Page:Harris Dickson--The unpopular history of the United States.djvu/62

 again, and not team work. The Continental Congress had no power to carry on war, to enlist a soldier, to levy taxes, nor to enforce a requisition for money or for men. Instead of vesting the war power in a central government, which alone could insure its vigorous exercise, Congress was nothing more than a consulting body of diplomats with authority to entreat but not to compel. No measures could be taken for common defense except such as were separately sanctioned by nine of the allied sovereignties. My son, I have always heard that a kind-hearted Providence watched over children and fools and the United States. We needed it. But, listen to your Uncle Samuel. Providence has a mighty big job on its hands right now, and we had better learn to crawl and stand ourselves.

Just imagine what a gabfest the Congress and state legislatures must have had when to the vacillations and delays of Congress itself were added the interminable debates of nine State legislatures. It makes me cuss to think about it. That’s why our impotent Congress