The Placer herald., 1872-05-04
Written for the HERALD
THE UNITED STATES.
CIVIL AND POLITICAL REVIEW.
CHAPTER ~.
BY A. I. CHER.

tlOODS. Ill tuC lutdu llIilC lUc COlOIllSlS WtTt
vigorously preparing for war. A detach-
ment sent out from Boston by Gen. Gage to
take possession of some arms and ammun-
tion which had been collected at Concord
Mass, and also to secure the persons of some
of the leading rebels (as the British styled
those who opposed the hing) was met
at Lexington by a company of minute men.
Pitcairn, of the British fired the first shot, a
skirmish ensued and the patriots were dis
persed. At the sound of musketry, the
brave yoemen of the surrounding country
left their teams standing in the fields, and
with unchanged clothes hastily gathered to
defend their country. This movement of
the British was defeated, and they were
compelled to retreat with heavy loss.
The war had now begun in earnest. The
news of this the first battle spread rapidly
| through the colonies, and was everywhere
hailed with enthusiasm. In short time
| 1000 patriots had collected near Boston and
cut off all communication from the surround
ing country. The Continental Congress as
sembled for the second time, made call for
more troops, elected a commander-in-ch chief of
the army and issued bills of credit for carry
ing on the war to the amount of 50 ,00O, 900.
Every colony without exception FASTENED to
join in the movement, and throughout the
western Atlantic sea-board, excepting in Can
ada, the determined cry arose to secure their
liberty or sacrifice life and property in its de-
fense. On receiving the news of the battle
of Lexington, North Carolina declared her.
self free from all allegiance to the king, which
was the first acord IN faror Of hldepend-
ence. Generally the people arose to defend
the rights to which, as subjects of the crown,
they believed themselves entitled, not daring
at first to entertain the thought of complete
independence from their oppressors. Before
the main army of the patriots was ready for
action, Colonel Ethen Allen with a small
but fearless band captured Ticondaroga and
Grown Point, two important stronghods in
the North West. The capture of these two
posts, without the loss of single man, greatly
encouraged the colonists. At the battle of
Bunker Hill, which we may consider the first
important action of the war, though the Brit
ish succeeded in dislodging the Americans,
it was with very heavy loss. The success of
the coouists thus far was such as would not
tend to dishearten them.
From the time North Carolina declared
herself free from allegiance to the throne of
Great Britain the advocates of complete in
dependence rapidly increased nnumber. AT
last this feeling grew so strong that the peo-
pie began to importune Congress to advance
in some active measure which wonld plainly
show to their tyranncal monarch they no
longer acknowledged him as their sovereign.
Accordingly on the 7ih of June, 1776, Thos.
Jefferson, a member from Virginia, offered a
resolution to the effect that "these colonies
are and of right ought to be free and inde-
dendent States.
This was serious and important move
ment, and called forth very earnest discus
sion. They well knew the strength of that
power with which they had to grapple, AMI
keenly appreciated the awful consequence of
failure. But at length, in spite of the gloomy
forebodings of long and bloody war, this
resolution was passed. Forthwith committee
was appointed to draft Declaration of lnde-
pendence. Thos. Jefferson, as a member Of
the committee, drew up the document, and
after being pruned and revised by the other
members it was submitted to Congress,
where, after being slightly amended, it was
passed on the 4th day of July, 1776.
BY its provisions the political connection
between England and the colonies was wholly
dissolved, the latter being therein styled the
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; which title was
retained in the Articles of Confederation, of
which | now propose to speak.
By this Declaration, SO to speak, the col
Ioct 70 nd ipIc-
pendent governments, though all enaged in
one common cause in opposing one powerful
nation They had counselled together and
had carried on their defenses thus far chiefly
under the direction of the Continental Con-
gress, as their delegates assembled were
styled. But as yet no act had been passed,
nor agreement entered into which in any way
bound them together. Though the Decla-
ration of Independence styled them the Oft-
| ted States, their union might be compared to
that of school-boys, who when unjustly treat
ed unite in opposing their oppressor, after
which each takes his own way. In this con-
dition if they should gain their independence,
each State being an independent nation would
be too weak to maintain its sovereignty. 1t
was therefore resolved to enter into league
offensive and defensive, binding one another
to assist against all force offered to, or attacks
made upon them or any Of them, on any pre-
tense whatever. Hence, Immediately after
the adoption of the Declaration of lndepend-
ence committee was appointed to digest the
form of a confederation to be entered into
by the colonies. On the 18th of July follow
ing this committee reported plan of confed-
eracy consisting of twenty articles.
These articles were debated at length, but
were finally adopted November 10Th, l11.
They provided that each State should retain
its own sovereignty, and all powers not ex-
pressly delegated to the United States IN