Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-07-13

| Spectful. remOnStranceSf coucneu IN
the most sincere expressions OF 10y
atty. In answer to the cry for peace
war came forth. British soldiers were
landed upon our shores to coerce the
submission of loyal subjects to unjust
measures. On the I'd of March, ITO.
a rope maker quarreled with and
struck British soldier. Other rope
makers and soldiers came together.
The rope makers were beaten. Then
followed an assault by mob of 200
citizens, upon Capt. Preston's men,
/ Three OF the citizens were killed and
dangerously wounded. In five years
/ from that time the battle OF LeXing-
ton was fought. History calls it the
first of the American Revolution; but
in reality it was the second; the first
was the battle of the rope makers,
March 5th, 1770, when freedom receiv-
ed her first baptism Of blood on the
streets of Boston. Other battles fol-
lowed Lexington, and remonstrances
followed the battles. Every expedi-
ent was adopted to secure-not inde-
pendence-but justice, while the con-
fiict OF arms continued to thicken.
Every provincial Assembly had final
ly, but reluctantly, declared in favor
OF independence, "when, on the 7th
of June, 1776, in the midst of doubt,
and dread, and hesitation, which for
twenty days had brooded oyer tne
Continental Congress, Richard Henry
Lee, of Virginia, rose in his place,
and with his clear musical voice, read
the resolution, That these united
colonies are, and. of right, ought to
be free and independent States. that
they are absolved from all allegiance
to the British crown, and that all po-
litical connection between them and
the State of Great Britain, is, and
ought to be dissolved. To conserv-
ative ears the resolution had the ring
OF treason. The bravest thought it
premature. A cautious debate OF
three days followed. when the subject
was postponed until the 1st of July.
On the I'd of July, 100 years ago to-
day, the resolution was adopted by
large majority. The Declaration
framed in the meantime, in accord
ance with the resolution, was careful
ly debated. About II O'clock, July
4th, 1776, it was unanimously adopted,
and the colonies were announced to
the world as independent States, with
the title OF the United States of
America" Now, ask, whose grand
design was this? 1t was not the de-
sign OF the British crown or parlia-
ment. 1t was the very thing they had
instinctively feared for dozen years
And, therefore, mainly to impress the
authority OF the crown, a burden OF
oppressive measures was laid upon
the colonies. A vigorous war Of eight
years attests the same fact. The En-
glish people did not desire separation.
The hasty repeal OF the stamp act
produced Joy in England as well as in
the colonies. The shipping in the
river Thames was decorated with
flags, and London warehouses were
illuminated. Besides. it was deemed
necessary, by the colonists, to submit
conciliatory addresses to the British
people, in view of hostilities conse-
quent to their resistance OF royal
misrule. Every measure, and num-
berless expedients, adopted by colon
lists, shows that they had no original,
deliberate, design to secure independ
ence. When the Stamp Act was re-
pealed they rejoiced with bonfires, IL
luminations and public thanksgivings.
They fondly hoped that a way was
opening whereby they might retain an
allegiance OF which they were Justly
proud. The effect OF the bold utter
ances OF Patrick Henry upon the AS
sembly of Va, as early as 1863 re-
veals the spirit that prevailed to
within a few weeks of the time OF
the Declaration. He was exclaiming
against tyrants and said: Caesar
had his Brutus, Chas. I'LL had his
Cromwell, and Geo. Ill" Urea
sonl treasonl" cried his compeers.
He paused a moment and said: "may
profit by their example. II that be
treason make the most of it," This
great design then, OF American indie
pendence, we find, was artfully OPP
posed by the British ministry, con-
trary to the wishes of the English |
people, and feared by the colonists
themselves. Whence then, 1 repeat |
its origin? There is but one answer
consistent with reason-God. If we
rule God out and call II happy ac-
cident, we shall have u mystery to
explain a thousand fold darker than
the comforting and reasonable doc
trine of Divine Providence.
Again the hand OF God is plainly |
visible in the long struggle which |
followed to secure declared indepen-
dence. There were perhaps more
defeats than victories for the pa
triots True some of them were un-
desirable victoies for the enemy, like
the battle OF Guilford, N. c. "An-
other such victory" said an English
statesman, will ruin the British |
army" There were stunning de-
feats for the Americans and pcrplex-
ing surprises for the British. Long
Island, BraDdywine and Germantown
are examples OF the former. Tren-
ton, Princeton and Saratoga, of the
latter. The battle Of Long Island
with attendant reverses secured New
York city and the State of N. J. to the
enemy. SO complete was the con-
quest Of this important territory, and
SO inevitable seemed the speedy fall
Of Philadelphia, the Frederal capitol,
and the consequent close of the war,
that CORVALLIS actually returned to
New York to prepare to sail for Eng
land. The co nmander OF the Hes
SLAMS at Trenton applied to Gen.