The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-02-26

camille temper OF tho time. lie insists. how
ever. that all these considerations nre out.
Weighed by tho fact that the germ Of distinc
ton between England In Europe and England
and America Ind been planted in the former
country long before. as carly as tho 1teformn-
ton OF the sixteenth century. Its growth had
been continuous. first at homo and then
abroad. and Wolfe's victory did but clear the
forest that hemmed In tho tree OF liberty. and
give it light and air. The battle Of Quebec.
memorable as It was. did but mark n stage OF
evolution and quicken vital forces which woul!
in any event have ultimately asserted itself.
English institutions are not OF ono kind. and
those to which America was welded were
such as had been unfoljed by the colon;sts
and by their Puritan friends at home.
There are many particulars In which tn Is
narrative represents n sigma advance upon
tho ordinary text books prepared for the uso
OF colleges and schools. The author does not
content himself with repeating the old stereo-
type truths. but writes as one thoroughly
familiar with tho results Of recent historical
reflection and research. Prof Sloane is care
full to note. for instance. that during the ton
years rrccedin: the outbreak Of the l.cvo!u-
tionnry war an important change took place In
the colonial doctrine regarding the rights OF
the mother country. To tho cry OF NO repre-
sentation. no taxation" had succeeded n very
different ono, No representation. no lesisla-
tion." The origin OF the new wntchword Is
obscure. As early rs 1865. and in tho sam
year. franklin. before Parliament. and
Hawley. in tho MASSACHUSETTS, LeGisla.
ture. had forecast thu possibility OF the
colonies affirming tho last-named prin-
ciplc. This affirmation. OF course. repre-
Ant a. n, nfn~h L. tho Nlntt -
doctrine. James Otis had written q pam phlet
to prove that there was no dirercnc" between
internal and external taxation il both were to
be used to raise q revenNe: yet cvon he &C.
knOwledGel that the regulation OF trnde by
external taxation. when necessary. would he q
In xful act upon tho part OF tho English Legis.
laturs In regard to the colonies. The event
which marked the final adoption OF the princi-
ple. No representation. no Legislation" was
the appearance OF the famous "Farnor's Lot
ter" Of John Dickinson OF Pennsylvauia. which
set forth the new theory OF resistance to Par
liamentary aggression with such cnlmuess
and conclusivensss that 1t met with universal
acceptance in America. Writing as m Eug-
lishman thoroughly loyal to the crown. the
author declared that tn forbid certain mnnu-
features In America and then tax the manu-
featured articles by customs duos was I'm pre-
cedented in English legislation and must be
resisted as nm oppressive innovation.
1t Is especially interesting to mark tho au-
thor's references to the Declaration Of Inie-
pendence which We fnd scattered through
three OF his chapters. Let US look frs. at tho
claim made that the town OF Mecklenburg,
North Carolina. anticipated by upward of a
year the step taken at Philadelphia on July 1,
1776 1t is pointed out that the town OF Meek
lenburg was tho focus OF tho social life OF
tho North Carolina Presbyterians whose lead
Ing spirit was Ephraim Brevard. who had
graduated at Princeton In 1853. The address
offered by the colonies to the Crown in Febru-
airy. 1775. reached that village in Ma Of tho
same year. At the neiGhboring town OF Char
lotte was about to sit a military com
mttteo OF two delegates from each Of
tho three militia regiments. and Brevard
was the clork. During the sessions OF this
committee came tho news OF tho con-
hlcts ut Lexington aad Concord. Accord
ing to tradition. Brevard then offered a series
Of resolutions relating to tho facts which con-
sttuted a virtual declaration OF independence.
suspsnding laws. ~vacatlng commissions. maxi
Ing provisional regulations. and acknowledge
Ing only the authority OF the provincial Con-
gross. They wore unanimously adopted on
May 20, 1777. and. although no copy OF them
exists, there were adopted on May 81 another
set simplifying tho original, which wore re-
corded as in force until Great Britain should
renounce her pretonsIons. No doubt has over
been expressed as toshe authenticity of tho
lattor. but that Of tho former has been repeat.
eddy assailed, Against u strong local tradition
that there were such resolutions passed ON
May ~ is set thu fact that tho resolutions
themselves woro no. preserved. The docu.
ment in the final shape which IL took on May
81 was %prinrol. Copies were scattered over
Georgia and North Carolina. and ono was for