Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-07-07

think they are remarkable for their early and dis
tincs recognition Of the nature Of the impending
struggle. And it seems to me worthy OF COM
memoration, that so early, before blow had been
struck or gun had been fired, the inhabitants of
this quiet farming town in theinterior had count
ed the cost and chosen their part, in such imph-
cit reliance what then and is now, the
great central idea of our national existenoe-the
keystone in the arch of the federal government,
- Union for the sake Of liberty"
After such beginning, it is natural to find the
inhabitants entering heartily into 4" the solemn
league and covenant to suspend all commercial
intercourse with the mother country, prepared
by General Joseph Warren, June 5, IVA. And
l want to read you the record of town meeting
held here on the 2lst Of the same month.
cat very full meeting of the Inhabitants of
the Town Of BTookheld, on Tuesday We Il day
of June l774 warned by a Notification from the
Clerk, after the Clerk had Red several letters
from the Com'tte of Correspondence for Boston
Worcester voted that MIR Josua Dodge DR.
ThOs Rich K Deacon Gilbert be COm'tte to
waite on the Rev'd Mr. Ward 4 desire him to at
tend X open this meeting with Prayer K the re-
quest was complied with in a very Sollom man
ner. After Prayer, Voted that Capt Jdu'n Bald.
win be moderator for this meeting. then the
several letters and covenants was again Red K
long debate thereon. A No of Persons subscribed
to the Covenants, and then voted that Mr. David
Hitchcock MIR Joseph Chadock Mr. Seth Banister
Nathan Banister be Com'ttee to inspect the
Traders of this Town & See that they do comply
with the CovenantOr Expose names K to see that
every person has the offer of signing the Cove
nart & if there is any that do refuse to report
their names & also to take care that Pedlars do
not sell any goods in this Town"
The whole of that year l find crowded with
similar resolutions and corresponding actions. A
committee is appointed in the name and on be-
half of the town of Brookfeld, to transmit let.
ter to the committee of correspondence for the
town of Boston, showing "that they are deter
mined to abide by and mainta and defend the
natural, political, and religious rights and priv-
leges OF the inhabitants of this province and
country, against all attempts to enslave them"
And the town instructs their Representative to
the General Court accordingly; and committee
OF correspondence is chosen and delegate to
the Provincial Congress at Cambridge and the
town votes its approval "of the association of the
Continental Congress, and that they will strictly
adhere to the same in all respects: and the min
listers are desired to notify contribution for the
sufferers at Boston, where the means of subsist-
ence were In great measure taken away by the
rigorous operation Of the embargo.
And before the close of the year (l774), the
town had organized two companies OF g minute
men" out of the large body OF militia, who were,
as their name imports, to hold themselves ready
and equipped to march on thesinstanto of any sud
den alarm, and who all subscribed solemn COW
enant agreeing to 60 so, and to hazard their lives
In resisting any armed force that should attempt
to execute the revenue act and acts for subvert-
ing the constitution Of the province.
On the ia OF May, l776, six weeks before the
Declaration Of Independence, find this record.
The question was asked in the words OF a re.
solve OF the General Court, whether this town
would support the honorable Congress in the
measure, If they, for liberty, should see fit to
declare the colonies independent of Great Britain,
and it passed in the affirmative, almost unani-
mously.
Through the whole course of the war there exist
ed the utmost zeal and theamost steadfast and de-
termlned spirit, indications of which are appar-
ent IN the record of every meeting held by the
town, pulaplied instances of which might have
selected, were it not for protracting my remarks
to an unwarranta6le length
a citizen OF Brookheld member of the
hrst committee of correspondence organized by
the General Court was one OF the thirteen coun.
clllors rejected by General Gage, with such men
as James Bowdoin, Samuel Dexter William
Phillips, aud John Adams.
When General Washington was about to take
his place as Commander in Chief at CAMBRIDGE.
and obtained from the Massachusetts delegation
at Philadelphia the names of such leading men
as he might rely upon, in this colony, they
mentioned citizen of Brookfield in the good ~
company OF OTIS and Winthrop and Hawlev
and Warren, and others, like them, immortal
other men OF this town marched to the beat of
old continental drums and followed the flag of
the contederaey, from the Inflated expedition
against Quebec, to the glorious surrender at
Yorktown.
Yes, Mr.. President, at every hour and in every
emergency OF these times which tried mems
souls, IN the hall of council and in the field of
battle, the men of Brookfeld were found true to
their country and true to liberty. Well is it for
u.s. VINO are sprung from such sturdy race, if we
all are baptized into their shirt NOT ALI no i'm
peTial greatness of our confederacy today not all
the riumphs of our flag by sea or land, not all
the wealth5that conquest and commerce have to.
gether amassed, can compensate the loss, if we
cease to cherish and perpetuate the simple lives.
the simplei manners. the simple virtues, and the
simple pety, of our forefathers
Permit me to offer as my closing sentiment
our Foretatber8 Of the Toton of Byookfeyd-
May taeir sons cherish their memory, initiate
their virtues, and equal their Character