The Placer herald., 1857-07-11

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chusetts and as to most Of the others to
nothing at all-they saw, however, that if
they permitted at all, taxation without repre-
sentation, that moment they became bonds
men to the crown. South Carolina and
Virginia, then among the most populous
of the Colonies, were the most staunch sup
porters Of Massachusetts. There we're men in
those States Of great wealth and Of titled no.
bility, yet these men with devotion to prin-
ciple worthy Of imitation in any age, cast
their titles to the winds, pledged property,
life, fame, and sacred honor, in support Of
the cause The orators of that day, every
where throughout the Colonies taught this
doctrine Of political right; the legislative and
other public bodies declared it in resolutions
and addresses-the people, high and low,
every brain, quivered along the nerves, and
were spoken, iterated and reiterated through
out the land. To US it seems strange, that
these warning cries, both at home and in
America, did not startle the ears of George
III. We know, however, that they did not.
With senses benumhed by fatal infatuation,
this foolish Monarch, his ignorant, bigoted
advisers, and with them silly Parliament,
resolved, to crush out, by brute force, this
manly spirit of the Colonial people, and bind
them down in slavish chains. Vain dreamers!
how little they knew of that people, who even
then defed their impotent rage, but who now
are their rivals in war and commerce, and
their teachers in all the arts that render
nation morally great and powerful. When
this resolution of the mother country in l774,
| o,,J al 10
force it, it called together set of statesmen,
nurtured it is true in the forests of the west
ern continent, but who were at once profound,
far-sighted, virtuous and firm as rocks-the
people armed for the conflict, and Concord,
Lexington, Bunker Hill, and Ticonderoga
gave unmistakabe indications of their inten-
tions.
Up to this time no formal act Of sepera-
ton had taken place. These banded infant
States had been two years in counsel, patriot
blood had flown in copous streams yet no
declaration Of separation had been voted
they were not vet nation, but by their own
showing in open resistance of their own
country.
| The people then, as now-in this country
as in most others--were in advance of their
government and besought their r,presenta
tives in Congress to relieve the country from
its embarrassing condition. The people act
ed from an innate sense of right and spoke
forth from impulse; but these grave Senators
seated in counsel at Philadel phia, were about
to do momentOus act-to assume rcspon-
sbility which to men of less nerve and stead
fast truth, was positively appalling-,hey
were about to launch people out upon an
unknown sea-already boiling and raging in
the fierce political strife; with the black
clouds of battle closing the horizon on every
side; and scarce star shining through the
dark future, to light them on to hope. No
wonder they pondered long and deeply be-
fore they would act-no wonder they cried
peace, peace, peace, until there was none,
and stern necessity bid them do their duty.
At length the morning of July 4th, 1776,
dawned upon this unhappy people, and still
with closed doors, in scored session, sat this
Congress, in the State House Of the then
Capital of Pennsylvania. That same un-
pretending old brick house is now standing
in Philadelphia, and the bell which swung in
the belfry, and upon which was inscribed
those prophetic words, "Proclaim liberty
throughout the world, and to all the inhabi-
tants thereof" may yet be seen.
The citizens, with anxious countenances
were gathered in knots and bands through
out the streets of the city, and in crowds
around the hall of counsel, evidently expect
ing the announcement of some important
fact. 1t was known that resolution declar
ing the Colonies independent of the Grown
of Great Britain had been under consdera-
ton for near month, and on that day il
was hoped that the committee to whom it
was referred, would make their report-ex
pectation was upon tip.toe Those imme
diately about the hall watched with eager
eyes an old man in the belfry, and those who
could not see him listened with greedy ears
to catch the first notes of the bell. At last
$50 the story goes) when the patience of
these citizens were nearly exhausted, and
hope grow faint in their bosoms, a little
faxen- haired boy run out of the hall and
into the street, and clapping his tiny hands
to attract attention, and in the shrill accents
of youth, cried to the old man, the magic
word "ring" Then that old man threw all
his strength into his once brawny arms, and
swung that old bell, and heaved at the iron
tongue, and to and fro it went, until its
brazen case quivered again and again, as did
the nerves of the people, to whom its voice
proclaimed "liberty throughout the land, and
to all the inhabitants thereof" 1t was no
"still small voice" appealing to the conscien-
ces of men, but loud tocsin, arousing men
to action. All Europe heard it, and the
magnanimousy brave Of every land, seized
the torch of freedom and held it on high,
that benighted man might struggle through
the darkness Of priestcraft and king craft,
and their eyes receive realizing sense Of
the rights of man and the true dignity which
God bad conferred upon the souls Of men.
Little knew that old beli-ringer how long the
peal of that bell would last, or the parts Of