, 1862-07-07

AtEA ~ A4+at pVAJ 4Ji OiG1l1lLlII LIE AIQeTl-
can Continental army, CT which George Wash
ington was appointed commander Chief. In
July, lIt6, this Congress proclaimed the D T.
claration Of Independence, in the first sen
tence Of which the people Of the Colonies are
referred to a5 ;" one people, +" and in the closing
paragraph it is Eoleninly published and de-
cla1ed that s'these uaiksd colonies a7e and OF
right ought to be free and independent States. -
The fervent hope expressed by Otis, ten
years before, for 1nion-unlon that 'fshould
knit and work into the TeEy blood aud bones
of tue original system every region rs fast as
settled" seemed now accomplished. The
citizens Of the different colonies, when they
threw OF their subjcction to the British crown,
however divided into different governments
for local purposes, became united people
united in the same principles, in the same sys-
TEN OF action, and under one recognized na-
tiona1 organization. The Union thus effected
was afterwards consolidated By the Articles Of
Confederation, In which it was specially PRO-
vided TINT the Articles Of the Confederation
should be inFio1abfy preserved by every State, u
and that " the Union should be perpetual II
This form Of government proving from its in
heTent weakness wholly inadequate to the pur-
pose for which q general government was re-
quired, in 17S9 there WAS established ia its
place, In order to form a more perfect
Union,' as announced in its very first line,
the present Constitution the United States.
The brief retrospect have now taken of
these Interesting events distinctly shows that
the importance Of concertfng some plsu for a
strict and intimate union Of rhe colonies for
the purposes of general welfare and defence,
Was felt at IN early period in our colonial his
tory In TITS, when the conflict began with
the mother country, tue accomplishment OF
this object could no longer be deferred. The
grand result, which the great men Of tie re-
rolutlon had been striving for ten years to at
tain, was ut length realized. Through its agency
the colonies were enabled to combine their
strength ard resources, SO as to interp0 q
successful resistance for seven years, to the
persistent attempts made by Great Britain to
reduce them to eubjecrion. When the war
had terminated, the necessity Of union W8a
scarcely less urgent than when it commenced.
Notwithstanding some dfversitics OF hahita
and character, upon most points The people oi
The different States had common sYnapathY
! and interest. They had au interest in pre-
serving peace with each other; in protecting
themselves from foreign intrigues and assgres.
| Eions; IL maintaining freedom Of trade and
| commerce between themselves; in the estab'
| 1isement of manufactures; in providing fol
! the Rational debt contracted during the war
! IN establishing tfeaties and pacific relation:
| With foreign nations and the I1diz1 tribes
| and numerous other general measures auc
principles re1ating to the common welfa1o ant
| security, : =.
I Tie conviction, therefore, Of thelm peratiy7
Necessity OF retp=thating the Union 80 hap il
Il btgaD, WIS no less gsuErat CT prceoua
gVoa the restora1ieo Of peace, thai tt la
tstG' It the Eyeahing cut ot hos11ttes. AZ