Weymouth High School - Campus / Reflector Yearbook (Weymouth, MA)

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ON this our Graduation Day, we the CMass ol ut H. cxtciul a (ordial uclcomc to all who are gathered here. Mothers and lathers, we greet you affection- ately and hope that in luture years we nia i)e worthy oi the jjride and laith which you have in us to-day. Mr. Pearson and members ol the .School Committee, we welcome you who lia c gi en us such line educational acKantages dining oui years in school. Principal and teachers, we are cleejjly gialelul to you lor your ]jatience and understanding in tiaining us to meet (ourageously the prohlems ol lile. Our large Ameriean cities, wiili iluii tall skyscrapers and scjuat tenement houses preseiU a pictuie ol (oniiasi. a picture which reflects man ' s individuality and Ireedom. The tall buildings, reaching lar iiuo the heavens, are like men searching tor somciiiing abo e. something about whi(h liu y are not cpiite certain. The s(|uat buildings seem siuidiei and moie reliable. I hey are the foundations upon which theii more lofiv sisters depend. Behind this |)icture there is a story— the story of men who create, the sU)i ol men who build. Financiers, whose e er mci e is outlined lar in adxaiue, ha e amassed huge loitiuies by building sie|) i)y step. Thex ha c ' become i)uilders by carelul |)lanning. The first cave men who accidenih disioxeied fue. were builders. These men were builders l)y accideiu. Other men ha e become builders through necessity, (lir- (umstaiues beyond their contiol lorced them to build and create. Ihey are l)uilders ol destiny. The need ol a stiong staple go eiiimeni to leplace the .Articles ol (lonleder- ation brought a group ol the leading men ol the colonies to l ' hiladel|)hia in the spring ol 17H7. (Congress, under the .Articles, had proved inefficient. The currency and (ledii ol the countrN were worthless at home and abioad. (ionnnerce. among the states and with foreign nations, was hopelessly nuiddled. The states, like inde- pendent nations, levied taxes and collected duties. It was to remedy these ills that the (lonstiliuional Ccjnvention had lieen called. From the chaos of the inlant republic these men were destined to fjuifd a nation which was to surpass all others and become the greatest democracy in the woild. Foremost among these delegates was deorge ' ashington, the father ol his country. By the unanimous consent ol the members he was elected president ol the com em ion. During the time given lo ilie actual framing of the Ccjnstilui ion, Washington made but one speech. Vet his inffuence on the delegates was great. Under his careiul guidance the Constitution, • as we know it, took form. He lavored a stiong central government and urged the formation of one which would assure this. In later years as President, he laid the fjasis ol our foreign policy in his Neutrality Proclamation. He warned the people to keep out ol European affairs, and urged them to love and preserve the Union. Benjamin Franklin, a delegate from Pennsylvania, was now in his eightieth year, but his mind was still as active as ever. He was the great conciliator ol the convention. He accomplished more at one friendly dinner party than the others did in a week of furious debate. On one occasion when the members were becoming overwrought, the good doctor rose and said: In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for divine protection. Our prayers were heard and graciously answered. .And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend, or do we imagine that we no ' onger need His assistance? With these stern words, the doctor moved that 14

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Reita Ger. ldine Colligan Builders of Destiny

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henceforth the guidance ol Hea en be sought e ery morning betore the business of the day began. From that time on, greater harmony prevailed among the delegates. One of the youngest members was James Madison of Virginia. He earned the title Father of the Constitution, because of his painstaking work in writing a joiu nal of the daily proceedings. His idea of a government of three departments, Legislati e. Executive, and Judicial, with balanced and interdependent powers vas adopted by the conn ention. After the Constitution had been drawn up and submitted to the states, he influenced ratification by the Federalistic Papers in which he expoimded the advantages of the new government. In later years, as a member of Congress and as President, he placed himself with Jefferson in opposition to Hamilton, a strong Federalist. He believed that the powers of the slates shoidd supersede those of the national government. Yet in the War of 1812, wliich occurred diniug his administration, he helped to weld the nation together by a spirit of nationalism that lasted until the outbreak of the Civil War. William Paterson, a delegate from the state of New Jersey, was responsible lor the powers given to Congress. His plan provided for one legislature in whith each state should lia e one vote. This was opposed by Edmund Randolph of V irginia, who advocated representation by population. Ultimately the two plans were merged and adopted, pro iding for two hotises in Congress, the upper House, called the Senate, with ecjual representation, and the lower House or House of Representatives, with popular representation. The actual writing of the Constitution was given to Gouverneur Morris, a brilliant and witty speaker. During the convention he made over a thousand speeches, and contributed much to the smaller details in the Constitution. After the delegates had signed the dociunent, it was presented to the states for ratifica- tion and, in April, 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first Pres- ident of the United States. From the siurounding turmoil and chaos these men moulded a document which exceeded their fondest expectations. It was almost perfect in construction. Yet many people were unwilling to believe in its stability and strength. John Marshall, the great Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, had great faith in the dociunent, and by his interpretation of it gave it life and power. The govern- ment of the Union is emphatically and truly a governuient of the people. In form and substance it emanates from them. Its powers are granted by them and are to be exercised on them and for their benefit. So wrote John Marshall, projjonent of a strong central government and builder of American nationality. In the case of Martin vs. Hiuiter ' s Lessee, Marshall was called upon to make a decision which would establish a precedent for the Supreme Court in future years. ' Fhe state court of Virginia had ruled that land grants given in the treaty of 178.S might be denied. But Marshall overruled this decision, and declared that the Supreme Court might at any time overrule a state court and uphold its decision by federal troops. By otlier cases Marshall fixed the definition of powers in the elastic clause, which gives Congress the power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and gave the Supreme Court the power to interpret laws passed by Congress whene er it is called upon to do so. 15