The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-01-01
VOL. /. NO. IS.

was, that Inc colonies were coordinate members
with each other, and with Great Britain of an en-
pre-, united by a common Executive sovereign, but
not united by any common Legislative sovereign.
The Legislative power was maintained to be as
complete in each American Parliament, as in the
British Parliament. And the royal prcrogratiye
was in force in each colony, by virtue of its ac-
knowlodging the King for its Executive Magistrate,
as it was in Great Britain, by virtue ola like ac-
acknowledgement there. Adcnal of those principles
by Great Britain, and the assertion of them by
America produced the revolution.
There WAS Il time indeed, when an exception Of
the several component and co2qual parts ofthe en-
pire obtained degree of acquiescenco. The Brit
ish Parliament was allowed 10 rcrulato the trade
wit! foreign nations, and between the different
parts of the empire. This WAS however, mere
practice without and contrary to the true the
Dry Of the Constitution. The coUYeniancy Of some
regulations, in both those cases. was apparent; and
AS there was no Legislature with power over the
whole, nor any constitutional prc-euliHcuce among
the Legislatures Of the several paris it was natural
for the Legislature Of that particular part which was
the eldest and the largest, TO assume this function
and for the others to acquicscc il. This tact, ar
rangnent was the less criticised, as de regulations
established b. the British i'nr.iamen, operated in
favor of that part of the empire which seemed to
bear the principle SHIRE OF the public burdens, and
were regarded as an ndomuiiic ton offs advances
for the other parts. .is louga us this regulating pow
er was confined to the two objects Of conycnicncy
and equity, it was not complained Of, nor much
cn1ulrcd into But no sooner VS. ii perverted 10
the selfish views of the party assuming it, than the
injured parties began TO feel and 10 reflect; and the
moment the clam to direct and inc, linue power
ingralled on the precedent of the regulating power,
the whole charm was dissolved, and every eye OPEN
ed to the usurpalion, The assertion by G. b. ola
power to make laws for The other members of the
empire in all cases whaisoerer, ended in the disco
very tina, she had right to make laws for them in
no cases wiQiy0crcr.
Such being the ground of ourrcyolution no sup
port nor color can be drawn from it, for the doc
trlns that the common law is binding these States
as one society. The doctrine, on the contrary, is
evidently rcpugnan, to the Fundamental principle
orthe reyoln,ion,
The articles Of confederation. are the next source
of information on this subject
In III, interval ho,,yccn N, commencement, IF
the revolution and the final ratification Of these ar
ticcs, the nature and cStcat OF the Union was de-
,ermncd bv ,hc circumstance, If ,bo cris;, r,,bor
than By INV accurate deineoton Of ,be gcnernl mn
thori,y, II will not be ollc,cd. TINT ,hc ,.comron
laws coul1 have had m, Icci,jm,,c birth ~ l,w
of the l.. 5. dprfry fin, state r,tirc. Ici,c,r,o
~ src,, ir,o cyis,cnco -, ,,r ,ho cT,or Or oo,cd
Grafton must have hc,p #, paron.
Here or,n. however H., rrc,snsior, ,rc ,,so-
lu,clv 1r-.i,o,o Of Grnl,,in, mi, ;,,,.rr,.,,
does no, contain srp,oncc or sy'r,h,c ,,t c,r ho
,,rtrrcl into = coprt,ronc, cr ,ho ;1c, ,h,, ,bo
roy,ics ,o !, vcrc v, rc,r,,, ia N, or;oo,,or,ho
c,m,on nv, ia far, cr, co,,,,rr;,, Ma s,oh
law l. ror,od Or .c'iod =, ,I,rJoj ~ Or ,,,r,;n
r,r,o 90 o, h.,,,o, i,I, c,.,, L.. ,,,., ,,..oo.
M nrcyisi,n !, ,n,1, i, ,,h;,r srch ,,,r oo,,d
Lo acknowledgements, ,.,.;,., .,,.,.,
,,.,,,...,,,, ;,c.a,, -. ,,.,,.., ..,...,.,.
>, ,.l;., -.
,.... .,I -
,,.,;oh i,.,,l il. ..,c','..,... ,.,,.,.,.
r,,oJ >, ,L,I' : :, c,,,,..,.,. ,..o.',,.l,,
rhrs far :, ,roo,r, ,h,,.,,, ....,;,,or,,i.
,,,o.,,;,.r,. J,o,.a,, 49,, J., ,....,.. -.
,.o,,.o,, r. ,o,.,.;,., ;...,.,,.;.,. ,r,.. .:,
ar,io., !; h,, or ,,,o o,,.,.,,.. ...,,,,, .,.on.,
.,. a., :. l.....,.I 50,
o,.;.;,o a,,I,,;a,, H.. ,,..:,.,, ..,;.r,. r. -,
........,
!, -, ., a.. .
i,,.,,,.o, ..,, .,,;,,..r l,'. -. -, nv.
..;,.,;.,.ru,,rs, T,i. ..'l..,.;.,
l.. .,..;.I
:, :, .,..;...,
,,,;,,, ,,,,,. ,,aa..,,,,,. ,.,',..,..,
~, 4. H., ,.,,n;,,I ,,i,.,,o,,.l:., a.
-. l,,a,,,,J,o ,,, u,,,,.,,,,on,. ,,1 .,c- 49,.
o.