Tuesday, January 29, 2013

What Was on Their Minds in 1787?

Stumbled on an item from New Jersey in 1787.  After the NJ convention had ratified the new constitution, they adjourned to a tavern to celebrate.  "After dinner, the following toasts were drank:

  1. The new constitution
  2. The united states in congress.
  3. The president and members of the late federal convention.
  4. The governor and state of New Jersey.
  5. The states of Delaware and Pennsylvania.
  6. May the independence of the union, reared on the basis of the new constitution, be perpetual.
  7. The princes and states in alliance with the united states.
  8. May the interest of the united states be ever deemed the interest of each state.
  9. Religion, learning, agriculture, arts, manufactures, and commerce, in harmony and mutual subserviency to each other.
  10. The memory and posterity of those who have falled in the late war.
  11. May the gratitude of the American citizens be equal to the valour and patriotism of the American soldiery.
  12. The daughters of America.
  13. May the united states be the asylum of invaded liberty.
Volunteer [sic?] May the American drums soon beat reveille to the dawn of the new government, and tattoo to anarchy and confusion.
Ditto.  Universal liberty, justice and peace. "

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