defending America against France. With reference to this end the British Secretary of State had suggested that a plan of union among the colonies should be formed. At this meeting, after the adoption of a resolution that a union of the colonies was absolutely necessary for their preservation, a committee was appointed, consisting of one member from each colony, to report a plan of union. One proposed by Dr. Franklin, who was a member of the committee, was finally adopted by the Convention."

It provided for a general government of all the American Colonies, to consist of a president-general to be appointed by the Crown, and a grand council of delegates to be chosen every three years by the colonial assemblies. The president and council were to regulate all affairs with the Indians, to make new settlements on lands purchased of the Indians, and govern such settlements, to raise soldiers, build forts, and equip vessels for guarding the coast and protecting the trade. For these purposes, they were to make laws and levy such duties and taxes as they might deem just. The president was to have a negative on all laws and acts of the council, and to see that the laws were executed.

This plan was adopted by the Convention; all the delegates voting for it except those from Connecticut. But it never went into operation, having failed to obtain the approval either of the colonies or the mother country. "It had the singular fate of being rejected in England, because it left too much power in the hands of the colonists; and it was disapproved in America, because it transferred too much power into the hands of the Crown."1

In 1765, a Congress of delegates was held at New York. This was in consequence of the passage of the Stamp Act by the British Parliament in March of the same year. That body had determined to raise a revenue from the colonies by taxation, although the colo

1 Pitkin, I, p. 145.

nists most vehemently protested against it. The passage of the Stamp Act, which required all legal documents to be on stamped paper furnished by the British government, excited universal alarm in the colonies. The Colonial Assembly of Virginia, at a session held soon after the news reached America, adopted resolutions of the most decided character. These resolutions were moved and supported by the celebrated Patrick Henry. When, in the heat of debate, he exclaimed, "Cæsar had his Brutus, Charles I. his Cromwell, and George III."-he was interrupted by the Speaker and others with the cry of "treason." Pausing a moment and fixing his eye on the Speaker, he added-"may profit by their example; if this be treason, make the most of it."

Meanwhile Massachusetts had voted that it was desirable that a Congress of delegates from all the colonies. should be held. Accordingly, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina elected commissioners who met at New York, as stated above. New Hampshire approved of the Congress, but from the peculiar situation of the colony it was judged not prudent to send delegates. Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia were not represented, because the governors of those colonies refused to call special assemblies for the appointment of delegates.

1

"This was the first general meeting of the colonies for the purpose of considering their rights and privileges, and obtaining a redress for the violation of them on the part of the parent country." They adopted a declaration of rights and grievances, which asserted the claim of the colonists to all the inherent rights and liberties of subjects within the kingdom of Great Britain; "that it is inseparably essential to the freedom of a people, and the undoubted right of Eng

1Pitkin, I, p. 180.

lishmen, that no taxes be imposed on them but with their own consent, given personally or by their representatives."

The Stamp Act was subsequently repealed, but other taxes and duties were imposed quite as obnoxious to the colonies. Their efforts to obtain redress being unsuccessful, it became obvious that they must form a closer union for their own protection. In 1774, Massachusetts recommended the assembling of a Continental Congress, to deliberate upon the state of public affairs.

On the fifth of September, a Congress of delegates from twelve colonies assembled at Philadelphia. Of these, some were appointed by the popular branch of the Colonial Assembly, while others were elected by conventions of the people. Georgia, the youngest of the colonies, was not represented. This is known as "The First Continental Congress." "The Congress thus assembled," says Judge Story, "exercised de facto and de jure a sovereign authority; not as the delegated agents of the governments de facto of the colonies, but in virtue of original powers derived from the people."

Among the distinguished members of this Congress, were John Adams and Samuel Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, John Jay of New York, Peyton Randolph, Richard H. Lee, Patrick Henry, and George Washington of Virginia. Peyton Randolph was chosen president. The first resolution adopted was, "That in determining questions in this Congress each colony or province shall have one vote; the Congress not being possessed of, or at present able to procure, proper materials for ascertaining the importance of cach colony." This rule of equal suffrage established because the Congress did not possess the information. requisite for establishing a more equitable one, re

2

1 Story. 2 Jour. of Cont. Congress, I, p. 11.

mained in force until the adoption of the present Constitution, in 1789.

The addresses to the King, to the people of Great Britain, to the inhabitants of the colonies they represented, and to the inhabitants of the Province of Quebec, were all drawn up with great ability, and were spoken of by Lord Chatham in terms of the highest admiration. After recommending that another Congress should be held on the tenth of May following, provided that a redress of grievances was not previously obtained, this Congress adjourned on the twenty-sixth of October. That the measures adopted, if supported by the American people, would produce a redress of grievances, was the conviction of a majority of the members of the Congress.'

But in this they were disappointed. The breach between England and the colonies became wider. Delegates were, therefore, appointed to meet in Philadelphia, May 10th, 1775, agreeably to the recommendation of the Congress of 1774. Some of these were chosen by conventions of the people, and some by the colonial legislatures, as in the previous Congress. With scarcely an exception, the delegates of 1774 were reappointed in 1775. As before, twelve colonies were represented. A delegate also was present from a single parish in Georgia, and in July a convention was held in that colony, which voted to accede to the general association, and appointed delegates to the Congress.

This Second Continental Congress continued its sessions, with occasional adjournments, till the adoption of the present Constitution, in 1789. Before they assembled on the tenth of May, hostilities had been commenced by the British troops under General Gage. One of the first items of business brought before the body was a letter from the provincial congress of Massachusetts, giving an account of the battles of

Lexington and Concord, with the action of that colony in relation thereto, and requesting the direction and assistance of the Congress. In this letter is the following suggestion: "With the greatest deference, we beg leave to suggest, that a powerful army on the side of America hath been considered by this Congress as the only means left to stem the rapid progress of a tyrannical ministry." The Congress at once resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the state of America, and referred this letter from Massachusetts to that committee.

1

Hostilities having already commenced, the necessities. of the case compelled this Continental Congress to take measures to put the country into a state of defense, and soon they assumed a virtual control over the military operations of all the colonies. An army was organized, and on the fifteenth of June, George Washington, a delegate from Virginia, was unanimously elected general of all the forces. His commission styled him the General and Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the United Colonies. This was the first occasion on which the style, "The United Colonies," was adopted; it continued to be used till the Declaration of Independence substituted the name, "The United States."

The action of Congress in providing for raising an army and appointing a commander-in-chief was in accordance with the general expectation of the colonies. Congress thus assumed the defense of the country. They created a continental currency by issuing bills of credit. They established a treasury department, and organized a general post-office, Dr. Benjamin Franklin being the Postmaster-General. In answer to the applications from various colonies for advice as to their local governments, Congress recommended that such forms of government be established as would best secure good

Jour. Con., I, p. 77.