Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-04-17
5G6&GGGgGUUD.
SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE.
ROBERT MORRIS, OF PENNSYLVANIA.

y
cashire, England, IN January, 1888. His IA
ther was Liverpool merchant, extensively
engaged IN the American trade, and when
robert was but small child, he left him in
IN the care Of his grandmother, came to thi,
country, and settled at Oxford on the eastern
shore OF the Chesapeake Bay. He finally
sent for his family, and Robert was thirteen
years cid when he arrived. He was placed in
a school at Philadelphia, but the deficiencies
OF has teacher allowed him but slight advan-
tages IN the obtainment of knowledge.
ouag AiorrIs was placed In the counting
room OF Mr. Charles Willing, one of the
leading merchants Of Philadelphia, when he
was fifteen years old, aud about the same time
he became an orphan by the sudden death Of
his father. lie was greatly esteemed by Mr..
Hing who gave him every advan ape his
business afforded; and at the death Of his
master and friend, he was a finished merchant
In 1914. Mr.. VI orrIs formed mercantile
business partnership with Mr.. Thomas VIII
Ing. The firm soon became the most ex-
tensIve lmporting-house in Philadelphia, and
rapidly Increased IN wealth and standing
A;ter the passage Of the Stamp Act ana the
1 ca Act, and n0n-ImpOrtatiUn agreements be-
came general ia the commercial cities of the
colonies, W llllngand Morris, Notwithstanding
the great loss ct business 1t would occasion,
not only cheertuily entered into the plan. bat
did ali IN their power to induce others 10 do
likewise. But It vas not until the tragedy at
Lexington aroused the fercesl indignation Of
the colonists, and eXtinguished all hopes OF
reconciliation, that Mr.. Norris took an active
part in public affairs That event called him
forth, aud III November Of the same year. he
was elected by the Legislature OF Pennsyl-
vanIa, delegate TO the General Congress-
Ills business talents were at ouce appreciated
IN that body, and he was placed upon the
E" secret committee" and also a committee 70
devise ways and means for providing naval
armament. In the spring OF I776, Congress
chose him special commissioner to negotI-
ate bl.ls OF exchange, and to take other meas
uTes to procure money for The Government.
AT. Morris was again elected to Congress
or tie eighteenth Of July, 1916, foureendays
after the Declaration Of Independence was
adopted; and being IN favor Of the measure,
he affixed his signature thereto on the second
OF August following. His labors in Con
gress were iucessaut, and he always looked
with perfect confidence TO the period when
peace and independence should crown the ef-
forts Of the patriots. Even when the Ameri-
can army under Washington had dwindled
down 10 4 handful of halfnaked, half fauisf-
ed militia, during the disastrous retreat across
/ New Jersey, at the close of I11G, he eyiuced
his confidence that final success would ensue.
I by loanlng at that time, upon his individual
t responsibility, ten thousand dollars. This
materially assisted in collecting together aud
paying that gallant band with which Wash (
lngion re-crossed the Deiewara, and won the
glorious victory II Trenton. Many instances
q { similar nature are related, where the high
character Of II +. Morris enabled him 10 pro-
cure money when lac government could not,
ana ms Pdtfi0tIsm never taitered in Undue. no
I Alti 70 apply il 20 the public benefit.
IN 1881, the darkest period 81 the war, Mr..
Morris, in connection win other citizeos. or
ganized BANKING institution ~ pfiIadaInbi,
for tie purpose ot issuing paner money thar
should receive the public .carfde1ce fcr ,be
government bills were beco,,,inc, alo,ost
Worthless TEis echa,,-, b,d III 1as si-..I cr.
fe,t and tba,id - r.i-[t - ,i,, -.
inoalculabla IN - - -. -. 49,
i,rtrent soIicit,t - f,..,--.-J ,fi -:
accented the arr,irt,5sr,t ,f ,-9,.',-sI I:,,.;l
accent If tha Ir..i.oI >+.,to- - - ...,'-i,
~..ers+,ry ~ a., -. - - -
service which -, -.Il. - =; -
sc1,cJ ra .' ~. o'i,gs ian II ne e.'Iy
,r-.ss ,,.au I.,, - -
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t.,rrh+ - - ~ '.-.1 49, - 90 " s'1
tj.a So '-.t9 0l'-''-l l'.u % u"
s,',4..I,;,,- 'os l'..ie' - 80 '4-s '-3. =
furnishing other necessary sgnaIies FIR rs,
public service. CONGRESS-. ~ ,it.t ii,,a. c-,ld
moi have obtained a r,s3n af o,,a tt,o,sa,8 Iii.
l.-. yer Roha-t NY,r.;e .t,.,.. III -. ..
b,. -, ,ralit ~ t..-,s : .l,..-,..4 ,!,,
Rs,I.'of Nh A.,.s..., -.
I'll areralion a,5 ,be.sfs -, -, - -,
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aF,.lr resso,, ,,.b,. ia ,,,.,...
- th,t ti, .i,,,ei.,5 49,
I; 80 -. io,4..15 ~ y" - a.
= - M, ls,,-I,-5i ~ i,-,-' 49, - -
,,z,erit ,,,o1,d I'll, Z, - - 81.
IL. ,l,e. so,,ls..,,, ~, Ia ,t;rI rosi-.i
~ crIt"ra ot a,,sl'i. srd ,;,.-1,-
- IL Po,al.t5,-..a-,. - -
20, '''-'
N"ei'y oA 'ii0 ''01i- u al -i'N' '-1U'i l--1--
e"ai.. .-..-..-:- " ,-
~ - -, 10 - ee'9 6...I
80, AMI IL. ,-as i 9,.feq,fa +, ff,. t,l.-ysr.