Mariposa Democrat., 1857-07-02
HO r. N 1 Il O s:
FOURTH OF JULY.

third to the coonists. This appeal was little
needed by the king and Parliament of Great
Britain and coercive and arbitrary measures
were resorted to by them to compel the colo
nists to submission. On the 10th April 1775
a detachment of 800 troops under Col. Smith
and Major Pitcairn, were ordered to take pos
session Of military stores at Condord. Inpass-
ing through Lexington they found some of the
militia of that town under arms. Maj. Pit
cairn riding up, exclaimed, "Disperse you
rebels" not being Immediately obcyed, he
discharged his pistol and ordered his men
to fire, which they did, killing eight men,
The British then proceeded to Concord, de-
stroyed the stores, and were attacked on their
return; and although reinforced by lord Per-
ry with 900 men, were continually harrassed
by destructive fire from the Americans, un-
til they had obtained safety under cover Of a
fire from frgate in Boston Harbor. The
second Continental Congress sent an account
of this affair to England, declared their loyalty
to the crown, but avowed 7" that they were de-
termined to be free or die" And from this
day they assumed the appellation of the "Uni-
ted Colonies" On the 18th of June 1775,
followed the ever memorable battle of Bunker
Hill, in which the gallant Warren fell martyr
in the cause of freedom, and where the Amer
leans nobly and heroically died in defence of
their liberties.
In Congress on the 7th of june 1776, Rich
ard Henry Lee, Of Virginia, made motion for
declaring the colonies free and independent
states. A committee consisting of Adams,
Jefferson, Franklin, Sherman, and Livingston,
was appointed to draw up declaration of In
dependence, which was signed on the 4th of
July, 1776 The first hostile gun of the Rev.
olution was fired at Lexington, and never did
the Americans lay down their arms until they,
in conjunction with the French under Lafay-
ette, had silenced the enemy's fire on the 1th
October, 1871, at Yorktown. On the 18th,
Lord Cornwallis proposed cessation Of hos
tilites, and on the 10Th, the capitulation was
signed by which the British stores and army
to the numer of 7,073, were surrendered to
Washington this decided the war, and Sc
cured the Independence of the United States
of America.
The American Colonies acknowledged obe-
diencc to the crown and allegience to the king
but denied the right Of Parliament to exercise
any power of supremacy over them, at vari
ance with their chartered rights emanating
from the throne. Taxation without rcpresen-
tation was the basis of their argument. The
Americans declared that if they were to be
taxed for the support of the English Govern
ment, they should have a representative voice
in the administration of its affairs; and that
they never would consent to be taxed without
representation. They laid their petitions and
rcmonstrances at the foot of the throne, but
they were unheeded or denied, and It was not
until every amiable and respectful exposition
of their grievances had failed, and the blood of
American citizens had been split, that they re-
sorted to arms to defend their rights, and with
which they finally won for themselves, and
their posterty an unqualified independence,
Great Britain, Sweden, Denmark, Spain and
Russia.
In the year 1887, delegates from all the
States assembled at Philadelphia and after four
months deliberation formed the present Federal
Constitution, which'was presented to Congress
and by that body to the several states for
their approval This Constitution was accep
ted and ratified by all the states, except North
Carolina and Rhode Island, and in 1888 be-
came the Constitution of the United States
North Carolina accepted it in 1889, and Rhode
Island in 1890. By this Constitution the sew
eral States sent delegates to Congress. George
Washington was elected the first President of
the United States, and was inaugurated as
such, on the 3oth of April 17s9 Since that
time we have rapidly, yet steadily progressed
in the great march of nations; enlarging our
territory, extending our commerce, and in.
creasing our manufactures, until we acknowl
edge no superior amongst all the kingdoms of
the Earth. Since that great epoch in the
worlds history no flag has waved fairer on
the breeze, no arms have obtained more re-
nown in battle, and no land has afforded freer
access to the fugitives from tyranny. The
signers of the declaration of ofIndependence were
good men; they were true men; they were
wise men and their solemn declaration pub.
lished to the kingly world on the 4th of July
1776, "that America must and shall be free"
proved that their manly hearts were strangers
to the slightest quaking of cowardy fear. No
BILE Patriots! most worthy to be respected
and admired are your virtuous deeds of patri-
otism; and then too, the heroic achievements
of the gallant dead, who fell at Bunker Hill,
: or died at Valley Forge-must they not be
rcmembcrcds The lips of every American