The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-26
Interesting Letter from the Hon. J. M. ii Beaio
HOUSE, or REPRESENTATIVES, Jan. 20, 1883

Historical Society," on the History of North Carona,"
in which he claims Tor the people OF the county OF Meek
lenburg, OF that State, the first movement towards
declaration OF American independence
With attempt wish detract from the merit of
the movement made by the patriotic people of that por
ton OF our country il is due to political justice and
the truth OF history say that evidence exists OF the
most unmstakeabe character which shows that the first
known step taken ia the open assertion OF American
rights and independence occurred among the people IN
habiting the then county of Dunmore-so named after
Lord Dunmore called Shenandoah lin the valley OF
Virginia.
The opinion has long prevailed with the casual reader
and the incorrect historian that the patriots OF Mecklen
burg, North Carolina opened the ball OF the revolu-
tom The learned divine has assumed this current be-
lief TO be fact, and thus committed historical Dlun
der. But to the records OF the facts;
The Rev. Peter Muhenburg, Lutheran clergyman
from Trappe Pennsy vania removed IN The year l7I2,
to Woodstock. Dunmore county Virginia, and became
the pastor of the church in that village. de was de
scended from German parenase and although born IN
pennsyl vania, educated in Halle, In Germany lie
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 Rockingham
In the early part OF the year l774 the colonsts began
to murmur at British encIoachments upon colonial
rights. and discomfort reached It's acme when the news
of the passage OF the Boston port bill was conveyed
throughout The land While there may have been con-
certed movement OF resistance throughout the State.
Dunmore county the first to step forward and boldly
proclaim It's opinions in reference 10 the great questions
then agating the country. This county gave Itself
distinct organization as contradistingu'shed IRON us CO.
onal, and invested power in COMMITTEE OF SAFELY,
the prerogatves of which were TO erect opposition 10 Inc
royal power in case OF necessity.
The meeting which took these initial revolutionary
steps was held Woodstock, the 10th june l774,
one year before the celebrated Mecklenburg meeting,
which occurred in June, l775 The Rev Peter Muhlen-
burg chosen the moderator OF the meeting ana al
terwards chairman of the committee on resolutions,
reported number OF spirited and appropriate resolutions,
the of which was holder than public opinion was
then prepared 10 sanction. The following are part OF
the noble sentiments then put forth by those patriotic
lovers OF liberty:
THAT we will pay due submission to such acts of
government his Majesty has right by law to exer-
else over his subjects, and to such only.
"That it is the inherent right OF British subjects TO be
governed and taxed by representatives chosen by them
selves only and that every act OF the British Parliament
respecting the internal policy of America Is dangerous
and unconstitutional invasion OF our rights and pvi-
leges;. Ill =, g
Parliament by military power will have necessary
tendency 10 cause civil war, thereby dissolvlng that
union which ha, so long happily subsised between The
mother country and her colonies and that we Will most
heartily and unanimously with our suffering
brethren of Boston, and every other OF North America
who the immediate victims OF tyranny, IN promoting
all proper to avert such dreadful calames TO
procure redress of grievances, and to secure our
common Liberties" :,
The other resolutions were common at that period,
depecating importation expectation with Great Braln
and against the East India Company, who are called
"he seve tools OF arbitrary power" The proceedings
close pledg themselves 10 eaCn DINER, 10 our
country, that we will nviolaby adhere the votes of
this day" The Committee OF Safety and Correspondence
appointed for the county consisted OF the Rev Peter
Muhenburg, chairman; Francis Slaughter. Abraham
Bird Tavener Beale Gather Of lhe underslgned John
Tipon. and Abraham Bowman, esqs, members
The proceedings OF this meeting are published IN full
In the Virginia Gazette for August a. 1874 Tile OF which
paper preserved in the Congressional Library at Wash
ingtoa city, (The late fire at the Congressional Library
may have destroyed Il
from the Gazette, then the only newspaper, perhaps
which was published in the Virginia colony. But |
cannot refrain from copying as an interesting incident
in the history OF the Tunes IRON letter written by the
Rev. Peter Muhlenburg 10 his brother IN lrappe, "a
dated Jan IT, 1875 which is stll preserved as valuable
revolutionary relic in the Muhlenburg family. He says
The times getting troublesome with us, and begin
10 hostile appearance. Independent companies are
forming in every county, and politics engross all CONVEX
.ation. had thrown up my commission as chairman OF
the committee correspondence, and OF magistrate like
wise but last week hid general election IN the
county for great commiree according TO the resolves
OF Congress, and am again chosen chairman, so that
4 whether choose not. am TO be a politician"
II The Rev Peter Muhlenburg was chosen member oil
the house OF bugssses IN 1873, and took sides win Pat
rick Henry who was the leader OF the war party an |
when il determined to raise SIX regiments from Nf
gnia be returned home with the purpose TO do
On e os an H
i ry the house OF delegates elected him colonel OF The
eighth Virginia regiment
Upon his return home he gave notice TO his scattered
pashoners that he would deliver to them on the folog
| ing Sabbath his farewell sermon. The rude country
church was filled to overflo wing with the hardy noun
taineers OF the frontier counties OF the valley SO great
was the assembage that the quiet burial place filled
with crowds of STERN excited men, who had gathered to-
geiher, believing that something, they knew not what
would be done in behalf OF their suffering country They
awaited patiently the appearance OF their pastor lie
came, and assembled the pulpit, his tall form arrayed IN
/ full uniform, which his gown, the symbol OF hls
divine calling thrown. he preached TO them OF
God, Saviour and country with all The zeal and eo
quence Of a Paul. and they hung upon his befy words
with all The intensity OF their souls. His conclusion
turned their thoughts upon their sseungs and wrongs
and he said he bad unsbealhed the sword and that IN
the language OF Holy Writ, 4" there lime for all
thngs-a time TO preach and time 10 pray, bat those
times had passed away" and, in voice that echoed
through the church like trumpet blast that there was
| a time to fight. and that time had now come
After the benedciion, his gown unloosed and
falling to the floor, he stood before his congregation
girded warrior and descending from the pulpit ordered
the drums at the door 10 beat for recruits Then follow
ed bright example OF patriotic devotion. His audience,
excited in the highest degree by The imprisoned words
which fell from hs lips 0ocked around him, eager 10 be
ranked among his followers. Old men seen bring
ing forward their children wives their husbands, and
wido we'd mothers their sons TO fight the battles OF their
country Nearly three hundred that day enlisted
under his banner. What noble sight cause thus
supported could not fail.
The facts stated in the preceding account OF Colonel
Muhlenbue's farewell sermon are abundanily establish
ed by all con,emporaneous narratives, and by tradonary
"reminiscences, and particularly set forth IN Thatch-
er's Military Journal" p 1874 " Howes Historical Col