" Resolved, That it be recommended to the re- " spective Assemblies and Conventions of the United " Colonies, where no Government sufficient to the "exigencies of their affairs hath been hitherto estab- " lished, to adopt such Government as shall, in the " o])inion of the representatives of the people, best " conduce to the happiness and safety of their constit- " uents, in particular, and America, in general.'

The careful reader of that Preamble and Resolution will not fail to see, in every portion of them, only Independence very thinly disguised ; ^ and he will not be surprised to learn that those, within the Continental Congress, who were most desirous of effecting a Reconciliation with the Mother Country, were most resolute in opposing the adoption of them ; ^ nor

> Journal of the Continental Congreti, " Wednesday, May 15, 1776."

' " Great Britain has at last driven America to the last step : a complete separation from her, a total, absolute Independence, not only " of her Parlinnient, but of her Crown, for such is the amount of the " Resolve of the 15th. Confederation among ourselves or .\lliauce8 " with foreign nations are not necessary to a perfect separation from " Britain ; that is effected by extinguishing all authority under the " Crown, Parliament, and Nation, as the Resolution for instituting " Governments has done, to all intents and purposes. Confederation " will be necessary fur our internal concord, and Alliances may be "so for our external defense." -- (John A<Uime to ilfrs. Adamt, "Phila- " DELPHIA, May 17, 1776.")