The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-22


Virginia moved directly for commun-
ion of colonles-a step which advanced
by giant strides the Revolution. This
system of permanent committees over
came the great weakness from which the
colonies had hitherto suffered namely,
their isola ton in knowledge and action
1t knit the scattered provinces IN a
union, close and responsive in thought
and feeling. 1t was to the colonies what
the nervous system is to the body OF
man 1t diffused sympathy and gathered
into a point the combined energies or the
whole American people 1t never slept;
lit was argus-eyed; it was everywhere.
Attack it you could not The Revolution
had found head. lin this manner,
Bancroft states, Virginia laid the foun-
dation of our union. Massachusetts or
sanized province; Virginia promoted
confederacy." Concerted acton is hence
forth the order of the day. This year
a773, the patriots in the thirteen colonies
conpare notes: next year they will sit
together in Philadelphia, where Henry
will voice the sentiment of all: British
oppresson has effaced the boundaries of
the several colonies: the distinctions be-
tween Virginians. Pennsylvanians, New
Workers and New Englanders are no
more. l ann not Nirginian, but an
American
IT'S EFFECTIVENESS
The effectiveness of this system OF
committees was not concealed from those
who frowned on the patriots cause. In a
letter from London, January l. IVA. VIII
liam Lee states that it struck greater
panic INTO the ministers than anything
that had taken place snce the passage
of the Stamp Act" 1t is foundation.
said d Tory, .'frcrn which no Legal au-
thority can be derived; we know not
when such precedents may terminate.
Setting up such power to control you IS
setting UP anarchy above order; II IS ,ie
beginning of Republicanism. Mp TINS
pernicious weed in the bud before it has
token too deep root Daniel Leonard,
the British panphleteer, exclaimed two
wears later. This is the fouleSt, subtlest
and most yenomous serpent ever lssued
from the egg of sedition. 1t IS the source
of rebellion.
Contrast with these Tory judgments
what the Wings thought of the commit
tees as an engine to solidify patrloIic sen
timents. intelligence and effort. Francis
Dana in 1850 and of these committees:
..-rhey NAV be called the cornerstone OF
onr ii3eyolution or new empire. Scion,
in the New Hampshire Gazette, June
1ss 177s. pronounced the plan such as
..EJe.aven itself seemed to have dictated
to the noble Virginians. Q, Americans.
embrace this plan of union as your Aie.
W
The hearty response ON the part OF the
other colonies to Virginia's PROPOSAL to
annoint committees of correspondence IN
order to unite their counsels. is indicated
in letter from the Speaker of the Mas
sachusetts House: 1.-The wisdom of the
measure proposed in those resolves and
fine great and good effects that may
reasonably be expected to flow from them
not only to the colonies. but to the parent
state, were so obvious that the House Inn
mediately adopted them and appointed
n COMMITTEES to keep up and maintain
a free communication with Virginia and
fine rest of the sister colonies.
On November 4. the Connecticut COM
rnittee said: TT Is with the greatest sat
isfaction we seen the seasonable and ben
eficial example set by your honorable
and patriotic house of burgesses The
reader of these letters need not ex-
pect sensational surprises every day. as
this sentence from the same committee
on March S, shows: NO intelligence has
been received from Great Britain or any
part Of Europe by US for almost four
months ~
Early replies TO the same effect came
from Rhode Island. May Z. l773:. from
New Hatnp hire, May Is from Connect