New-York tribune., 1875-05-17

we have been accustomed to governed before that
ready when called on to assist the civil magistrate in
carrying the same into execution
repealed their obnoxious statutes, and shall have
reoeded from their claim to tax us and make laws lor
and rcsonsTeticD has been formed and accepted by
America. this association shall be dissolved, but t
shall remain in full force and to the observation OF
1t We bind ourselves by everything dear and sacred
amongst men, No licensed murder! No famine intro
That the meeting was effective, and that the as-
sociation speedily developed into companies and
regiments, is gathered from o letter from Arthur st.
Clair, who lived in the Lgonier Valley 20 miles from
Hannas Town, and who on tho 25th Of May wrote at
length to Gov. Penn about the troublesome boundary
question and made mention Of the patriotic movement
In the following paragraph:
We have nothing but musters and committees oil over
the country, and everything seems to bo running INTO
adopted by the Congress- America has seen her golden
days. they may return but they will be preceded by
county for the defense of American liberty got clause
added by which they bind themselves to assist the % cs
magistrates IN the execution OF the laws tney nave o
accustomed to be governed by.
The brief report of the meeting, and the letter OF
St. Clair as have Transcribed them above furnish tho
chief historical basis for the celebration heid mere
But why commemorate In Greensburg on the Ioln an
event which occurred in Hannas Town on the l6thi
Because Hannas Town is only CROSSROADS hamlet
not big enough to anything n and because the
10th of May falls Sunday, and ocntennias ike tho
Fourth of July movable feasts which must give way
to the Christian Sunday.
The old county seat OF Westmoreland Is now httlo
more than name and o tragic memory. 1t was never
fully rebuilt after the Indians destroyed 1t in 1882, and
the removal of the courts to Greensburg three miles
away the same year. closed its history No vestige re-
mains Of the original town. The name contracted into
one word is still applied to crossroads sore' biacK-
smith shop, and two farmhouses which stand In the
midst of a green and fruitful country of wheat fields,
slope from grassy valleys up to orchards and WOOD
lands cresting the graceful slopes OF the hills
The HannastOwn resolutions, Oh first reading, scarce
Iy seem to deserve the honor Of centennial celebration
There is curOusy mixed flavor Of loyalty and rebellion
In them and they certainly do not constitute decara-
ton of independence, as has been claimed When read
in connection with the history of the times when they
were adopted however, will be found that they were
singulary bold and defiant. No public gathering
held in the Colonies during the year l17o
went further in the direction Of independence un-
less 1t was the Mecklenburg meeting. The farmers
of Westmoreland really laid down ultimatum to the
British Government and pledged themselves to resist W
authority by force of arms until their demands Ior 'o
repeal of all oppressive measures were complied With
In this view certainly fitting that their meeting
should be BY their c
need be said. Imagine Fourth OF July IN
country town. with @ S an 0 extra an spp shpp cannon
firing at sunrise there was, OF course ana tloo W Peo
ple coming in all the forenoon In all KINDS OI Iua Nch
clos and every variety OF horsefes An arch OF ever
greens spanned the main street near the handsome soe
Courthouse banners big and little tapped In the
wind, and every building, from cobbershop 70 lol%
hung out its cOOrs Man, OF the dwellings had uttle
flag stuck in each window Few people were so declcnt
patriotism cash not to afford bit OF clOtn WIN
the stars and stripes painted IT, In the morning four
companies of soldiers came by special trains nom fltts
brgh and one from Latrobe and these with the mounted
marsals one or civic societies. and string OF ulS
gushed visitors in carriages made up PROCESSION whcn
marched and counternached until everyone had seen
tbe uniforms and heard the bands much as he cared TO-
and was glad TO have II he could look Tor d-
ner at one of the OvercrOwded hotels In the afternoon
meeting was organized it'll Senator Cameron az caf-
talked from the Courthouse platform to as many listeners
as could get within range OF his voice. e made an ex
cclent address, and drew from the deeds OF tho Tore
fathers of Wcstmoreland practical moral ap-
plicable to the politics Of the present day,
amey the Importance OF maintaining sacrcdy tfc prln,
state and Nation Constitutions and of not permitting
them to DE infinged by Presidents Governors or wrong
headed and tyrannical maorles IN Legislative Doules,
without resistance prompt ana Determined as Was
made by our ancestors to the cncrcachments OF the
British Government "a c..
Uarranft who escorted from the railroad station TO
the Courthouse by the bands and military companies
Alter Mr.. Cowan had finished the Governor made
sho speech response TO calls from the crowd ana was
loudly cheered Judge Kirkpatrick OF Pittsburgh spoke
for half an hour and speeches from local digntarles
followed long enough people remained VIII tste
for OratCry to mako an audience. -,
The affair was highly credtablc and interesting local
celebration. Owing TO the late date when e arrange
iucnts were begun, IL not participated In as was
hoped by delegations from the many counties OF which
WesmOIeand was the mother