The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-15
ing as her reason an absence of such commune
ty Of interest with the others, as made it desra-


ing as her reason an absence Of such communi.
ty Of interest with the others, as made it desira
! About this period, one of her governors, re.
sentful OF her stern action, just detailed, SEM
a memorial TO the council Of ade in which he
speaks of the growing republican feeling in Vir
| GINA, and recommen the reduction of all the
English colonies under one government and one
viceroy-a proposition which fortunately did
4 not succeed but is impo tant to show their poll
ticdl distinctness at that periods
From this time TO the French war, Virginia
continued as free from any control external to
herself, and every connection with others, as
any power in the world, except in the respects
alre dy mentioned
In the year 1854, DR.. Franklin proposed
plan OF union between the colonies, resembling
in some respects the subsequent articles Of con
federation. II was adopted by meet ng OF
commissioners from the several colonies but
upon being submitted to each separately for Its
ratification, it was rejected,t
In l764, began that series of measures already
alluded to, so important in our history. In the
year succeeding, Virginia, by resolutions, de-
ciared her exclusive rights, even as against Great
Britain, which she reiterated in 1851
A General Congress having been recommend.
ed by Massachusetts, assembled from nine States
in l775, and asserted the exclusive rights of the
respective colonies, each within itself as dis
tinct organism /
In l772, Virginia appointed committee OF
correspondence and enquiry, whose duty it was
to keep her informed upon the acts and resolu-
tons Of Parliament or other matters affecting
colonies, and to correspond with them. But il
was not until l774, that their more intimate CO.
operation became essential to their separate free.
dom and security. Tho Burgesses of Virginia
havi G been dissolved for their protest against
the Boston Port Bill, and meeting in the Ra-
leigh Tavern at Williamsburg, declared that he
invasion of the rights OF a sister colony threat
ened ruin to the residue, and recommended q
general Congress to deliberate on the measures
rendered n cessary by the interests Of the colo
niesj
A general convention of the people of Vir-
GINA assembled in august, I774, sanctioned the
previous recommendation of general Con.
gress, and agreed to be bound by such Of lis ac.
lion as should be assented to by their opn dep,l-
Ties.
That Congress met in October. Twelve col.
onies Were represented. The declarations and
resolutions adopted by it are most important in
this connection.
| They declare that the several colonies repre-
tor itself, are entitled to free and exclusive
power of legislation in their several provincial
Legislatures. where their right of representation
can ALONE be preserved, in all cases of tarat.on
and internal polly, subject only to the negative
OF their Sovereign" that the power of Paria-
ment to regulate in general the external com
merce of the colonies, by restraints bona fde,"
made to secure the commercial advantages of
the empire to the mother country, and the com
mereia benefits of its respective members, is
admitted; " that the respective colonies are en-.
titled to the common law of England" and "to
the benefit Of such of the English statutes as
existed at the time Of their colonization; that
their privileges are defined by their charters, or
"secured by their several codes of provincial
la,os !" and that to keep IN army in any colony
without the consent of the legislature of that
colony, il against law that the legislatures of
the several colonies are, under the English con
stituton, Independent branches of the legislative
powers that the deputies in Congress Of each
State claim these several rights for their respec.
tive constituents, which cannot be legally taken
from them, altered or abridged, by any power
whatever, without their own consent by their
representatives, Ia their several provincial legis
| Ldtures'T
During the year IT'S, the Virginia convention
assumed tone constantly increasing in bold
ness, and still asserting for the dominion of Vir
! GINA separate existence. In the early part o.
tn" year l776, various articles were published il
a leading public Journal in one Of which, ad.
| dressed TO the people Of Virginia, the writer
urges them to declare themselves free and in.
| dependent people.
! Obedient to the spirit which filed tho hearts
Of her people, her convention met in May. l776
and committee appointed May 18th, l776, Il
organize her government, having reported 10 the
convention, it, on the 29th Of June, l776, fpe
days befare The Declaration of Iad'pendence, con.
sunmated her will in announcing her to the
world ne free and sovereign commonwealth
with self imposed syst,m Of government OF
constitution.
During this long period in which have fol.
lowed the history Of Virginia, the other colonies
were likewise manifesting the principle Of their
entire separateness. Among the most remarks.
BILE instances OF this, may be mentioned the
New England confederation, existing prior to
but as late, at least, rs the year 1868 confed.
Grafton defensive In Its character and stipu' ating
that each should remain separate and distinct
and have exclusive Jurisdiction In is own terri.
tory. II was first formed more than century
before+t
! Previously 10 the notion of Virginia, before
spoken Of, North Carolina had in her Legislative
body virtually declared herself free State
declaration only in accordai &C with a similar one
made year before by the people of Mecklen
burg county, rendered famous from It's connec.
ton with the general Declaration Of July, l776
IL further confirmation were wanted Of IN,
position seek to establish, il will be found II
valuable material collected In the American
archives. ] especially refer 10 letter sud, and
presume upon good cotemporaneous authority
to have been written by Edmund Burke, full,
establishing the fact Of the existence Of each
colony as distinct political society.-(May ~
l774)tt
In this letter, Mr.. Burke alludcs 10 the treat,
in 1861, between England and Virginia, before
referred to; maintains the proposition that Oh,
colonies were separate cipi Stdtes with MI IN,
powers Of diain,i legislation and government :
that they were really and Intentionally created
distinct Mates" that during the history Of Vir
ginia, subsequent TO the restoration, consider
ing herself distinct State" she was recognized
by the crown as such, with supreme Legislative,
authority, subject 10 its negative and that sucl