" 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 " opinion of the representatives of the people, best " conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents, 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 ; 2 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 ; s nor

1 Journal of the Continental Congress, " Wednesday, May 15, 1776."

2 " Great Britain has at last driven America to the last step : a com- " plete separation from her, a total, absolute Independence, not only " of her Parliament, but of her Crown, for such is the amount of the " Resolve of the 15th. Confederation among ourselves or Alliances " 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 for our internal concord, and Alliances may be " so for our external defense." -- (John Adams to Mrs. Adams, " Phila- ," dklphia, May 17, 1776.")