The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-22
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.
WafH Cak0LIsA VERSUS OLD VIRGINIA.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM THE HON. J.
N. n. BEALE.

HoCsE or REPRESENTATIVE
January TO- 1853. I
have read in the HRRALD Of the 18th nit, an ad-
Aress delivered by the Rev. DR. Hawkes. before tie
New York Historical Society, en- the History Of
North Carolina, in which he claims for the people
Il The county OF Mecklenbur OF that State the first
mcvement towards declaration OF American indie
pendence.
With 10 attempt or wish TO detract from the merit
Of the movement made by the patriotic people OF that
portion Of our country yet it is due TO political JUS
sse and the truth OF history to say that evidence
exists, of the most unmstakable character which
shows that the first known step taken in the open as
seyhOn Of American rights and independence occur
ssd among the people inhabitng the then county OF
Dunmore, named after Lord Dunmore, now called
Shenandoah, in the Valley OF Virginia.
The opinion has long prevailed, with the casual
saaer and the incorrect historian that the patriots
81 Aecklenburg, N. c., opened the ball OF the Re-
voiution. The learned divine has assumed this cur
sent belief 10 be fact, and thus committed histor-
cal blunder. But to the records Of the facts
The Rev. Peter Muhlenburg, Lutheran clergy
nan, from Trappe Pennsylvania, removed, in the
year l772, to Woodstock Dunmore county, Virginia
and became the pastor of the church in that village
He was descended from German parentagc and al
thO1gh born in Pennsylvania, educated in Halle,
N Germany. He soon won the confidence OF his
0ock and the affection of the whole Germanic tami-
~ 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 IVA, the colonists
began to murmur at British Entertainments upon CO.
bnial rights, and discntent reached its acme when
the news OF the passage of the Boston Port bill was
conveyed throughout the land. While there may
have been concerted movement of resistance
throughout the State, Dunmore county was the first
20 step forward and boldly proclaim its opinions in
reference TO the great questions then agtatng the
oCantry. This coSnty gave itself distinct organi-
.iSfin ito
invested power in Committee of Safety the
prerogatives OF which to erect opposition to the
royal power in case OF necessity.
The meeting which took these initial revolutionary
steps was held at Woodstock on the 18th June i774
one year before the celebrated Mecklenburg meet
ing, which occurred in June l775. The Rev Peter
Muhlenbers was chosen the Moderator of the meet
ag; and afterwards "a Chairman of the Committee
On Resolutions, reported number of spirited and
appropriate resolutions, the tone OF which was holder
than public opinion was then prepared to sanction.
The following part of the noble sentiments then
put forth by those patriotic lovers of liberty
THAT we will pay due submission TO such acts If
government a. his Majesty has right by law TO
sxefcise over his subjects, and to such only
''That it is the Inherent right OF British subjects
70 be governed and taxed by representatives chosen
by themselves only, and that every act of the Bri
tish Parliament respecting the internal policy Of
America, is dangerous and unconstitutional inya-
non OF our rights and privileges.
THAT the enforcing the execution of the said Act
OF Parliament by military power. will have IL
eeeSRry tendency 10 civil thereby dis
solving that union which has so long happily sub
Ested between the mother country and her colonies;
and that will most heartily and unanimously
concur with our suffering brethren of Boston, and
every other part of North America, who are the i'm
mediate victims OF tyranny, in promoting all proper
measures TO avert such dreadful calamites procure
redress OF our grievances, and to secure our
common liberties"
The other resolutions were common at that period
3eprecafng importation expectation with Great
fkitain, and against the East India Company, who
are called 'the servile tools Of arbitrary power The
proceedings close by pledging themselves to each
ether, and TO country that will involably ad
here 70 the votes OF this day" The Committee of
Safety and Correspondence appointed for the county
consisted Of the Rev. Peter Muhlenburg, Chairman
Francis Slaughter Abraham Bird, Tavener Beale
Gather Of the undersigned) John Upton. and
Abraham Bowman, Esqs., members.
The proceedings OF this meeting are published in
snll in the Virginia Gazette for August 4, l77i,
Ae Of which paper IS preserved in the Congressional
library, at Washington city. (The late fire at the
Congressional library may have destroyed it,
have thus, Mr.. Editor given you the record proof
from the Ga1dtc-then the only newspaper, perhaps,
which was published in the Virginia colony. Bat
cannot refrain from copying, an interesting Incl
cent il the history Of the times from letter written
BY the Rev. Peter Nuhlenbmg, to his brother in
Trappe, Pa, dated January IL, 1T7J which is still
preserved as a valuable Revolutionary relic in tue
huhlenburg family. He says:-"The times are get
ting troublesome with US and begin to a hostile
appearance. Independent companies are forming in
every county and politics eugross all conversation.
had thrown up my commission IS chairman OF the
Committee Correspondence, and Of magistrate
likewise: bnt last week had general election in
the county for a Great Committee, according N the
resolves Of Congress and am again chosen chair
man, 80 that, whether choose or not, am to he
politician"
The Rev. Peter Mnhlenburg chosen member
Of the House Of Burgesses in lIl5. and took sides
with Patrick Henry, VINO the leader of the
PARTY; and when il determined to raise tx regi
ments from Virginia, he returned home with the
purpose to dot his gown and grid the re@imentals
and the sword. At the earnest solicitation of Gene
IA, Washington and Patrick Henry, the House of
Delegates elected him Colonel Of the eighth Virginia
regiment.
tered p9rishioners that he would deliver to them
the following Sabbath his farewell sermon. The rude
country church was filed 10 overlooking with The
hardy mountaineers Of the frontier counties Of the
valley So great the assemblage, that the quiet
burial place was TILED with crowds of stern. excited
Sen who had gathered together. believing that
something, they 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
10 fnll uniform, over which his gown, the gym
bol Of his divine calling, was thrown. He preach
ed 10 them Of a God. Saviour and a Country, with
all the zeal and eoquence of a Paul, and they hung
spon his fiery words with all the intensity OF their
souls. His conclusion turned their thoughts upon
their suferngs and wrongs, and he said he had un-
sbeathed the sword, and that, IN the language Of
Holy Writ, there was time for all things time
10 preach and time to pray, but those times had
passed away and, in voice that echoed through
The church like q uumpetblast, that there a
sirne 10 fight, and that time had now come"
After the benedicton, his gown was mooeed, and
esing TO the floor he stood before his congregation
grdes warrior, and, descending from the pulpit, or
sered the drums at the door to beat for recruits
Then followed bright example Of patriotic devotion
His audience. excited in the highest degree by the
mpassioned words which fell from his lips, locked
around him, eager to be ranked among his followers.
Old men seen bringing forward their children
wives their husbands, and widowed mothers their
70 fight the battles OF their country Nearly
three hundred men that day enlisted under his ban
ner. What a noble sight A cause thus supported
scald not fail.
The facts stated in the preceding account 81 Colo
sei Nuhlenburg's farewell sermon are abundantv
established by all contemporaneous narratives aud
nv traditionary "reminiscences, and are particularly