The Placer herald., 1867-07-13
NUMBER 46.
One Of the Old Landmarks of American
Liberty.

The following preamble and resolution wers
unanimously passed by the Legislature Of
the Colony OF Connecticut, June, l776:
Where's, The King and Parliament Of
Great Britain by many acts Of said Parlia-
ment, have claimed and attempted to exer-
else powers with, and subversive Of the AM.
cenl, just and Constitutional rights Of this
and the rest of the English colonies in Annsri-
ca, and refused to listen to their many and
frequent humble, decent and dutiful petitions
for redress Of grievances, and restoration Of
such, their rights and Liberties, and turning
from these with neglect and contempt to
support such claims after a series of accumu.
lalion wrong and injury, have proceeded 10
invade said colonies with fleets and armies
to destroy our towns; shed lhe blood OF our
countrymen, and involve US n the calami
ties incident to war, and are endeavoring 10
reduce US TO an ahject surrender Of our natu.
raj and stipulated rights, and subject our
property to the most precarious dependence
on their arbitrary will and pleasure, and our
persons TO slavery, and at length have de-
cared US out of the kings protection have
engaged foreign merceharies against us, and
are evidently and stlenuously seeking our
ruin and destruction; these and many other
transactions, too well known to need emu
meraion, tie painful experience and effects
Of which we have suffered and felt, mako il
eviden, beyond the possibility of doubt,
that we have nothing 10 hope from the JUS
tice. humanity and temperate councils of tho
British King or bis Parliament and lha, all
hopes of reconciliation upon just and equal
terms are delusory and vain. In ibis slate
OF extreme danger when no alternative is
left us, hut absolute and ind,fioite submis,
sion tn such claims as must terminate in The
extteme of misery and wretcbedness, or
total separation from the king of Great
Britain and renuneiation of all connection
with that nation, and successful resistance
To that force which is intended to effect our
obstruction; appealing to that God who
knows the secrets of all hearts for the sins
ceri'y Of former declarations of our desire To-
preserve our ancient and Constitutional re-
lations to that nation, aud protesting solemn
y against this oppression and injustice which
has drawn us from them, and compelled US
TO use such means as God in his providence
hath put in our power for our necessary de-
fence and presewalion--
ReSolped, unanimously, By this AssemJy.
That the delegates Of this Colony, in Gener-
al Congress, be, and they are hereby instruct.
cd to propose to that respectable BODY to
declare the United States free and indepen.
dent States, absolved from all allegiance to-
the king of Great Britain, and to give the
assent OF this Colony to such declaration
when they shall judge ezpedicnt and BEST as
to what ever measures may be thought prop
er and necessary by the Congress for form
ing foreign alliances, OF any plan of opera.
ton for necessary and mutual defence; and.
also, that they move aud promote as fast as
may be convenient regular and permanent
plan Of Union and Confederation of the Col.
onles for the preservation Of their just rights
and liberties, and for mutual defence and Sc.
curity, saving the administration of govern.
ment and tho power of forming governments
for aud the regulation of the internal con.
Germs and police of each Colony, ought to bs
left, and remain to the respective Colonial
Legislatures; and, also, that such plan of
Confederation be laid before each respective
Legislatures for their previous consideration
aud assent.'
The preamble and resolution are especially
Instructive at this time, as showing The no.
ble spirit of the colonial people of Connecli-
cnt, and also as expressing the general or
universal mind of the Colonies in relation to
the objects and character of the Federal
Unlon. The object sought in Union was
the security and preservation of their lust
rights and liberties, and their mgtual defence
and security The Union was to be Con,
federation of the Colohies' 1t was especial,
Iv Haa ornI that t'Vbo oil, IN; ii
government, and the power of forming gov.
ernments for the regulation of the Internal
concerns and police of each Colony ought
to be left, and remain to the respective Col.
ouiaI legislatures This principle was care
fully followed, not only in the Articles of
Confederation, tut IL was, with many eau
tons and checks, reathrmed in the Constiu.
ton OF 1887 Not one of the States would
ever have adopted the Constitution had it
imagined that it was surrendering in the
least, sovereignty and jurisdiction over its
own internal concerns and police 1t was,
indeed, to secure and perpeuate this local
soverelgnlty and seI-government that tha
Colonies went to war with Great Britain.
Tie whole course OF the party now in power
is war upon The fundamental principle Of
the Union. If the Colonies had Just cause
to 60 to war with England to obtain the
municipal liberty and self government, the
States have a thousand times greater cause
10 commence an exterminatng war upon the
impacabIe military despolisn Of Congress.
Congres has not onIy warred upon the Amer.
lean principle of government, but it is striv.
ing to fasen The Asiatc, or, in fact, the All
rcan principle upon America.
A CASE IN PoiNr.-Wben Col. Charles
James, was appointed Collector of the port