Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1871-03-04

the death of Capt. VIM. Blair, VIII
fell gloriously fighting in his country
cause, commanded the game cock
company from this county in the wa
Of the Revolution, and came out wit
unfading lustre. No man in thi
county enjoyed in higher degree tn
confidence of his fellow-citizens thai
Henry Williams, and no one was NOR
deeply lamented when dead. AM
no man, as soon as the war was owe
over, was more willing to bury tn
hatchet Of discord: and say, let Their
be no more Wings, no more Tories, bu
American citizens ALIVE are al
Federalists, we are all Republicans.
Who is there now living in the EN-
mittsburg District, in whose veins
flows the blood of a Revolutionary an
cestry, that does not feel proud of the
deeds that their fathers have done
when Liberty and the cherished rights
of freemen were at stake? In this
great war for self-government on the
American Continent, a long-contested
struggle, which will survive through
all coming time, it is gratifying tc
know that the people residing in The
Red Land section of the county done
their whole duty. They met first in
council for consultation and concilia-
ton: they were for calm discussion
for concession, compromise, union and
harmony, but when these failed, and
war was the inevitable result they
rallied at the first tap Of the drum
and as old VIM. Silvy declared on
many an occasion, they fought with
spirit and determination to maintain
the cause of right and free govern
ment, when both were in peril.
Atthat same period when the vii
lage Of John Hampden, Of England
was pregnant with celestial fire, Vt
on the banks of Beaver Dam, in this
county, there resided a man, midway
between Toms and Owings' creek, a
sterling patriot in whose heart there
beat the true pulsations of liberty
united with the principles Of justice,
truth and honor.
Daniel Webster once declared in a
speech delivered on tho steps Of Bar
NUNS Hotel, Baltimore, in 1880 or
1910, that there were no. "Sumeloys IN
Revolutionary times" This declara-
ton was strictly true, for the meeting
convened at the school house, near
Troxell's old mill, on Toms creek, in
August, ITO, was held on Sunday
VIM Elder, son Of Guy, was said to be
a natural born orator, and a man of
commanding appearance. He exer-
cised great influence with his country
men at that critical epoch. BE was a
good writer and good speaker, and a
gentleman of comprehensive and cul-
tivated mind. He was descended
from an Englishman whose ancestry
emigrated from Buckinghamshire.
The resolution of "Wm. Elder, son
Guy" was worthy Of his ancestry and
of the country from which they came.
He was in truth village Hampden,
whose breast was once pregnant with
celestial fire." His resolution, couch
ed in few words, touched the popular
heart. 1t made a deep impression. 1t
was an epitome of the Declaration of
the Pilgrim Fathers on their first land
ing on the banks of st. Mary's. 1t
was in accord and in sympathy with
the great truths embodied in the De-
claration of Independence. 1t was,
indeed, worthy Of "Wm. Elder, son of
Guy" That resolution DR.. Franklin
pronounced the most comprehensive
in the fewest words that he had read
among the Colonial Resolves adopted a
hundred years ago 1t was not only
printed in the papers Of Philadelphia
and Boston, but it was also published
in the public journals of London, as
embodying the sentiments Of native
born Americans, the descendants and
brothers of Englishmen.
The monument, erected by the State
of Maryland to George Washington,
which raises its lofty column in North
Charles street, Baltimore, perpetuates
the great deeds of the Father of his
country, who was "frst in war, first in
peace, and first in the hearts of his
countrymen;' a man who, according
to Daniel Webster's massive speech at
the Centennial Celebration Of Wash
ington's Birthday at Washington city,
on the 22d Of February, 1882, was a
model Of excellence in all the relations
of life-great as surveyor, great as a
warrior, great as Christian, great as
a statesman, great as patriot, great
as the foremost man in America.
But where oh where! is the hum
bic slab or cenotaph to transmit to
posterity the names Of John Hanson,
Jr., or "Wm. Elder, son of Guy?
Washington's bones repose beneath
the genial soil of Mount Vernon-but
where rest the bones of Frederick
county's honored dead?
When war was resolved on between
the Colonies and the Mother Country
we see the men who were prominent
at the meeting held near Troxell {
mill on the 18th of August, ITO
ready to fly to arms to contend on the
battle field for the great principle:
which they adopted on that occasion
"Once this soft turf, this rivulet's sands
Were trampled by hurrying crowd,
And armed hosts and armed hands
Encountered in the battle cloud"