New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-02-24

e Constitution and common law Of the paren,

4
he State Governments. In counties, in large ois- |
rleis and IN townships and parishes. And II IS not
irrelevant to remark. that, D. the exercise oil we
1sh,s enjoyed under these popular principles, |
ne whole PEOPLE came 10 be prepared be- |
ions the exsnple OF all Others for the observance
), the sane PRINCIPLES IN the establishment oil na-
ior n institutions and the Administration Oh sovereign
poweIs.
TT e second period extends from l'74, when these
Colonies f.st acted Efficiently together, iof gress
POLITICAL ends as copfedefacy oil states 10 tne yeM
I5s9 when the present constitution OF oo,eInmens
was erabhshed. The thru embraces VIC Peii0N "'''
1859 TO the present time .,.A,
To avoid dealing with events too recent, II misn'
be eli 10 consider the third era or epoch as terni
7 sirg with the close oil trenoen. ssan .eaS -
far az 10 trace the events and occurrences whlcn
showed the necessity OF General Goye.nmea''
fromthai framed by the Articles OF tonede-
ration which prepared the minds OF the people iof
ihe adop,ion OF the present Constitution. NO douot
The ASSEMBLY OF the frat Continental Congress may
be regarded as the era at which the Union OF tnSse
States commenced. This event TOOK place. III h.la
teInhia the city distnsushed by the great clsu
events Of early history, on the 3'n OF sepIehot'
l774 on which day the first Continental congress
snblsd DELEGATES were present from C nap
shire, Massachusetts. Rhode Island. Connecticut
Nev-York, New-Jersey. PENNSYLVANIA, Delaware,
May lana, Virginia, North Carolina, South CafotnA
and Georgia
LET this sy Re ever remembered II saw assem-
b. ed from The several Colonies those great men
whose names have come down 10 us ana Will de-
scend 10 all posteIty Their proceedings are remark
able for simplicity, dignity and unequaled aoility
At tha, day, PROBABLY, there could have been con.
y,bed on no part OF this globe an equal number OF
men possessing greater talents and ability, or ami
mated BY a hisner and more patriotic motiSe tney
were full Of the spirit OF the occasion lmouea
eeenv With the general sentiment of the country, OF
49, svrIp rnrnsivD, VI IOng fvIccBnt, ana OK rev
words. They made speeches for ostentation,
they sat with closed coors. and their great maxim
was fare sofs Gire II is true, they only wrote
but The issuing OF such writings, on such authority
and at such crisis, was action-hlsh, decisive, ma
uonal action. They knew the history OF the past,
al they were alive 10 all the difficulties and all the
ouiies of the present and they acted from the 6rst
II the future were all open before them. Peyton
Randolph was UNANIMOUSLY chosen President, Chas.
Tbompson was appointed Secretary. In such con-
ate lallon. 10 would be inydlous to point out the
bright particular stars Let me only say, what none
can consicer injustice to others, that George wash
iIgion Was che OF the number
TIE pToce edIngs OF the assembly were introduced
by religious observances, and devout applications
to the Throne of Grace for the inspiration OF wis
dom All The spirit of good counsels.
Oh The second day of the session it was ordered,
that a committee should be appointed 10 state the
rights of the Colonies, the instances in which those
nights had been violated, and the means proper -
be pursued for their restoration and another CON-
mitiee TO examine and report upon the several stat
utes Of the English Parliament, which had been
passed affecting the trade and manufactures OF The
Colonies. The members of these committees were
chosen on the following day Immediately after
ward Congress took up, as the foundation OF their
proceedings certain resolutions adopted just before
the time of their assembling, by delegates from
towns in the County of Suffolk and especially the
town OF Boston.
Boston, the early victim of the infection OF wrong
by the mother country, the early champion OF Amer
lean Liberty, Boston, though, IN this vast country
she may be row surpassed by other cities, in NUN.
bers, in commerce and wealth, yet she cannot be
surpassed in the Tenown OF her early revolutionary
history. She will stand acknowledged, while the
world doth stand, as the origin and ornament, pro-
nd dafs nd Oft 10 N tina f,Otnnia4
The English Crown frowned upon her with severity
ilcig nationit only made her stand more erect,
and put on face OF greater bo.dness and dehance.-
The Parliament pour ed upon her all It's Indignation
1t only held her up with greater illumination, and
drew toward her the greater attachment and veneer
alton of the country Boston as she was IN heart, IN
principle and feeling, in l774 SO may she remain till
Ler three hills shall sink into the and be more
remembered among men.
Gentlemen, thes early proceedings OF the citizens
of Boston, and olher Inhabitants of the County of
Suffolk, deaerve to be written where all posterity
may read them. They were carried to the Repre-.
rem alive OF Royat by the first distinguished mar
tyr in the OF Liberty, Joseph Warren. How fit
that he who was not long aiterward to fall IN the
Of h 81 snr o ap
and Its principles should be the bearer of ts remon.
staI ces to the of the Throne OF Eng
lind. No encomium, no eulogy upon the State of
which have The honor to be citizen, can exceed
that which is expressed in the unanimous resolution
OF the frst American Congress OF the sh OF October
IVA, IN these words
Resor,d That this Congress approve the opposition Of
the Bay TO the execution of the tate acts of
rItd rto execution by force such all America
ought 10 support the 1t the liz opposition.
Gentlemen, | will not believe that the ancient
Commonwealth of Massachusetts can ever depart
fI' m her true character. think it impossible But
should she be left TO forgetfunses OF herself and all
that belongs TO should she Temporarily or per-
manently stray away from the paths of her ancient
patriotism, should she, which heaven avert be viii
ling 10 throw off her original and all.American man.
tie TO disrote herself IN the presence Of the world
Of all Der nationality OF character, there are 9TH
and who would show themselves capable OF
wearing 1t with grace, dignity and power.
| need not say here, where those others are
to be found, L am In the City where WASHING.
TON first took upon himself the administration Of
the Government am near the spot on which all
hearts and all hopes were concentrated in 1882 /
bring the whole scene, with all It's deep interests be-
fore me- see the crowds that fill and thropr the
streets, see the ten thousand faces anxious to look
on him 10 whose wisdom, prudence, and patriotism
the dettlDies OF the country are committed. | see
the august form, behold the serene face of WASH
lNGToH observe his reverent manner when he
Ilses IN the presence OF countless multitude and
looking up with religious awe to Heaven, solemnly
sweals before that multituoinOus assembly and be-
fore Him that stitch on the circle OF the Heavens
that he will support the Constitution of his country
80 help him God
And bear the shouts and acclamations that fill
tire ar see outpourng tears of joy and hope, see
e1clsim, we have at last country we have a
Union; aid IN that Union is strength. We have
Government, able to keep US together and we have
Chief Magistrate, an object OF confidence, attach
ment and love TO US all
CitizeIs OF New-York, men Of this generation, is
there any thing which warns your heart more than
these recollection Or can you contemplate the
growth Of your City in population and
all human ssings, without feeling that the spo. ia
and the hour consecTated, where and
when your career OF prosperity and happines began
But, gentlemen, my heart would sink within me.
and voice ard speech would depart from me, If
were compelled TO believe that your fidelity to the
Constitution OF the country, signal and unquestoned
as Il ls could ever exceed that OF the State whose
soil was moisiened by the blood Of the first martyrs
In the cause OF liberty, and whose history has been
characterized fIom the beginning by their Jealous
ard unitorm support OF the principles Of WASH
IsGTos.
This frat Congress sat from the fifth day of Sep
4 mber uIiil the twenty.sixth OF October, and IL
hen dissolved. It's whole proceedings are EN-.
DTsced III forty nine pages, but these few pages