Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-07-13

This social compact embraces the first
princlpl of civil government. Perfect
ly voluntary, it was the mutual exchange
of hearts united by the same feelings,
suffering under the same prosecutions,
and alike ready TO share the same desti-
n.y.
While thus asserting the principles OF
civil liberty, they were yet Wiling 10 ac-
knowledge their allegiance to the British
crown, retaining their connection with the
mother country, and ready 10 adopt the
general laws of England for their go
yernment, as far as they might be appii-
cable but still determined in other in
stances to be governed by laws enacted
by themselves. No men were more ex-
empary, in the performance of their
moral and social duties: no men more
eminent for their fervent and exalted pie
lty.
In the progress of time, various other
settlem ents were established under grants
| from the British crown, which ultimately
formed thirteen distinct provinces. BY
these migrations were the extensive
shores oil America peopled, and by rae c
OF men, whose habits and principles had
| been formed, under circumstances CAL
culated to Illicit broad and correct un-
Outstanding OF the rights OF man.
From the frequent and unceremonious
concern, with which their grants had
been vlolated-their rights, interests, and
commerce embarrassed and disregarded,
they had naturally been led TO view with
great suspicion and Jealousy, the acts OF
the mother country. Founded as these
acts frequently were, in an utter des-
truction OF principle, and based alike III
ayarice and self-aggrandizement, the
people OF the then British colonies were
gradually prepared to resist such I'M
blushing acts of oppression. The cup
of their humiliation had not yet been fill
ed, nor had they drank Of its dregs,
which British magnanimity had in pre-
paration for them. The waters of bitter
ness were yet to overflow, aud the pes
thence, which walketh at MONDAY, was
yet to visit them through the tender mer-
cies of the British monarch. Wills, by
their enterprise and resolution, their
steady perseverance and unconquerable
industry, they were emerging from a
state of infancy, to the bone and slDew OF
political manhood, the British parliament
disregardmg every principle of natural
Justice, 10 opposition to the fundamental
principles oftheir own constitution, and to
the utter subversion of the very principle
for which they had, with arms in their
hands, themselves commended, attempted
by a solemn act, to levy and collect tax
from the people of the then colonies, for
the benefit of Great Britain, without their
consent. and without representation. No
sooner did the evidences of this act reach
the American shores, than its condcm-
nation was sealed, in one universal burst
of execra,lon from every part of the CO.
lonies; and an open, determined, aud
pow erful resistance manifested.
The British ministry, alarmed and os-
cillating in their purpose, at times aban-
doned and again renewed their measures,
until it was determined that uncond,ion-
al submission should be enforced, by her
boards OF myrmidons and mere enarics,
through famine, devastation and seas of
blood. 1t will not be to my purpose to
detail to you the various causes which
finally led to the contest, which ended in
the emancipation of the then thirteen
colonies from British tyranny.
On the 4th day of July, 1875, after the
frs, martyrs to American Independence
had suffered at Lexington and Bnnker's
Hill after the blood of hundreds
had flowed in cause, which right
eously invoked the justice and support
of Heaven; after the smoking ruins
of two towns had become striking
monument of British generosity and mer-
cy after repeated manly supplications
to the British throne, and after repeated
appeals to the magnanimily of the peo-
pie of Britain ; wherein they were con-
jured by their native Justice, and the ties
of their common kindred, to disavow the
usurpations which would inevitably lead
to their separation, the Declaration of In
dependence, just read to you was adopt
ed. At this era, the American people
rose in their majesty, and assumed in the
language of that instrument, " a separate
and equal station amongst the nations of
the earth, to which the laws of nature
and of natures God entitled them )" dis
solving the ligaments, and bursting the
bands OF colonial vassalage, with con
scious rectitude in the justice Of the
solemn and important cause they had
espoused, they rose above the power Of
the accumulated force, which had threa-
tened to overwhelm them-the fearful
odds against them in the contest, seemed
but to add new vigour and resolution to