re
aimed at its own independence and integrity. And so in fact it was.
But had Boston even fallen there were still strongholds of rebellion
throughout the province, and the principles of the revolution would
have survived.

Nor did the towns cease their efforts when they had voted supplies for
the prosecution of the war. They took part early in favor of
independence. In every town men sprung up equal to the crisis which
existed. Our local histories will bear to posterity resolutions as
immortal in sentiment and principle as the Declaration of Independence
itself. The resolutions of the neighboring towns of Concord express
the views of Massachusetts towns. They say: "As men we have a right
to life, liberty and property; as Christians, we in this land (blessed
be God for it) have a right to worship God according to the dictates
of our own consciences; and as subjects we have a right to personal
security, personal liberty, and private property. These principal
rights we have as subjects of Great Britain; and no power on earth can
agreeably to our constitution take them from us, or any part of them
without our consent." Where such principles existed the Declaration of
Independence was a necessity; therefore when it came, most of our towns
were prepared not only to accept it but to sustain it. They readily
affirmed in their own names the principles which had been declared, and
assumed the responsibilities which had been taken by their
representatives in the Continental Congress.

Nor did their active agency in the cause of liberty and government
cease here. They declared the principles on which the State government
ought to be based and the manner of framing it. The resolutions of
Acton and Concord are full and explicit on this point. They deny the
authority of the Legislature to frame a constitution because, says the
town of Acton, "a constitution properly framed has a system of
principles established to secure the subjects in the possession of
their rights and privileges, against any encroachments of the
Legislative part; and it is our opinion that the same body that forms
a constitution, have, of consequence, a power to alter it; and we
conceive, that a constitution, alterable by the supreme legislative
power, is no security to the subjects, against the encroachments of
that power on our right and privileges." And it was resolved, "that
the town thinks it expedient that a convention be chosen by the
inhab