Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-13
Patriotic words from an Augusta Boy.

Mr.. Virgil II. Hewes, now Of Massachu-
sets, will be remembered by many of our
older citizens as former resident of Augusta,
and in business here. He came here short
time since to receive the greetings of his old
time friends. So sacred is this part of the
on his death, his body shall be buried in Ken
nebec soil. Mr.. Iewes has written patriotic
communication to the Boston Transcript on
the subject of the destruction of tea in Boston
harbor, the one hun1redth anniversary OF
which event occurs on the 10Th inst. His
father was one Of the noble throng who in the
Disguise of Indians gave the fishes glorious
cup of tea, without any taxation. We pub
fish below the most of Mr.. IIewes communi-
cation, feeling assured that it will be read with
interest by most of our older citizens:
The 10th of December. now near at hand,
will close the one hundredth year since the
destruction OF three cargoes of British tea in
Boston Harbor. Shall the event pass by
unnoticed by our citizens?
Whoever is familiar with the carly history
Of the conflict it'll the mother country, cannot
be ignorant of the fact that this transaction,
put through as it was by a mere handful of
patriots, to use the common parlance of the
cav, mechanics, and laboring men, was the
en- ering wedge or lever that toppled over
british rule in the colonies, the fall of which
ja' red the qcorld, and whose vibrations are
being felt in all civilized lands.
In the view taken by our great historian,
Mr.. Bancroft, of this transaction, its inn or
| lance can hardly be fully estimated, in giving
a momentum TO the cause of civil liberty
throughout the whole country. As the news
/ " ent abroad, it electrified the American peo-
Pile, instantly, into a resolute determination
to resist to the bitter end British rule on this
CO liinent. And when the news Of this bold
an daring affair reached England, her states
| nen, with breathless anxiety, stared at each
other in wild amazeutent, for they saw at once
that the Yankee blood was up, and but too
plainly that British rule and authority was
doomed in America.
In calling up the event a thousand thrill
ing memories cluster around its history. The
great meeting of that memorable afternoon,
| of more than seven thousand patriots, gathered
ogether in the Old South, and its vicinity
| composed of ardent and true men from the
nei. hboring towns, with Samuel Adams, Paul
Revere, John Hancock, and the younger
Quincy and other distinguished men, patriots
all, to give impetus and inspiration to the
multitude, on that memorable day, and as the
shades of night gathered around them. Then
| 10 see that little band of heroes, full of patri-
otto indignation, not more than forty or fifty,
pass out from the throng and wend their way
| in the disguise of Indians towards Griflin's
wharf, and then and there coolly and DELHI
| erately take possession, and in a few short
hours destroying all the accused tea on board
| of the three ships, and then calmly and stead
| lily marched to their several homes under the
| inspiring fife and drum of yankee Doodle"
Surely then such scene and such an event,
was one of transcendant Importance, it
| being the key note of liberty and human
| rights to the whole world. Nearly a century
| has passed by since the drama of the American
Revolution closed, and we now find our coun-
, try, yet young, In the front ranks of the ma.
lions OF the world; and the actors in its
opening scenes have long since passed on to
| their great reward. V. II. H.
| Summary OF Religious Intelligence.
The committee to fix the seat of the mex,
session of the Maine Conference, (heing the
semi-centenary), recently met at Hallowel
and voted that the conference Of lS74 be hello
| Mt BiddefOrd