New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-03
PENNSYLVANIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION TO BE- HELD IN WEST
MORELAND COUNTY-REsOLUrIoSs PASSED BY
| IT'S INHABITANTS AFTER THE BATTLE or LEXING-
TON.
IrRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRTBUSE.
PHILADELPHIA, May 1.-The people of West
morcland County believe themselves entitled to a centen
NAL celebration OF their own and have held preliminary
meeting at Greensburg appointed committees, invited
the cooperation OF the neighborng counties which made
part OF westmOreland hundred years ago. and In the
other usual ways set foot preparations for notable
demonstration on May IL next. The event to be com
mem0ratcd Is meeting held at Hannastown the progeni-
tor Of Greensburg, May 1G, 1775 which sundry
patriotic resolutions were adopted and an organization
formed to resist the oppressive Of the British
Government An attempt has been made to magnify the
Importance OF this affair by styling the resolutions
adopted the "Westmoreland Declaration OF Indepen-
dence and to Thus for Western Pennsylvania the
honor claimed by Mecklenburg County, ~ c., OF having
put forth the first public declaration I'm favor Of
the entire separation Of the colonies from the mother
country In the midst of the prevalent centennial en-
thusiasm efforts to twist history little for the benefit Of
localities need perhaps be severely criticised. 1t is
not ont OF place however, to state outside OF Pennsyva
MA that while the affair at UannasOwn deserves to be
cOmmemoracd by all the cannOntrlng, toasts, and ora;
that the good people Of Greensburg could desire the
celebration il not OF national Importance, like that TO
come OFF at Charlotte May 90 because there no
mention whatever or independence AT the
gathering of backwoods farmers and trappers.
What they did resolve, according to the records found
in the American archives in substance that the Par
Lament Of Great Britain. having declared the inhabitants
Of the Massachusetts Bay to be in rebellion and the Min
stry. by endeayoring to enforce its acts having at
tempted TO reduce the said Inhabitants to more
wrethed state OF slavery than before in any
country there reason to doubt that the
system Of tyranny and oppression would DO extended
to- nortn NJ m nd wa
duty of every American to resist and oppose it that they
were ready TO oppose 1t with their lives and fortunes
They further adopted articles OF association under which
a military organization was formed made up OF compa-
MES raised in the various townships of Westm0reand
which then embraced all Of Southwestern Pennsylvania
beyond the Aeghenics. The preamble to these articles
was follows:
Majesty King George the Third whom acknowledge
In he oi,r Lawful aud ryhtful King and who we wish
may long the beloved sovereign of free and happy
people throughout the whole British Empire we declare
to f w9Td c we ba Il to me or 10 duty to ob
but. animated by the love OF liberty ~ no less
orr duty 10 maintain and defend just rights (which
with sorrow have seen of late wantonly violated in
many instances by wicked Ministry and corrupt Par
liamenU and transmit them entire To our posterity for
which purpose We do agree and associate ourselves
together.
These strenuous protests OF loyalty to the King dis
pose effecuay Of the claim that the movement
for Independence and reduces it TO the rank Of the
Gus county demonstrations held Throughout the colonies
after the news was received of the fights at Lexington
and Concord at all OF which there were resolutions
adopted asserting, devotion to 1.-The King. and at
the time PROV ding for buying powder aud raising
troops resist his Parliament and Ministry.
Other Pennsylvania counties were ahead 81 Westm0re-
land in taking such action On the B0h OF March, l775.
meeting held in Lancaster 70 favor the union OF the
colonies for common safety. On May measures were
taken at Carlisle for raising troops, and before the mid
die OF May Committees Of Defense were at work IN Bucks
and Chester Counties. What remarkable about the
WestmOrcland meeting was that the Inhabitants OF
splrscly settled REGION lying remote from the points
where the great patriotic movements were going for
ward separated from the last By hundreds OF miles OF
forest and almost impossible mountain wall, should
have exhibited with such prOmptness and courage their
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