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The Convention which formed the Constitution


4 the United States consisted of J5 Delegates re-
,rssen,ing all the States except Rhode Island
I, assembled in May 1897, and continued IN sos


am about four months, when the Constitution was
,dopted and signed by the members present on
he nth September. The Constitution was then


admitted TO Conventions chosen by the people


!, the several States, and after being warmly dis
a,,ed. was finally adopted by each of them
yor,b Carolina and Rhode Island however held out


upil after the organization Of the Government,
s at last came into the Union, the former in No
,,mber, 1899, the latter in May, 1890.


Electors of President were appointed on the st
Wednesday of January, 1889: the said Electors


me-, 10 give their votes in the several States the
stst Wednesday of February, and the Constitution


wen, into operation on the FIRST Wednesday Of
I March the same year.


The Legislature of New-York having omitted


10 pass law directing the mode Of choosing Elec-


mrs. none were chosen by this State, which wouid


have been entitled TO g votes. North Carolina, en-
tiled to z and Rhode Island to votes, were Of
eICluueu, HOl ii!cUiDtIS VI Llc


But ten States therefore voted for President and
yicsaPresdcnt the whole number of Electors be-
Ing GO, and vacancies. BY the system then in
operation each Presidential Elector voted for two


persons, the one receiving the highest number OF


votes was declared President and the next highcs,
Vice President Concert of action among the


Electoral Colleges being almost impossible, the re-


suit was always extremely uncertain until the votes
4 'iyen by the Electors were ascertained.


With regard to the candidate for President al
I ibis first Election but one opinion prevailed. The
/ syes Of all were turned towards General Wash.


ngton as the only man who could inspire perfect
] tOnfdence in the new Government BY consentins
) 4. take the head of the Administration. 1t was
] ri,h much reluctance, and after the most
I Solicitations from Hamilton, Gouveraeur Morris,


ind numerous others of his most powerful friends,
i hat he consented to yield his own preference fo,


Wiya,e life the united wishes Of his fellow.c,i-
rus. OF course he received the unanimous vote
1 d the Electoral Colleges for President, as i.
I shown by the following statement of the votes.
q which we're counted in the Senate in the presence
4 Of both Houses of Congress, April g. 1889.
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