Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-07-17
GBGt&CGIJ&0gU.
OF THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE.



William Paca was the descendant of a
wealthy planter on the east shore Of Maryland
He was born at Wye Hall, his paternal resi-
dence, III the year 1910. His early moral
and intellectual training was carefully attend
ed to, and at proper age he was placed III
the Philadelphia College, whence he gradua-
ted, after a course of arduous and profitable
study, with great credit to himself. He then
commenced the Study of law with Mr.. Ham
mond and Mr.. Hall, of Annapolis. and Samu-
ell Chase, his subsequent Congressional col
league, was fellow student.
Mr.. Paca, was admitted to the bar at the
age Of twenty, and the next year I76D, he
was chosen a member of the Provincial As
sembly. When the Stamp Act, in I7G5, ar
oused the people of the colonies to their com
mon danger, Mr.. Paca, Mr.. Chase, and Mr..
Carroll, warmly opposed its operation. And
every succeeding measure of the British gov
ernment asserting its right to tax the Ameri-
cans without their consent, was fearlessly con-
demned by him, and thus he soon obtained the
disapprobation of the royal governor of the
Province, and of those who adhered to the
king and parliament. Like Mr.. Chase, he be-
came very popular with the people by his pat
rlotic conduct.
He approved of the proposition for a Cen
eral Congress in IVA, and he zealously pro-
NOTED the meeting Of the people in county
conventions to express their sentiments upou
this point. He was appointed by State Con-
ven'ien of Maryland, one Of its five represeu-
tatlyes IN the continental Congress, who
we-e instructed to ''agree to all measures
which might be deemed necessary to obtain
redress Of American grievances" Mr. paca
was reelected in l 775 and continued a member
of Congress until 1873, when he was appoin-
ted Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Of
his state.
Like Mr.. Chase, Mr.. Paca was much en-
barrassed in Congress by the opposition Of
his constituents TO indepence, and their Ioyal
adherence to the British Crown, as manifested
in their instructions, frequently repeated in
the early part of 1885. Even as late as the
middle of May, they passed a resolution pro-
hibiting their delegates from voting for indie
pendence; but on the twenty-eighlh of tie
same month remara able change In their o.
pinions took place. and they ceased PRAYING
for the king and royal family! This was a
sort of half wheel, and toward the latter end
of June the convention finished its evolutions
by a "right about face" and withdrew their re-
strictions upon the votes of their delegates
Thus relieved, Mr.. Paca and his associates
continued their efforts to affect declaration of
independence with more zeal than ever, and
recorded their votes for the severance of the
political bond of union with Britain, on the
fourth Of July following. On the second Of
August, they fearIessly affixed their signatu-
res to the parchment.
About lhe beginning of l778, Mr.. Paca was
appointed Chief Justice of the State of Ma
ryland. He performed the duties with great
abilityand fidelity until 1892, when he was E.
lected President or Governor of the State, un-
der the old Article of Confederation. He held
the executive Office on year, and then re-
tired to private life.
In 1888, he was a member of the conven-
tion of Maryland, called to act upon the ratifi-
cation of the Federal Constitution. He was
firm advocate there for its ratification which
event took place in November. After the new
Constitution had gone into effect, and offices
were to be filled, President Washington nom
mated him Judge for the district of Maryland.
This Office he held until the period Of his
death, which was in the year 1899, when he
was in the sixtieth year of his age. He was
pure and active patriot, consistent Chris
tian, and a valuable citizen, in every sense of
the word. His death was mourned as pub
lie calamity +; and his life, pure spotless, ac-
tive and useful, exhibited bright exemplar
for the imitation Of the young men of Amer