chosen for the purpose, or by the colonial assemblies, all the colonies but Georgia and New York ratified the articles of the association, and assumed obligations to them as to a national law. The men who composed this first Continental Congress were the ablest and wisest among Ability of the the American people. Lord Chatham, in the House of Lords, said of them, "For myself, I must declare and avow, that in all my reading and observation, and it has been my favorite study: I have read Thucydides, and have studied and admired the master states of the world, that for solidity of reasoning, force of sagacity, and wisdom of conclusion, under such a complication of circumstances, no nation, or body of men, can stand in preference to the General Congress at Philadelphia." Union Accom plished. This That the sentiment of union, of nationality, was now complete, is shown by the treatment, in the different colonies, of the plan of conciliation proposed by the British Government. plan was submitted to each colony separately, in the hope to induce some to make terms with the crown, and so weaken the popular party. But every assembly refused to treat separately with Great Britain, declaring that they should leave the whole matter to the general congress. From this time, the thirteen American colonies were one people. As such, they were represented by the Continental Congress, which met again as a permanent institution in the following May, and continued its sessions from time to time until 1781. It at once showed its national character by assuming the support of the army gathered about Boston, and by appointing Washington commander-in-chief, and still more decid edly by entering into negotiations with foreign nations. Union was now an accomplished fact. But the machinery of government was defective; and, after the Declaration of Independence, the congress began to discuss plans for a more formal confederation. THE CONFEDERATION. The Declaration of Independence changed entirely the political character of the American colonies. The people were now independent and sovereign; and as such they proceeded at once to organize themselves in accordance with their changed condition. They adopted, by popular vote, State constitutions based upon the American ideas of local self-government. But, in all, the sphere of State government was limited to its own internal affairs. None of the constitutions made any provisions for intercourse with foreign nations. This external sovereignty the people had already vested in the general congress; and they never withdrew it. On the 11th of June, 1776, a committee was appointed by Congress to prepare articles of confederation. This committee reported Formation of in July following; but the views and interests of the various colonies were so diverse, and so many vexing questions arose as to the relative authority of the local and general governments, that it was not until November, 1777, that the articles were finally adopted by Congress, and submitted to the States. It was not until March 1, 1781, that Maryland, the last of the colonies, ratified them. On the 2d of March, 1781, the new government went into operation. The instrument was called "Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the States." Nature and Powers of the Union. Condidera: The confederacy was styled "The United from justice were to be delivered up. The general government had but one department. This was a Congress, to be composed of delegates from the States, chosen in such Congress. a manner as the legislatures should direct. No State could have less than two or more than seven members. The delegates were supported by the State, and might be recalled at any time. In the conduct of business in the Congress, each State had one vote, determined by a majority of its delegates. This had been the practice of the Continental Congress. The Congress had sole power respecting peace and war, ambassadors, treaties and alliances, and matters pertaining to the capture and disposal of prizes taken in war. It had also the sole right to fix the value of coin, and the standard of weights and measures, to manage Indian affairs, establish postal communication, appoint land and naval officers, and make rules for the government of the forces and the direction of operations. It was the business of the Congress to ascertain and appropriate the sums of money necessary to meet the public expenses; to borrow money or emit bills on the credit of the United States; to decide upon the number of land forces and the quota of each State, this quota being based upon the number of white inhabitants. The more important of these powers could not be exercised without the consent of nine States. Executive The executive business was transacted by committees and officers appointed by the Congress. A committee, consisting of one member from each State, was also appointed to sit during the recess, and execute such of the less important powers of the Congress as might be delegated to it by that body. The States were forbidden to exercise the functions delegated to the Congress. The expenses of the general government were to be defrayed out of a common treasury sup Finances. plied by the States, each paying to it in proportion to the value of land granted and surveyed within its limits. The taxes for this purpose were to be levied by the authority of the State legislatures, the time being fixed by the Congress. Every State agreed to comply with the requisitions of the Congress, to inviolably observe all the articles of the confederation, and to make the union perpetual. The articles were not to be altered except by the Congress with the assent of all the State legislatures. The instrument contains no hint of a possibility of voluntary withdrawal by any State. The leading minds of the country foresaw that the Defects of the government established by these articles Confederation. would not meet the necessities of the nation. But this was the best that could be obtained at that time. A few years of trial convinced the peo ple of the defects of the confederation. In looking for these defects, we notice first the nature of the union. Out of this grew all other evils. It was called a league of States; and complete internal sovereignty was granted to each of these local organizations. 1. In its Nature. Power. It followed directly from this, that the Congress had no coercive power. It could not go 2. No Coercive within the States to deal with individuals; and the States themselves could not be coerced by the ordinary processes of law. Since there was no power to coerce, there was no penalty attached to the enactments of Congress, and therefore no judiciary to apply, and no executive to enforce them. They had not the essential qualities of laws: they were only recommendations. The elements of government are law, penalty, judgment, execution. The confederation was destitute of all these. It was only government in name. A third defective feature was the fact that the power to tax was reserved to the States, and they 3. No Power to might and did disregard the levies made Tax. by the Congress. The confederation had not power to collect a dollar. Hence it had no credit; for this is based on confidence in the ability of the borrower to pay. If he has no property, and no means of getting any, he will not be trusted. A government without money or credit cannot sustain itself any better than a man can in the same circumstances. Its promises to pay are worthless. For this reason the paper money issued by the Continental Congress during the Revolution rapidly depreciated, until at the close of the war a bushel of it would not buy a breakfast. The evils that resulted from this condition of affairs were many and |