The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-27
Maryland.

POPULAR RATIFICATIoSs.
Maryland.
The following action was taken by the Con-
vention of Maryland held in November. l774.
and re-adopted, by a Convention more fully at
tended, in December:
Resotrcd, That every member of this meet
ing will, and every person in the Province
shonld, strictly and inviolably observe and carry
into execution the Association agreed on by the
Continental Congress"
Virginia.
The declaration adopted by general meet.
ing OF the freeholders in James CITY county, in
Virginia, in November, l774. is in these words
The Association entered into by Congress
being publicly read, the freeholders and other
inhabitants OF the county, that they might test
lfy TO the world their concurrence and hearty
appreciation of the measures adopted by that
respectable body, very cordially acceded there
to, and did bind and oblige themselves, by the
sacred ties of virtue, honor, and love to their
country, strictly and inviolably to observe and
Keep the same, in every particular"
Connecticut.
The proceedings of town meeting at Dam
bury, Connecticut, December IL, III. con-
tanned the following:
:" 1t is with singular pleasure we notice the
second article of the Association, in which it Is
agreed 10 import no more negro slaves as we
cannot but think 1t a palpable absurdity so
Loudly TO complain of attempts to enslave u.s.
while we are actually enslaving others'-Ant
Arcn'0es, fonrm Series, roL. /, p. 1898.
These are but specimens of the formal and
solemn declarations of public bodies. "The
Articles OF Association were adopted by Co
Ioniai Conventions, county meetings and lesser
assemblages, throughout the country, and be-
came the law of America - the Fundamental
constitution, so to speak, of the first American
Union. The Union thus constituted was TO be
sure imperfect, partial, incom plete: but it was
still Union-a Union of the Colonies and of
the people, for the great objects set forth in the
Articles.
hhd let it be remembered, also, that promi-
nent IN the list of measures agreed on in these
Articles, was the discontinuance of the slave
trade, with a view to the ultimate ertiaction 81
SLaDery itself
That this sentiment pervaded the masses of
the people, and that they understood themselves
as laying the constitutional foundations of a
permanent Union and General Government by
these measures, may be seen by the following
extracts fiom an eloquent paper entitled "Ob-
servations addressed to the People of America"
printed at Philadel phia in November, IVA, and
published by order of Congress:
Int iSdSt deviation from the resolves OF
Congress aciU be treason-such treason as few
villains have ever had opportunity of command
ing. 1t Will be treason against the present in
habtants of the Colones-s.gainst the millions
oil unborn generations who are to exist hereaf.
Ter In Amerlca-against the only liberty and
happiness which remain to mankind-against
the last hopes of the wretched in every corner
IN the world; in word, it will be treason
against God. We are ns,,c tayinq the foundations
OF an American Constitution. Let us therefore
hold up everything We do to the eye Of poster-
~. They will most probably measure their
liberties and happiness by the most careless of
our footsteps Let no unhallowed hand touch
the precious seed of Liberty Let as form the
glorious tree IN fmch a manner. and impregnate
II with such principles of life, that it shall last
forever. ] almost wish to live to
hear the tluvIphs of the jubilee in the year
lo.4-to see the models, pictures, fragments of
writings, that shall be displayed to revive the
memory of the proceedings of the Congress of
liza Ii any adventitious circumstance shall
give presidency on that day, it shall be to in
merit the blood or even TO possess the name of
member of that glorious assembly."-lm
Archires, Fourth Series, col. /, D. go.
PREVIOUS ACTION OF THE COLONIES.
Preparatory To the first Continental Congress,
Conventions had been held in a number of the
Colonies, expressing similar sentiments
The Convention OF Virginia assembled in
August, IVA. An exposition Of the rights of
British America, by Mr.. jefferson, was laid be-
fore the Convention, Of which the following is
an extract:
The 1boltion Of Domestic .Harcry IS the
greatest object Of desire To these Colonies, where
it was unhappily introduced in their infant
state. But previous to the enfranchisenent of
the slaves, 1t is necessary exclude further i'm
a Il
tempts to effect this by prohibitions, and BY i'm
posing duties which might amount to prohibi-
ton, have been hitherto defeated by his Males
Tvs negative-thns preferring the immediate
advantage OF few African corsairs to the last
ing advantage of the American States, and the
rights OF human nature, deeply wounded by the
infamous practice. Am. 4rchires. Fourth Sc
T,es, uot. |, D. 696.
Inc Virginia Convention, before separating,
adopted the following:
Resolred, We will neither oprsalvos ;,rnor,
nor purchase any slave or slaves imported bv
any other person, after the first day OF Novem
Der next, either from Africa, the West Indies.
or any other place."-Ib., D. 6s7.
oimiiar resolutions had been adopted in pri
mary meetings throughout Virginia, during the
month of July, previous to the State Conven-
tion- At the meeting in Fairfax county. WASH
ISGroN was chairman
North Carolina, also, held her Provincial Con-
Veniion IN August of the same year Nearly
every county in that State was represented.
lhere were slxty-nine delegates. The following
resolution was adopted:
"Resolred, That We will not purchase any slave
or slaves imported or brought into the Province
Dy otners, from any part of the world after the
flrst day of November next."-U D.. 1853
oucn are the documentary records of the
forming of the Union," of the manner in
which 1t was received by the people. of the
spirit IN which the measure was concocted be-
lorehand, and OF "the compact" ITSELF as it was
drafted, signed, and promulgated
Ihis looks (does ~ as if the South would
not come into the Union, unless the North
wonid make a compromise in favor of SIa
very! Shame on the calumniators of our "a
theirs 1t the joint testimony of Washington. o.
Jeherson-nay, of Virginia, of North Carolina
ana the entire South-may be trusted. tn,
ABOLITION OF DOMESTIC SLAVERY was the grea
OBJECT OF desire to the Colonies" For this Ex
PRESS OBJECT, the Union was formed and Indie
penoence declared. One might as well under
Jake 10 deny or pretend TO doubt the event
themselves, as TO deny or doubt the known ant
declared objects and intentions that led to them
Blot out the record, whoever can. Or fa;l;ne
to do this, tell us when. where. how. or bv whom
this " Union" as thus described. has ever beer
dissolved.
Was I" the Union dissolved - by the Declare
hon OF independence, In l776, commencins
with " We the people of the United States
Was the Union dissolved by the Articles O
Confederation and PERPETUAL Union hetwee,
the States, &c, in l77s? Was 1.-THE Union dis
solved by the Federal Constitution in 1889?
Or, did either the Declaration of l776. or tn,
Arncles of l77S, or the Constitution of 1889