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26 the fatal blow was struck at Lexington in 1775, and the whole country was in arms, the most dutiful language of subjects towards a sovereign was retained. But this incongruity ceased, when the people, perceiving no relaxation of the efforts to subdue them, boldly resolved to throw off a yoke too heavy to be borne, and no longer contenting themselves with claiming the rights of British subjects, asserted those of independent man.

By this great measure the congress of provinces became at once the congress of so many sovereign states—entitled to places in the catalogue of nations; and a meeting of humble, complaining colonists terminated in the formation of an empire.

It soon was found expedient to devise some explicit form of association, by which the powers granted to the congress or retained by the new states, should be distinctly ascertained. Articles of confederation were therefore prepared, (and with the exception of one state, which, however, afterwards came into them,) speedily adopted, by which the United States were formed into a federal body, with an express reservation to each state, of its freedom, sovereignty and independence, and of every power, right, and jurisdiction, not expressly delegated to the United States in Congress assembled. The federal powers were declared to be those of making war and peace, coining money and issuing bills of credit, establishing courts of admiralty, building and equipping a navy, ascertaining the number of men to be raised for the army, making requisitions on each state for its quota, regulating the trade and managing all affairs with the