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sent; 5. That the respective colonies are entitled to the common law of England, and more especially to the great and inestimable privilege of being tried by the peers of their vicinity, according to the course of that law; 6. That they are entitled to the benefit of such of the English statutes as existed at the time of their colonization, and which they have, by experience, respectively found to he applicable to their local and other circumstances; 7. That his majesty's colonies are likewise entitled to all the immunities and privileges granted and confirmed to them by royal charter, or secured by their several codes of provincial laws. 8. That they have a right peaceably to assemble to consider their grievances and petition the king; and that all prosecutions, prohibitory proclamations, and commitments for the same, are illegal. 9. That the keeping a standing army in these colonies in the time. of peace, without the consent of the legislature of that colony in which such army is kept, is against law. 10. That it is indispensably necessary to good government, and rendered essential by the English constitution, that the constituent branches of the legislature be independent of each other; that the exercise of legislative power in the colonies by a council appointed during the pleasure of the crown is unconstitutional, dangerous, and destructive to the freedom of American legislation. All of which, the aforesaid deputies, in behalf of themselves and constituents, do claim, demand, and insist on as their indubitable rights and liberties, which cannot be legally taken from them, altered, or abridged by any power whatever, without their consent, by their representatives in their several provincial legislatures."

2. An address to the king and to the people of Great

benefit of what statutes were they entitled? To what further immunities and privileges were they entitled? What right of assembling to discuss their grievances, and of petitioning the king, did they claim? What did they declare to be illegal? What did they declare in reference to keeping a standing army in the colonies? What did they declare to be inlispensable to good government? What did they declare to be unconstitutional? In whose behalf did they claim these rights?

Britain was prepared, and a memorial to the inhabitants of British America. In their address to the people of Great Britain, they say: "You have been told that we are seditious, impatient of government, and desirous of independence. Be assured that these are not facts, but calumnies. Permit us to be as free as yourselves, and we will ever esteem a union with you to be our greatest glory and our greatest happiness. We shall ever be ready to contribute all in our power to the welfare of the whole. empire. We shall consider your enemies as our enemies, and your interest as our interest. But if you are determined that your ministers shall wantonly sport with the rights of mankind; if neither the voice of justice, the dictates of the law, the principles of the constitution, nor the suggestions of humanity, can restrain your hands from shedding human blood in such an impious cause, we must then tell you that we will never submit to be hewers of wood and drawers of water for any ministry or nation in the world."

3. In their address to the king, they say: "Permit us then, most gracious sovereign, in the name of all your faithful people in America, with the utmost humility, to implore you, for the honor of Almighty God, whose pure religion our enemies are undermining; for your glory, which can be advanced only by rendering your subjects happy, and keeping them united; for the interests of your family, depending upon an adherence to the principles that enthroned it; for the safety and welfare of your kingdom and dominion, threatened with almost unavoidable dangers and distress, that your majesty, as the loving father of your whole people, connected by the same bonds

2. What did the Continental Congress prepare? In their address to the people of Great Britain, what do they say that the people have been told? Were these facts? If the people of the colonies were allowed to be as free as the people of Great Britain, how would the colonists esteem a union with them? To what would they be ever ready to contribute? How would the colonists consider the enemies of the peo ple of Great Britain? If they could not be restrained from shedding human blood in such an impious cause, what did the colonists tell them? 3. By what title did they address the king? In whose name? For

of law, loyalty, faith, and blood, though dwelling in various countries, will not suffer the transcendent relation formed by these ties to be further violated in uncertain expectation of effects which, if obtained, can never compensate for the calamities through which they must be gained."

4. The administration declared their determination never to relax in their measures of coercion until America was forced into obedience. On the 18th of April, 1775, the first blood of the Revolution was shed at Lexington, Massachusetts. On the 17th of June following, the battle of Bunker Hill was fought. An act was passed prohibiting all trade and commerce with the colonies, authorizing the capture and condemnation of all American vessels, with their cargoes, and all other vessels found trading in any port in the colonies. The vessels and property were vested in the captors, and the masters, crews, and other persons found on board any captured vessel, were to be put on board any English armed vessel, and were to be considered in the service of his majesty, to all intents and purposes as though they had entered voluntarily into his majesty's service; thus compelling the Americans to be the executioners of their nearest relatives and dearest friends.

5. As soon as the news of the passage of this act reached America, the Continental Congress directed reprisals to be made, both by public and private armed vessels, against the ships and goods of the inhabitants of England found on the high seas. They also opened their ports to all the world, except Great Britain. In this state of affairs, it

what four reasons did they implore his majesty, as the loving father of his whole people, not to suffer these relations to be further violated?

4. What did the administration declare? When was the first blood of the Revolution shed? Where? When was the second battle fought? What act was passed by parliament? What did this act authorize? In whom were the vessels and property vested? What was to be done with the masters, crews, and other persons found on board? How were they to be considered? What did this compel the Americans to become?

5. As soon as the passage of this act became known to the Continental Congress, what did they direct? To whom did they open their ports? What seemed preposterous to the colonists in this state of affairs?

was preposterous for the colonists to consider themselves as exercising any powers of government under any authority of England.

6. On the 7th of June, 1776, a resolution was offered in the Continental Congress, "That the United Colonies are, and ought to be, free and independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown; and that all political connection between them and Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." The next day it was debated in committee of the whole, and soon after adopted by a large majority. A committee was appointed to prepare a declaration of independence, which was made public on the 4th of July, 1776, a little more than thirteen months after the first battle was fought.

7. In the Declaration of Independence the causes which impelled the colonies to dissolve the political bonds which connected them with the government of England, are set forth. The king of Great Britain (George III.) is charged with committing repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over the colonies. Twenty-seven specific charges are made against the king. In commenting upon these charges, they say: "In every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms. Our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.'

8. They then declare, in the name and by the authority of the people, that the United Colonies are, and ought to

6. What action was taken in the Continental Congress on the 7th of June, 1776? When was this resolution taken up and debated? For what purpose was a committee appointed? When was this declaration made public? How long after the first battle was fought?

7. What is set forth in the Declaration of Independence? Who was then king of Great Britain? With what is he charged? How many specific charges are made? In every stage of these oppressions, what action did the colonists take? How were their petitions answered? How is the character of the prince marked? For what is he unfit?

8. What does Congress then declare, in the name and by the authority

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be, free and independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown; that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as free and independent States, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent States may of right do. For the support of this declaration they mutually pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

CHAPTER X.

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION.

1. On Friday, the 7th day of June, 1776, the question of separation from the mother country was brought before the Continental Congress. The next day it was debated in secret session, and agreed to. On Monday following a committee was appointed to prepare articles of confederation. The committee reported twenty articles, only thirteen of which were finally adopted. These were adopted on the 15th of November, 1777, by Congress, and sent to the several States for ratification. They were finally ratified by Congress, in 1778. They continued in force until the adoption of the present constitution, on the 4th day of March, 1789.

2. By the Articles of Confederation, the style of the confederacy was to be "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."

of the people? From what are they absolved? As free and independent States, what powers were they declared to possess? What did they pledge in support of the declaration?

1. When was the question of separation from the mother country brought before Congress? When was the committee to prepare articles of confederation appointed? How many articles were reported? How many adopted? How long did they continue in force?

2. What was to be the style of the confederacy? What was each

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