The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-07-16
oRATION
DELIVERED By
w B. Thomas, Esq,


Mr.. President, Ladies and GeAtleme,l
You have just listened to the read
ing of that immortal paper which
severed the link of allegiance between
the peopleof the thirteen colonies and
the King of Great Britain. The thir-
teen colonies was the boy name given
to that which mas since grown up to
be the United States.
The circumstances connected with
the passage of that important doeu-
ment are beyond the recollection of
any living being being in either coun-
try. All of the participants who had
for SO many. years made this anniFer-
sary doubly interesting, by the recital
of incidents that tried their energy
and moral courage, have passed away,
and live only in memory and In histo-
ry. But while the fathers who re-
msmbered the incidents of the hard
fought struggle have passed away, yet
the historians pen is not the only
means we have of recalling the birth
day of liberty in America. 1t has
been the pride of every generation to
teach Tito their own children, vica
Voce. 1t has been handed down from
parent to child and from teacher to
student, until it has been indelibly
recorded upon the inner tablets of
every heart. Like the visitors at Sar-
afoga, Long Branch and other places
of public resort, thousands of foot
prints upon every square inch, all en-
deaVoring to discover something new,
80, too, at first endeaVored to find
something new concerning the fourth
day Of July I776, but / soon abandoned
the search. It is net changeable like
the fashions are. 1t has been said that
the ministry, with all their earnest eff
forts, have not equalled the sublime
eloqnence of the Lords Prayer, so
nothing should be of greater interest
than plain recitation of the memora-
Bile events connected with our release
from British bondage. There is no
need of anything new. There is grand
ure and glory in all of their proceed
ings, and / trust no lover of his country
will ever regard them as stale.
1t isRot easy to determine the pre-
else date when the idea OF Independ-
ence was first entertained by the lead
ing men of that day. The English
historians date the harboring of such
designs at q much earlier period than
the American historians do, but the
authorities, however, clearly show that
the idea of separating entirely from
the mother country was not entertain
ed until after the actual commence
ment of hestilities.
Prior to 1776, the colonies had char
ters granting to them certain privi-
leges, and one of the most vital pro-
visions of the British constitution, as
secured by the Barons of Runny ymede,
was that taxation should not be i'm
posed upon any subject of the realm,
except by himself or his representa-
tives" was held inapplicable to the
western colonies.
The American colonies were not
in Parliament, yet Parlia-
ment enacted laws imposing duties
upon articles in use in the colonies,
such as the tax upon tea, glass, paper,
painters colors, &C., repetition OF
the odioHs stamp act. which had been
repealed. In May, I774,
they passed bill shutting up the port
of Boston, and inflictiDS other disabil-
tiles upon its Inhabitants. The right |
to pass these acts by the Brit sh Par
Lament was denied by the ol1nies,
and protests and humble but earnest
petitions were sent to the King pray |
ing that such laws be not enforced |
upon a people who were not repre-
sented in the body enacting them.
Their petitions were disregFaded and |
as Patrick Henry said, they had been
spurned with contempt from the foot |
of the throne" Associations were |
formed, articles of agreement drawn
up between the people, pledgiug them
selves not to buy or use any of the |
or imported articles,
believing that this would so cramp |
British commerce that it would fur
nish remsdy for their wrongs, and
publish the iniquity of the demands
of Parliament but Parliament per-
sisted in their right to tax and govern
the colonies without thoir consent and
their representation. This
was the point at issue in the Revolu-
tionary war.
The spirit of discomfort and oppo-
sition rapidly diffused itself through
out the land, and the discomfort was
not secured by the sophistries of &C.
centric leaders, but was rather like
the outbreaking of fountain from
the earth, volcanic eruption, the in
dignant outburst OF the people at large
with original spontaneous, native
force. Meetings were called to consult
as to the best mode to obtain redress
for their wrongs, but they were dis
solved by the Kings Governor. They
repaired to the old Raleigh tavern, SO
in number, continued their delibera-
tions, AVID at the suggestion of DIR.
it was decided to call gen.
eraI congress of all the colonies. For
this purpose town meetings were
called and the colonies, like an angry
ocean in a storm, began to form from
the bottom depths. On September 5,
1774, the first continental congress as
sembled at Philapelphia. Their pro-
ceedings were held in secret with
barred doors. and their debates have
never been made public, but four im-
portant papers of great force and
power were published, to-wit: an ad-
n.