REPLY+LETTER+FROM+DRAKE+BRIGHTERMAN+(Hanna)

//**My Dear Friend Robertson,**

It has been twelve years since we have not met each other. I would have to be frank; this is not exactly the greatest time to convene for a little chitchat. The nation is in outrage and uproar. We are going through the most turbulent age of our colonial history. Not one of us was able to predict that so many changes would occur on this land when we were standing in the middle of city hall, listening to James Otis with our young hearts. I admire the change, Robertson!

I wish I could have written you a reply earlier. However, the chaos and excitement for independence hampered me from seating myself on the chair to conjure up a number of words.

I did indeed read Thomas Paine’s Common Sense. “The state of a king shuts him from the World// //, yet the business of a king requires him to know it thoroughly; wherefore the different parts, by unnaturally opposing and destroying each other, prove the whole character to be absurd and useless!” Thomas Paine has magnificently inspired my colleagues and me to take bolder actions to gain justice back from England for t//  //he past few years.

I joined the Second Continental Congress as an elected official to further my contribution for our colonies. I am sure that you would have heard, our congress adopted the Articles of Confederation last week! I am profusely delighted and overwhelmed by the great work our c// //ongressmen had accomplished together. We spent an endless amount of effort and time to write this constitution that will ensure us with independence and sovereignty. The Articles set the rules for operations of the "United States" confederation. Along with the United States Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation will now help the thirteen colonies to face the Britain with a unified front. The congress, excluding a small faction against the revolutionary war, is in full support of the colonial army’s struggle for freedom.//  //My colleagues (including admirable men like Benjamin Franklin and Charles Thomson) and I wrote numerous drafts and conducted countless debates to produce an immaculate constitution. However, I heard that there are already so many critics made by other politicians. I would love to hear your opinion about it. Thus I am sending the copy of the Articles with this letter.

I thank the Lord for granting me an intellectual and generous friend like you, R. Amid the engaging and busy life, lets try to always keep in touch and maintain our friendship. We will bri// //ng liberty to our Newfoundland together.

Take good care.

God Bless,
 * Drake Brighterman**//