Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

with their fellow-subjects in Britain, and so not bound by any law to which they did not assent, or, in effect, to be sovereign, or independent of the parliament. Attempts were made to define the nature or extent of the sovereignty to be retained or enjoyed by the Colonies, or to establish a fundamental between the Parliament and them, and they to remain members of the empire, thereby to preserve the unity of it; all of which failed, inasmuch as they would only have terminated in the incongruous and futile mode of government, an imperium in imperio; and there being no alternative between an absolute submission to the will of the Parliament and the empire remain entire, and an absolute independence of such will, and, of course, or severance of the empire, the Colonists resolved on the latter. Such is the simple principle of the American Revolution. The question was limited as to parties, it being between the Parliament and the Colonists, and not between the Colonists themselves; and also as to its subject, it being a more legal question arising in the British Constitution.

NOTE-suppletory to the above.

PERHAPS the question may more precisely be stated; how the principle in the British Constitution, in regard to the people, they viewed as represented in the House of Commons, a branch of the legislature, and so denominated when to be distinguished from the King and the Lords, the other two branches, legislation and representation inseparable, is to be applied to the people of the Colonies, in their relation to the people of the metropolitan community, it not being practicable for them to participate in the representation? Wholly inapplicable, say the parliament; and therefore, from necessity we must legislate for them. Such our claim. No, reply the Colonists; there is an alternative in the

case, and rightful for us to avail ourselves of it; to separate from you, and form representative governments of our own. Such our counter-claim.

This statement of the question results in a distinct and complete issue in law between the parties; and, if so, does it not follow, that the instrument, the formal annunciation of the independence, usually known as the declaration of it, is misconceived? Instead of leaving the controversy as resting on the merits of the claim, and counter-claim, of right, abstracted from fact, there being none in question between the parties, it enumerates a series of acts on the part of the government of the parent State, some by the King, separately, as in the exercise of his prerogative, others as conjunctly with the other two branches of the legislature, the whole charged as oppressions, and the King thereupon denounced a tyrant. Admitting them, for the sake of the argument, still they being with intent to enforce the claim, or overt-acts of it, they aught alike to have been resisted, even if as undetrimental as an entry on lands to preserve a right. As proof they would have been resisted, take the, following, from the address of the first Congress, to the people of Great Britain: "KNOW THEN, that we consider ourselves, and do insist that we are, and ought to be, as free as our fellow-subjects in Britain; and that no power on earth has a right to take our property from us without our consent". that we will never submit to be hewers of wood or drawers of water for any ministry or nation in the world ;" and, to add to the solemnity of the asseveration of claim, the language of the VOLUME OF THE BOOK selected to express it. whole peculiarly bespeaking the character of the individual who prepared it, John Jay. It was not possible for us to recede, and no calculation our adversaries would not persist. Such the SPIRIT of 1774, to correct the anachronism of 1776.

66

The

According to the general tenor, however, of the declaration, the actual oppressions charged in it, are made the cause, and to adopt its diction, "for declaring ourselves absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between us and the State of Great Britain is and aught to be dissolved;" or, in a word, the cause of the Revolution; thereby not only placing it on other than its simple true ground; but also obviously detracting from the merit of it. Abject those not resisting oppression; degrees more so, if the oppressor an individual tyrant. The reptile will turn when trodden on. In short, if the statement here of the precise principle, or the point, of the Revolution, correct, then how much of the preamble to the declaration might not have been spared. Publicly reading it has become a part of the ceremonial when assembled to celebrate the anniversary of it. Introduced by the Tammany Society or, Columbian Order when instituted in 1787. The Memoir asserts the liberty of the Revolution an "original" liberty. What would we think of one, entitled to hold by prescription, still insisting to hold by grant, and have it annually publicly proclaimed as his origin of right? But is there not a farther, and more serious, question here; and to be hoped hitherto not perceived? This formula not known during the WAR for the Independence. The treaty of peace put an end to the struggle. Now the question: Did it not also, as from its very nature, impose it on the parties as a mutual duty between them, AN OBLIVION of aggression; or, in the diction of the DIVINE pacificator,

PASSES?"

"a

an

FORGIVENESS OF TRES

No. XX.-PAGE 83.

A CELEBS myself, and recommending the earliest search for a wife! Is the hand, the pointer, less to be heeded, when showing the right road to others, because itself not going it? Neither will I suppose the adage obsolete; "Nihil dulcius amico

monitore."

EPITAPH of Prior, the poet, by himself, in the reign of William the third:

"Nobles and Heralds by your leave,

Here lies what once was Matthew Prior;

The son of Adam and of Eve,

Let Bourbon or Nassau go higher."

FINIS.

Pope having become out of date the following Couplets from him, being those to which the proverbial expression, page 45, alarde's, are subjoined for the sake of modern readersYou'll find, if once the Monarch acts the Monk,

기,

Or, bobler lime, the Parson will be drunki; "Worth mako's the Man, and want of it the Fellow; The rest is all but Leather, or Prunella". or

The Parson's Gown always of Brinella

[graphic]

31,

39,

CORRECTIONS.

Page 27, line 1, the wanting between in and Dutch.

20, Antonio to be Antonia.
8, Aufscher to be Aufseher.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
« AnteriorContinuar »