The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-07-06

reconstructing their local govern
ments, put the country in a state Of
defense, and assumed control of the
military operations of the colonies.
1t devised ways. and means for con-
Quoting the war, organized a CONT
nental=er national army by adopting
the army raised by the New England
Provinces. and then under the com
mand of Gen. Ward, and by directing
troops to be raised by Pennsylvania,
Maryland. and Virginia to join the
army near Boston, which was desig-
mated by Congress as the American
Continental Army; and was ordered
to be paid out of the Continental
Treasury. On the 10th day of June,
1775, George Washington, one of the
delegates from Virginia, was unani-
mously chosen by Congress to be the
Commander-in-C Chief of the Cont
mental forces. In Washington's com
mission the style of the United Colo
MES" was for the first time adopted
and the defense of american liberties
was assumed as the great object of the
Union. In a letter of instructions
which accompanied this commission,
the General was .enjoined by Congress
to make it his special care that the
liberties of america received no det-
riment. 3e
+, Here then we have a national Con-
gress, a national Army, a national
Treasury and a national Union, with
out a single State in the Union. What
then becomes of the oft-repeated as
sumption. that the States made the
Union, and can therefore unmake it
at pleasure by Withdrawing there
from? - eis
The Continental Congress finding
that their cherished idea of a recon
Citation with the mother country on
the basis o justice and freedom was a
delusive hope, on the Fourth day of
July. 1875, adopted the Declaration of
Independence. the Colonists voting
unanimously therefor, and sent il
forth to the world.
What evidence does this instrument
contain as to the pre-existence of the
Union and its nature? Let it speak
for itself, and judge We whether its
.utterances are doubtful either as to
the existence of the Union or the
upon which Congress acted
in making the declaration.
Its first sentence reads as follows:
When In the course of human
events it becomes necessary for ONE
PEOPLE to dissolve the political bonds
which have connected them with an
other, and to assume among the pow
ers of the earth the separate and equal
to which the laws of nature
and of natures God entitle them. a
decent respect for the opinions of
mankind requires that they should
declare the cause which impel them
to the separation"
One Pople! What stronger or
more emphatic expression could have
been employed to indicate the one
of our beloved country? The
just quoted from the Declara-
lion shows that prior to and on the
morning of the 4th day of July, 1776,
here were political bonds connecting
,he One People of the thirteen Colo
lies with another people, even the
of Great Britain; that this
connection prevented this One Peo-
pie from exercising among the
of the earth that sovereignty
which they were entitled.
put which they had never pos
'essed. and for the purpose of dis
this connection, and enabling
his One People to assume among
he Powers of the earth the separate
ind equal station which was rightfully
is the declared object of this
immortal instrument. Our fathers.
declaring heir-independence, did
lot usher into the world thirteen in
dependent sovereign nations or States;
out they did introduce into the family
IF nations one people. one nation.
composed of the united people of
colonies, bound together in
he same bundle of the Union, and
hey claimed for this" One People"
Ind only one, separate and equal
place among the Powers of the earth.
Let US Thank the Ruler of the Uni
verse that His Providence made good
he declaration of 1776, and through
hat same Providence directing the
nerving the arms, and encour-
aging the hearts of the patriotic, brave
ind good men of our own generation
We are to-day, after the lapse of nearly
L century, still q people, occupying
,ne, and only one, separate and equal
among the Powers of the
But the evidence contained in the
declaration In favor of our national
unity and the paramount sovereignty
IF the people of the entire Union
loes not stop here. Let me quote in
your hearing a portion of its conclu-
ling sentence. threads thus:
I'VE therefore, the representatives
IF the United Statesaof america in
general Congress assembled, appeal
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