THE UNITED STATES (1776)

The crowning year of the great movement toward a United States of America is 1776, in which July 4 is ever memorable as the official date when the colonies ceased to be and the formal and legal Union began. It is hardly worth while to reproduce speeches and arguments against independence, although they were abundant. We are more interested in knowing the motives which animated the supporters of independence, and fortunately they spoke fully and freely. The year 1776 developed not only this new sense of a universal American patriotism,in which Massachusetts people and South Carolinians were patriotic for each other; but that patriotism was tested by the activities of a fierce and desperate war. In this period suddenly came to the front questions of recruitment, of supplies, of drawing aid and material from overseas, questions which have not been completely adjusted down to the present time. The extracts in the chapter are intended to bring out some of the difficulties and humiliations in putting an entirely unprepared country into a posture of war. It took a lively patriotism to believe in the future greatness of the United States in the face of the defeats of the latter part of 1776.

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"These Are the Times That Try Men's Souls" (1776)

By THOMAS PAINE

An English immigrant and one of the boldest_advocates of independence. Later member of the French Convention. This is one of the most famous of his writings.

THESE are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: 'Tis dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not

only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER," and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious, for so unlimited a power can belong only to GOD.

Whether the independence of the continent was declared too soon, or delayed too long, I will not now enter into as an argument; my own simple opinion is, that had it been eight months earlier, it would have been much better. We did not make a proper use of last winter, neither could we, while we were in a dependent state. However, the fault, if it were one, was all our own; we have none to blame but ourselves. But no great deal is lost yet; all that Howe has been doing for this month past is rather a ravage than a conquest, which the spirit of the Jerseys a year ago would have quickly repulsed, and which time and a little resolution will soon recover.

I have as little superstition in me as any man living, but my secret opinion has ever been, and still is, that God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish, who had so earnestly and so repeatedly sought to avoid the calamities of war, by every decent method which wisdom could invent. Neither have I so much of the infidel in me, as to suppose that HE has relinquished the government of the world, and given us up to the

care of devils; and as I do not, I cannot see on what grounds the king of Britain can look up to Heaven for help against us.

America did not, nor does not want force; but she wanted a proper application of that force. Wisdom is not the purchase of a day, and it is no wonder that we should err at first setting off. From an excess of tenderness, we were unwilling to raise an army, and trusted our cause to the temporary defence of a well-meaning militia. A summer's experience has now taught us better; yet with those troops, while they were collected, we were able to set bounds to the progress of the enemy, and, thank GOD! they are again assembling. I always considered a militia as the best troops in the world for a sudden exertion, but they will not do for a long campaign.

Thomas Paine, Writings (Albany, 1792), 3-8 passim.

2. The Case Against Great Britain (1776)

By CHIEF JUSTICE WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON

Chief Justice of South Carolina, who took the op portunity of expressing his mind to the grand jury.

AT an adjournment of the court of general sessions of the peace, oyer and terminer, assize and general gaol delivery, held at Charlestown,

for the district of Charlestown, on Tuesday the 23d day April, 1776, before the Hon. William Henry Drayton, Esq; Chief Justice, and his associates justices of the colony of South Carolina.

With joyful acclamations, our ancestors by act of assembly passed on the 18th day of August 1721, recognized the British monarch: the virtues of the second George are still revered among us -he, was the father of his people: and it was with extacy we saw his grandson George the Third mount the throne possessed of the hearts of his subjects.

But alas! Almost with the commencement of his reign, his subjects felt causes to complain of government. The reign advanced-the grievances became more numerous and intolerable— the complaints more general and loud-the whole empire resounded with the cries of injured subjects! At length, grievances being unredressed and ever increasing; all patience being borne down; all hope destroyed; all confidence in royal government blasted!-Behold! the empire is rent from pole to pole! perhaps to continue asunder for ever!

The catalogue of our oppressions, continental and local, is enormous. Of such oppressions, I will mention only some of the most weighty.

Under colour of law, the [king] and parlia