The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-13


southern men. And with this understanding OF their
effects and tendency. the articles OF association were
adopted BY colonial conventions county meetings. and
lesser assemblages throughout the country and became
the law Of Amefca-lhe fundamental constitution 50 10
speak, OF the first American Union II is needless 10
cite many resolutions OF these meetings. They be
found in the American Archives by those who desire 10
investigate the subject ! will quote but two.
The FIRST is resolution of the convention OF Mary
land, held in November l774 readopted by subsequent
convention more fully attended. In December OF the
year:
Resolved, That every member OF this meeting WILL and
every person in the province should strictly and nviosby
observe and carry into execution the association agreed
by the Continental Congress"
The other is the declaration adopted by general meet
ing OF the freehoders OF James City county, Virginia. in
November, l774, in these words:
The association entered by Congress being publicly
read freehoders and other inhabitants OF county
that they might testify 70 the world their and
Ssrs aseade
oblge themselves by The sacred Ties q virtue honor and
keep the same ia every particular" Y
These, sir. are specimens of the formal and solemn
declarations and engagements OF public bodies To show
the sentiment which pevaded the masses OF the people,
will read an extract from an eloquent paper, entitled,
" observations addressed TO the people OF America
printed at Philadelphia in November, l774;
The least deviation from The resolves of Congress win
opportunity of committing. twill be against the
present inhabitants Of the colonies, against The mil.
pness which remain to mankind, against the last
word i viii be treason against God. Tvs W. ans
NOW Lyme THE yogsOaross or An AMEaIo.s ooSsrI!u
exc 81 poeri'y They VIII most probably MEASURE their
steps lie, no hand touch he precious seed q
liberty. Let form the glorious ia srch manner
last 's sds i.s ss s a '1
unhs Of the Jubilee me gear 1874 to sec tho medals,
the memory Proceedings Of the Congress Of
i7I4 any adven,iiions circums,ance shall give prece
dency on that day. shall DO 10 inherit the blood
possess name OF member OF that glorious Assem-.
bly, "-(Amer Arch, SER. vol. !, p. s76
In these various resolves and declarations Mr. Pesi-
and will Of the American people upon this subject Of
slavery The earliest action Of the associated colonies
was anti-slayery action. The Union which they then
was complete enough to warrant the Congress which rep
resented IN declaring independence in waging war; in
contracting debts in assuming, in short many of the
functions of nationality and sovereignty
Well sir nearly two years passed by, and the griev-
ances OF the colonies remained unredressed The war
OF the revolution had begun and the Declaration of Inde
the spirit the Articles OF Association The orr
gna draught, as il came from the hands of Jefferson
contained clause rspobatng in the strongest TERMS the
traffic 10 men. will read IL:
sHc has waged cruel against human nature ITSELF
violating us most sacred rights OF life and liberty in the
yang ana es,1ynp tSem mo IL hm cap
Sphere TO incur isera BILE death in their transport
,ioa ti,her: This piratca warfare. the opprobriam Of
Great Britain Determined to keep open market where
alive for suppTe-sing every legislative attempt prohibit
or restrain this execrable commeree-"s
This clause indeed omitted from the Declaration
jory of Congress, but Mr. Jefferson informs u.s. in
compliance to South Carolina and Georgia He mt.
mates also that some tenderness under these
was manifested BY northern gentlemen whose consitu-
ents had been somewhat largely engaged in the slave
trade But still the great fundamental truth which cons.
tuies the basis of all Just government and which con.
the Declaration and announced to the world as sef.ey
dent; the truth that "al men created equal; that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain naena-
Bile nights that among these are life, liberty, and the pur
suit OF happiness that 10 these rights govern
mens were instituted among men, deriving their Just
powers from the consent Of the governed"
Thus that in this second grea, act OF the Amer
lean people. the fundamental truth upon which the Ar
ucles OF Association based reiterated not as
rhetorical flourish" not as an abstraction incapable Of
practical application in human affairs but as living
principle not TO be dsregarded without fatal consequen
The structure OF the administration OF government
That such was the view actually taken OF the Declaration
at that time IS further evident from the language OF the
dispatches transmitting II to the authorities OF the differ
ent colonies, and to the chief OF the army
will quote paragraph from the letter Of the President
Of Congress, John Hancock. to the convention Of New
Jersey.
al do myself the honor enclose in obedience to the
81 So1s vs., copy o. The DSssson o. indie
colony In such way and manner as you judge best The
from this Dsciaraon OF Independence. eoasdsa as s
so1ad aad fosndaffon Of fnsTs gorrmsmt, will natural
suggest the proprley OF Proclaming IL in such mode
ihat the people may be universally informed ofiL"-Amer
Arch, 9th seres. vol. 1, p ILL.,
Such were the principles Mr. President OF the govern
men and the people during the struggle for independence
They were reiterated al the close OF IT, Very shortly al
Ter the treaty OF peace ratified in 1853, Congress
sued address TO the States drawn up by Mr. Madison
the main purpose Of which TO the provision
Of fund for the discharge of the public engage
That address contains the clause which will now read
Let 4 be remembered. finally, that Il has been the
pride and boast OF America that the rights for which
commended the riahs Of human BY bless
Ing OF The dIlor Of sss r. shs the exered for
and form the basis Of ihrios indsrsndsr STATES No
Instance has hereoiorc occurred any Instance
expected hereafter TO occur in which the unadulteated
orns Of republican government can pretend fair an
view, the ciiz the United States responsible for
he greatest conided a political sociesy
Il Madison Papers, APP. III
This, sir, was the acknowledgment OF 1883 That the
eyes. but rights the rights of any part or class OF
he people, but the rights Of all men'the rights OF hui
man nature
was not long before an occasion arose to test the sin
eriiy o Congress in these various declarations 10 deter
nine whether or not Congress prepared 10 carry the
principles so solemny recognised into practical appca-
ion, without respect TO persons or sections Nor was
congress wanting 10 the occasion
On the LIST OF March, 1854, Virginia celed 10 The United
states all claim TO the territory northwest OF the Ohio
Much praise has been awarded 10 Virginia for this
on desire TO deract nothing from IT, Virginia doubt
ess. conhded fully in the validity OF her little 10 the
itory which she coded tsue that, acting under her
Congress- the gallant George Rogers Clarke at the head
u handful oil brave Kentuckians dspossessed the Brit
sh authorities Of thai portion OF the territory which the5
lad occupied on the Wabash and Mississippi But il