, 1874-02-01


The presentation to Congress Of the memorial
drawn up by the Carranters' Company OF Phila~
delphia is very transparent and totally un-
called-for piece OF buncombe. This memorial
sets forth that the near approach Of the hun
dredth anniversary Of the nation's birth renders
it betting that the survivors OF those who freely
offered Carpenter's Hall to the Continental Con-
gress, when even the time-hono1ad State-House
| Vas closed against them, should commemorate
| the nations advent at that place; :" therefore
| Congress is invited to assemble in Carpenters
Hall on the 5th day OF September, 1874, the hun
dredth Anniversary Of the meeting OF the first
| American Congress, and order such ceremonies
| rs they in their wisdom shall deem beat. There
| are three reasons why Congress should not COM
| ply with this memorial from the patriotic Car
| penters OF Philadelphia:
l. There are other localities more deserving Of
the recognition of the birth OF liberty than Phil
adelpbia- Thirteen years before the Continental
Congress- met, James Otis, the Advocate Of the
Grown at Boston, resigned his Office rather than
enforce the "writs Of assistance" and rnade an
opposition speech to the people, Of which John
Adams said: "American Independence VAS
then and there born" Two years later, tho
Virginia Legislature, led by Patrick Henry, op-
posed the Stamp act In ITO, the first col
1ieion occurred between citizena and British
troops in the streets Of Boston, and in 1773
the pseudo Mohawks held their tea-party in
Boston Harbor. In 1761, the Maesachu-
setts Legislature issued q circular inviting all
the Colonies to send dalesatcs to Congress at
New York on the first Tuesday of October Of
that year. This Congress met, drew up declar.~
ton Of rights, = memorial to Parliament, and
petition to the King, claiming the right to be
taxed only by their representatives, and the |
Colonies approved the proceedings Of the Con-
1761, and the first Federal union of tue American
Colonies was in 1765, nine years before the |
meeting Of the Continental Congress IN Phiadel- |
phla. Il Congress is going TO manifest its pa |
triotism in peripatetic manner, We submit that |
it is only consistent for it to 80 to the fountain
head, and bold it's spread-eagle session either in
Boston or Richmond.
2. II Congress shall meet in Philade1phia in |
September next, on the spot where the Cont1-
mental Congress met one hundred years ago, tho [
associations connected with the occasion must
revive memories Of q painful charac-
ter One hundred years have elapsed since that
Congress met aud Issued those world-famous
petitions and declarations, which e1icitod from
pitt fha antnrr1Y1n7 ~ !
force Of sagaclty, and wisdom OF conclusion un-
der complication Of difficult circumstances, no
nation or body OF men can stand in preference to
he General Congress at Philadelphia. Tho his
:ories OF Greece and Rome give us nothing equal
% it." During these hundred years, tho United |
States has grown into mighty Republc,
md has made giant strides in commerce,
mechanical industries, science, and the arts, but
that hare ne now to show for statesmen as
compared with the men who met in phi1adcl-
George Washington We have Simon Cameron;
OF Patrick Henry, Zachariah Chandler; for
'amuel Adams, Benjamin F. Butler; for John
az, William D. Kelley, and SO On I'D li6a4.n,. Il
Tould be sad to complete the parallel. Tho men
t the Continental Congress- represented the
ignity, intellectually, eloqucnce, and atates-
aanahip Of the age. The portraits Of the eiants
1774 would stsre in astonishment at the
ignies Of 1874 in their seats. The parallel !
rawn which would inevitably follow such \ :,
altering Of politicians into the seats OF stakes-
len would not be sditying-
8. The last and most cogent reason Of Ill
by Congress should not so to Philadelphia ia {
ecause it is simply piece OF bombast, de- I
gned as an advertisement for the Centennial, (
hich had much better stand upon its own morita I
q its present susceptible condition, Congress
honld not place itself in the way OF the tempta-
on which must inevitably result from the local
ress1re, spread-eagle enthusiasm, sp1nttering
and bavling crowds, which will bo y
zought to bear upon it, for the sake OF secur- :
g an appropriation from the Pnbue Treasury. Z
! Philadelphia wants i memorial hall let her 3
ATs it by Ill mana, and Lat hsx pay fo1 t. II !