Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-07-04
July Fopr,h-rhe Day and i.. Lesson

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On the ID OF July, l776, the representative
of the taen late British American Colonies
New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rbod
Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey
Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Corolini
AMI Georgia--adopted q resolution which Ia th'
sum and substance Of what Is known as thu
Declaration Of Independence.
On the 4th Of July, eighty six years ago TO.
day, the same men, styling themselves "the re
presentatives Of the United States Of America,
in General Congress assembled" did in "the
name and by the authority ofthe good people, Of
the Colonies abovs-nsmed, "solemnly PUB
LIsH and DECLARE" in the words Of the
resolution adopted two days before:
"ThRt these United Colonies are, and Of right
ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT
STATES; that they arc absolved from all ale
glance to the British crown; and that all polit-
Zeal connection between them and the State Of
Great Britain Is, and ought to be totally dis
solved" adding to the resolution these words
"and that as FREE AND INDEPENDENT
STATES, they have full power to levy war,
conclude peace, contract alliances, establish
commerce, and TO do all the acts and things
which INDEPENDENT STATES may of
right do" tp. eT5&
= This declaration thus condensed was the germ
or first in the series Of those great public docu-
mepts, which constitute the Charter of Ameri-
can Liberty and Independence. First came the
Declaration, then the Articles Of Confedera-
tion, and lastly, our present Federal and National
Constitution. n1 ei L1 n e
The great principle Of the American system
Of Free Government was fully recognized in
this Declaration. The colonies we're separate
and distinct communities under the British
crown, each having its own charter aud local
Government. Absolved from their allegiance
to the crown, they became not one consolidated
State, but Thirteen Free and Independent
States Yet they were at first "United Colo
nies," and by their independence Of Great Brit
ain, became "United States. . Here is seen in
embryo the germ ofsthe idea Of separate States
Nth thsir Charters or Constitutions, sovereign
10 their several spheres, and Of . UNION or Fed
srsl and National Government, with its Char.
;er or Consultation, sovereign in Its sphere.
Out Of the Declaration grew the Articles of
Josfederation; and out Of these sprang into life
md being that "More Perfec. Union," under
Constitution which establishes Nationality,
Iot like the consolidated Nationalities of Eu,
Ope, but limited and bounded by Confsdefs
ion, In which the parts or States of which il is
omposed, are as independent and supreme
Iitnin their assigned limits aa the Nationality
within its defined boundaries. s5iGa aa
Such Is In brief the American system Of Free
'emocratic Governments, shadowed forth in the
declaration Of Independence, more fully defined
j the Articles OF Confederation and clearly
Iustrated In the Constitution. Il was At fret
,mposed Of Thirteen Free aud independent
tates and now consists Of Thirty-four--distinct
I'd yet forming one Confederation and one
|ationality, which we call "The Union" II
To the existence and perfection OF the Union,
Ach and every part is essential and indispensi-
e. Destroy or mutilate the Onion, and anar
y and endless confusion will result to the
hole system; destroy or mutilate any of lts
Irts, and the balsnce Of the whole will be
and its utility and symmetry win be /
rever lost, is s.,ra 4. NJ. (, i5 ,gaIl
As the fathers of l776 we're called upon To- .
Be themselves from the tyranny Of Great
'itAin, and establish a Onion Of Free and In |
pendent States, under which our country, for
ur score and six years, has expanded and
so we, their descendants and legiti-
ate successors, are called upon BY their "blOod
aich cries to MS from the ground. !" and by our
70 for the priceless liberty and Independence
itch have come to,us as rich heritage, to
eserVe and maintain, at all hazards and at
y cost, the freedom sad Independence Of all
q States under their respective Constitutions,
ID the Integrity and supremacy Of the Union
ider the Constitution Of the United States. q
rhe DecRar4iiongOT Independence.