The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-08
NEW YORK LIBERAL CLUB.

MR.. JAMES PARToN's LECTURE ON THE CON-
rINENrAL CONGRESS.
The s4oth regular lecture given under the auspices
OF the New York Liberal Club was delivered last even.
ting at their rooms Plimpton Building, by Mr.. James
Parton and tho subject chosen ''Thc Continental
Congress" After Introductory remarks the lee
turer referred the Congress OF l774 which was dis
tinctly legislative body, each colony having con.
tributcd its most representative mon. 1t not a
large gathering and 1t became very small tho times
grew stringent. Their movements watched with
considerable interest every side. England was then
the bully Of tho world. She was not only the only
mistress, but sho WINS alone In her conquest
After conquering Spain, thcn Holland and finally
France, its potent and menacing Empire was divided
against ITSELF Tho England Of that day was like tho
England OF to.day-Chncsc conservatism with pro-
grcssive wisdom. Tho Southern delegates OF tina
Congress had rather weary journey through the will
derncss that tino In l774 travellers between Bal
timorc and Philadelphia compelled hire guides
10 show them tho way Baltimore was then a village
OF eighty houses, and there few large settlements
along the coast: hence the southern members wero
not chccrcd their way by enthusiastic and sympa-
thctc populations. but emerged from the woods into
the outrageous and comfortable Philadelphia
The lecturer then proceeded to describe the meeting
OF the Congress referred TO In Carpenters Hall II had
taken those who had lett Boston nineteen days reach
Philadelphia, and some interesting Incidents wcrc
narrated concerning the preliminary arrangements or
the Congress. The delegates walked N powdered wigs
knee breaches and bucked shoes--eomething similar
to the dress worn by Sir Peter Teazlcrom the City
Tavern to tho Carpenters HALL He referred TO tho
opening Of the proceedings and the gravity or tho
surroundings and paid high tribute 10 The noble
spirit which animated the delegates. lie referred to
the address Of Patrick Henry. only parts OF
which had been remembered. but he struck
the keynote when he sad he proclaimed
himself as not belonging 10 any particular state, but
as an American. He alluded tho grandeur and sim
plicity OF the Congress question and which, he said
had elected the admiration OF tho greatest minds IL
had been we'll observed that for sodity OF reasoning
force sagacty and wisdom ofconclusion had never
been surpassed. The question might naturally arise
how Il that tho colonsts could easily select
from the mass OF the people their most wise men TO
represent them in Congress. He explained II by show
ing that in colonial period the ablcst men in the
community worked themselves into tho affection and
respect Of the people. They sent 70
the various Legislatures, and thcrc be-
came acquainted with cacn other; and accordingly
from these the best were chosen And II was Tho
problcm Of 10 day how similar could be pur
sued he submitted that 10 man should sit In Icgis-
at,vc body aud impose burdens on his fellow citizens
unless be gong carry part Of the load hmscIf
Surely man should st 10 Congress- State Lcgsla-