Biographical sketches of the signers of the Declaration of American independence: the declaration historically considered

Front matter

i h s i

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES S*

OF THE

Preface

There 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 « k ?neral knowledge of the great events of that struggle for Freedom. I> this proposition is true, then we feel that thin -volume has a claim to the public regard, for we have endoavored to comprise within as small a compass as a perspicuous view of the subject would allow, the chief eveiitt* 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 narritrve, and these, we believe, will be found a highly useful feature of the work.

I

We have made free use of materials long since laid 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. 1? is the mission of true- patriotic 1 to scatter the seeds of' knowledge broad-cast amid the e in the humbler walks of society, because adventitious i ircumstances deny them access to the full granary of information, where the wealthy are filled ; for thes*e humbler ones are equa inheritors of the throne of the people's sovereignty, ant are no less powerful than others at the ballot-box wher* 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 propel 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 t/he 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 oar volume forth vith the pleasing hope that it may prove useful to tlu young and humble of our beloved land, unto whom we affectionately dedicate it.

B. J. L.

New York, April, 1848.

Contents

PAGK,

Pmtace, » 3

Contents, 5

Appendix

The Stamp Act, 371

Names of Delegates to the Constitutional Convention. 383

INTRODUCTION rom no point of view can the Declaration of American Independence, the causes which led to its adoption, and the events which marked its maintenance, be observed, without exciting sentiments of profound veneration for the men who were the prominent actors remarkable scene in the drama of the'wo 1 " 1 Properly to appreciate the true relative p those men stood to the then past and i" to view the chain of causes and c prospective, united in the

For a long series of Great Britain, in her de ;iii nies, was narrow and se'fUh, and whole social compact h re. The tice of many laws, but I National Legislature, oess obliged them to