ry true American,--THE CONSOLIDATION
OF OUR UNION,--in which is involved our prosperity, safety,
perhaps our national existence.

"GEORGE WASHINGTON."

The Constitution was duly transmitted by Congress to the several
legislatures, by which it was submitted to conventions of delegates
"chosen in each State by the people thereof," who ratified the same.
Afterwards, Congress, by resolution, dated September 13, 1788, setting
forth that the Convention had reported "a Constitution _for the people
of the United States_" which had been duly ratified, proceeded to
authorize the necessary elections under the new government.

The Constitution, it will be seen, was framed in order to remove the
difficulties arising from _State Rights_. So paramount was this purpose,
that, according to the letter of Washington, it was kept steadily in
view in all the deliberations of the Convention, which did not hesitate
to declare _the consolidation of our Union_ as essential to our
prosperity, safety, and perhaps our national existence.

The unity of the government was expressed in the term "Constitution,"
instead of "Articles of Confederation between the States," and in the
idea of "a more perfect union," instead of a "league of friendship." It
was also announced emphatically in the Preamble:--

"_We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect
union_, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the
common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America."

Not "we, the States," but "we, the people of the United States." Such is
the beginning and origin of our Constitution. Here is no compact or
league between States, involving the recognition of State rights; but a
government ordained and established by the people of the United States
for themselves and their posterity. This government is not established
_by the States_, nor is it established _for the States_; but it is
established _by the people_, for themselves and their posterity. It is
true, that, in the organization of the government, the existence of the
States is recognized, and the original name of "United States" is
preserved; but the sovereignty of the States is absorbed in that more
perfect union which was then established. There is but one sovereignty
recognized, and this is the sovereignty of the