The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-20

QUINCY ADAMS, in his celebrated 4th of july
Address, at Newburyport Massachusetts. 1t
was one OF the most eloquent and jasty-ad-
mired efforts of that distinguished citizen. The
Declaration of Independence, as he well OBJ
served, contradicts and disproyes the assump-
tion that the Union was originated by the pres
ent Constitution. Its language is direct to the
point" We, therefore, the Representatives of
the United States of America in general Con-
gress assembled" &c. 1t was not true. he re-.
marked, that the States declared themselves
independent" in the first place. leaving the
question of their being "unifed" States. to be
settled afterwards. Our fathers were not so
short-sighted as that. They knew that unless
the States were united" they could not main
tam their independence for moment.
They could not be States at all. "The Union y
was preliminary to d" independence" and an
indispensable condition of it.
Mr. Adams was unquestionably correct Ii
was the :" United States" that declared indie
pendence. 1t was national act. affirnipo \
national existence and national Government
The " United States waged and prosecuted a
long and successful war with the mother coun.
ty- The " United States . sent forth ambas
sadors, and formed treaties The "United
States" concluded peace. The - United States -
took measures, beforehand. for forming the
stItution formed the Union. is TO pretend that
the child begat the parent. The Constitution
declares itself 10 lac the work of " the people OF
the United States AS it could not have been,
had there previously been no nited States for
the people of the United States to inhabit. IL
was framed to form I" a more perfect union -
10 perfect Union previously existing. In
common parlance, and in our political ltera-
ture, the phrases, . the Union" "the States of
the niOn,' ''the United States" we're AS cur
rent before the drafting and adopting the pres
seHt Constitution, afterwards
We may extend the remark by SAVING thai
there were ." United Colonies " before there
were United States" Had there not been
|" United Colonies there never would have
been any independent nor United States grow
Ing out OF said Colonies. The phrase I" United
toiones 4" was, for "A long time as current AS
the phrase nited States now is For Il long
time after the Declaration of Independence, and
even after the adoption of the Federal Constitu-
ton, oldfashioned and antiquated country
people tas we well remember) kept mp the old
habit OF speaking of 4" niied Colonies " instead
OF I nited States which proves The national
habit and feeling of a political Union, not only
before the Federal Constitution, but before the
Declaration Of Independence itself And it was
Union not only in the spirit but I'm the let
ter-not only in fact, but in form The docu-
ment by which " the Union was formed is
still in our national archives, duly signed and
authenticated.
Here it is, rs fresh and as authoritative as
ever. Here II is, unrcpealed, unimpaired.
unrepudiated unsuperseded, by any OF the docu-
ments that have come after it. Neither the
declaration of Independence, the Articles of
Confederation, nor the Constitution of 1889.
contain the slightest hint that "the Union >
OF IVA had ever been dissolved On the other
hand they all assume the contrary. They allr
stand on the basis of that /" nion," and take
1t for granted, without providing for the least
departure or deviation from It's fundamental
provisions. II IS time for the conseryators of
"our glorious Union > to look it in the face.
and see what IT is, and what are It's recogni-
lions and guarantees aye, and its COM
promises and understandings" if we can
find any.
OUR GLOEfOUs UNION!
Extracts from the 1rficles Of Assoriajioo
entered into by the United Colonies. throupb
the action of the first Continental Congress-
at Philadelphia, October 20. l774:
We do, for ourselves and the inhabitants of
The several Colonies whom we represent. firmly
agree and associate under the sacred ties Of
virtue, honor, and love Of our country, as fol-
lows:
chase any slave imported after the first day Of
December next; after which time. we will who'll
ly discontinue the slave trade. and will neither
he concerned in il ourselves, nor will we hire
our vessels nor sell our commodities or manu-
Lectures 10 those who are concerned in it."
IL. hat Il committee be chosen in every
county, city, and town, by those who are DUAL
HE'D 10 vote for Representatives in the Iegisla-
lure, whose business it shall be attentively to
observe the conduct OF all persons TOUCHING This
Association; and when il shall be made TO an
pear, TO the satisfaction of a majority of any
such committee, that any person within the
limits OF Their appointment has violated this
Association, that such majority do forthwith
cAuSe the truth OF the case to be published in
the Ga-ete, 10 the end that all such foes tn The
rights of British America may be publicly
Known and universally condemned as the enc
mes "i American Liberty; and thenceforth we
Respectively will break OFT all dealings with him
or her"
IL. And We do further agree and resolve
We VIII have no trade, commerce, dealings. or
intercourse whatever, with any Colony or Prov
lhee' ln North America, which shall not accedc
L" or which shall hereafter violate this Associ.
anon, but wall hold them as unworthy of the
NIGHTS oi ireemen. and as inimical to the Thor.
lies oi this country
Inc luregoing Association, being deiermiu-
eu upon Dy the Congress, was ordered to be
subscribed by the several members thereof;
and, thereupon, we have hcreunto set our -.
specuye names accordingly.
In Congress, Philadelphia, Oct. 20, l77l.
PETToN RANnoLru, President
" Mem HamPShire- John Sullivan, Nathaniel
Folsom
"1aSSackusetts Bay-Thomas Cusb;np. Sam
mel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine.
Ward. '''''''''
" Connecticut Eliphalet DYER, Roger Sber-
man, S,las Deane.
" Ae'c lork-Isaac Low, John Alison. John
jay, James Duane, PhiGp Livingston. William
floyd, Henry Nisner, Simon Boerum.
Nec Je'Scy-Iames kinsey, William Iiy
DE Hart. '''''''''' 'oH"
Pennsylvania - Joseph Galloway. John
Dickinson, Charles Humphreys. Thomas Milf:
In, Edward Biddle, John Morton, GEORGE Ross
me Lotcer Counties, Newcastle d,c.-Cr
sar Rodney, Thomas Mexican, GEORGE Read
He'ytd''d - Matthew Tilshmau. Thomas
Johnson Juh7 W lliiam Paca Samuel Chase.
Iugiaia - Richard Henry Loo Coor,,o
Washington, Patrick Henry, inn RicI'arS
Bland, Benjamin Harrison, Edmund PenJia.
ton.
" North CdToiina-Wiiliam Hooper. Josepb
Halves, Richard Caswell pm
" South Cdrotina-Ilenry Middleton. Than.
ms Lynch, Christopher Gadsden. John Rntlrj,,
Edward Rutledge." 80
Am Archircs, FoUrth Series. D. 9I5.
POPULAR RATIF!CATIoNS.
The manner In which this act was reco;vad
by the people will be seen from the follow;no,
extracts, by way of specimens:
In Georgia.