The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1870-07-08

uVAu CACtuSlNO JuTieulCtlOn WITHIN It's
own limits; that each should send
two commissioners to a general Con-
gress to determine matters ef general
concern. These Commissioners in
stinctively counseled together, and
agreed upon principles of government
to result in mutual and general pro-
lection ..--...-. '-......
This was tho first step towards q
general governments with the elective
Representative principle. This union
of colonies was permitted by the
home government because of a civil
war with which it was distracted,
and it's existence continued for near
ly half century when it was dis
solved by the vacation of the coloni-
al charters by the parent country
One hundred and forty eight years
ago another congress Assem- blod at
Albany, in the state Of New York,
its members being Governors and
Commissioners representing the Sow
eral colonies, for common defence and
protection. Thirty years afterward
another congress was convokcd to
consider the best means of defence,
in contemplation Of the war then i'm.
pending with France; and still fur
Their with view TO friendly treaties
with the Indians. But its real ac-
ton looked far beyond the avowed
object Of its convocation. Imperish-
able truths in the science Of politic-
al economy were enunciated aud CIV
en- to mankind. 4 general system
Of Federal government was proposed
providing for general council OF
delegates chosen by provincial as.
sem blies, with President General.
This confederation was to en- brace
all the existing colonies from the ex-
treme East and North to the South,
and although the Continental Union
was not then perfected, tho great
principle lad been asserted; its ad-
va ntages became the subject Of deep
reflection to the leading minds Of the
day; its necessity was recognized by
the masses, and thus was prepared
the way for tho American Revolu-
ton, and the subsequent formation of
Federal Union that should secure
its blessings alike to the forty mil
lions Of American frecmen.
The assumed prcrogative of the
British Parliament to ignore colonial
assemblies, and it's claim Of right to
legislate for the colonies in all cases
whatsoever without giving Colonial
representation led to thorough dis
cussion Of tho whole question ut is.
sue, and to an extensive and general
association of all the colonies, two
years before the Declaration Of In
dependence. 1919 ".
That association was known as the
First Continental Congress, and its
resolutions embrace the great prin-
ciples that constitute the basis Of our
present constitutional form Of gov
eminent.
The succeeding year the congress
at Philadelphia assumed most Of the
powers of Sovereignty, and by def
mite act of separation renowned all
allegiance to the mother country, or
ganizing and proclaiming their coun-
try and government the United, Free,
and Independents States Of America.
Through combination of clrcum-
stances and events each the result of
cause preceding. they found them
selves standi,g upon tho very summit
Of human government, with the musty
and seeing with a prophets 70 ken on the
other, portrayed before them in all
its grandeur, power, and moral sub
Unity, that form Of government
which makes every member Of socis-
ty responsible no: only for his own
we'll being, but also, in a general
way, for the public welfare. In the
past, man bad been as in = wilderness
of turnpike gates, with no duty but
to pass from one to the other by
means Of tickets. In the future the Y
could see him as as proprietor in
society. in church, in state, in all the
ramifeations Of government, drawing
on the capital as matter of right.
There being no government whose
authority they recognized they assert
ed a doctrine whose tenor and effect
is, that individuals themselves, each
in his own personal and sovereign
right, should enter into = com pact
with each other to produce ! govern
ment arising out Of the people and
not one that should arise over them.
The very circumstances with which
they had come in contact in their col
on,al existence, with each other, pro-
claimed this the only mode in which
governments have right to be es-
tablished; and the only principle on
which they have right to exist.
Tux fellow citizcns, is brief svn-
opsls without tho tediousness Of de-
tails, that gave to the people of the
United States . constitution and gov.
ernmcnt that makes sacred to US all
the annual recurrence Of the ami
versary Of American Independence.
It's hallowcd associations rendered
sacred to principles harmonizing with
the patriotic declarations of tho Pat
riot Sages of the Revolution render
it eminently proper that its annual
return be q national holiday and that
we, forgetting all creeds and all par
ties, shall unite to invoke the bles-
sings Of heaven and Of good govern
ment upon the entire people Of the