Year: 1876

The standpoint when the dutnOT HAS dllhct
70 occupy preparation of this work is that OF an
Impartial and critical judge rather than OF an
enthusiastic admrer OF the American Government lie
makes no claim to original theories with regard 10 the
spirit of our political institutions has drawn frOm no
sources that open to every student OF American
history and has brought forward no facts which gNea
new cooring to the events Of the century His comments
Oh the formation and development of the Federal COnst
tution though they may fail securing the assent OF the
reader present the points OF discussion with sufficient
clearness, and expressed in calm and temperate
tone which Will command respect, II not sympathy! nc
has endeavOTed 10 preserve his mimi from al iIec'S
in regard political history and to ex the actors
in the great drama "neher demgods nor devils but
as men, struggling under many shortcomings, but "l'h
great energy their way onward"


Professor Won Hoist regards the independence OF the
colonies as foregOne conclusion from an early perod OF
their history. 1t was only question Of time But the
narrow policy of parliament precipated the crisis long
before the natural of things During the last CO.
lonial war with France few zcaots perhaps might
have wished to throw off the guardianship of England
but shortly after the conclusion of peace there was not
one 10 be found did not "reOtc in the name OF
Great Britain" It long before this feeling was set
aside by the i'll will engcndered by the systematic disre
gard by Parliament of the rights Of the colonists.


The transition from colonial state to that OF an inde-
pendent is presented in fOrciblc light showing
that germ nation existed in the first union OF the
colonies. The thirteen original colonies were founded
upder very different circumstances. In their political
institutions their religious views and Their social Ie
uons, there points Of difference than OF re-
semblance. Commercial intercourse was too slight TO
form bond OF union. The community of interest was
pased mainly geographical situation. Separated by
the ocean only from the mother country, but from
the civilized world, and placed upon vast continent on
which nature had avished every gift, they would nat
orally feel that they called upon TO found new
world" from the very beginning they considered
the struggle their cause. The first Continental
Congress was revolutionary body. 1t virtually eNer
csed sovereign power. The people, who Recognized It's
authority acted much members OF the several
colonies moral person By the adoption OF meas
ines of national character, they declared themselves
ready from that time constitute people Until the
Declaration of independence, the colonies maptained
the position OF sovereign States. They remained colo
MES until the Representatives of the United States
"n the OF the good people OF those colonies sol!
emnly declared "thcse united colonies" TO be free
and independent States" The transformation OF the
colonies into states was therefore, not the result of
the independent action of the individual colonies
1t was accomplished through the represents
tivcs of the United States" that is, through the
revolutionary congress in the OF the whole people
Each individual colony became state only in so far as
belonged the United States The thirteen colonies
dld not secede from the common mother country as
thirteen separate commonwealths, but as the ." one
people" OF the united colonies. The Declaration OF
independence create thirteen sovereign states
but the representatives of the people declared that the





United States of America became, from the Fourth Of
July, l776. a sovereign state, and member OF the
family Of nations Neither Congress nor the people relied
upon any positive right belonging either to the individual
colonies or to the colonies whole. The Declaration
of independence In fact destroyed all existing political
1ural relations and relied the right OF revolution
inherent in every people


But these principles, as the author shows at length
were assumed IN the Congress- but not brought
into the light distinct consciousness. II was 10 time
for The discussion OF such subtle questions. The powers
of Congress were aferward to be submitted to rigid
ANALYSIS and 10 become the subject of vehement debate
The relation between the individual colonies, now trans
formed into independent States, and the people "f the
whole nation remained to be settled, and led to the preg
nan theories Of state rLhts which afterwar found such
disastrous The OF this controversy is
minutey traced 10y the author, and forms one of the
most interesting chapters OF his work


The exposition OF political theories, however, which
necessarily claims large share OF bis attention. VIII
present fewer attractions 10 the general reader than the
parsona sketches which in many are Of elaborate
cunpositou and which, If not mastery, acute and
ingenious often exhibiting familiar features in novel
aspect. of Washington. lie remarks that he cherished
tie illusion Of eecting the Harmonious cooperation C
all the forces Of country. 1t only neccssaryh be
thought to convince opposition Of the sincerity ana
iustee OF the Administration lie looked upon the nation
as the sole party, and it was his endeaVort TO eSaph-"
this view above the conflicts OF party spirit. The result
OF his efforts proved that his early hope was Only
an ideal dream. The authors estimate Of Jefferson
is far from fattering Ambition, he afiTms, was the
soyerern trait In h character. He always ready
10 sacrifice his fvorite theories 10 his thirst for dis
tinction Under the mask of simplicity, and Indifference
10 political honOrs be concealed the most eager love q"
mower Nor was his conscience tender III the weighing
of words whether his own or those OF others lie coud
not always resist the temptation TO make ink ana paper
say what his opinion they ought to say His mode OF
thought was a combination, IN nearly equal parts OF
daetc acueness and the fanatcism Of superficial con
vietions as short-slghted as il was audacOus Hence
not the slightest weight be attached to his inter-
probation Of the Constitution.


Mr. Madison was of directly opposite type His char
acter less harmonious than that OF Washington He
too saws the author concealed the depth OF his ambition
under plain and modest exterior When MS seli-ioNe
was wounded he could be unjust 10 bis opponents In
the exctements OF party he sometimes played more
covert game than could find an excuse political neees-
,y He could descend petty qubbng in the conduct
Of controversy, when his attack wanted the energy OF
.be vigorous statesman. Still he had nothing OF the
demagogie in his character. He approached the
Constitution with the intention Of subyertng to his
own purposes by logical articles


Passing rapidly recent period OF our political
history we come to the administration OF Mr.. D. q.
Adams who described statesman OF an earnest,
deep!y moral nature, whose presidency was strongly
marked with the impress of his personal character He
had intense political ambition, but in him it never de
generated az It did in his father, into morbid vanity
He did not know what the fear Of man meant In the
struggle for the right Of petition which he afterwards
sustaned In Congress single handed he found certain
mischeyous pleasure in driving 10 frenzy by his biting
.atrc the slavebOdng members, who then exercised al
most absolute power. MI Clay, the author alii1hs'
doubtless possessed gifts OF Craftsmanship. But ne
welded too readily TO the seductions Of his vigorous
fancy While he was indebted for this 10 many fruitful
thoughts il often inerfered with the sCbety OF his