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and to institute another。 The signers of the Declaration further
averred； that the one people of the United Colonies were then
precisely in that situationwith a government degenerated into
tyranny； and called upon by the laws of nature and of nature's
God to dissolve that government and to institute another。 Then；
in the name and by the authority of the good people of the
colonies； they pronounced the dissolution of their allegiance to
the king； and their eternal separation from the nation of Great
Britainand declared the United Colonies independent States。
And here as the representatives of the one people they had
stopped。 They did not require the confirmation of this act； for
the power to make the declaration had already been conferred
upon them by the people； delegating the power； indeed；
separately in the separate colonies； not by colonial authority；
but by the spontaneous revolutionary movement of the people
in them all。
From the day of that Declaration； the constituent power of the
people had never been called into action。 A confederacy had
been substituted in the place of a government； and State
sovereignty had usurped the constituent sovereignty of the
people。
The Convention assembled at Philadelphia had themselves
no direct authority from the people。 Their authority was all
derived from the State Legislatures。 But they had the Articles
of Confederation before them； and they saw and felt the
wretched condition into which they had brought the whole
people； and that the Union itself was in the agonies of death。
They soon perceived that the indispensably needed powers
were such as no State government； no combination of them；
was by the principles of the Declaration of Independence
competent to bestow。 They could emanate only from the
people。 A highly respectable portion of the assembly； still
clinging to the confederacy of States； proposed； as a substitute
for the Constitution； a mere revival of the Articles of
Confederation； with a grant of additional powers to the
Congress。 Their plan was respectfully and thoroughly
discussed； but the want of a government and of the sanction of
the people to the delegation of powers happily prevailed。 A
constitution for the people； and the distribution of legislative；
executive； and judicial powers was prepared。 It announced
itself as the work of the people themselves； and as this was
unquestionably a power assumed by the Convention； not
delegated to them by the people； they religiously confined it to
a simple power to propose； and carefully provided that it should
be no more than a proposal until sanctioned by the
Confederation Congress； by the State Legislatures； and by the
people of the several States； in conventions specially
assembled； by authority of their Legislatures； for the single
purpose of examining and passing upon it。
And thus was consummated the work commenced by the
Declaration of Independencea work in which the people of the
North American Union； acting under the deepest sense of
responsibility to the Supreme Ruler of the universe； had
achieved the most transcendent act of power that social man in
his mortal condition can performeven that of dissolving the
ties of allegiance by which he is bound to his country； of
renouncing that country itself； of demolishing its government；
of instituting another government； and of making for himself
another country in its stead。
And on that day； of which you now commemorate the fiftieth
anniversaryon that thirtieth day of April； 1789was this
mighty revolution； not only in the affairs of our own country；
but in the principles of government over civilized man；
accomplished。
The Revolution itself was a work of thirteen yearsand had
never been completed until that day。 The Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution of the United States are
parts of one consistent whole； founded upon one and the same
theory of government； then new in practice； though not as a
theory； for it had been working itself into the mind of man for
many ages； and had been especially expounded in the writings
of Locke； though it had never before been adopted by a great
nation in practice。
There are yet； even at this day； many speculative objections to
this theory。 Even in our own country there are still
philosophers who deny the principles asserted in the
Declaration； as self…evident truthswho deny the natural
equality and inalienable rights of manwho deny that the
people are the only legitimate source of powerwho deny that
all just powers of government are derived from the consent of
the governed。 Neither your time； nor perhaps the cheerful
nature of this occasion； permit me here to enter upon the
examination of this anti…revolutionary theory； which arrays
State sovereignty against the constituent sovereignty of the
people； and distorts the Constitution of the United States into a
league of friendship between confederate corporations。 I speak
to matters of fact。 There is the Declaration of Independence；
and there is the Constitution of the United Stateslet them
speak for themselves。 The grossly immoral and dishonest
doctrine of despotic State sovereignty； the exclusive judge of its
own obligations； and responsible to no power on earth or in
heaven； for the violation of them； is not there。 The Declaration
says； it is not in me。 The Constitution says； it is not in me。
〃Oration at Plymouth； December 22； 1802； in Commemoration
of the Landing of the Pilgrims。〃
Among the sentiments of most powerful operation upon the
human heart； and most highly honorable to the human
character； are those of veneration for our forefathers； and of
love for our posterity。 They form the connecting links between
the selfish and the social passions。 By the fundamental
principle of Christianity； the happiness of the individual is
interwoven； by innumerable and imperceptible ties； with that of
his contemporaries。 By the power of filial reverence and
parental affection； individual existence is extended beyond the
limits of individual life； and the happiness of every age is
chained in mutual dependence upon that of every other。
Respect for his ancestors excites； in the breast of man； interest
in their history； attachment to their characters； concern for
their errors； involuntary pride in their virtues。 Love for his
posterity spurs him to exertion for their support； stimulates him
to virtue for their example； and fills him with the tenderest
solicitude for their welfare。 Man； therefore； was not made for
himself alone。 No； he was made for his country； by the
obligations of the social compact； he was made for his species；
by the Christian duties of universal charity； he was made for all
ages past； by the sentiment of reverence for his forefathers； and
he was made for all future times； by the impulse of affection for
his progeny。 Under the influence of these principles；
〃