National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-18
CENTENNIAL TEA PARTY.
THE INTERESTING INCIDENTS OF
THE OCCASION.


again the scene Of the celebrants Of the destruc-
ton of the tea in Boston harbor.
A very lovely lady, Mrs. O. A. Carroll, was
asked what benefit she saw in the party, and she
very promptly and pstTioticslly replied shat it
would, in fset had done much to revive just
and proper pride in ancestral blood.n
at serves" she continued, ute connect the
present with the past and the young ladies Of TO-
day, srEayed in theEieh costumes and jewels their
ancestors wore in revolutionary times, prompts
inquiry into their history, the achievements which
made their names immortal in American history;
and thus new fires of patriotism are lighted, new
affairs are built up old recolections are vtVihed,
and q right sortof pride in American renoWn Is
fostered."
This sentiment Of Mrs. Oarroll's was no
doubt true. Just at this moment she won, in Q
raffe, q cup and saucer for 3 friend who will now
ever be q true one. Speaking Of costumes, this
most amiable lady wore q gold chain, magnia
cent in its strength and richness, which was one
her great Erandmother's and which her mother
wore when she was married. 1t is over 100 years
old. She also wore antique earrings, set In
Guinea gold, quite 200 years old.
Miss Louise Meigs wore an apron Of white bro
cade made from fragment Of the dress Martha
Washington wore on her wedding day. She also
wore the antique gold watch that Belonged to the
wife Of the irst President.
Miss Virgie Green wore dress that was worn
by Mrs. Beall at one of WRshington's receptions.
]! is fully one hundred and eighty years old s s6
fifty years old, and q medal, one hundred years
old, made from the old Independence bell. The
petticoat, and lace dress over all, brown with
age.
That fine, sterling, majestic matron, Mrs. GIL
lispie, ofPhiladelphia the president Of the Gen.
tennial executive committee, was again present.
She wore q miniature of Benjamin Franklin,
painted by Duplessis, in Paris, while Franklin
SSs one OF ISuis XVI PAINTED bT the sane fs.
nous artist, which the king gave to Franklin,
and which she will wear while presiding at the
French table in the Centennial exhibition OF lS7o.
Miss Gadsby were q profusion Of thread-lace
100 years old, descended to her as an heirloom
from ancestors renowned in the early history Of
our country.
Miss Louisa Taylor Of Cincinnati wore 8 rich
pink brOcade over q blue satin petticoat-R very
old and q once noticeable dress in the receptions
Miss Barker was much praised last night for
her untiring and efficient efforts in making the
Connecticut table principal attraction.
Miss Powell, the elegant and accomplished
daughter Of the great painter, assisted Mrs Ad-
mirRl Powell at the Virginia table.
the 5STtV for her real persopsI beauty. but for
the costume che wore, which was an antique
dress Of silk ashes Of roses.
1t was quite an incident that Mrs. Lincoln, Of
Cincinnati, had her position at the New York
table, directly under the portrait Of Capt Sey-
mour, an ancestor Of hers, who escorted Gen.
Burgoyne, as represented in ths painting CT the
surrender
This beautiful and queenly representative of
American womanhood informed US that the
tennial tea party in that city come time in the
coming May. Miss Nellie Lincoln and her lady
like sister attracted crowdsT toners last
night for tea, ices and cake.
1t was estimated last evening6y Seward
that after all expenses are paidfIIIy hou-
sand dollars will be left as proeeedsfI::' n
tennial exhibition proper.
The following is a revised copy OF IYpLt.I.
address delivered by the Secretary OF tneNLTy
ADDRESS OF SECRETARY robson.
MY FRIENDS: Invited to take part in the Gen.
tennial Tea Party by the Women's Centennial
Executive Committee Of Washington, 1 am re-
quested to state to you the idea and the motives
of this assembly, and shall endeavor to do so in
the most direct and simple manner.
On the night Of the 10th Of December, I773, one
hundred and one years ago tonight, occurred in
the harbor Of Boston, in the then Colony of Mas
sachusetts Bay, what has since been known in his
tory as the Boston Tea Party, an act Of orderly
riot committed by law loving people, at once in
defiance Of the forms and sanctions Of law but in
consonance with the highest principles Of govern
ment, q direct attack upon theinterests Of private
property, but done in clear defence Of public
feelings which II illustrated and the principles
on which IL was justified, 1t would scarcely have
attracted more than local attention; but in the
doing Of which the actors, almost unconsclously
to themselves, perhaps struck blow in the
world which has resounded through its subse-
quent history.
In the following year, now one hundred years
ago, on Monday, the 5th day Of September, IVA,
q number Of delegates, chosen and appointed by
America i to meet and hold Congress IN PSiIsl
delphia, assembled at Carpenters hall"
Such Is the simple statement written on their
journal, which records the first meeting Of the
First Continental Congress, whose successors
after the lapse Of hundred years now occupy
these stately halls. On the roll Of those who
were that DAY present are many names nor yets
Samuel and John Adams, Of MassacbussttsI
stephen Hopkins, Of Rhode Island; Roger Shet-
Wan III NS Nc o1 garsey Thomas Mifin
and EdwaTd BiddIs, or Pennsylvania; George
Reed, Of DelaFsIe; samuel Chase, OF Maryland;
Christopher Gadsden and John Routledge, Of
South Carolina. This Congress Of the represen-
tatives Of the several North American colonies
thus assembled proceeded to organize in regular
form, to examine, consider and take action upon
the general interests Of the colonies and to deal
with each as part Of an organized whole. They
adopted and promulgated a declaration Of rights
embodying the essential principles Of free gov
eminent. They signed q common association Of
non -consumPtion, non-imPortation and non-expor-
sented. They issued also petition to the King
Of England; q memorial to all the Anglo-Ameri-
can colonies, and an address to the people of
Great Britain. OF this Congress and their dOings
1t was that the elder Pitt exclaimed: ~ must
declare and avOW that in all my reading and
vi
and wisdom OF conclusion, under such q cOmpli-
cation Of circumstances, no nation or body Of men
can stand in preference to the General Congress
at Philadelphia"
On the 2sth day Of October, lT74, this Congress
adjourned; but not without having previously
provided for 4 reassembling Of the representa-
lives Of the people, by resolving "as the opinion
Of this Congress- that it will be necessary that
another Congress should be held on the 10th Of
May next, unless the redress of grievances which
we have desired be obtained before that time"
meeting. the organization and
action Of this general Congress, and their wise
provision fer the assembling OF their successors,
the United States Of America take their origin
rs an organized nation with common rights, in
terEsts, development and destiny.
On the 10th Of May following, the Second Con-
gress assembled in the State-house in PhiIadel-
phia, pursuant to the resolution adopted by the
First. In the interval which had elasped, great
events had happened. The grievances COM
heets and armies were gathering on our shores.
The battle Of Lexington had been fought, and
and Grown Point had been captured.
This Second Congress was composed largely Of
Some, indeed, had fallen by the way, some were
by years Of disease, and some were
already on the field Of battle. But their places
we're filed by men most worthy to succeed them.
There were John Hancock and Oliver Walcott,
Robert Morris and Benjamin Franklin, Richard
Stockton and John Witherspoon, Charles Carroll
and Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson and
George Walton. Upon the Congress thus assem-
bled devolYGd the development and execution Of
The principles, powers and duties assumed BY their
The first Congress had created nation. The
second declared and set IL free. On the 4th day
Of July l77o, these representatives Of the UNITED
States Of America" In general Congress assem-
Oled, appealing to the supreme judge Of the world
or the rectitude OF their intentions, solemnly de-
Jared that the united colonies we're and Of right
,ught to be free and independent States, and in
Iupport Of this declaration they declared 70 each
)ther their lives, their fortunes and their sacred
DONORS.
Upon the principles declared In support Of that
action rest the foundations Of our own Govern
nent, the development Of all free States and the
progress Of humanity throughout the world. Ot
he men who declared them, viii only say that
hey were worthy representatives OF their fathers
those earlier leaders Of thought and action who
had dared the dangers Of untried seas and con-
luered the hostile forests Of q new world TO pre-
serve inYiolRte the principles they transmitted to
heir sons. And these were not unworthy TO re-
,eive and maintain them. The fathers were the
yiRnts Of 9 new. creation, their sons were the
heroes Of q new heroic age; and when their day
Of trial came they were equal TO their inheritance
Df power.
All circumstances combined to inspire, instruct
and aid them. Rebels against the wrongs OF the
neDts, they were so far imbued with its princi-
pies, yet SO separated from its influences, that
they could adopt the good which remained with
put prejudice or danger, while the mighty ocean
which rolled between separated them from the
landmarks and traditions Of the Old World, its
conventions and it's forms, its statecrar and IFS
priestcraft, its grandeur and its gold. Confirmed
In their fathers faith and elevated TO loftler
mood by closer contact with the great principles
Involved In their struggle for independence, when
they came TO settle forever the foundation prinei
Piles Of the Government which they established,