New-York tribune., 1875-05-17
THE WEsTMORELAND CENTENNIAL.

THE WESIMOKELAND ZEN ENNlAL.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED AT HANNAs TOWN. PA.'
AFTER THE BATTLE OF LEXINGI0N-IOYAlTYT TO
KING GEORGE But NO LICENSED MURDER OR
FAMINE INTRODUCED BY LAW-TEXT OF THE
RESOLUTIONS
IFRoMA STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.J
GREENsBURG, Penn, May 15.-Onc hundred
years ago news 10 the cluster OF log houses
called Hanna's Town, that then the oOuntyseat of
Westmoreland County, of the battles at Lexington and
Concord How ii got there tradition does not tell and
history silent in way, either by swift ex
Drcss rider or slower emgrant train the stirring
made ts way across the ridges Of the Acghenies and
through the paths TO the settlements OF the back
woOdsnen ginning to blot out the wilderness
with their wheat fields and pastures AT that time west
moreland County embraced nearly all the territory
claimed by Pennsy lvania west or the mountains VIZ
pina claimed good deal of it, however, and had set up
court al Pitt When they got word OF the opening
of the struggle with Great Britain the people Of Hannas
Town were in the midst Of a difficulty growing
ont of this disputed claim. On the Sth day Of the
preceding February party OF armed men had
broken open the Jail, by authority from the Govern
mept OF Virginia, and released the prisoners one
of them. so Robert Hanna. magistrate and presuina-
BILE father of the town. wrote TO Gov. John Penn,
went so far 10 point gun at hlin' anu
I" also used very bad language" and another fellow
actually damned the Pennsylvania magistrates and
their authority" Not long afterward this same Hanna
together with the sheriff and other magistrates were ar
rested and taken Pittsburgh where they were treated
according their report TO the Governor ike degraded
beings that are nowise entitled to the common rights OF
mankind"
In the midst these troubles the settlers while not
knowing whether they would have to call themselves
Pcnnsyvanans OF Vginians, did not forget that they
were Americans They got together speedily To take ac
ton on the exciting intelligence from Massachusetts, Bay
1t was OIL the 10th OF May this known but as TO how
many men were present, even who was chairman OF
rfloH hiatt fhnUd ic fhns
narrated in that storhouse of Information concerning
The Revolution. the " American Archives" :"
AT a general meeting of the merchants of Westmore-
land held al Haanas IoWn on tne lotn 1ay 0l may
1775 70. taking inO consideration the very alarming 81
uation of this country, OccasOned by tie dispute Win
Rcsoipsd aroninrousl That the Parliament of Great
Britain by several late acts. have declared the iDhab
taDts OF MASSACHUSETTS, bag TO be III ieDenon ana tne
TO enforce those acts, nave at
tempted 10 reduce the said inhabitants TO more
wretehed state Of y tnan ever & IeTIe gHst1q bc IN
constitutional and chartered privileges they would strip
them OF the rights OF humanity, exposing lives TO the
wantOn and unlnishable spirit oI icenIous sodlery
and depryng tbom Of the very means oi subsistence
doubt same y stem OF tyranny anu oppression
will should meet with success IN the lilss.chusets
Bay be cXtcuiC to every other part OF America III is
therefore become the indispensable duty Of every Amer
Ican OF every who has public virtue or love iOr
his country any bowels Tor postelty by e'eIy means
which Cod has pay in his power TO reset ana oppose the
with lives and fortunes And the better to enable
US " accomplish II viii immediately form ourselves
up out OF the several townships, under the following as
s0ciation which declared DO the Association Of
WcstnOreland County:
Possessed with the most unshakcn loyalty to His
Majesty King George the Third, whom VIC acknowledge
to BE our lawful and rightiul King. and who wish
may long tio beloved sovereign Of free and happy
nn.no glOut whole British Empire. declare
70 he world that do not mean 70 deviate from the
ioyalty which hold IL 10 be our bounden duty 10 OBJ
serye but animated by the love OF liberty Is no less
oIr duty 10 maintain and defend our just rights (Which
with sorrow We have OF late wantOny violated in
many instances by wicked Ministry ana corrupt Far
Sinept and transmit them enIe 10 our poseflly, lOr
Vhich purpose do agree and associate ourselves 10
Tirst: To arm and form ourselves into regiment or
aud officers COnland Us III such pro-
6oytion az snail ;S Thought necessary.
Ssno,N We WILL with aacriy, endeavOr 70 NIKE our
neyeS masters Of the snusi eAesSsS. Eiu such cvoi
Hons "a NAV be necessary " enaD US TO act as Dody
with concert and that end we VIII meet al such Times
md places as shall be appointed either Tor the companies
Or the regiments by the officers commanding eaoh wheh
chosen.
1hird. That, should country be INVADED Dy O
foreign enemy, should troops be sent from Great
Britain enforce late arbitrary acts OF It's Paria
luent we will cbeerfuly submit to military usciRine
end to the utmost OF resist anu oppose tnn
or either OF them, and will coincide with any plan that
may formed for the defense Of America IN general OF
PennSyyaDa In particular
Ep,1flb: That we do not wish desire any innovation
uf only that things may be restored 10 and In the
nav as before VI the Stamp act when Boston
mn 0eat and America was happy Assproof Of this