The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-05-29
Something Worth knowing,


gelist, 2Sd inst Read it: &C. ffg
Mr.. Benson j. Tossing, author of the
Field Book of the Revolution" in a
communication to the Poughkeepsie ,Ea-
gle,, puts certain very significant facts of
history together in this forcible way :ali5
The Declaration of Independence was
thefirst written bond of union Of the Uni
ted Colonies. ueu o oH -o7oa 'gHl @
The Articles of Confederation were
the second. Both of these derived their
cohesive political power from the presence
of common danger that was threatening
common interests. When the war was
ended and the common danger was re-
moved, the States fell back upon their
original prerogatives as separate sover-
eighties, and the political Union was vir-
tuaily dissolved. . The Congress had no
inherent power to exercise the rights of
sovereignty. The nation was admitted
into the great, political family, but it APP
peared to be, as it really was, invertebra-
ted. The statesmen of England saw in
the admitted right of State, or any
number of States, TO withdraw its or
their support from the Union, or TO aban-
don it altogether, at pleasure, sure ele-
ment Of destruction, and treated the Uni
ted States with corresponding contempt.
The British Government haughtily refus
ed to enter into any commercial treaty
with them; and when John Adams, the
first Minister to England, proposed, in
1888, to place the navigation and trade
between all the dominions of the British
crown and all the territories of the United
States upon basis of perfect and liberal
uniformity, he was met almost with scorn.
He was told that neither that nor any
other proposition of the kind made by
him would be entertained. They believ-
ed that the weak Republic would soon be
dissolved, and that the sovereignties void
speedily become colonies of the Grown
again. They refused TO give up itnpor-
tant military posts according to the pro-
visions of the treaty of 1888, and void
not send a diplomatic agent of any kind
to reside in the United States. The wise
heads of England then clearly perceived
the destructive character Of the doctrine
of secession" 1t was, in their view,
the great solvent that would reduce the
Republic into its original elements. .
But when the fathers, alarmed by the
low, fearful believing of the tempest of
approaching anarchy, arose in the might
of their wisdom TO avert the destructive
storm, and with wonderful pre-science
abandoned the idea and practical dangers
of confederation, and formed consolida-
ted nation, under the Federal Constitu-
ton, they found themselves possessed Of
a moral and material strength that com
manded the respect of every civilized
people on the face of the earth. The
statesmen. OF Great Britain Immediately
abandoned the idea of reducing the
American States, to colonial dependency.
They perceived that the interests of those
States, local and general, were guarded
by n central power Of wonderful energy
and soon a committee of Parliament was
appointed to consider and report "what
were the proposals, of n commercial ma
ture, 1t would be proper TO be made by
their Government 10 the United States"
Britain now became the suppliant.q Lord
Liverpool drew up and presented n report
OF The committee, in l79l and proposed
to ask the United States to consent to
an arrangement precisely the same, tho
more limited in extent, rs that proposed
by Mr.. Adams six years before, and so
scornfully rejected. ae 3..r.'Hf b
The strength and dignity Of the Amor
lean Government was now established.
and in August the same wear GEORGE
Hammond delivered his letters of ere
dence to President Washington, as first
Minister Plenipotentiary TO the United
States from Great Britain. 'd o irsr s
30 Here we have these significant facts
First. While the States formed Con-
federation merely, each claiming absolute
sovereignty for itself and possessed of the
right to "secede" at pleasure, and break
up that Confedcracy, the General Gov
eminent was utterly without respect at
home or abroad. That is the position in
which the so-called Southern Confedera-
ey now stands, and such would be the
condition of the whole Republic, if the
cowardly principle that sit is better 20
separate peacefully than TO fight should
prevail. Secondly. When the inefi-
Gent Confectionery was abandoned, and
the States became consolidated and unit,
each reserving sufficient sovereignty to
regulate its municipal affairs, the world
recognized the great fact that n nation
was born--that the myth of Minerva
springing fuliarmcd from the brain Of
Jove, was realized-and Great Britain,
the chief empire Of the earth, exhibited
It's haste to court It's friendship by pro
posing international commercial relations,
and sending n full Minister TO represent
that country at the seat'of our national
Government. ai otImf'M
lg," DolNa" THE ALBANIANs.7-a Aslick-
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