Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-01-31


Legion Of Virginia, and of the country at large
N. Y. Herald.
American Independent e..North CnroIinn
Versus Old virginiu.
To the Editor Of the Nero York Herald;
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
| January 20, 1858.
have read in the Herald of the 18th ult, an ad-
dress delivered by the Rev. Dr. Hawks before the
New York Historical Society, on the "Hlslory of
North Carolina, in which he claims for the people
OF the county Of Mecklenburg, OF that State, the
| first movement towards declaration Of American
Independence.
With no attempt or wish to detract from tn.
movement made by the patriotic people OF that p0r
ton OF our country, yett is due 10 political justice
and the truth oil history to that evidence exists,
| OF the most unmistakable character, which shows
thnt the inst known step taken i'll the open aSSer-
ton OF American rights and independence occurred
among the people Inhabitng the then county of
Dunmore, SO named after Lord Dunnore, now
called Shenandoah. III the Valley of Virginia.
The opinion has Ong prevailed with the casual
reader and the incorrect historian, that the patriots
| OF Mecklenburg, N. c., "opened the ball of the
Revolution The learned divine has assumed
this current belief 10 be fact and thus committed
| historical blunder. But TO the records OF he
| facts
| The Rev. Peter Muhlenbutg, a Lutheran clergy
man, tom Ttappe, pennsylvania, removed, in the
year 1712, to " oodStoCk, Dunmore county, Viz
GINA, and became the pastor of the church in that
village. He was descended from German parent
age, and, although born III Pennsylvania, was edu
Gated III Halle, III Germany. He soon won the
confidence of his flock, and the affection of the
whole Germanic family which had settled between
| the Blue Ridge and the Allegheny, in the now
counties OF Page, Shenandoah, and Hockinghnm.
In the early part of The year l114, the coloniSts
began TO murnur at British eHcroachnents upon
colonial rights, and discomfort reached lis
when the news OF the passage of the Boston Port
| Bill was conveyed throughout the land. While
there may have been concerted movement of re-
SiSance -throughon the State, Dunmore county
was the first 10 step forward and boldly proclaim
It's opinions III reterance to the great questions then
agttatlng the country. This county gave itself a
distinct organization, as cont1adiStinguiSed from
lis colonial, and invested pow er i'll COMMITTEE of
Safety" the prer"gatives of which were &c erect
opposition 10 the royal power i'll case of necessity.
The meeting which took these initial revoutiona-
ry steps was held at Woodstock, on the lGti, June
lII4 one year before the celebrated .uecklenburg
meeting, which occurred III June, l775. The Kew
Peter Muhlenburg was chosen the Moderator OF
the III citing; and afterwards, as Chairman of the
Committee on Resolutions, reported number If
spirited and appropriate resolutions the tone of
which was holder than public opinion was then
prepared TO sanction. The following are a part
the noble sentiments slen put forth by those patri
otto lovers of liberty.
THAT we will pay due submission to such
acts of government as his Majesty has right by
law to exercise over his subjects, and TO such ony
" That 1t is the Inherent right of British subjects
10 be governed and taxed by representatives chos.n
lIlul every act III The British
ParlIaent respecting the internal policy OF Ame.l
ca, Is dangerous and unconstitutional invasion of
our rights and privileges.
That the enforcing the execution OF the said Act
oil Parliament by military powell will have me-
cessary tendency 10 cause u civil war, thereby dis
solving that union which has so long happily sub
sisted between tie mother country and her coonies
ana hat we will most heartily and Una nilnously
concur with our suffering brethren OF Boston, and
every part of North America, who are the immetlr-
ale victims oil tyranny, in promoting oil proper
measures to avert such dreadful caamities 10 pro-
cure redress OF our grievances, and to secure our
common llhertieS.'' ....-
The other resolutions were common at that perio1
depTccating importation or expectation with q reat
Britain, and against The East India COMPANY who
are called the "servle tools Of arbitrary power"
The proceedings close by "pledgins themsC. YES to
each other and 10 our country, that we will nvio-
laoly adhere to the votes OF this day. The Com
mlttee OF Safety and Correspondence appointed G
the county, consisted of the Rev. Peter Muhlen-
Ourg, Chairman; Francis Slaughter, 4 ABRAHAM Bird
navener Beale Gather OF the undersgned), John
Upton, and Abraham Bowman, Esqs, members
Inc proceedings OF this meeting published in
iull IN the Virginia GGSette for August d, 1714,
nile OF which paper is i'll the COMPRESSION
al library, ut Washington city. (rhe late fire at
the Congressional library may have destroyed it0
have thus Mr. Editor, given you the record
PROOF from me dazelte-then the only newspaper.
perhaps, which was published in Virginia COLONY
But cannot refrain from copying rs an interesting
incident III the history Of the times from letter
written by the Rev. Peter Muhlenburg to his hro
thtr in Trappe, Pa, dated January II, l775 which
is still pres rived as valuable Revolutionary relic
III the Muhlenburg Ianily. He SayS:-''The times
are getting Troublesome with u.s. and begin to wear
a hostile appearance. Independent companies are
forming III every county, and politics engross all
conversation. had thrown up my commission MS
chairman OF the Committee Correspondence
and OF magistrate likewise; but last week we had n
general election in the county for Great Commit
lee, according to the resolves of Congress-, and
again chosen chairman, that, whether T
choose or not, am 10 be politician
The Rev. Peter Muhlenburg was chosen mern-
Der OF the House of BurgeSses i'll 1T75, and took
SIDES with Patrick Henry, who was the leader OF
the war party; and when il determined to raise
SIX regiments from virginia. he returned home with
'he purpose 10 dotf his gown and grid the regi-
mentals and the sword. Atthe earnest solicitation
oil Gen. w ashingtoL. and Patrick Henry, the House
OF Delegates elected him Colonel of the eighth Vlr
ginia regiment. -
| Upon his return home, he gave notice to his
scattered Pensioners that he would deliver to them
on the following Sabbath his farewell sermon The
rude country church was filled to overiowins with
the hardy mountaineers of the frontier counties OF
The valley. So great was the aSsemblage, that The
quiet burial place filled with crowds of stern.
excited men, who had gathered together, believing
mat something, IL " knew not what, would be done
IN behalf OF their suffering country. They awaited
patiently the appearance of their pastor. He came
and assembled the pulpit, his tall form arrayed in
1ull uniform, over which his gown, the symbol Of
| his divine calling, was thrown. He preached 10
them of God, Savior, and Country, with all
the zeal and eloquence of Paul, and they hung
upon his fiery words with all the intensity of their
souls. His conclusion turned their thoughts upon
Their suferngS aud wrongs, and he said he had un-
sheathed the sword, and that, in the language of
HOLY Wnt, "thete was time for all thines-a lime.
10 preach and time TO pray, but those times had