The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-05-05

age, and they had what, as Carlyle has
said, is still better than courage, "no
particular CONSCIOUSNESS of courage, but
a readiness in all simplicity to do and
dare whatsoever is commanded by the
inward voice of native manhood.
l come, therefore, first of all, as de-
vout pilgrim at the shrine of freedom
1 come to refresh myself for coming du-
ties by calling up in vivid recollection
the images of that night Of alarm, that
morning of blood, the undauteds cour-
age, the pure simplicity, the high and
resolute daring, which will forevers sem-
balm the name of Lexington among
the most priceless memories and inspi-
rations Of human history. But come
also in another character and for anoth-
er purpose. come to bring to this feast
of patriotism the greetings of the de-
sccndants Of colony which, from the
hour when Samuel Adams, speaking in
the name of the town of Boston to its
representatives, bade them, Use your
epdeavors that the weight of the other
North American colonies may be added
to that of this province, that by united
application all may happily obtain re-
dress" till the long struggle was crown
ed with final success, never faltered in
her devotion to the cause on whose first
battlefield we now stand.
On the 30th of May, 1774, Virginia,
under the impulsive Patrick Henry's
eloquence, declared that "the people of
Virginia are not bound to yield obe-
dience to any laws designed to impose
taxation upon them other than the laws
of their own general assembly," On
the 9th of June, 1854, the Legislature of
Massachusetts, on the advice of James
Otis, suggested the calling of an Amer
lean congress, to be composed of dele
gates from each of the thirteen colonies.
On the 35th of June, 1764, the sugges-
tion of Massachusetts, was debated in
the assembly Of South Carolina by the
then youthful and eloquent John Rut-
ledge, and adopted under the leadership
of the intrepid and sagacious Christie
pher Gadsden. Thus Virginia sounded
the alarm; Massachusetts proposed the
union; South Carolina responded with
the pledge of her earnest support
"Be it remembered" says Mr.. Bran
croft, "that the blessing of union is due
to the warm-heartedness of South Car
olina. She was alive and felt ut every
pore. And when we count up those
who, above others, contributed to the
great result, we are to name the inspir-
ed madman," James Otis, and the mag
unanimous, unwavering lover of his
country, Christopher Gadsden."
AS South Carolina was the first to
respond to the call Of Massachusetts for
II congress, so her delegates, Gadsden,
Rutledge and Lynch, were the first to
arrive in New York, in October, 1764,
to attend that congress. The first ques-
ton to be determined by that congress
was upon what grounds the colonists
should rest their resistance to the i'm
pending usurpation of parliament.
Shall they stand on the royal grants or
on grounds of original, unwrlttcn, inn
prcscriptible right? Shall they plead
their parchment charters, or their birth
right as men and Englishmen? Shall
they claim under the grant of the king,
or under the grant of God? Who does
not perceive that this was vital ques-
ton, on whose decision the distinctive
character of American freedom and
American self-government was to de-
pend? If at this moment of the first
formulation of the claims of the colo
nists they had pleaded the royal grants
rs the source and ground of their rights,
whence could jefferson have drawn his
immortal declaration of the inalicn able
rights of man? That discussion in that
congress was the harbinger not only of
American independence, but OF what,
as | think, was more significant stlil 10
mankind, the declaration of American
independence. Here again South Car
olina spoke through Christopher Gads-
den. 1--WE must stand" said he, upon
the broad, common ground of those nat
ural rights that we all feel and know
rs men, and as descendants of English
men. Iwish the charters may not en-
snare us Mt last by drawing different
colonies to act differently i'll this great
cause. Whenever that is the case all
will be over with the whole. There
ought to be no New England man, no
New Yorker, known OH the continent,
but all of US Americans" These sentl'
ments, so truthful, so generous, so conf
prehensivc, were adopted by the con
grcss; and from them has sprung, 1t Is
not too much to say, the greatness Oh
the American republic, the greatness ol
the principles on which it rests, ana the
greatness of its success rs practlcai eN-
anne of government Of the people, ~
the pcople and for the people.
In ali the deliberations OF that mrs!
congress, in framing the first formal
declaration of the rights of the colonlsts'
no influences were perhaps more power
full than the voices Of South Carolina
delegates, Gadsden, Rutledge and
Lynch. 1t was due to the determined
opposition of Rutledge that the right OF
parliament to regulate the trade OF the
colonies was denied. 1t was Gausden
and Lynch who denied the propriety OF
even approaching parliament by petl-
tion. the former declaring with lmpas..
stoned earnestness, I'VE neither hold
orr rights from the house of commons
nor from the lords" Animated by
such sentiments, inspired by such lead
ers Massachusetts and South Carolina,
with the other colonies, OH the 25th OF
October, l7G4, bound themselves to the
first formal and united proclamation OF
the rights which they claimed, OF the
~ricvanccs of which they complained
and of the relief which they demand
ed. A., ,,o,,rs
These, fellow-citizens, were the houts its
in which American freedom !ooh ~
form. These were the prophetic WIZ, ,r,
announcing the future when we ~"
sTTherc nre certain original, inheren
rights belongingto to the people which par
lament itself cannot deprive them ot.'
John Adams-"You have rights ante
cedcnt to all earthly government rig h,t'
that cannot be repealed or restrained bS
human laws; rights derived from tn,
great legislature of the universe; -
James Otis-"Freelo and equality
D...L will, oil IFS tortueS ia preferable
to slavery" Alexander Hamilton
"The sacred rights of mankind art
written as with Il sunbeam in the whols
volume of human nature by the hanTt
of divinity itself, and ctn never o'
erased or obscured by mental power
Christopher Gadsden 1--WE nellhe
hold our rights from the house OF com
mons nor from the lords.
From 17G4 to iii, throughout tn IN;