New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-11-30
The Days Of '16.


Rodney's Ride to Vote for Independ ence
In letter to the Chicago Tribune, George
Alfred Townsend reproduces the story of Ca sal
Rodney's ride from Dover to Philadelphia, t.
vote for Independence, in 1776. He tells il
with fullness of detail that can only be at
tanned by some assistance of his own magma
ton, but the sketch is vivid and graphic He
says:
There were three delegates in the Congress Of
11I6from the " Territory" of Delaware of whom
Cesar Rodney was the elder, then aged forty
six. He had been a member of the Stamp Act
Congress. was a man of ardent character and
patriotism and soldierly talents, and had been
IN active politics Tor many years. John Adams
described him to be "the oddest-looking man
in the world-tall, thin, slender as a reed, aud
pale; his face not bigger than large apple
yet with sense and fire, spirit, wit, and humor
In his counteRance."
George Read and Thomas KcKean, the two
other delegates from Delaware, were equal in
years, and they had been schoolmates. Read
was cool and reflective, almost austere man,
who relied on his judgment for direction, and
was essentially respectable second rate law
yer. He was the grandfather of our present
Consul General at Paris, France. He did not
approve Of an open separation from Great
Britain, although he had taken a dignified and
decided stand against her aggressions. Mexican,
who was the son of an Irish Presbyterian like
Read, was a more positive and confident man,
full of zeal, courage, and snap" and he after
wards became President Of Congress and Gov.
ernor of Pennsylvania. He voted on the first
day of July, in Committee of the Whole, in
Independence Hall, for absolute and separate
American nationality, while Read voted against
1t. No States, except Delaware and Pennsyl-
tbar Al
ure, the latter State unanimously, but Mr.
Mexican resolved to put Delaware right upon
the record by bringing up Caesar Rodney to be
ready with his vote when the question should
be put on Thursday following; and to obtain
this majority, it was necessary to send cou-
rier into the lower counties OF Delaware to fnd
and fetch Rodney, who was meantime engaged
in suppressing the Peninsular Tories, always
turbulent and mutinous, and who had just
risen against the Wings.
Mexican paid out of his own pocket the ex-
penses of the courier, who left Philadelphia
Monday evening, and after ride of thirty
miles, put up at Wilmington that night. On
Tuesday he was in the saddle again he baited
and rested on Tuesday afternoon at Cantwelrs
bridge, and arrived late Tuesday night at Rod
ney's quarters where he delivered Mexican
letter.
The fiery Rodney perused the letter, and it
awakened all his pride of neighborhood. He
had just returned from Lewes and the refrac-
tory parts Of Sussex, and with his slender vital
resources he needed rest But soon after Tues
day midnight he was on the way to the North
booted and spurred, and followed by only one
attendant. About ninety miles, as the broken
and meandering stage road ran. lay between
him and the city of the Declaration.
He forded the branches Of Little Duck
Greek, full of splatter docks and croaking
frogs, before daylight, and plunged into the
wide scrub forest, which reaches from what is
now Leipsic to above Blackbird, New Castle
county. He swan Duck Greek, destitute of a
bridge and often wide enough for q ferry in
the time Of dawn, and found breakfast,
generous as the hard times could afford, at
Cantwelrs.
Resting here till the afternoon. he mounted
anew and passed the dwelling of Doctor Major
Tom Macdonough> the father of the future
Commodore Macdonough, winner Of the battle
Of Lake Champlain twho was not to be born for
yet seven years. and here he entered upon the
rolling. loamy hills of st. Georges Hundred,
through which was 20 pass the future Delaware
and Chesapeake Canal. Riding slowly around
the deep marshes of st. Georges Creek, he
watered bis horse at the Red Lion Tavern, and
supped OF New Castle, the oldest and the chief
town of Delaware, and the home of George
Read. Ten miles after dark brought him to
Wilmington, on the BrandywiEe and there he
went TO bed as wearied a man as ever rode a
disinterested journey 10 the interests of his
neighbors and a sentiment.
A skeleton TO look upon, living upon his
mental rather than his vital resources at the
best of times, Caesar Rodney retired TO bed
within thirty five miles of Philadelphia six
deep streams intervening and Congress was TO
meet early on The Fourth OF July.
BEFORE the earliest end most restless cock
could crow, Rodney was in the saddle again,
worn and muddy. and pulling at his vial of
West India rum al intervals, he forded Naa
mans creek and saw the sun stand broadly
above the Delaware at the town of Chester.
Then, riding toward the North, he crossed
Ridley, Crum, and Derby creeks, the country
all alive with excitement over the probable ac-
hon of Congress that day TO be reported-and
near noon he passed the river Schuylkill.
The city was all waiting, little aware of the |
person and perseverance of that thin, splat- |
Tered, dusty man, whose horse picked his way |
,ver the suburban roads, almost ready to fall |
10 his tracks. Rodney feared every instant |
hat the bell in the State House befry would |
ing the news Of Independence and Delaware
alone would stand hanging in the scale against
He stopped at the State House front. The
delegates were fast speeding into the hall, and |
here waited Judge Mexican, with quiet smile
,yerspresding his strong yisage and beaked
lose. Rodney, booted and sPurred, leaped
Iown from the saddle and shook bis friends
land. Not word upon the tremendous mat
er of the day passed between them ms they
talked together into Independence Hall.
in q few moments the tired man was upon
is feet, and he cast the vote of the territory of
delaware for . new nation, 10 be entitled the
'nited States of America.
-sWbat are you about, my dear?" said
randmother to little boy, who was idling