The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-07-17

tected by brave and patriotic soldiers
in the field, and wise, honest, and un-
selfish statesmen in council-this was
before the day of American politi-
clans, and the army was of soldiers,
not office seekers and partisan huck
sters.
In 177S, two years after the Dec
laration of Independence was adopt
ed, the Continental Congress with
representation from thirteen States
adopted ARTICLES of Confederation
and perpetual union between the
States" 1t was confederation, yet
a perpetual union of sovereign States,
and the style of the confederacy was
the Omitted States of America" By
stipulation each State retained its
Sovereignty, freedom and independ-
ence ;"and they entered into "a firm
league Of friendship with each other
for their defence, the security of their
liberties and their mutual and gener-
eral welfare" The names of many
who had signed the declaration of
1776, signed the first constitution the
world had seen-the Articles of Con
federation of the United States.
But little has been comparatively
written about this famous and Justly
distinguished constitution as form
of government.
The general interests of the United
States, legislative, executive and iu-
dioary, were managed by a Congress
consisting of delegates annually ap-
pointed as the Legislature of each
State shall direct and how purely
representative was this body, for any
member could be recalled at any time
and another placed in his seat. This
was an efficient system of govern
ment; presented a grand Congress,
with all the powers of government in
one House, and was successful, for
with the assistance of the army, il
watshad the nro0reSs and crow A~as
nurtured the tender scions of that
liberty, which, discriminating three
millions Of people and preserving the
sovereignty of thirteen States; now, in
one hundred years preserving still its
identity of principles, though the Ar
ticles of Confederation, have, in order
to form more perfect Union, spread
the enlarged mantle of justice and
tranquility over more than forty mil
lions of peoDle: thirty-nine States,
still free, sovereign and independent,
and with the right and capacity to
remain So
The result ofthe declaration of in
dependence was the revolutionary
war. The result of that war was a
written constitution, the Articles of
Confederation, and then American
freedom; then the constitution of the
United States, with the form of gov
ernment and the principles of human
liberty under which we have lived
for a century, and by virtue
of which has developed a nation Of
confederated and sovereign States,
with local and general governments,
each with seperate and distinct ma
ohineries complete in themselves.
And if maintained as organized, and
according to their purpose, meaning
and intent, perfect and enduring per
haps for ages.
1t is the admiration and the won
der of the philosophers and writers
and ata+as,nen Of the civilized world.
as they look on the constitution of
tho national government, sole and
self.poised in the political armament,
| like the sun in the heavens, with
States, Ike the planetary system, re-
volying around a central light, sustain
ed by a centripetal and centrifugal
force, which produce and maintain
political equilibrium not unlike the
spheres.
We have reached q period that wit
messed the close of the Revolutions
ry war. The government of the UNI
ted States, under the Articles of Con
federation, was a democratic repub-
lie, union of independent common
wealths
The Articles of Confederation were
incomplete. The project of remod-
cling the Government originated at
Mount Vernon. In 1885, Washing
ton, in conversation with company
of Statesman at his home, advised
hecalling Ofa Convention. TheprOp-