The Glasgow courier., 1922-03-03

II
lament in l76S. The colonists resent.
ed this because they believed "that
taxation without representation is
tyranny" They held a meeting at
New York in October Of that year and
succeeded in getting Parliament to
repeal the act.
In 1867 the Townsend Acts were
passed, putting a tax on paper, lead,
glass. and tea. After much protest in
America, the tax was taken off Of
everything except tea. Intending to
fool the colonists, the English made
the price of tea, including the tax,
less than in England, but the Ameri-
cans would not be fooled. Several
shiploads of tea were sent over, but
the people refused to buy it. In Bos-
ton it was dumped overheard by a
party Of men dressed as Mohawk
Indians.
England, indignant at this, passed
the five Intolerable Acts, which met
with much protest in America.
The colonists elected delegates to
the First Continental Congress which
met on September fifth, 1774 in Phil
adelphia. After sending remonstran-
ces and declarations to the king, they
decided to meet the next year in May,
and adjourned.
Before their next meeting the bat
ties of Lexington and Concord had
been fought and war begun.
The Second Continental Congress,
which met at Philadelphia on May
tenth, ITS, appointed Washington as
commander-in-chief of the army,
stationed around Boston, adopted the
army as it's own, and borrowed money
to carry on the war.
On June seventh, 1915 Richard
Henry Lee arose in the Congress and
made motion that these United col
onies are, and of right ought to be,
Free and Independent States. After
much debate it was decided to leave
the matter open to the people. On
July second the motion was carried
and two days later the Declaration of
Independence was adopted.
Later this Congress adopted the
Articles of Confederation. These ar
ticles, which went into effect in 1871,
were very weak. The government
could not regulate commerce, collect
taxes, or enforce its laws. It was
over the difficulties arising from these
articles that the next meetings were
held.
Virginia and Maryland were dis
putting over navigation on the Poto-
mac. Delegates from these states met
at Washington's home in 1885. They
settled their disputes so peaceably
that they proposed meeting of all
the states at Annapolis the next year.
AS only five of the states were
represented at the Annapolis conven-
tion, another meeting was called for
the next year.
1t was by the delegates to this Con-
stitutional Convention which met at
Philadelphia in 1887, that our present
Constitution was framed.
Our most important statesman and
general of that time was George
Washington. Very probably we would
not have won our independence if it
had not been for him.
When offered pay for his services as
commander-in-chief, he refused every
cent; and much of his private income
was spent to help the suffering Cont
mental army during the winter at VAL
ley Forge.
He was the chairman of the Con-
stitution Convention and the first
president of the United States.
In his famous Farewell Address in
1896 he said: "Observe good faith and
justice towards all nations. Cultivate
peace and harmony with ALL
The spirit of Washington still lives
in the hearts of the American people.
We are still progressing along that
line and as the Current Event paper
said,> "if the Father of his Country
could have looked forward far enough
to see some Of the acts of his own
United States in the last few years
particularly the relief given to the
war-stricken peoples of Europe and
to famished Russia"-he would no
doubt have been pleased.