In 1774 a still more formal attempt at union was made by Massachusetts. At her instance a Congress of Delegates from all the colonies assembled at Philadelphia. Referring their appointment "to the good people of these colonies," they regularly organized themselves by the adoption of fundamental rules and a declaration of rights. They claimed to be entitled to the "common law" of England, and the benefit of such English statutes as they had respectively found applicable to their circumstances; and they adopted a petition of grievances to the Crown, and demanded redress.

But such redress came not. In vain was the heated oratory of Chatham and the philosophic eloquence of Burke exerted on their behalf in the English Parliament. Both these great men urged upon Lord North to recall the troops and undo all legislation respecting the colonies since the year 1765. Petitions and remonstrances were stifled, or their prayers disregarded.

The crisis of colonial empire had come and passed. The hillsides and river - banks of

New England were already ringing with sharp peals of musketry. The King's troops and the determined colonists had met, and the first blood had been shed. On the 26th May, 1775, Parliament separated, declaring that "if the Americans should persist in rebellion, and the sword must be drawn, the faithful Commons would do everything in their power to support his Majesty and maintain the supremacy of the Legislature." Almost on the same day, the second Congress of Colonial Delegates met in Philadelphia. On this occasion they organized a general system of physical resistance, and adopted a preamble which stated that the exercise of every kind of authority, under the crown of England, should be suppressed." They established a general post; they emitted a large amount of paper money, pledging the united colonies for its redemption, and they appointed General Washington commander-in-chief of the forces.

"

It is more needful, however, to our present purpose to point out that both these important Congresses of 1774 and 1775 had consisted of delegates chosen partly by the representa

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tive branches of the colonial legislatures, but principally by conventions of the people, and in some instances the choice of the former was confirmed by the latter.

"Thus was organized," says Mr. Story,1 "under the auspices and with the consent of the people, acting directly in their primary sovereign capacity, and without the intervention of the functionaries, to whom ordinary powers of government were delegated in the colonies, the first general or National Government, which has been very aptly called 'the Revolutionary Government,' since in its origin and powers it was wholly conducted upon revolutionary principles. The Congress thus assembled exercised, de facto and de jure, a sovereign authority, not as the delegated agents of the governments de facto of the colonies, but in virtue of original powers derived from the People."

On the 4th July, 1776, the long-anticipated result arrived, and Congress passed the celebrated "Declaration of Independence." The foreshadowing idea of unity is embodied 1 STORY'S Commentaries, Abridgment, ch. i. 85.

in its very first sentence and through the whole document.

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When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for ONE PEOPLE to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with ANOTHER, and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

"We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, solemnly

publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, Free and Independent States; and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as free and independent States, they have full powers to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent States may of right do. And for the support of this declaration,

we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honour." Almost simultaneously with the appointment of a committee to prepare this declaration, a second committee was formed for the purpose of preparing and digesting the form of a Confederation. Congress agreed upon the celebrated "Articles of Confederation" in 1777, but they were not adopted by all the States until 1781.

It is important, however, to observe, that prior to these articles, and in the same document that severed their individual connection with the mother country, the Colonies declared that already they were "the United States of America," and to that union had pledged each other.1

"The separate independence and individual sovereignty of the several States were never thought of by the enlightened band of patriots who framed the Declaration of Independence. The several States are not even mentioned by name in any part of it, as if it was intended to impress this maxim on America, that our freedom and independence arose from our union,

and that without it we could neither be free nor independent. Let us then consider all attempts to weaken this union, by maintaining that each State is separately and individually independent, as a species of political heresy which can never benefit us, and may bring on us the most serious distresses.". CHARLES COTESWORTH PINKNEY, quoted by MR. EVERETT.