561, 563.] In their anger the Kentuckians denounced the Federal Government for not aiding them, the men who were loudest in their denunciations being the very men who were most strenuously bent on refusing to adopt the new Constitution, which alone could give the National Government the power to act effectually in the interest of the people.
Ratification of the Federal Constitution.
While the spirit of unrest and discontent was high, the question of ratifying or rejecting this new Federal Constitution came up for decision.

The Wilkinson party, and all the men who believed in a weak central government, or who wished the Federal tie dissolved outright, were, of course, violently opposed to ratification.

Many weak or short-sighted men, and the doctrinaires and theorists--most of the members of the Danville political club, for instance--announced that they wished to ratify the Constitution, but only after it had been amended.

As such prior amendment was impossible, this amounted merely to playing into the hands of the separatists; and the men who followed it were responsible for the by no means creditable fact that most of the Kentucky members in the Virginia convention voted against ratification.
Three of them, however, had the patriotism and foresight to vote in favor of the Constitution.
Further Delay.
Another irritating delay in the march toward statehood now occurred.

In June, 1788, the Continental Congress declared that it was expedient to erect Kentucky into a state.