Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-09-04

knowledge them ever avowed or was to
entertain, pursuit of independence the assembling of the
rst Congress or for considerable period thereafter II has
always been my impression that re-esabshment the
ona relations to the parent country they previous
the controversy, the real object of every class Of the peo
pie, u despair of obtaining and the exaspeatng effects
the and the of conducting it, prepared the minds
OF all for the event declared the 4h Of July, 776 pre-
ferab with all its difficulties and per the alternative Of
submission to claim of power at external unlimited
Irresponsible and under every temptation to abuse from inter-
est ambition, and revenge II there individuals who
aimed independence their have been confined
to their own bosoms or to very confidential circle"
Dr. FnAsKLIs, writing his from London in March,
l775, mentions conversation he had with Lord Chatham
the August preceding which that alluded
prevailing belief in Europe that the Coonss aimed indie
| pendence
81 assured him." said Franklin that having more than
once travelled almost from end the continent The
other, and kept great variety Of company eating drinking,
and coversing with them freely, had heard in any
conversation, from person. drunk SOBER the least
preston of wish for separation hint that such thing
would be advantageous to America"
Mr.. JAY, writing in 1921, says:
"Dung the of my life, and until after the second
petition Of Congress, in l775, never did hear American,
Of any class any description express wish for the indie
Fendence of the Colonies 1t has always been, and still my
opinion and belief that country prompted and inn
PEELED independence by necessity, and choice They
who know how then circumstance, know from
whence that necessity resulted"
joan ADAMS bears the following testimony the subject:
hat there existed desire of Independence of the
Crown any part Of America before the Revolution as far
from the truth the zenith from the nadir.
'Fo my part there not moment during the Re
vouon when would not have given any thing possessed
for the Of things before the contest began
provided could have had sufficient security for its con-
tnuance."
Mr. JEFFERSON says F
sWhat eastward of New York might have been the dspo
sons towards England before the commencement OF host
ies, know not; before that never had heard disposition
separate from Great Britain and after that its possibility
was contemplated with affection by all.
These declarations from competent witnesses prove beyond
cav that the idea Of independence had nothing to do with
the early encroachments upon their rights by the
Coonss that the struggle their part in spirit OF con-
sevaon not of that resort to arms was had to de-
end their liberties and that not until after blood had
been freely shed in the war, Independence reluctantly
adopted as lis end and object
Our waning me and fear the patience OF our readers
will not allow dwell long upon the grievances of the
Coonss Our position that they slight is sustained by
the have already given for other purposes Men
who constantly Boosting of the freedom which they
oyed and be permitted enjoy which unmoested was all
they asked could have aboed under many practical gev
Men who fully approaching their rights and prvi-
eges British Subjects dreamed during ten years OF
political agitation and excitement of setting for indepen
dence surely crushed 70 the the heel OF OPP
preston The stamp permitted to be carried into
execution and promptly repealed The port duties all
other articles except speedily abrogats and re all
know NJ bslie-s-not penny duty
paid any where The revival Of the statute Of Henry VI
by which could be taken the mother country for
trial odious enough, but naeaasLyas thus transported
for trial. The Boston port Acments, intend
ed TO punish Massachusetts, ND other colonies,
though they generouslysssAVs1ou1 common cause
with her. There was vexutsws6 - interference
the pat Of the mother couhspsb and manuac-
of the colonies but the colonies conceded the right to
regulate trade in consideration of the protection afforded
Wholesome legislation frustrated by the caprcous vetoes
of royal Governors but the colon acknowledged the right
the par, the Crown their respective charters to
veto sndh their reverence constitutional provisions had
nossusJecmpan Of it as tyrannica In day have
se4 nm the exercise Of the power, but there
fore enslaved
Il will be remembered the Declaration Of Independence
enumeraes no grievances which had not their origin since
1885, Which may be considered the true date Of the Revolu
The charges made not against the British Crown,
but against George the Sd personalyt being under bis
reign that all the hateful devised Resistance
coeva with the usupaon, and generally successful
in preventing the unconstitutional from being carried into
effect though il remained the statute book THE grew
with the coonists the violation of their rights In the
attempt by Parliament them without their consentnot
them by the stamp duties the mpos tea IL was the
outrage inflicted upon this fundamental principle of British
liberty which first aroused the coonsts in 1863 besoed
Ministry and obstinate King, whist yielding to the spirited
made the stamp act determined to assert IN some
way the supremacy Parliament These antagonist Prnc
Piles led various assertions and denas of authority to ex
asperaon on both Sides and finally to hostile collision and
to the declaration and maintenance of independence There
were collateral issues but the American revolution owed
its origin TO the simple but all important political AXIOM that
people ghtuly be taxed without their own consent
revolution brought about for the assertion OF Prnc
pe and he erogates the fame Of ancestors who
presents them as existing in bondage, and waging war
merely 10 shiver the chains which bound them Other peo
pie have thrown off yoke Of oppression but revolution
stands alone in its glory.
HERMITAGE INSTITUTE,
Montgomery County, Maryland.
NTRS GENERAL WHEELER informs her friends and