Capítulo 70: The Constitution is Official! The Constitution is Official!
New York City, the United States of America
August 11th, 1777
Brigadier General Marquis de Lafayette entered the city where his adventures in the Americas began. It seemed like only yesterday he arrived in this (formerly) half-destroyed city seeking to find his destiny thousands of miles away from home. He was naive and inexperienced back then, and if truth be told, he still felt naive and inexperienced. Yet a year later, he was standing in the same spot his past self was standing on; only things were much different. The city was repaired and lively, much more so than when he first witnessed the city. However, that was not the reason why today was different than before. Because today was the day he acquired important news: news that the Virginians had ratified the Constitution, bringing the number of states that ratified the document to ten (New York and Iroquois had ratified in the last two months, while Maryland rejected the ratification by a slim margin and Rhode Island continued to debate on the matter). This meant that the Constitution was officially legal and the supreme law of the land. While there were many headaches that the Continental Congress was dealing with, such as Maryland's surprise rejection of the Constitution, the news of the United States being officially established sent jubilation throughout the new nation.
He had remained in General Kim's (Samuel, he corrected himself) home for several months and had an enjoyable relationship with his former superior. He worked with him to form the nucleus of the future American military. The retired general was tasked with creating a new military with a few officers, such as General Washington (who now resided in his farm in Virginia peacefully as a farmer) and General von Steuben (who also lived in New York due to his... close confidant). The roles were divided by the military branches. As such, General Washington and General von Steuben were writing new guidebooks, ranks, insignias, and doctrines for the Army.
Meanwhile, Commodore Hopkins and Commodore Hazelwood were tasked with doing the same for the Navy. Originally, Commodore Jones was also to participate in the reformation of the Navy, but he was granted command of nearly the entire Continental Navy to protect the sea lanes from privateers. Unfortunately for the United States, some British privateers (and even French ones) continued to plunder American merchant ships. Until that was settled, Commodore Jones would live in the Atlantic Ocean.
Expectedly, General Kim was assigned to reform the Continental Marines into the United States Marine Corps (suspiciously, the general already had a flag for the Marine Corps). Initially, it was going to be a subbranch under the proposed United States Navy. Surprisingly, several vocal members of Congress wanted to establish the Marines as their own independent branch. The French general noted it was mainly because the Continental Marines achieved much success throughout the Revolutionary War. Many Marines received a long list of honors and decorations for their services. As such, even members of Congress were opposed to making the Marines a "tributary" to another branch. The matter was to be officially voted on when Congress was "officially" assembled in 1780, but until then, he and his former superior were doing their best to create a reformed, improved version of the Continental Marines. This was difficult due to General Kim's improvements throughout the entire war.
But that wasn't his role for today. He was entering the city after riding his horse from Virginia. In fact, it was because he witnessed the Virginian state legislature declare the ratification that he knew about the ratification before anyone else in New York. He was initially visiting to meet with General Washington, a pleasant man he had high respect for and wanted his perspective for a memoir the Frenchman was writing. However, the date coincided with the ratification vote, a spectacle that drew him in. And once he was sure he wasn't hallucinating, he rode back to New York as fast as he could. Even at his top speed, the journey took two days, including rest.
Greeting a few locals that he befriended during his stay in the port city, he rushed to "Times Street," where the shop for the New York Times resided in. The shop itself was pretty average-sized, but the newspaper was rapidly becoming one of the most prominent newspapers in New York City. Designed personally by General Kim during his free time (which to say, wasn't much but the man worked himself to the bone), the newspaper was filled with honest articles, clean and organized designs, detailed cartoons, historical facts, and a section which featured a "short story" section. The prices for the newspapers printed by the New York Times were substantially lower than the other newspapers in the city, which helped its competitiveness immensely.
But the news he had was breaking, and if he were right, it would probably help the newspapers sell its next edition rapidly.
"Is Samuel here?" Lafayette asked as he rushed into the shop.
A few workers perked up from the commotion and a woman, who Layfaette recognized as one of the scores of women the former general hired, spoke to him, "The chief is currently at home. He was just here a few hours ago but retired for the night."
"Regardless of whether he's here or not, I have some important news that might help tomorrow's edition sell very well. Virginia has ratified the Constitution, which means the Constitution is now legal."
Several of the workers immediately mobbed him for questions and verification. It took an exhausting hour to convince them that he was, indeed, in Virginia when that happened and witnessed the event. And once he convinced them, he gave them every little detail he could remember before rushing off Samuel's residence.
When he entered the house, he was greeted warmly by the man in accented French, "Je suis content de vous revoir!"
"Merci," Lafayette replied, "Samuel, they have ratified the Constitution."
"Who?"
"Virginia. It's official now."
"You are joking."
"No, I swear! They ratified in front of my own eyes.
For a few moments, Samuel didn't react. However, when he did, his shoulders slumped as if the weight of the world was taken off his shoulders, "Thank God it has finally happened."
"The process was very fast, much faster than I expected in my honest opinion. But it has happened, for the better, or for the worst."
Samuel smiled and clapped the man's shoulder, "Let us hope it is for the better. Now this calls for a celebration. I believe I have some fine wine that I have been saving for this moment, care to join me?"
"Of course. After all, it is an important day for mankind as a whole."
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