CONTENTS. Constitution of the United States...... Amendments to the Constitution of the United States . California: Historical sketch... Connecticut: Historical sketch Delaware: Historical sketch.... Florida: Historical sketch..... Georgia: Historical sketch .... Illinois: Historical sketch.... MEASURES WHICH PRECEDED AND LED TO THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. THE earliest instance of an association of the English colonies for mutual defense, and the promotion of common interests, occurred in 1643, when the colonies of Connecticut, New Haven, Massachusetts and Plymouth, entered into a league under the name of "The United Colonies of New England." It continued in force for more than forty years, proving an efficient means for uniting the colonists in repressing Indian hostilities, and in resisting the encroachments of other European colonies unfriendly to the English. By the articles of this league, each colony was represented by two commissioners, who assembled by rotation in the respective colonies, and were empowered to pass ordinances for their general welfare. In case of invasion, each colony was bound to furnish, upon application, a due proportion of aid in men and means for the common defense. The occasion of Indian treaties led to meetings of the governors or commissioners of various colonies for consultation, at various times, as in 1689, 1722 and 1746, at Albany, and in 1744 at Lancaster. But the most important of these colonial conventions was one that met at Albany, June 19, 1754, composed of twenty-five commissioners, of whom four were from New Hampshire, five from Massachusetts, three from Connecticut, two from Rhode Island, five from New York, four from Pennsylvania and two from Maryland. Virginia and New Jersey, although expressly invited, did not send delegates. Their prominent object was to confirm the friendship of the Five Nations toward the English, in view of the impending war against Canada; yet the commissioners of Massachusetts were further authorized to enter into articles of union and confederation for their common defense and mutual interests, as well in time of peace as in war. This subject being deemed within their province, a committee of one from each colony, viz.: Thomas Hutchinson of Massachusetts, Theodore Atkinson of New Hampshire, William Pitkin of Connecticut, Stephen Hopkins of Rhode Island, William Smith of New York, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, and Benjamin Tasker of Maryland, was appointed to draw up a plan. This committee reported a draft, mainly writteu by Franklin, which they proceeded to discuss and agree upon. It was designed to embrace all the English colonies, from New Hampshire to South Carolina, and was submitted to the English Parliament and to the Assemblies of the several colonies for their approval. The debates continued twelve days, and the convention finally adjourned July 11th. Under this "Plan of Union," each colony was to retain its own charter and laws, subject only to such changes as might be made under the Union. The general government was to be vested in a President-General, appointed by the crown, and a Grand Council of forty-eight members, elected by the colonial assemblies for a term of three years. At first, Massachusetts and Virginia were each to have seven members, Pennsylvania six, Connecticut five, New York, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina, each four, New Jersey three, and New Hampshire and Rhode Island, each two. At the end of three years, the number was to be equalized on the basis of money paid into the common treasury, but not so as to give any colony less than two, or more than seven members. The Grand Council was to meet annually, or oftener if necessary, and might be called at any time, upon the written request of seven members. The first meeting was to be at Philadelphia, and after that as might be appointed. At any meeting, twenty-five were to form a quorum, provided that each colony had at least one member present. They were to choose their own speaker, who was to fill the office of President-General in case of vacancy, and they were not to be dissolved, prorogued, or kept in session more than six weeks at a time, without their own consent, or the order of the crown. All acts were to be approved by the President-General, and might be disapproved, within three years after presentation, by the crown. The laws that might be passed were not to be repugnant, but, as near as might be, agreeable, to the laws of England. The Grand Council could raise and pay troops, build forts and ships for the protection of trade and commerce, regulate Indian trade, and conduct general affairs; and for this end they could levy duties and taxes in the most convenient manner, and so as to discourage luxuries, rather than to burden industry. The President-General, with the advice of the Grand Council, was to conduct Indian treaties (but not in particular colonies), purchase lands, found settlements in new territories, in the king's name; make war and conclude peace. All military and civil appointments required the concurrence of the President-General and the Grand Council, the nominations of the former being made by the PresidentGeneral, and of the latter by the Grand Council. A General Treasurer was to be appointed, and, if necessary, a particular treasurer for each colony. This project was rejected by every one of the colonies, because it required a surrender of too much of their powers, and it met with no favor in England when laid before the king and the Board of Trade. The colonies had already excited the jealousy of the mother country, by appearing conscious of strength, and ambitious for independence, and no measure tending to unite and consolidate their power could be expected to find favor with the English government. The passage of a stamp act by Parliament, in 1765, excited the most energetic remonstrances, and led to acts of violence against those attempting to carry it into effect. In June of that year, the House of Representatives in Massachusetts, with the approbation of the governor and council, addressed a circular to the speakers of the several Houses of Representatives or Burgesses in the other colonies, recommending that delegates should be appointed to meet at New York, on the first Tuesday of October of that year, to consult together on their present circumstances, and the difficulties to which they must be reduced by the late act of Parliament. This convention was composed of twenty-seven delegates, of whom three were from Massachusetts, two from Rhode Island, three from Connecticut, five from New York, three from New Jersey, three from Pennsylvania, two from Delaware, three from Maryland, and three from South Carolina. The colonies of New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia were not represented, but their assemblies expressed sympathy with their measures. The convention first drew up a Declaration of Rights, in which they asserted that the colonies were entitled to all the rights and liberties of natural-born subjects of the realm, the most essential of which were the exclusive right to tax themselves, and the right of trial by jury. They addressed respectful and loyal, yet firm and positive, memorials to the king and both Houses of Parliament, and recommended to the several colonial assemblies that they should appoint special agents to solicit a redress of grievances. They remained in session from the 7th to the 24th of October, 1765. A temporary relief was granted in answer to these memorials, and in compliance with the urgent appeals made by the several colonies. The stamp act was repealed, but the absolute right to tax the colonies was still maintained by the English Parliament, and during the ten years which passed before the war of the revolution actually began, the way was gradually prepared for that great event. In 1772 and 1773, committees of correspondence began to be formed throughout the colonies, and on the 17th of May, 1774, the first distinct suggestion of a Continental Congress, by any body of men, was made in town meeting at Providence, Rhode Island. The General Assembly was requested to use its influence “for promoting a Congress, as soon as may be, of the representatives of the General Assemblies of the several colonies and provinces of North America, for establishing the firmest union, and adopting such measures as to them shall appear the most effectual, to answer that important purpose; and to agree upon proper measures for executing the same." On the 26th of May, the members of the House of Burgesses, in Virginia, met at an inn in Williamsburgh, their house having been dissolved the day before by the governor, and after preparing an address to the American people, they authorized a correspondence with other colonial committees and suggested a General Congress. On the 17th of June, 1774, the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, declared that a meeting of committees from the several colonies was highly expedient and necessary, and appointed the 1st of September as the time, and Philadelphia as the place, for the holding of such a Congress. This recommendation of Virginia and appointment of Massachusetts met with general favor, and delegates were appointed in twelve of the colonies, as follows: Massachusetts, June 17th. By the House of Representatives. Maryland, June 22d. By a meeting of the committees appointed by the several counties. Connecticut, July 13th. By the committee of correspondence, under authority of an act of the House of Representatives of June 3d. New Hampshire, July 21. By deputies appointed by the several towns at a nieeting held at Exeter for this purpose. Pennsylvania, July 22d. By the General Assembly. New Jersey, July 23d. By committees appointed by the several counties for this purpose. New York, July 27th. By election in seven wards of New York city, confirmed by the committees of several districts in Westchester county, Albany city and county, and Dutchess county. Separate delegates were chosen in Suffolk and Kings counties. Virginia, August 1st. By a general meeting of delegates from the different counties. Delaware, August 1st. By the representatives of the freemen, convened by circular letters from the speaker of the House, but not legally organized in a legislative capacity. South Carolina, August 2d. By the House of Commons of the General Assembly. Rhode Island, August 10th. By the General Assembly. North Carolina, August 15th. By a general meeting of the deputies of the inhabitants. The first Congress, thus chosen, organized on the 5th of Sept. 1774, at Philadelphia, and remained in session until the 26th of October. As the representa |