Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-28

these popular principles the whole people came to be
prepared beyond the example Of all others for the
ance the same principles in the establishment national
institutions and the administration Of sovereign powers
The second period extends from TIA when these colo
MES first acted efficiently together for great political
ends conederacy of States to the year 1889 when
the present constitution OF government was established
The third embraces the period from IL 90 to the present
time
To avoid dealing with events too recent il might be
well to consider the third epoch as terminating
with the close Of President Washngtons administration
and going back into the second far to trace the
events and occurrences which showed the necessity Of
general government different from that framed by the
articles OF confederation which prepared the minds Of the
people for the adoption of the present constitution No
doubt the assembly Of the first Continental Congress may
be regarded the at which the Union Of these States
commenced This event took place in Philadelphia the city
distinguished by the great civil early history
on the oth Of September, l774, which day the first
continental Congress assembled Delegates present
from New Hampshire, Massachusetts Rhode Island Con-
necticut New York, New Jersey Pennsylvania Delaware
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina South Carolina and
/ Georgia
Let this day be ever remembered! 1t saw assembled
from the several colonies those great men whose names
have down to and viii descend to all posterity
Their proceedings remarkable for simplicity dignity
and unequaled ability AT that day. probably, there
could have been convened part Of this globe an
equal number Of men possessing greater talents and
ability animated by higher and more patriotic motive
They were full of the spirit OF the OCCASION imbued
deeply with the general sentiment of the country of large
comprehension, of long foresight, and of few words
They made speeches for ostentation they sat with
closed doors, and their great maxim fare dire"
1t is true, they only wrote but the issuing of such writ
ings on such authority and at such crisis was action
high, decisive, national action They knew the history Of
the past they alive to all the difficulties and all the
duties of the present. and they acted from the first if
the future all open before them. Peyton Randolph
was unanimously chosen president Charles Thompson
was appointed secretary. In such constellation, it
would be nyidious to point the bright particular
stars. Let only say what consider injus-
tice to others that George Washington Of the
number.
The proceedings of the Assembly were introduced by
religious observances and devout applications to the
Throne of Grace for the inspiration of wisdom and the
spirit of good counsels
On the second day Of the session it was ordered that
committee should be appointed to state the rights of the
colonies the instances in which those rights had been vo
lated and the means proper to be pursued for their reso
ration and another committee to examine and report
upon the several statutes Of the English Parliament which
had been passed aectngs the trade and manufactures Of
the colonies. The members Of these committees
chosen the following day. Immediately afterward
Congress took up the foundation of their proceedings
certain resolutions adopted just before the time of their
assembling by delegates from towns in the county of Suf
folk and especially the town of Boston.
Boston, the early victim of the infection of wrong by
the mother country the early champion Of American lib
erty Boston, though in this vast country she may be
surpassed by other cities in numbers in commerce. and
wealth. yet she be surpassed in the of her
early revolutionary history She will stand acknowledged,
while the world doth stand the origin and ornament
promoter and defender Of the rights of the colonies The
English frowned upon her with severity and ndig
nation it only made her stand erect and put on
face of greater bodness and defiance The Parliament
poured upon her all its indignation only held her up
with greater Illumination drew toward her the greater
and generation OF the country Boston, as she
in heart in principle and feeling in 1774 may she
remain till her three hills shall sink into the and be
more remembered among
Gentlemen, these early proceedings of the citizens Of
Boston and other inhabitants of the county of Suffolk de-
serve to be written where all postery may read them
They were carried to the representative of royalty by
the first distinguished martyr p the of liberty,
Joseph Warren How fit that he who not long after
ward to fall in the defence of the liberty of his country
and seal his love of that country with his blood full of
its spirit and its principles should be the bearer of its
circumstances to the representative of the throne OF Eng
land No encomium, eulogy upon the State of which
have the honor be CITIZEN exceed that which is
expressed in the unanimous resolution of the first Amer
can Congress of the 9Th of October in these Words
Rolred That this Congress approve the opposition of the
people of Bay the execution of the late acts
Of Parliament and the same shall be attic Ted to be car
red into execution by force in such all America ought
to support them in their opposition
Gentlemen, will not believe that the ancient common
wealth of Massachusetts, can ever depart from her true
character think it impossible But should she be left
to forgetfuness Of herself and all that belongs to her.
should she temporarily permanently stray away from the
paths Other ancient patriotism should she which Heaven
avert be willing throw off her original and all American
manteto disrobe herself in the presence of the world
of all her nationality of character there others who
would eagerly seize that MANTLE and who would show
themselves capable of wearing it with grace dignity and
power need not here where those others to be
found lam in the city in which WASHINGTON first took
upon nlnlSeH the administration oil the government
the spot which all hearts and all hopes
centrated in 1889 bring the whole scene, with all its
deep interests, before see the crowds that fill and
throng the streets the ten thousand faces anxious to
look on him to whose wisdom, prudence and patriotism
the destines of the country committed see the au-
gust FORM behold the face ofWAsHINGToN Iob-
his when he rises in the
of countless multitude, and looking up with religious
heaven soemny swears before that muttudinous
assembly and before Him that stitch the circle Of the
heavens, that he will support the constitution Of his
country-so help him God
And hear the shouts and accamations that fill the
air see outpouring tears Of joy and hope;
clasping each others hands, and hear them excaim,
sewe have last country have Union; and in that
Union is strength. We have Government able to keep
us together and have Chief Magistrate obectof
confidence, attachment, and love TO us all.
Citizens Of New York, of this generation is there
any thing which your heart than these reto
econs Or you contemplate the unparalleled growth
of your city population and al human blessings, with
out feeling that the spot is halowed and the hour
Grated where and when your Of prosperity and
happiness beganf n
But gentlemen, my heart would sink within me, and
voice and speech would depart from me, if COM
PEELED to believe that your fidelity to the constitution Of
the country signal and unquesoned it is could ever
exceed that of the State whose soil motened by the
blood Of the first martyrs in the Of liberty and
whose history has been characterized from the beginning
by their jealous and uniform support Of the principles OF
WASHINGTON
This first Congress sat from the fifth day Of September
until the twentysi of October and it bea dissolved
Its whole proceedings embraced in fry-nine pages