Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-06-17

clare that We are deliberately and resolutely de
termined never to surrender them to any pow
er upon earth but at the expense of cur lives
These are our real, though unpublished sen
tlments, OF liberty and Loyalty, and in them VI
are resolved to live and die. (-Am Archives
1775.)
The Freeholders of Augusta county assem-
bled In Staunton on the 22nd day of February
l775, chose Mr.. Thomas Lewis and Capt. Sam
uel Mcdowell as delegates to represent them il
Colony Convention at the town of Richmond
on the 10th day of March, ITS ''Instruc
tons were drawn up by Rev. Alex Balman
Sampson Matthews Capt Alexander McClen-
achan, Michael Bowyer, VIM. Lewis. aud Capt
George portions of which are as
follows:
''To Mr. Thomas LeUis and Capt. .Samue
lMcDoUeU.: SOC
''The Commissioners of Augusta county,
| pursuant to the trust reposed 10 them BY the
Freeholders of the same, have chosen you to
represent them in Colony Convention, pro.
posed to be held 10 Richmond on the 20th oi
March, instant. They desire that you may
consider the people of Augusta county as i'm
pressed with just sentiments of loyalty and al
egiance to his Majesty, King George, &hose
title to the Imperial Crown Of Great Britain
rests on no other foundation than the liberty,
and whose glory is inseparabe from the happi-
ness of all his subjects. We have also respect
for the parent state. which respect is founded
on religion, on law, and the genuine principles
| of the Constitution. On these principles do
| we earnestly desire to see harmony and good
understanding restored between Great Britain
and America Many of us and our forefathers
| left our native land, and explored this once
savage wilderness, to enjoy the free exercise of
the rights of conscience and of human nature
| These rights we are fully resolved, with our
lives and fortunes, inviolably to preserve; nor
will we surrender such inestimable blessings,
| the purchase ct toll and danger, to any Minis.
try, to any Parliament, or any body of men up
| on earth, by whom we are not represented, and
| IN whose decisions therefore we have no voice
Aud as we are determined to
| maintain unimpaired that liberty which is the
| gift OF Heaven to the subject of Britain's En-.
pire, we will most cordially join our country
men IN such IneasuTes as may be deemed wise
| and necessary to secure and perpetuate the
ancient. just, and legal rights of this Colony
and all British America
LAS the state of this Colony greatly demands
| that Manufactures should be encouraged by
every possible means, we desire that you use
your endeavors that Bounties may be proposed
| by the Convention for the making Of Salt, Steel
| Wool Cards. Paper and Gun Powder; and that
provided for the Militia of this Colony X
A well regulated Militia is the natural
strength and stable security of free govern
ment and We therefore wish it recommended
by the Convention to the officers and men of
each county in Virginia to make themselves
masters of the military exercise, published by
order OF his Majesty in the year 1854
Placing our ultimate trust On the Supreme
Disposer Of every event, without whose gracious
interposition the wisest schemes may fail of
success we desire you to move the Convention
that some day. which may appear TO them most
convenient, be set apart for lmplcring the bless
ing of ALMIGHTY GoD on such plans as human
wisdom and Integrity may think necessary to
| adopt for preserving dn,erico, happy, virtuous
and Free
The address Of the Fceeholders ef Botetourt,
about the same date, is very similar in sent-
ment and construction with the foregoing, ard
concludes as follows: I'm these sentiments we
are determined to live and die. We are TOO
sensible of the inestinable privileges enjoyed
| by subjects under the British Constitution, even
to wish for change, while. the free en-
l.joyments OF those blessings can be secured to
us but, on the contrary, can justly boast OF our
! loyalty and affection to our most gracious Sow
ereigns, and Of cur readiness in risking our
| lives, whenever it has been found necessary for
| ''But, should wicked and tyrauDical Minis
| try. under the sanction of venal and corrupt
Parliament, persist in acts Of injustice and vio-
lence towards US, they only must be answerable
for the consequences. Liberty is SO strongly
| impressed on our hearts, that we cannot think
of parting with it but with our lives Our duty
to COP, OUR COUNTRY, OURSELVES, AND OUR
posTERITY, all forbid it. We therefore stand
prepared for every contingency.
| These addresses have the ring of the true
metal and they display spirit still living in
these people that proved an unadulterated de-
scent from their patriot ancestors of the past.
TIE same independence in thought, resolute
maintenance of right, and loyalty to a just gov
ernment; but an ver-jealous vigilance of tyran-
ny, bold defiance OF unrighteous power, prompt
resistance OF all eCcsoachments on liberty and
conscience, and still crownlng all coDstapcy
10 faith and deep reverence for religion to shed
a golden glow over all their daily deeds.
THE FIRST DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
It is believed that. in point of time, the very
| first paper presented to the continental Con-
gress, distinctly proposing separation from the
government of Great Britain, was one from this
| people OF Augusta but, unfortunately, the
paper itself cannot now be found The very
early date If the addresses quoted, prepared
by people SO remote from the commercial and
social heart Of the colonies as to be the last to
feel the practical evils of oppression proves not
merely the promptness with which they made
and met the issue, but that the impulse with
them was one Of PRINCIPLE alone. And such
glowing evidence OF sympathy from the distant
backwoods might we'll send an electric thrill
through the breast Of every patriot in theil
common country, uniting al IN common cause
with common pledge to each other of then
lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.
C0WPENs AND GUILFORD.
From apprebensions too well justified by bit
ter experience in the past. that the treacherou
Indian might forego his treaty of peace, ano
again fall upon detenceless frontier, few troops
were taken from the Valley in the early part O
| the Revolution but, sogiy, many joined tht
army; and although losing their identity as q
class, became distinguished as soldiers and of
fcers-the Lewises, Matthews, Cam pbells
Christians, Smiths, Bumgardoers, McPheeters
Black burns. Stuarts Bells, Crawfords, Gun.
ninghams, Baskins, Mi!lers, Patricks, Trimbies
Robertsons, Turks and host of others, In tb,
highest ranks, skilled by long service in tbt
border wars, winning imperishable renown il
their country history.
On the fields OF the Cowpens and GuilforC
some organized companies from the Valley O
| Virginia were engaged, and bore the brunt o
the battle like veterans. Armed each with hi
own trusty rife, and skilled in it's use fron
earliest boyhood familiar with the most peril
Gus forms of warfare from experience with thei
savage foes inspired by patriotic zeal In thei
cause, and brave by very nature, even if undis
ciplined, they must still have been most effec
tive troops. Some British prisoners asked, af