the people, and that the representatives, if they think it necessary, establish such a form of government, as, in their judgment, will best produce the happiness of the people, and most effectually secure peace and good order in the province, during the continuance of the present dispute between Great Britain and the colonies." The same advice was given to South Carolina the next day, on a similar application.

Virginia being also without an executive government, and Lord Dunmore, the late royal governor, having issued a proclamation to the royalists and slaves, and being engaged in collecting troops and stores to make war on the people, congress, on the 4th of December, invited the people to institute a government for themselvs.

A provincial convention of delegates elected by the people of New Hampshire, in accordance with the recommendation of congress, met on the 5th of January, 1776, adopted an organic law, as an addition or amendment to the royal charter, and organized a provisional government for the colony, as near as practicable in accordance with the charter, without any governor. They provided for a council of twelve to act as a senate or second branch of the legislature, and also as the supreme executive during its sessions; at other times the executive power was exercised by a committee of public safety, over which the president of the council presided. The first constitution for the state was adopted in 1784.

Early in February, 1776, a convention of delegates from the several parishes and districts of South Carolina met in convention, and on the 26th of March, adopted for the state, the first American constitution ever established; in which provision was made for the election of a chief executive officer, called president of the state. The president, a vice president, the judges of the supreme and other courts, and various other officers, were to be elected by the legislature. On the 27th, John Rutledge was chosen president, Harvey Laurens, vice president, and William Harvey Drayton, chief justice. On the following day, (March 28th), the oaths of office were administered to the new officers, and the state government formally organized.

On the 4th of May, 1776, the general assembly of Rhode Island passed an act by which they declared the inhabitants of that colony discharged from all allegiance to the King of Great Britain. This

was equivalent to a declaration of independence. As the freemen of the colony were authorized by the charter, to choose, annually, a governor, magistrates, and representatives to form a colonial legislature, no change in the government was necessary; and the people continued to live under the charter until 1842, when they framed their first state constitution. The assembly immediately authorized its delegates in congress to join in a treaty with any prince, state, or nation, for the security of the colonies. It also directed them to favor measures for the strictest union of the colonies ; yet at the same time, they were charged "to secure to the colony, in the strongest and most perfect manner, its present established form,and all powers of government, so far as they relate to its internal police, and the conduct of its own affairs, civil and religious." Here are the principles of state rights, and of the local sovereignty and independence of the states, very clearly expressed.

On the 6th of May, 1776, about 130 delegates, elected by the people of the several counties of Virginia, in accordance with the recommendation of congress and the colonial legislature, comprising the ablest men in the colony, met in convention to form a state coustitution. On the 12th of June, the convention adopted unanimously, a declaration or bill of righss, and on the 29th of the same month, they adopted, also unanimously, a constitution for the state. Having resolved themselves into a temporary general assembly, they elected Patrick Henry, governor. They also elected a privy council, and immediately organized the state government.

On the 10th of May, 1776, congress passed a resolution, recommending that the several colonies form governments for themselves. This was of itself almost equivalent to a declaration of independence. Congress, at the same time, appointed John Adams, of Massachusetts, Edward Rutledge, of South Carolina, and Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, to prepare a suitable preamble to the resolution. The committee reported a preamble which was adopted by congress, on the 15th of May, after a spirited debate. The preamble and resolutions were as follows:

Whereas his Britanic majesty, in conjunction with the lords and commons of Great Britain, has, by a late act of parliament, excluded the inhabitants of these united colonies from the protection of his crown. And whereas, no answer whatever, to the

humble petition of the colonies for redress of grievances and reconciliation with Great Britain, has been, or is likely to be given, but the whole force of that kingdom, aided by foreign mercenaries, is to be exerted for the destruction of the good people of these colonies. And whereas it appears absolutely irreconcilable to reason and good conscience, for the people of these colonies, now to take the oaths and affirmations necessary for the support of any government under the crown of Great Britain, and it is necessary that the exercise of every kind of authority under the said crown, should be totally suppressed, and all the powers of government exerted under the authority of the people of the colonies, for the preservation of internal peace, virtue and good order, as well as for the defence of our lives, liberties, and properties, against the hostile invasions and cruel depredations of our enemies: Therefore,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the respective assemblies and conventions of the united colonies, where no government sufficient to the exigences of their affairs has been hitherto established, to adopt such government as shall, in the opinion of the representatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular, and America in general.

Connecticut was more fortunate than most of the colonies. She had no royal governor. Her charter, granted by King Charles II, in 1662, was truly republican in its character. It provided for the election, by the freemen of the colony, of a governor, deputy governor, twelve assistants, councilors, or senators, and two deputies from each town, as a legislative assembly. Being very general and liberal, and conferring very large powers, no change was necessary to accommodate it to the revolution. Jonathan Trumbull was annually elected governor from 1769 to 1784, and entered with much spirit into the revolutionary movement. The people of Connecticut lived under the royal charter, without change, until the year 1818, when they formed their first state constitution.

On the 14th of June, 1776, the legislative assembly of Connecticut instructed their delegates in congress to propose to that body to "declare the united American colonies free and independent states, absolved from all allegiance to the King of Great Britain."

On the 14th of June, the legislative assembly of Delaware approved the resolution and preamble of congress, of May 15th,

overturned the proprietory government, adopted an organic law or constitution, and established a government for the state.

A revolutionary committee of public safety called a convention of delegates of the people of Maryland, which assembled on the 21st of June, 1776. It took prompt measures for calling the militia into actual service, concurred with Virginia on the subject of independence, treaties with foreign powers, and a confederation of the colonies-reserving to each the internal government of its own affairs and people. Early in July it directed the election of delegates to a new couvention, to form a constitution and establish a new government for the colony. The constitutional convention was elected, convened, and formed a constitution for the state, under which the first election was held in December following.

A new provincial congress or couvention for New Jersey, elected by the people, in conformity to the recommendation of the general congress of May 15th, assembled at Burlington, June 11th, 1776. On the 22d, the convention "resolved that a government be formed for regulating the internal police of the colony, pursuant to the recommendation of the continental congress." The convention immediately elected to the general congress, five delegates friendly to independence. The convention also framed, and on the 2d of July adopted and signed a constitution for the state; under which elections for members of both houses of the legislature provided for in it, were held immediately. The legislature assembled, organzed, and on the 29th of August, 1776, elected William Livingston governor. They also elected other officers, and fully organized a state government. That constitution continued in force and unaltered, until the year 1844, when a new one was formed and adopted.

On the 18th of June, 1776, a convention of delegates from the City of Philadelphia, and the several counties Pennsylvania, met in conference at Philadelphia, organized, and proceeded to form a constitution for the colony, as an independent state. They soon formed and adopted a state constitution, under which elections were held in many of the counties, and the legislative assembly met on the 28th of November, but in consequence of the violent opposition to it, many of the counties omitted to elect eounsellors, and the assembly was obliged to adjourn without organizing the

government. The delinquent counties afterwards elected counsellors, and the new government was organized on the 4th of March, 1777, and Thomas Wharton, Jr., was elected president, and George Bryan, vice president. That constitution continued in force until 1790.

In conformity to the recommendation of congress, the people of the several counties of North Carolina proceeded and elected delegates to a provincial convention, which met at Halifax, on the 12th of November, 1776. On the 17th of December, the convention adopted and signed a declaration of rights, and on the day following, a constitution for the state of North Carolina. The convention also proceeded and elected Richard Caswell, governor, and organized a state government.

On the 31st of May, 1776, the congress or assembly of the colony of New York, adopted a preamble, in which they recited the preamble and resolution of the general continental congress, of May 15th, and also passed a resolution, recommending that the electors of the several counties of the colony proceed without delay to elect delegates to a convention, to take into consideration the necessity and propriety of instituting such new government, as in and by the said resolution of the continental congress, is described and recommended. Delegates were elected, a convention assembled, and a constitution for the state, was agreed upon and adopted by the convention, at Kingston, on the 20th of April, 1777. The following preamble prefixed to the constitution, shows the necessity for it, and the system of government by congress and committees, which had previously existed-the executive powers of the government being vested in committees, for want of a governor.

Whereas the many tyrannical and oppressive usurpations of the king and parliament of Great Britain, on the rights and liberties of the people of the American colonies, had reduced them to the necessity of introducing a government by congress and committees, as temporary expedients, and to exist no longer than the grievances of the people should remain without redress.

And whereas the congress of the colony of New York, did, on the thirty-first day of May, now last past, resolve as follows, viz; Whereas the present government of this colony, by congress and committees, was instituted while the former government, under the