The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-10-31
The Sons of Liberty.


When the idea of resisting British aggression
first kindled in the hearts of our patriot sres,
they were few and weak. Accordingly thev
organized into secret societies for the purpose
of united action. Boston was the head quar-
! ters of the committee of safety, and also of a
secret society called the sssons of liberty.' The
object of this organization was to take such
measures as the patriot cause demanded, to Sc
cure prompt, united, action, and to keep all
designs secret from the English civil authori-
ties and the English military
The sons of liberty were composed of men
known to be undying advocate of American
freedom-of men ready for ever emergency
however periIous. The great events which oc-
Cured just previous to the battle of Lexington
such as the destruction Of the tea, the s'stamp
act riots, etc. were set on foot and carried out
! by the sons of liberty and all through the dark
and perilous days that followed, that society
existed and did much to win the very liberties
which we now enjoy. This is fact, worthy
at this time, of especial note. 1t is well not to
forget that ''in the times that tried men souls"
secret societies existed and acted in the great
struggle of independence.
Prominent among the members of the sons
1'of liberty in Massachusetts,, were ohm Hancock,
John Adams, James Otis, John Warren, Sam.
uel Adams, Josiah Quincy, and other promi-
nent patriots. They had their secret gather
ings, their signs, their pass words, etc. etc. An
oath was required Of every member, and he
was also pledged to stand by the patriot cause
through veal and woe. This society origina-
ted the idea of erecting s'lberty poles, or ssllb
erty trees" as they were then termed.
The organization soon spread into all of the
thirteen states At Norwich, Connecticut, on
the 7th of june 1868, the 'ssons'' had a great
festival at place called Peck's tavern A tall
liberty tree was erected, and the dining hall
decorated with patriotic notices. Several hun
dred persons took part in the proceedings, and
no man was allowed to drink tea Again, at
the same place, when news came of the 'Bos-
ton massacre" the. sons of liberty turned out
at once 'four hundred and sixty-four men,"
says the old record They rallied at the liberty
tree, and waited some time for orders to march
to Boston, but they were not wanted until some
few weeks after. A chief son of liberty in
Connecticut, was Jonathan Trumbull, the friend
of Washington, and the fervent patriot
On the 1st day of March, 1776, the sons of
liberty in Maryland held a great meeting at
Annapolis court house. All the principal pa
triots of the counties round about were present
and in the list of names which were appended
to an address, we find two signers of the decla-
ration of independence.
In 1774 the order was organized in Georgia
and in Jul y meeting was assembled in Savan-
nah, liberty tree erected, and active measures
taken to aid the patriot cause. A committee
of thirty gentlemen was appointed to act as a
vigilance committee, and also to take measures
for procuring arms. The best men of Georgia
acted in that bod dy-John Glenn, Noble Jones,
Lyman Hall, Elisha Butler, etc, true patriots,
every one
In 1776, the sons were strong in South Caro-
lima. Weread of meeting held in Charleston
when great party gathered in a circle around
the liberty tree, and with joined hands, pledged
themselves to- resist British aggression until
the last. History has penned the names OF
some of these men, there was Christopher Gads-
den, Geo. Flagg, John Calvert, Robert Howard
Thomas Lynch, John Rutledge, Edward Rut-
ledge. There were many others, but we have
not room for their names Tradition says that
the meetings were held at certain tavern called
''The Corner.'
In New ork the order was very strong. The
British authorities declared that it was more to
be dreaded than the American army! The chief
society met at the house of Richard Howard, a
good patriot in New York city
Branches were in operation throughout the
state. There was vigilance committee a sort
of executive council,' we suppose, consisting
of ffty-four members Here are some of the
names-Isaac Sears, John Lamb, Thos. Robin
son and VIM. Riley. In March l775, the sons
erected liberty pole with great rejoicngs, but
the British soldiery soon cut it down. The next
evening it was erected again by the patriots,
and again the British troops lcvelled it. But
the sons were not discouraged, the pole was
bound with iron about the base and setup gain
A few weeks passed, when band of soldiers
| again came to destroy this emblem of liberty
AS if by magic, the sons rallied, gathered
around the pole, and swore to defend it with
their lives A compromise was at length ef-
fected, and the British marched away.
On several occasions in the different states,
the sons seized British arms and ammunition,
arrested spies, and punished traitors. In Vir-
glnla, Patrick Henry was a chief in the order
and at one time he commended corps of men,
all members of the sons. Peyton Randolph
was also a member and very active
On Monday, August 18th, 1869, meeting
of the order convened at Dorchester, Mass.
Three hundred and fifty members were present
John Hancock, James Otis, Samuel and John
Adams were the leading spirits. A tall 'liberty
tree'' was set up, decorated with flags and
streamers. Two long tables were laid in
pleasant grove and some four hundred persons
sat down to dinner. The exercises were very
interesting, patriotic speeches, songs, &C.
The St. Genevieve (Mo. Plaindealer pub
fishes an account of an aggravated case of big
amy, the criminal being one Richard W. 7.
Bagly, man about thirty years of age, dark
complexion short and stout built mps lit
tie, and has down cast look. He has evadcd
the officers Of justice, and left the scene of his
operations, ,and the above description of his per-
son is given that the public may be on their
guard It seems that about two years since he
removed from St. Genevieve county, Missouri,
to Texas, where his wife shortly after died.
Within three weeks after he married again, and
soon returned to Missouri but settled in Dade
county, where, after brutally treating his wife,
he deserted her, moving back to St. Genevieve