itants of the several towns and districts in this state, being
free to form and establish a constitution for this state." The
constitution proposed by the Legislature was rejected by a vote of
about three to one.

Similar resolutions were passed by Concord, and the legislative
constitution was unanimously rejected. But the town of Acton, early
and alone, so far as I can ascertain, made a distinct declaration in
favor of an American Republic. On the 14th of June, 1776, twenty days
before the Declaration of Independence, the inhabitants declared "that
the many injuries and unheard of barbarities, which the colonies have
received from Great Britain, confirm us in the opinion, that the
present age will be deficient in their duty to God, their posterity
and themselves, if they do not establish an American republic. This
is the only form of government we wish to see established."

It is true that the idea of a common government was somewhat general,
but not my any means universal even in Massachusetts, while Maryland
had not then declared herself in favor of independence.

It was a liberal, enlarged, progressive idea which looked from beneath
the lowering clouds of war, tyranny and hardship to the existence of an
American republic which should include at least all the territory
within the jurisdiction of the thirteen colonies. For even at a much
later period there were men of exalted attainments who doubted the
applicability of the republican principle to large sections of
territory, and who would have sough in the division of the country, or
in the establishment of what was then deemed a stronger government
that security which they did not expect in an American republic.

The revolution through the town governments had three principal points
of support. First, _popular intelligence;_ secondly, _the influence of
the clergy;_ thirdly, _the possession of land._

The age of the Revolution was an intelligent, thinking age. It cannot
be considered as one of refinement, but there was a great deal of
original, independent, manly, intellectual activity. It was an age
of great men, both in this country and England. It could boast of the
Pitts, Burke, Fox and Sheridan; of Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, the
Adamses, Patrick Henry and the Lees. It was an age of useful
intelligence, of eminent practical wisdom. The leading minds of a
country to some extent represent its general characteristics. A
popular sentiment which