Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-05
!. vindication" Of Miss A. r.. Carroll.


The New York Crusader, having stated that
this lady was the descendant Of Charles Car
roll, Of Carrollton, corrected the statement in
its next issue The Washington Star made
the original statement the subject Of con-
temptuous contradiction. This has called for
4lyindcation" of Miss Carroll by Col. Polk,
a gentleman well known and universally re-
spected II is such vindication as any lady
might be proud to receive vouching, as it
does, for her own virtues and the honor Of her
ancestors.
This memoir of Colonel Polk is very inter
esting for its Revolutionary "reminiscences, and
brings before the public some specimens of the
patriotism of the humber cclonists well wor-
thy Of being compared with the eminent SER
vices of their more distinguished compatriots.
There is ono point in this memoir TO which
VIC would call public attention. The lady in
question does not claim to be descended from
Charles Carroll, but collatcrally from the same
ancestry.
When we are told that amongst those ances-
tors was one who, like Hamden, suffered inn
misonment rather than pay tax which he
deemed unlawful, we agree perfectly with Col
onel Polk, that so far Ms an honest pride Of
ancestry Is concerned, Miss Carroll has every
reason 10 be satisfied with her extraction.
Mr.. Carroll, Of Carrollton was, without
doubt, patriot, and we have no purpose to
question his sincerity, but there are some his
torical facts, in connection with the great act Of
lis life which we commend TO those who seem
TO claim for him, and the religious persuasion
10 which he belonged, some peculiar merit
Charles Carroll, Of Carrolton, was not a
member Of the Continental Congress which
adopted the Declaration Of Independence, and
consequently, neither voted for the resolutions
Of independence, nor the publication Of that
declaration The historical circumstances are
as follows
Congress, on the 9TH June, 1776, took up
Cor consideration the resolutions Of the Vir-
GINA Legislature:
Congress should declare that these United
Colonies are and Of right ought 10 be free and
independent States that they are absoved from
al allcg ance 10 the British Grown, and that all
political connection between them and the state
az Great Britain is and ought TO be totally dis
solved that measures should be taken for pro-
curing the assistance Of foreign powers, and a
confederacy be formed To bind the Colonies more
closely together"
They were discussed on the 9Th and 10th Of
June Mr.. Jefferson states a summary Of the
argument upon this resolution, which was
adopted ON the I'd July, with but little dissent.
The vote was Afterwards, by consultation and
instruction, made unanimous. On the 4th Of
July the declaration Of the reasons which had
impelled Congress TO this great act Of separa-
ton, was engrossed, published, and ordered to
be read in public meetings and at the head Of
the army. On the 18th July Congress adopt
"a resolution.
"That the Declaration passed on the 4th be
firly engrossed on parchment, with the title and
ytyle of The Unanimous Declaration Of the Thir
teen United States Of America and that the same
when engrossed, be signed by every member OF
the Congress"
During this critical period, Mr.. Carroll was a
member Of the Convention Of Maryland, but,
having been chosen a delegate TO Congress,
on the I'd August he signed the Declaration OF
independence under the general rule which
made II the duty Of every member Of Congress
to do so. We may add that the members con
tinued 70 sign under this rule until the close Of
the year 1776, when ii was discontinued.
This has operated somewhat unfairly. One
member Mexican, Of Pennsylvania
voted for the resolution Of Independence,
being in military service ut the time Of the
order, did not sign the declaration; whilst