Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-01-11
TIE DAYS OF16.
RopsEY's RIDE TO VOTE pos rxpxrxxpsscr

RopNErs RIDE 10 VOTE EoR INDEPENDENCE.
George Alfred Townsend reproduees the
story Of Caesar Rodney's ride from Dover
to Philadelphia, to vote for Independence
in 1776. He tells it with fullness Of
detail that can only be attended by some
assistance of his own imagination. but the
sketch is vivid and graphic. He says:
There were thsee delegates in the Con-
gress Of 1776 Territory" of Delaware.
Of whom Cesar Rodney was the elder. then
aged forty-six. He had been u member
of the stamp Act Congress. was a man Of
ardent character and patriotism and soldier
ly talents. and had been in active politics
for many years. John Adams describes
him to be .'oldest-looking man in the world
tall, thin, slender as 4 reed, and pale
his face not bigger than large apple, yet
with sense AMI fire. spirit. wit. and humor
in his countenance."
George Read and Thomas Mexican, the
two other delegates from Delaware. were
equal in years and they had been school
mates. Read was a cool and reflective,
almost austere man. who relied on his
judgment for direction. and was essential
ly respectable second.rate lawyer. 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 digniicd
anddecided stand against her aggressions
Mexican who was the son of an Irish Pres
byterian. like Read. was a more positive
and confident man. full Of zeal. courage
and "snap," aud he afterwards became
President Of Congress and Governor of
Penn He voted on the lst day Of July.
in committee Of the Whole, in Indipen-
dence Hall for absolute and separate Amer
lean nationality. while Read voted against
it. No State. except Delaware and Penn
sylvania. cast their votes against the great
measure. the latter State unanimously !:
but Mr.. Mexican resolved to put Delaware
right upon the record BY bringing up Ca-
sar Rodney to be ready with his vote when
the question should be put on the Thurs
day following; and to obtain this majority
it was necessary to se-d a courier into the
lower counties Of Delaware to find and
fetch Rodney, who was meantime engaged
in suppressing the Peninsnlar Tories. al
WAYS turbulent and mutinous, and who
had Just risen against the Wings.
Mexican paid out of his own pocket the
expenses of the courier, who left Phila-
delpha on Monday evening. and. after
a ride of thirty miles. put up at Whining
ton that night. On Tuesday he was in
the saddle again he baited and rested on
Tuesday afternoon on Cantwell's Bridge,
and arrived late on Tuesday night at Rod
news quarters, where he delivered Nc
kean's letter.
The fiery Rodney peruscd the letter,
and it wakcncd all his pride Of neighbo-
hood. He had just returned from Lewes and
the refractory parts of Sussex. and with
his slender vital resources he needed rest
But soon after Tuesday midnight he wa,
on the way to the North, booted and spur.
red, and followed by only one attendant
About ninety miles, as the broken and
mcandering stage road ran. lay between
him and the city of the Declaration.
He forded the branches of Little Duck
Creek, full Of spatter docks and croaking
frogs. before daylight. and plunged into
the wild scrub forest. which reaches from
what is now Leipsic to above Blackbird
in Newcastle County. He swan Duck
Creek, destitute of 4 bridge and often
wide enough for ferry. in the time oI
dawn, and found breakfast, generous a.
the hard times could afford. at Caniwelrs
Resting here till the afternoon, he noun.
ted anew and passed the dwelling of DR.
Major Tom Macdonough, the father OF the
future Commodore Macdonough. winner
of the battle of Lake Champlain (who wa.
not to be born for yet seven years., and
here he entered upon the rolling loamy
hills of St. Georges Hundred, through
which was to pass the future Delawar,
and Chesapeake Canal. Riding slowl,
around the deep marshes Of St. George.
Creek. he wa,ered hi. horse at the Ret
Lion Tavern. and supped at New Castle
the oldest and the chief town Of Delaware
aud the home of George Read. Ten mile.
after dark brought him to Wilmington
on the Brandywine. and there he went tt
bed as wearied man as ever rode n dis
interested Journey in the interest of hi.
neigbbors and sentiment.
A skeleton to look upon, living upon hi.
mental rather than his vital resources a
the btst of times, Caesar Rodney retirct
to bed within thirty i've miles of Philadel
phia; six deep streams intervening; ant
Congress was TO nces early on the Fourth
Of July.
Before the earliest and most restles
cock could crow, Rodney was in she sad
die again, worn and muddy. and rullinl
at his vial Of West India rum at intervals
he forded Naaman's Creek and saw tn
sun stand broadly above the Delaware a
the town of Chester. Then riding toward
the North. he crossed Ridley. Crum, an'
Derby Creeks. the country all alive viii
excitements over the probable action o
Congress that day TO be rcported-au'
near noon he passed the river Schuylk
The city was all waiting. little awar
Of the person and perseverance Of tha
thin, splai,ercd dusty man. whose hors
picked his way over the suburban road
almost ready to fall in bis tracks. Rcd
ney feared every instant that the bell i
the State House bclfry would ring ih
news Of Independence and Delaware alon
would stand hanging in the scale again.
it.
He stopped at the State House 'front.'
The delegates were fast speeding into III
hall. and there waited Judge McKear
i with quiet smile oserspreading his stron
}, visase and bcaked nose. Rodney. boo
Cd and sPurred. lesped down from sh