The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-02-03
Miscellaneous.
TIE KEYSTONE STATE,


John S. Morton (the popular President
of the West Philadelphia Passenger
Railway the fallacy Of the Athens sto.
ry and we take pleasure in giving his
version, which is as follows. Bro. Nor
ton says.
We had intended some time ago to
again pay our respects to the author of
the "Rock Creek Bridge Story" pub
lishcd in the Athens GiedRer, concern.
ing the origin Of Pennsylvania title to
the name of "Keystone State;" but the
conviction that a very few persons would
attach any Importance to the story led
us to postpone our reply to convenient
season. His seven columns Of labored
argument, so far from proving Pennsyl-
Vania received the title of the "Key-
stone State" from the symbolical let
tiers on the Keystone of the thirteen
blocks comprising the arch of the bridge
over Rock creek, in the District of Co.
)umbia, shows that she already had that
title, and that the individual who con-
strncted the bridge saw in the exact mum.
ber Of blocks comprising the arch fit.
ting opportunity to symbolic the idea.
His argument to prove that Pennsylva-
mia was not recognized as the "Key-
stone" in our national symbols, has no
bearing whatever on the question, for
the reason that these symbols We're de-
signed to represent union and equality,
and any reference to the superior condi-
ton of any State would have been inap-
propriate.
Another mistake of the writer is in
supposing the name "Keystone' to be
a Federal symbol. Such is not the case.
Pennsylvania claims for herself the ii.
tie of "Keystone' precisely rs Massa-
chusetts claims to be called the ebay
State" New Hampshire the "Granite
State" because of some distinctive pc.
culiarity belonging to.themselves exclu-
sively.
Long before our Revolutionary era
the arch and its keystone were symbols
of union and strength. Hence the idea
fastened itself upon the minds of Penn
| sylvanians that our State occupied the
position of the keystone to the Union.
There are many incidents in our history
well calculated to develope this idea. At
the time of the adoption of the Declara-
tion of Independence, Pennsylvania
was the dividing State between North
and South, there being six on each side
of her
In the Congress of Independence the
| representatives of the Colonies sat in a
! sem;eircle around the Speakers chair,
Pennsylvania occupying the centre OF
the arch she was also the last of Mir.
teen States to vote, and thus rcsembled
the keystone of the arch, which is al.
ways inserted last and without which
the arch could not stand. These well.
known facts undoubtedly present them
selves to the minds of many, and the
I title Of "Keystone" gradually worked
its way among the people, until it final
| ly became an acknowledged title by cv-
cry one. The builder of the Rock Creek
Bridge no doubt heard this oft-repeated
4 expression, and very appropriately
/ symbolized it upon the bridge he was
building. The fitness of the expression
has been recognized by thousands oi
public speakers in all parts Of the State
for over half Il century, not one OF
whom probably ever heard Of Rock
Creek Bridge, with its historical claims
of less than twenty years standing
Aside from the historical facts we have
given in regard to the geographical po
sition Of the State and the position o.
its representatives in the Revolutiona
mony which helped to create a sponta
ncou5 sentiment in the midst of hel
people, that she was in a still higher
sense the keystone of the arch. In Tho
old Episcopal church-yard in Chester
Pennsylvania, lie the remains of Judge
Morton, and upon his tomb is the fol
lowing inscription:
dedicated to the memory Of John Morton, a
member OF the first American Congress from tn,
State of Pennsylvania, assembled in New Yorl
1865, and of the next Congress, assembled ii
Philadelphia, in III and various other publi
stations. Born \. D. 1921. Died April, l777."
1
his relations october Q, 1915, In l77j, while Speak
or Of the Assembly of Pennsylvania, John Nor
| ton was reelected member of Congress, and IN
the ever-memorable session of July, l77G, he ut
| tended that august body FOR the last ume en-
shrning his name in the grateful remembrance,
OF the American people by signing the Declard
tlOn of Independence. In voting by states up
| on the question of the Independence Of tn
American colonies, there was tie until the vot
...D Do, .s,rI.r
which voted in the affirmative and two in the ne
gative. The tie continued until the vote of tn
last me mber, John Morton, decided the promul
CATION of the glorious diploma Of American
freedom.
John Morton being censured by some of hi
friends for his boldness in giving his castin
vote for the Declaration o. Independence, hi
prophetic spirit dictated from hs dcath-bed tn
following message to them
Tell them that they will live to see the hou
when they shall acknowledge 1t to have bee
the most glorious service that ever rcudere
my country"
This monument was erected by hi
near relatives, some of whom were liv
ing when he died. No one will den.
that this inscription expresses the tradi
tions of our Revolutionary period a
handed down to them by him. Th
men who signed the Declaration of In
dependence rendered themselves liabl
to death in case of failure, and thei
dangerous situation naturally led t
family conversation relating to the sui
ject, so that this record has really tn
force of written testimony.
1t is well known that there was
great diversity of opinion among tn
people in regard to the Declaration an
, the probability is that the vote occurre
as stated on Judge Morton's monumer
+ and was made unanimous after til
, question had been decided by the mi
jority-a very common practice anon
deliberativc bodies, when unanimity
p essential to success. The fact that Judg
q Morton was censured for his vote by Il
enemies of the Declaration would, an
doubtless did, impress the friends
d the Union more fully with the idea th
Dannsvlyonia pccuuipl thn EpNstOI