framed which sought to make an experiment of a new idea—an idea which has been mentioned previously—that of a perpetual union between the people of the United States instead of a federal league between States. How successful this sentiment has proven! It has trained the people to dwell in harmony under a strong central government, has taught them the merits derived from legality and order. This wise plan has also helped to strengthen conservative instincts and to ascertain the excellence of stableness and permanence in political adjustments. The Constitution is an instrument of popular will, and if its chief object was to form a more perfect union,” every interpretation of its powers ought to have a continuous regard for this aim. Lincoln had this in mind when he refused to consider the seceded States as having withdrawn from the Union. To prove his point he argued that endless duration was the basic law of all governments, and therefore the Union of the States was imperishable. With a strong central government a way had been found to touch all the people of the United States, to unite them, to give them something which would arouse national pride and veneration. All Americans ' formerly bound by the common ties of language, customs, laws and fear . of the French and Indians, were at last permanently allied by a supreme' 19