Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1876-06-15
CENTENNIAL J0TTlNGS.
Occasional Philadelphia Correspondent
of the CLARION.

Colossal in its magnitude, and bril-
liant beyond comparison in its inner
attractions, it is nevertheless not the
great exhibition alone which brings
these thousands Of visitors to Phila-
delphia just now. There is also, we
trust, a patriotic purpose. Every IN
telligent young American has read of
the old State House, in which the Co.
lonial Congress sat one hundred years
ago, and from which issued the immor-
tai declaration Of Independence, which
severed our connexion with the tyran-
ical mother country, and led to the
establishment Of our free government.
The old State House is indeed the
centre of associations of thrilling in
terest. When it was dete.mi that
our Centennial anniversary ought not
to pass without fitting national obser-
vance, there was spirited contest in
Congress over the selection of a place
Of celebration. Several cities had
claims growing out Of memorable his
torical events. Boston had her Bun
ler Hill and old Fanniel Hall, which
she pointed to as the very cradle OF
liberty. New York presented her
claims as the centre of great battle
fields. But rising above all in grand
historic interest, Philadelphia pos
sessed the old State House. Graded
she may have been elsewhere, but from
the old State House Freedom went
forth leading nation.
Philadelphia was Therefore most APP
propriately declared the proper place
for the exhibition, and few visitors
leave the city without devoting a day
to the venerable edifce whose portals
can scarcely be passed without a
quickening Of the pulsatioLs of pa
triotism. The public authorities OF
Philadelphia warmly cherish the old
State House, and great pains have
been taken to restore lndepend-
ence Hall to as nearly as possible the
appearance it presented one hundred
years ago. The forms Of the patriot
signers are gone-the voices Of Adams,
Jefferson, Henry, Lee and others are
flushed in death, but the old congress
sional hall, its desks and chairs are
still there. The portraits Of the sign
ers look down IRON the walls with a
benign expression, seeming almost to
say, lit is to us you owe the rich
blessings Of century Of freedom
guard we'll the legacy we left to ros-
terity." The room is filled with me-
MORALS Of the days Of &c, and among
other relics the original Declaration,
now a dry, faded, wrinkled piece of
parchment, with some of the signers
names entirely obliterated by age.
There too is the old bell which pro-
claimed liberty, but it has also lost
the stirring ring Of 7G.
And now, as we are not going to
the exhibition to-day, let us dwell for
awile an a scrap Of history recording
the first great step to freedom. On
the 9TH day Of June, l776, in this old
State House, Richard Henry Lee, Of
Virginia, offered series of resolu-
tions in Congress, declaring in en-
phatic terms, that these United Col
onies are and Of right ought to be
free and independent States; that
they are absolyed from all allegiance
to the British crown, and that all po-
IltlCal connection DeLWcell luell anu
Great Britain is and ought to be to-
tally dissolved" The passage Of the
resolutions was Immediately seconded
by John Adams, Of Massachusetts,
History tells Us that this bold utter
ance made deep sensation. 1t is not
difficult to run one mind back to the
memorable scene. The President,
John Hancock, is in the chair, and ar
ranged in a semi circle are seated the
congressional delegates in groups
Over the door hangs the flag of the
rebel lazy, described as "an elegant
standard, such as is to be used by the
commander-in-c chief of the American
navy, being yellow flag with live
" representation Of q rattlesnake In
the middle in the attitude Of striking,
and underneath the words "don t
tread on me- Now rises in his place
Richard Henry Lee, co-worker with
Patrick Henry IN opposition to the