Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-07-11
pact that the right Of local self govern
ment should be guaranteed. ..-.-.-

pact that the right OF local sell govern
ment should be guaranteed.
ps.The Articles of Confederation, y
framed by the same Congress that pro-
mulgated this Declaration, Of Indepen.
dence by common consent in letter and
spirit were in accord with this grand re-
solved Of Virginia. With this League OF
Confederacy Of States as our only
federal head'' did our fathers fight ana
win the war for independence. oi
This League of States, tested by the
clash of arms and for the purpose O
national intercourse and foreign com
merce proved wholly inadequate ane
when they had obtained recognition III
the grand sisterhood of nations. these
same Colonies, then called states. eacf
State acting for itself, ratified the con,
Fstitution of the United States.
Now that we. are once of the gianc
nations Of the world we may we'll stol
to trace our early history and oul
origin our marvellous growth is too APP
parent to require passing comment
Mr.. Webster once said. the American
Revolution was fought on a Preamble, q
Preamble of an act of Parliament
claiming the right to tax tea, whilst the
tax actually imposed was but nominal
1t is true that the claim to impose q
tax on the luxury tea. which we have
since uniformly imposed was the oe.
casion Of the struggle. But il was the
claim as representing great principle
that infringing on local selfgoyernment
was IN violation of chartered rights,
that the fathers resisted. In it, they
saw the precedent fraught with danger
to their liberties. Afar OFF they detec-
ted this danger, like the war-herse Of
Job. "Reminiscences led to further
claims, and then followed, as we have
seen, but not until after blood had been
shed at Concord, Lexington and Bunker
Hill. the Declaration Of Separation and
Independence. Even after armies were
in the field did the fathers disclaim a
purpose to separate from the mother
country. The current of events. the
hand of destiny led them, and mans
acts worked out the grand DEGREES OF
Providence.
The fearful list of wrongs and out
RACES, for which the king Of Great
Britain was indicted before the world,
all had their origin in attempts at in
fragment of the chartered rights Of the
colonies, aud because Of these wrongs,
that instrument declared the thirteen
colonies are and ofright ought to be
free and IndeDen dent States
This guage of battle was thus thrown
down to one of the most powerful
nations of moqern times. The world
was startled and entranced, by the sub
lime daring OF these thirteen colonies,
and wondering, could but admire, the
wisdom in field and cabinet, of the men
of those days, as they realized that a
Grand Republic was being fashioned
of material. carved from the side of
They, the athers, were too wise and
practical, too appreeiative Of their own
wants aud real situation to attempt to
establish monarchy, even if elective
and limited. The temper Of the people
could not brake it. But with the
necessities OF the hour, came the man,
who bold and original in thought and
action deeply imbued with the rights Of
man, and his capacity for self govern
ment, fearlessly launched on the. angry
seas ola civil war, the modelrepublie-
practicable, possible, durable, strong,
and destined to out live the commissions
that gave it birth, enough
to embrace in its limits continent, the
perfection Of governmental science, the
beautiful blending Of the ideal, of which
the dreamers and philosophers Of cen.
turtles had written, with the stern and
practical, adapted and suited to the
wants ola people, who had a continent
to explore, conquer and develop. The
effect Of this great struggle and the
creation Of our government, have been
Eel. throughout the world.
AS winter, with its storms. ice anG
SHOWS abdicates its thrown for the sun.
shine and genial warmth of spring with
its flowers, green fields, and laughing
waters, so this Declaration, instinct
with the Juror of all intense philan
thropy has thawed the cold heart O
monarchies and espotisms, and warmed
to new life the responding, struggling
millions of our race whose heritance
was vasalage. 1t fell on the ears Of
Europe's oppressed sons in hope II.
spring strains, sweeter than the notes
given out by Eolian harp strings when
struck by the zephers of summer.
This grand paper may be summed VI
in a word, Governments for the
governed" The people are the source
of power,-and there must be the
subornation Of the military to the civil
power, and the right Of local sell
government.
twas penned by one Of Virginia's sons
proposed by another, whilst her Other
and grandest son, with unprecedented
wisdom and valor with his sword made
good it's wonderful utteranees. To this
instrument in all its comprehensive
spirit, the labor men of Virginia have
been true and not unworthy Of their
name and lineage. 1t is true that the day,
the flag the name and government were
u