Lives of the signers of the Declaration of American independence. The declaration historically considered; and a sketch of the leading events connected with the adoption of the Articles of confederation, and of the federal constitution

Front matter

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Preface

Tms re are lessons of deep, abiding interest, and of inestimable value, to be learned in studying the lives of the men who perilled their all to secure the blessed inheritance of free institutions which we now enjoy. * We do not learn merely the dignity and sacredness of pure patriotism, by following them in their career amid tho storms of the Revolution, but all the virtues which adorn humanity are presented in such bold relief, in the private and public actions of that venerated company, that when we rise from a perusal of a narrative of their lives, we feel as if all the noble qualities of our common manhood had been passing before us in review, and challenging our profound reverence.

The biography of a great man, is an history of his own times ; and when we have perused the record of the actions of the men of our Revolution, we have imbibed a funeral knowledge of the great events of that struggle for- Freedom. I*" this proposition is true, then we feel that this volume has a claim to the public regard, for we have endeavored to comprise within as small a compass as a perspicuous view of the subject would allow, the chief events in the lives of the men who stood sponsors at the oaptism in blood of our Infant Republic.

The memoirs are illustrated by copious notes explanatory cf events alluded to in the course of the biographical narrative, and these, we believe, will be found a highlv useful feature of the work.

IV PREFACE.

We have made free use of materials long since laiu before the public by abler pens than our own. We did not expect to add much that is new to the biographical facts already published ; our aim was to condense those facts into the space of a volume so small, that the price of it would make it accessible to our whole population. It is the mission of true patriotism to scatter the seeds of knowledge broad-cast amid those in the humbler walks of society, because adventitious circumstances deny them access to the full granary of information, where the wealthy are filled ; for these humbler ones are equa inheritors of the throne of the people's sovereignty, and are no less powerful than others at the ballot-box where - the nation decides who its rulers shall be

The final adoption of the Federal Constitution, and the organization of the present government of the United States under it, formed the climax- — the crowning act of the drama of which the Declaration of Independence was the opening scene. We therefore thought it propei to append to the biographies, a brief sketch of the legislative events which led to the formation and adoption of the Constitution. The Declaration is pregnant with grave charges against the King of Great Britain— charges which his apologists have essayed to deny. We have taken them up in consecutive order as they stand in the document, and adduced proofs from historical facts, of the truth of those charges. These proofs might have been multiplied, but our space would not permit amplification

With these brief remarks, we send our volume forth with the pleasing hope that it may prove useful to the young and humble of our beloved land, unto whom we affectionately dedicate it.

B. J. L.

Contents

PAGE

Preface,... „. i

Contents, 5

Appendix

The Stamp Act, 3 7 1

INTttODUCTIOiY

[ rom no point of view can the Declaration of American Independence, the causes which led to its adoption, and the events whh.h marked its maintenance, be observed, without exciting sentiments of profound vene^ ration for the men who were the prominent actors in that remarkable scene in the drama of the world's history Properly to appreciate the true relative position in which those men stood to the then past and future, it is necessary to view the chain of causes and effects, retrospective and pmspectivc, united in them by a brilliant link.

For a long series of years the commercial policy of Great Britain, in her dealings with the American Colonies, was narrow and selfish, and its effects influenced the whole social compact here. The colonists felt the injustice of many laws, but their want of representation in the National Legislature, and their inherent political weak ness obliged them to submit. But when the wars wit Is