The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-07-23

encd aud diflused the desire Tor united ac-
ton. And as The necessity became greater
and more apparent at length what i call
cd Tie Continental Congress, assembled in
Philadelphia ON the 9th of September,
l774, and then on the l0th OF May, 1919.
Sall, SO great was the jealousy of central
power, that nothing but the peril Of inn
pending war, and is pressure whenit came,
held even this Congress Of delegates to-
gether. Bot they did not bold together
and il was this Congress which, on the 10th
OF June, 1913, appointed Washington Com
mander.in-C Chief Of the Continental army,
and on the ith aay Of July, l73G, declar-
cd our Independence.
In that declaration these two elements
Of the unity of the whole and the soyer-
eighty Of the parts were mingled. i be-
gins, "When ii becomes necessary for ONE
PEOPLE TO dissolve the political bonds
which have connected them with another
and III its close declares that the former
colonies are ''frec and independent States"
There they Stood free from all external
Gominion, and as independent Of each other
as Of England.
In eight days from the ith Of July the
articles of confederation were reported TO
Congress by a committee Of the delegates,
but we're not adopted by Congress and
proposed to the States for ratification until
the following year; nor were they finally
ratified by the States until March, 1881 !;
or until five years had elapsed.
And yet, in l777, Washington, when, at
Morristown, New Jersey, he found himself
in the midst, if not Of treason, of an indii-
ference which was hardening into treason,
by proclamation required all who had re-
received projections from the British COM
mander TO surrender them and take an oath
Of allegiance TO the UNITED STATES -
United, when and how were they united Z
In Congress he was ecnsured. In the
Legislature Of New Jersey il was declared
that the required oath eneroached upon
the prerogatiyes Of the State, and that il
was absurd to swear allegiance 10 the Unit
ed States before even eonfederacy was
formed. But even then Washington was
justified by the language Of the Declara-
ton Of Independence even then were
these States united in the contemplation OF
the good and the wise, and most Of all in
the heart Of him who was best among the
good and wisest among the wise.
The articles of confederation did not ev-
en- purport TO make Of us a nation. il
they are studied, they viii prove the ear
nest desire Of some at least OF those who
drew them, that we might become M.
lion. But they stopped so far short oI
this as TO form Of the States only con.
federacy These articles were skiliully
drawn, and gave 10 the Central Govern
mcnt all the power which the States could
then be induced to part with. Some sem
blance--somching indeed of the substance
of national power was given; although
there was no regular legislative, executive
or judicial department. Probably all the
power was given to Congress that it was
thought necessary that it should possess tC
do the word that lay before it. This worl
it did, well and thoroughly; for while tL,
thirteen States were held together by tho
presence OF common enemy, a common
war and common necessity, the articles
Of confederation suiiiced TO make that wa
triumphant but they suiiiccd for this, be
cause the sagacity aud singleness Of pur
pose of the men who welded the power
Of government, the patriotism of the peo
pie. and the wisdom and constancy 0
Washington supplied-so far at least a
was needed for success-all deficiencies.
Then came peace; and il was soon ap
parent that the want Of unity in the nation
and of power in the government ard it
organs, not only prevented the deep wound
of the war from healing, but seemed eyeI
to agcrayate all the mlschiefs which fol
lowed. and which made the first years Q
peace no years of returning prosperity
The central government no longer sus
tanned and inyigorated by the war, ioun
itself utterly unable 10 prevent or +
ayenge insults and outrages TO our flag
, could not even repel the incursion OF tn
sayaqes on our borders it could not pa,
tHG interest OF our UatOual HNDt - h"
no credit, no force, no vital energy, and
NAV we'll be said to have died Of inheren
weakness. for in 1887 it abrogated lis owI
functions, declared its inability to act as th
government Of a nation, and il appealed {
the ultimate source Of all political powe
the people Of the whole country. An
then came the convention Of 1887. Whe
they met, there was in that assembly a
much Of sagacity, Of varied intellectual az
complishmcnt aud resource, and Of earnet
devotion to duty as ever co.operated IN
great work. And with all these mingle
as little Of folly and weakness, az liltl
personal ambition, as little seli-seeklng
any kind, and as little Of the disturbin
force which these ignoble qualities woul
! exert, as was possible under the condition
Of humanity
II, in saying that the articles Of eoniel
/ Grafton carried this country successful
J through the war Of independence. | giy
: them high praise, ! believe that ! Civ
them sin higher when ! say that tie