Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-05-11

doubt that both were written on this
mahogany desk in the city of Phila-
delphia. 1t is obvious, therefore, that
the ideas embodied in the Declaration
had been floating more or less distinctly
in the minds of our revolutionary faith
ers for years before Mr.. Jefferson put
his hand to that formal statement of a
peoples thoughts.
Nor must it be forgotten that in 1775
the Colonies in Congress assembled, as
we'll as their respective legislatures, had
taken up arms for the defense of their
liberties, while disclaiming any purpose
to sever their political relations to Great
Britain. Lexington, Concord, and
Bunker Hill, Crown Point and Ticon-
deroga, Great Bridge, Moore's Caeek and
Fort Moultrie. and other fields were
stained with the blood of men fighting
for their liberties against the govern
ment whose legitimate authority they
still acknowleded.
But the time had come for rebellion
against their government to cease and
for a revolution of their government to
begin. Rebellion had sought to alter
the course and policy of administration,
and had failed. Revolution was needed
to latter and abolish" the existing gov.
ernments and to institute new govern
ments, securing the rights and respect
ing the liberties of the people. Accord
ingIy we find that Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island,
North and South Carolina early in 177S
took steps to establish new governments
for their respective peope. In April,
l776, Massachusetts directed all of her
writs to issue in the name of "the peo-
pie and government of Massachusetts"
and not in the name of the king. On
the 18th of May, 177e, the convention of
the people of Virginia met in Williams
burg, and on that day declared for a
total separation from the Crown and
government of Great Britain" and on
the same Gay instructed her delegates
in Congress to propose to Congress ito
declare the united colonies free and in
dependent states, absolved from all al
legiance to or dependence upon the
The convention on the 18th of June,
and on the 2eth of June, 1916, consti-
tuition, by both of which Virginia de-
clared her complete Independence.
why John Adams, in the debate in
Congress on the resolution for declara-
ton of independence, offe, ed by Richard
Henry Lee, of Virginia, on the 7th of
June, 1776, argued that 1.-THE question
was not whether by declaration of in
dependence we should make ourselves
what we are not, but whether we should
declare Q fact which already exists"
and hence the Declaration itself affirmed
that "these united colonies are, and of
right ought to be, free and independent
states; that they are absolved from all
allegiance to the British Crown; and
that all political connection between
them and the state of Great Britain IS,
and ought to be, totally dissolved"
Let Hs now endeavor to present brief
summary of the pfimordisl principles
of American polity, formulated by the
comprehensive genius of Jefferson, the
true impersopation of the new era of
free thought. free conscience, free COM
merce, free men, and free continent.
First. Mark its denun citation of stand
ing armies in time of peace without leg
islative consent, its declaration for the
supremacy of the civil over the military
power, for an!independent judiciary, for
Impartial jury trial, for the bond indis-
solnGle between representation and tax
alton, and for free 'goVeinsa snt ny Gld
under law.
Second Mark its clear assertion of the
equality of the individual right of every
man TO life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness as endOwments of the Crea-
tor, not an assertion of an equality in
the epdaYMents themselves, but in the
right of each TO that With which his
Creator has endowed him, inalienable
by himself, because it would be breach
of his duty thus tOsrelinquish the trust
reposed in him, and inalienable by all
others, because violation of the right
divinely vested in him.
This is the foundation stone of all in
0iyiduaI liberty under all forms of polit-
icai institli..as.
Third. Note the GERM of local aa.f-
government as an essential to liberty
resulting from the demonstrated inn
practicability of good government for
any people when it is controlled by an
other people. The power which gov
erns Engst not be alien to but must be
in sympathy with the ipteFesta Of the
Government, or tyranny will DO ths re-
suit. 1t was not the tea tax or the
stamp act which caused the Revolution.
They were the occasions of it. They
only demonstrated that it was an intol-
cradle evil to any people where there
was want OF synpathy between those
who laid and those who paid taAes. in
the language of Burke, in his speech on
American taxation, when speaking of
John Hampden and ship money, 1.-The
she principle it was demanded, would
have made him 0 slaye." The tax was
small; the principle wsa great.
Rightly to be great
Is not to stir without great argument;
But greatly to find quarrel in a straw
When honors at the stake!
Submission was slavery!
Resistance was liberty!
Fourth. The declaration of the right
of revolution when e@isting glyern-
ments wholly fail to be Administered
for the protection of the rights of the
people, the right Of every people to
mold the form and control the admins
tration of its government according to
their will, thus basing all government
on the consent Of the governed; the ex-
esllence of popular government of
representatiEs. aen:oeeracy-these g: were
ali clearly iadicsse6 in flls paper. Snd
Mr.. Jefferson by his Subsequent adyo-
cacy of the freedom of the land from
the fetters Of primogeniture and entails
anu ny ulS dCt lOI 1clISlOuS ~ CCOCA1,
as well as by his whole life, vindicated
the consistency of his devotion to the
liberty of the people, under a govern
ment of law, restrained and guided by
themselves.
Fifth. But it is impossible not Il. see
that in the minds Of Jefferson and his
contemporaries there was larger view,
looking to the continental questions OF
International alimportance connected with
this new era of free thought, free con
science, free commerce, and the new
institutions of democratic republics.
In 1899, Mr.. Jefferson wrote 2 letter
to President Monioe upon the Pron0i-
CATION of the doctrine bearing the name
of the latter, in which he says:
Our first and fundamental maxim should pc,
never to entangle ourselves in the broils OF Eu-
rope. Our second, never to su1er Europe 10
NEEDLE with our cisatlantic affairs.
Tn the debate upon the Declaration ct
Independence, furnished by Mr.. JeHer-
son to Mr.. Madison, and published in
the irst volume of the Madison Papers.
there is reference to our prospective
relations with Europe which shows that
the doctrine of coptinantal jpdepen.. !.
dence was in the minds and hearts of
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