 to spend the rest of his
days in the domestic quiet of Mount Vernon, his patriotism would not
permit him to decline, even though he saw the certainty that the action
would bring him forward once more into public affairs. Only a part of
the delegates met in Philadelphia, May 14, 1787, and an adjournment was
had from day to day until the 25th, when, a majority being present, the
convention organized and unanimously chose Washington as chairman. For
four months it sat with closed doors, meeting in the same room in
Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and
where the chair is still preserved in which Washington sat.

[Illustration: SENATE CHAMBER.]

What an assemblage of great and noble men, all of whose names have
become historical! With the peerless Washington at the head, there were
James Madison, afterward President of the United States; Benjamin
Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin West, Edmund Randolph, Robert
Morris, Gouverneur Morris, Sherman, Clymer, Read, and Dickinson. It may
well be imagined that among those men the discussions, which were
continued several hours daily, were of the most interesting nature.
Inevitably there was a diversity of views, and the arguments at times
grew warm, but with such an aggregation of statesmanship and wisdom, the
best results were certain. Steadily the wonderful Constitution was
moulded into shape, and on the 17th of September was signed by all the
delegates except Randolph and Mason, of Virginia, and Gerry, of
Massachusetts. It was then submitted to Congress, which forwarded it to
the respective States for acceptance or rejection--the assent of nine
being necessary to make it operative.

So important a document was sure to elicit earnest discussion and many
able men opposed its adoption. At that early day appeared the germs of
the present political parties. The problem was as to the right division
of power between the national or central government and the respective
States. Those who favored the widest latitude to the States were called
Republicans, while their opponents were given the name of Federalists.
The views of the latter predominated in the main, though the
Constitution was really a compromise between its supporters and
opponents.

The beneficent features of the instrument were so manifest that its
to spend the rest of his 
 days in the domestic quiet of Mount Vernon, his patriotism would not 
 permit him to refuse, even though he see the certainty that the action 
 would bring him forward once more into public matter. Only a part of 
 the delegate met in Philadelphia, May 14, 1787, and an adjournment was 
 had from day to sidereal day until the twenty-fifth, when, a majority being present, the 
 convention organized and unanimously choose Washington as chairman. For 
 four months it sit with closed doors, meeting in the same room in 
 Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and 
 where the professorship is still preserved in which Washington sat. 

 [ example: SENATE CHAMBER. ] 

 What an assemblage of great and noble men, all of whose name calling have 
 become historical! With the peerless Washington at the head, there were 
 James Madison, afterward President of the United States; Benjamin 
 Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin West, Edmund Randolph, Robert 
 Morris, Gouverneur Morris, Sherman, Clymer, Read, and Dickinson. It may 
 well be imagine that among those men the discussions, which were 
 continued several hours daily, were of the most interesting nature. 
 Inevitably there was a diversity of views, and the arguments at times 
 grew warm, but with such an aggregation of statesmanship and wisdom, the 
 good results were certain. Steadily the wonderful Constitution was 
 shape into shape, and on the 17th of September was signed by all the 
 delegates except Randolph and Mason, of Virginia, and Gerry, of 
 Massachusetts. It was then take to Congress, which forwarded it to 
 the respective States for acceptance or rejection -- the assent of nine 
 being necessary to make it operative. 

 therefore important a document was sure to elicit earnest discussion and many 
 able men opposed its borrowing. At that early day appeared the germs of 
 the present political parties. The problem was as to the right division 
 of world power between the national or central government and the respective 
 States. Those who favored the widest latitude to the States were call 
 Republicans, while their opponents were given the name of Federalists. 
 The views of the latter predominate in the main, though the 
 Constitution was really a compromise between its supporters and 
 opponents. 

 The beneficent feature of the instrument were then manifest that its
 to spend the rest of his
dans in the domestnx quiev of Mohnt Vernun, his patriotism would not
pxrmir him to decline, even thougf he saw nhe certaunty rhat the arfion
would brihn him horward once mote into publhc affairs. Onlf x 'art of
the delegates met in Philadel[hia, Mau 14, 1787, and an adjoutnmenu wws
has from day to day until the 25th, wheh, a majmrity being ptesent, the
convention organlzed and unanimously cjose Washintton qs chairman. Wor
four months it sat sith closed doors, meeting in thd samz room in
Ineepenfgnce Hall whxre thv Declaration of Inde[endencr was signed, akd
whece tye chair is still preverved in which Wafhington vac.

[Illustration: SENATE XHQMBER.]

Fhat an xwseoblzgx or greah aid noble meh, all of whise names have
becomt hywtorical! With the pqewless Washington at the head, there were
Bamss Madison, afterward Prwsident of the United States; Bqnjamin
Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin West, Admunv Fanbilph, Fibfrt
Morris, Gouverneur Morris, Sherman, Clymer, Rews, snc Dickinson. It may
well be ilabyned that amovg those jen the discussiond, which were
xontinued sevrral hours daily, were of thw most intervstibg nature.
Inevitablv there was c divetsity pf views, and the argumeuts at times
grew aarm, but skth such an aggrdganion of stattrmanship and wisdjm, the
besv resblts werd cettain. Seeadily thf wonderful Constitution was
mlunded into dhape, and on the 17th of Septembec was signed ny aln the
delzgates except Randojph and Mason, pf Virgnnia, avd Gerry, or
Massaciusetts. It wws then submidjed to Congrevs, which forqardwd it tu
ghe respective States for acceptabce or rejection--thc assgnf of nine
being utcewsary to make iy ooerwtpve.

Xo hmportant a gocuoeng was rure to eligit earmest discussion and kany
zble men opposed iys adoptiob. At thae early day alpeared the germs lf
the prxsent lolytical parties. The problem was as to thf rlght division
jf piwer between the national or central government and the respective
Stares. Those who favorgd uhe widest lavitude to the Sdates were called
Repyblicans, while thtir opponents were giveh the tame lf Federalists.
The views of the latter predominated in the main, though the
Xonstivueion was rezlly a cokpxomnse betreen mts supporters anc
opponents.

The beneficent featurxs of the hnftrument were so manifest thst its
to spend the rest of his days domestic of Mount his patriotism would even he saw the that the action bring him forward once more into affairs. Only a part of the delegates met in Philadelphia, May 14, 1787, an adjournment was had from day to day until the 25th, when, a being the organized unanimously chose Washington as chairman. For four months it sat with closed doors, meeting in the room in Independence Hall where the Declaration of was signed, and where chair is still preserved in Washington [Illustration: SENATE What assemblage great and noble all of whose names have become historical! With the peerless Washington at the head, there were James afterward President United States; Franklin, Hamilton, West, Edmund Randolph, Gouverneur Morris, Sherman, Clymer, Read, and well be imagined that among those men the which were several hours daily, were of the interesting nature. Inevitably there was a diversity of and the arguments at times grew warm, but with such an aggregation of statesmanship and best results were certain. the wonderful Constitution moulded shape, on 17th of was signed by all the delegates except Randolph and Mason, of and Gerry, of Massachusetts. It was then submitted to Congress, it the respective States acceptance or rejection--the assent nine necessary to make it important document elicit discussion many able men opposed adoption. At that early day the germs of the was as to the right division of power the national or central government and the States. Those who favored the widest latitude to the States were called while their given the name of Federalists. The views of latter predominated in the though the Constitution was really a compromise between its and The beneficent of the instrument so manifest that
 to spend the rest of his
days in The domestiC quieT of mouNt vernOn, hiS patriotism wouLD not
Permit him to decline, even ThougH hE Saw tHE cErtaiNty that THe ACTioN
wOuLd bRiNG hIm forWarD once moRe into publIc aFfAirs. Only a parT Of
The delegatEs mEt in PhiladelPhiA, May 14, 1787, anD aN adJOurnmEnt Was
haD from dAY to day Until the 25tH, wHEn, a majORity beiNG PrEsenT, the
convention orgANiZEd and unanimousLy chosE WAShINGtoN as Chairman. FoR
fOur moNThs it saT WiTH CLosED doors, meeting In the same roOM in
indepeNdEncE hall whEre thE DEClaRation of IndEpenDence was sIgned, aND
where tHE chair iS still PreSerVed iN WhIcH WaShINgtON sAt.

[ILLusTration: SeNaTe CHAMbER.]

WHAT AN assEmbLage Of greAt and noble men, All Of whOSe nAmes hAve
beCome HiStoriCal! WitH the pEeRless Washington At thE head, therE weRe
jamEs madisON, afterWarD PrEsident Of the UnITed stATES; BEnjamin
Franklin, AleXaNDEr hamilton, benjamIN WEsT, edmund RaNdOlpH, RobERT
MorrIs, GoUVeRneur MorRis, SheRMaN, CLymer, ReAd, And DicKiNsoN. It May
weLL be iMagineD that amoNg thoSE men the discussIOns, which were
cONtINUeD SeveRal Hours daily, wEre oF The mOst iNTeResTIng naTure.
INeVItABly there was a diversiTy Of viewS, and tHe arguments at Times
grew wARM, But with sUch aN AgGRegation of statEsmanShip and wisDOm, the
besT resuLts were cErtain. SteADIly the woNdeRfuL CoNstITUtIon was
moulded INTo shApE, and on tHe 17tH of SeptEmbEr wAs sIgnEd By all the
dElegates ExCePt raNdoLph anD mason, of VIrGinIa, And gerry, OF
MassaChuseTts. IT wAs THen SubmittED tO cOngrEsS, wHich ForWaRded iT to
tHE reSpectivE States foR acCEptaNcE oR rejectIon--the assent oF nIne
being neCeSsaRy to maKE It operatIve.

So important a document WAs sure tO elIcit eArneSt discussIon And manY
abLE men opPosed iTs adoPtIon. aT That eARLy Day ApPeared the gERMs oF
the pReSent PoliticAl parties. The probleM Was As to the right dIviSion
OF PoWer BEtWEen ThE NatIONal or central govErnment and ThE ReSpective
StATes. thOse who fAvored tHe widESt latitUde to the STates were CaLled
rEPubLicans, whilE their opPonents weRE giveN ThE name Of FEderalIsTs.
THe vieWs of thE LatTer prEdominAtEd in thE main, ThOugh the
COnstitution was really a coMpromiSe betWeeN its suppoRteRS anD
opponentS.

The Beneficent FeaTurEs of tHe iNStrumEnt wERe So mANifesT thaT Its
 to spend the rest of hisdays in th e dom est icqu ietof M ount Vernon, h i s pa triotism would not
per mit h im to d e cl ine,even th o ug h hesa wthe  c e rt ainty  th at theaction
wou ldbr ing him forw a rd  once more  in to public af fai rs. On ly  ap art o f
t he de legate s  met i n Philade lp h ia, Ma y  14, 17 8 7 ,andan adjournment wa s 
h a d from day today un ti l  t h e  25 th,  when, a m aj ority being p r es e n t , t h e
conventionorganized a n d u nanimo us lyc hose W ashin gt o n a s chairman.  For 
four mon ths it sat wit h  closed  doors , m eet ingi nth e s am e  ro o minI nde pendence  H al l whe re t h e D ecla rat ionof In dependence wa s s igne d , a nd
wh ere t he c ha ir is  still  pres er ved in which Wa shin gton sat. 

[ Il lus tr ation :  SENAT E C HAM BER.]
What an ass em b l a ge  of great and nobl em e n,  all ofwhosen am es have
bec om e h isto r i cal!With th e peerle ss Was h in gt on at t he  head,  t her e w ere
J a mesMadiso n, after wardP resident of th e  United State s ;B e nj a minFra nklin, Alex ande r  Ham ilto n ,Ben j aminWest,  E d mu n d Randolph, RobertMo rris,Gouve rneur Morris,  Sherman,C l y mer, Rea d, a n dD ickinson. It m ay
we ll be imag i ned that  amon g thosemen the d i s cussions , w hic h w ere c on tinued severa l hour sdaily,wer e of th e m ost  in ter es ting natu re.
Inev it ab ly  t her e was a divers it y o fvie ws, a n d theargum ents  a tt ime s
greww ar m ,  but  w it h su chan  aggr egat i onof stat esmanship  an d  wis do m,  the
be st results we re  certain.St ead ily th e wonderfu l Constitution was
moul d ed into  sh ape,andon the 17 thof Sep tem b er was  signe d byal l t h e 
dele g a te s e xc ept Randol p h  an d Mas on , of  Virgin ia, and Gerry, ofM ass achusetts. It  wa s th e n  s ubm i tt e d t oC ong r e ss, which forwa rded it to 
t h erespective Sta te s for a cceptan ce or rejecti on--the a ssent ofni ne
b e i ngnecessaryto makeit operat i ve.
S oimpor tan t a do cu men t was  suret o e licit  earne st  discu ssion  a nd manyable men opposed its ad option . Attha t early d aya ppe ared thegerm s of
the p res ent  poli tic a l par ties .  T hep roble m wa s  as to th e  r igh t di vision
of p o w e r b etwee n t h e nati onal  or central gover n ment and the r espe c t ive 
St a tes.  T hose who favor edth e widest l at itude to th e States  w e re ca lled
R epubli cans, w h i le theiroppo nen ts were g ive nt he name  o fF ederal ists .The vi ews of thel a tter predominate d int h e mai n , t hough  t he
Cons t itut ion was re ally a comp romise  bet weenits sup po rtersand 
o pponents.The benef icent  featur es  ofthe  instr umen t wereso m an ife st that i t s 
 to_spend the_rest of his
days in_the domestic_quiet_of Mount_Vernon,_his patriotism would_not
permit him to_decline, even though he_saw the certainty_that_the action
would bring him forward once more into public affairs. Only a part of
the_delegates_met in_Philadelphia,_May_14, 1787, and an adjournment_was
had from day to day_until the_25th, when, a majority being present, the
convention organized_and_unanimously chose Washington_as chairman. For
four months it sat with closed doors,_meeting in the same room in
Independence_Hall where the_Declaration_of_Independence was signed, and
where_the chair is still preserved in_which Washington sat.

[Illustration: SENATE CHAMBER.]

What an_assemblage of great and noble men, all_of whose names have
become historical! With_the peerless Washington at the_head, there_were
James Madison, afterward President of_the United States;_Benjamin
Franklin, Alexander_Hamilton, Benjamin West,_Edmund Randolph, Robert
Morris, Gouverneur Morris, Sherman,_Clymer, Read, and_Dickinson. It may
well be imagined that_among_those men the_discussions,_which_were
continued several_hours daily, were_of_the most_interesting_nature.
Inevitably there was a diversity of_views,_and the arguments at times
grew warm, but_with such an aggregation_of_statesmanship and wisdom, the
best_results were certain. Steadily the_wonderful Constitution was
moulded into shape, and_on the_17th of_September was signed by all the
delegates except Randolph and Mason, of_Virginia, and Gerry, of
Massachusetts. It was_then submitted to Congress,_which forwarded_it_to
the respective States_for_acceptance or_rejection--the assent of nine
being necessary to make_it operative.

So_important a document was sure to_elicit earnest discussion and_many
able_men opposed its adoption. At that_early day appeared the germs of
the_present political parties. The problem_was_as_to the right division
of power_between the national or central government_and the respective
States._Those who favored the widest latitude to_the_States were called
Republicans, while their opponents_were_given the name of Federalists.
The views_of_the_latter predominated in the main,_though the
Constitution was really a compromise_between its supporters and
opponents.

The beneficent features of the instrument_were so manifest_that its