New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-08

proved OF what Boston hdI zone. y III
South Carolina, too, the spirit Of opposition
ran very high "Union was the cry.
There was Committee of Correspondence.
not by any colonial legislative act, but by the
people. This cry Of Union was ruDg through
out the land. A Congress assembled in Phila.
dolpha Sept. 10, l771. 1.-THE members OF
tais Congress (says John MarshalD were gen.
orally elected by the authority of the Colonial
Legislatures; but in some instances different
system had been pursued. In New-Jersey and
Maryland, the elections were made by commit
tees chosen in the several counties for that
particular purpose; and in NewYorI, where
the Royal party was very strong, and where II
il probable that no legislative act authorizing
an election Of members to represent that col
ony in Congress could have been obtained, the
people themselves assembled in those places
where the spirit of opposition to the claims OF
Parliament prevailed, and elected Deputies
who were very readily received into Con-
gress."
The preamble of resolutions adopted BY this
Congress. otherwise called declaration Of
righis, contains these words: "The good peo-
Die of these Colonies have seyerally elected,
DC. And again: " The inhabitants OF the En-
glish Colonies in North America, BY the M
mutable laws of nature, the principles of the
English Constitution, and the several charters
and compacts. have the following rights" The
people Of these Colonies did not, az the time,
make any claim TO State sovereignty or indie
pepdence. They acknowledged Themselves sntr
jects of Great Britain, and in this declaration
of rights they complained of the grievous acts ana
measures of Parliament. "TO these acts (5aid
thew Americans cannot submit ut The
same time expressing The hope that their te1o~-
subjects in Great Britain would, "On REVISION
OF these acts. restore them to that state OF
things in which both countries found happi-
ness and prosperity" This Congress and THIS
declaration of rights was one Of the fret acts
constituting a bond Of union, and one Of the
first measures toward iustitutins an indepen-
dent Government. Many Of these delegates
folessw clearly, and expressed their CONVICTIONS
Of what would be the result, but strong
party still existed Tor reconciliation. In the
Congress Of MS, George Washington was ap'
pointed Commauder-in-Chief OF the American
forces, aud the delegates composing this Con
gress were the representatives. OF united peo-
BE constituting o bclligerent power This was
another step toward independence.
On the 9Th of juno. l716, the Congre, Of
the United Colonies mot States referred The
resolutions respecting iadepsHdcacy 10 a Com
mittes Of the Whole HE resolution agreed to
va. IN these words: THAT thee United
Colonies are, aud of rsht ought 10 be- tree
and independent states" This was done Jniy
>. snd followed BY the Declaration of Iuicpen-
dence july 1, l776. Here was u National
Government, instituted by the representatives
of Che united people of the Colonies, and ever
-inre known o. the Government OF The United
States Here was independence and soye-
relgnty frat assumed. Not single Colony bad
before assumed Independence This National
Government, thus instituted, was as really the
Government Of a consolidated people as II there
had been but one Colony instead OF thirteen.
The fact tha, these Colonies became States, and
had limited sovereignty secured to them, hs.
nothing to do with the question %. prioTlt! OF
sovereignty aud independence. What We call
state eoyerei.nt, ia this country, IS nothing
more than the powers derived from the Gene
raj Government Of tie people of united ma
ton. Tie Colonies were convenient means
Of obtaining q representation to institute this
National Government, and, III per.ecting the
organization of the Goyernmeut, were regarded
AS States. and entered into confederation
H77-) growing out OF the Colonial condition OF
tie people previous TO the attainment Of Ma.
iional Independence. The articles OF contedera-
ton were not fully ratiled by all The states
untl the year Isl, more than four years after
the Declaration of Independence.
There was q National Government five or
ia years before the confederation OF States As
such. twelve wears before the tcn;h article Of
tho amendments of The Constitution Was adopt.
ed. which speaks OF reserred yo,-eyS. Most OF
the thirteen states, # not al, had nothing
moro Tor i Constitution than thsir Colonial
charter. o5.a.ncd nom the Crown OF England,
ior many years arerward. N'th these facts
before r.. a. % not difficult to understand What
is meant by reserye4 powers, nor what Is
meant b. orr, Pie psopir 81 u, tpi'ed Stats, -
in the preamble oi the Constitution. The pow
ers re.cryed, "a. in tie tenth article, and the
right. retained, a. N the ninth article Of the
Constitution, are ,hcse that hal iilceu years
before 5ocn conferred and attained by the
united power Oh " ~, Ac pooyts, who we're