The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-24
: Like a sclrpu politician seem

| SUCH is the quaint and pointed caption which
| we find at the head of the first article in the
Boston Gazette of March -, ,1770, q tattered,
threadbare copy of which lies before us as we
write. The article in question, as far as we
can decipher it, appears to be a forcible
argument in favor of the separation of the
colonies from the mother country, in re-
sponse to a counter argument from Tory
source in previous issue of the Boston CtrO-
aScte. The revolutionary writer not only at
tempts to bolster up his cause by substantial
argument, but INDUCES in an abuse of his an
tagonist in terms that recall the bitterness
with which Parson Brownlow was accustomed
in the late civil war to belabor the Rebel SYM
pathizers of East Tennessee He crushes his
opponent with irrefutable arguments, and
then, when he has placed him h0rS de combat,
accuses him of being guilty of imperti-
nence, absurdity, sophistry, and falsehood," "
and finally dismisses him with the intimation
that matters of greater Importance than
viewing his defects and deformities" claim
instant attention.
This curious document affords a striking
illustration of the rancor which, even at this
early period-full six years before the Decla-
ration of Independence-had entered into the
contest between the colonies and the mother
country. This, in itself, would prove pro-
ftable theme for discussion, but we desire at
present to attend to point which is incident
ally made by the indignant and jealous advo-
cate of independence. He defies his antago-
mist to offer the least shadow of evidence that
he ''would convert egery province or island,
Inn in mt of ha
into separate and distinct States"
From this passage it would appear that the
Tory writers of the day were hard pushed for
argument, and in their dilemma hit upon the
device of accusing the advocates of indepen-
dence of a desire not only to cut the colonies
loose from the mother country, but to split
them up into an infinitude of sovereignties,
without any common bond of union. AS
soon as the ties which had bound them to the
British crown had been effectually severed,
the very spirit which the writer in the Boston
Gazettc so Indignantly repudiated was mani
tested by many of the leading men of the
new nationality. Even during the darkest
days of the conflict which terminated in a
separation from England Pennsylvania
was jealous of New York, and
Rhode Island looked upon Massa-
chusetts with undisguised distrust. The COM
mon danger and the necessity of providing
for the common security sufficed, however,
to keep the thirteen rebellious colonies in the
line until that common danger was past
Then followed the trying ordeal of the Con
federation, during which the spirit of local
independence had such full play and sway
that the Union was the merest farce of an
abstract theory; and not until it was con-
clusively proven by the bitterness of expert
ence, that the common welfare of all the
States demanded ''more perfect Union as
the only practicable way of establishing JUS
tice insuring domestic tranquility, providing
for the common defense, promoting the gene
raj welfare, and securing the blessings OF
liberty to the people of the country and theil
posterity for all time to come, was public
sentiment prepared to concede and accept the
compromises of the Federal Constitution.
But three quarters of a century under this
constitution did not suffice to eradicate the
vicious principle of local sovereignty which
the Tory writer of 1870 had hurled in the face
of his assailant The man-selling aristocracy
of the South clung to this principle with won
derful tenacity, for the simple reason tina
it appeared, early in the history of the ooun
try, to be the only safeguard of the infamou
and blighting institution which they upheld
And when the voice of the majority at las
signifed that the further extension of thi
peculiar institution was impossible, and ele
waited Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency b
way of giving emphasis to the sentiment, tn
5 man-sellers threw off the mask declared ths
u the ''more perfect union" to which their fore
i fathers, and themselves in turn, had swor
S allegiance, was even less perfect than I'll
e mere farce of Union which had preceded i
e and appealed to the sword to deciG
N the issue of local against national SOW
T. reignty. Yicksburg, Gettysburg, and App
g mattox were more effective than the sob
e teachings of history, and at last the taunt
g the Tory writer of 1870 has been disprove
The election of General Grant to the Pres
: dency confirmed and emphasized the verdi
of the battlefield; and, despite the unreasol
" able twaddle with which the Democratic pre-
l. daily floods the country, the great and goc
work of drawing still closer the ties betwee
. the States and the people who compose the
) is steadily progressing. The ''more perfe
g Union" is fast becoming a living reality; IL
u Constitution which was framed by our fathe
Il to form it, to establish justice, insure d
II mestic tranquility, provide for the commC
e defense. promote the general welfare, al
L secure the blessings of liberty to ourselv
n and our posterity, has ceased at last to be