The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1876-07-14

HarbOr became the famous teapot to receive
all the tea England should send. To pun
ish the people for this, the Colonial charter
of Massachusetts, was demanded, and any
powers they had heretofore received were
taken from them. This charter was always
considered by the col0niBts as sacred COM
pact between the king and themselves and
when King George arbitrarily annulled it,
they considered they were from that mo-
ment independent and free from their ale
glance to the British crown. The right OF
trial by jury, by their own countrymen was
also taken away, and persons accused OF
certain crimes were ordered to England foI
trial. Thus finding all hope Of redress from
the mother country taken away. they re-
solved to trust TO the God Of their fathers
and their own right arm to right the wrongs
they had suffered, and Oh the 9th of Sep
tcmber, 1714, tifty-two delegates from Il
colonies met i'll the city Of Philadelphia to
take action for their mutual safety and pro
lection. This was the session of the Con
tinental Congress which was composed at
first Of 10 colonies, and afterward joined by
Georgia, making the original 13, who, under
God, were to map the destinies Of coun-
Try that for ages to come should be "Thc
Land Of the free, and the home of the
brave"
We would be recreant to duty, did We
fail to notice the solr-saeriiicing devotion
and the spirit Of holy patriotism that acttl-
ated this remarkable body Of legislators.
Selfshness, personal advancement, greed OF
gain was unknown among them. They
met for their countly's good, and her vel
fare was the noblcS5 object OF their minds,
while its love engrosscd the h0liest attec-
tions oftheir hearts. Their characters have
been indelibly impressed upoL every page
OF American history. And when the lead
ers, whom we have since elected TO rep
resent us in legislative halls, have erred, ol
been led from the path OF rcctltudc and
duty, we have reminded them OF Franklin,
jefferson, Livingston, Morris, Adams ana
their colleagues. whose desires were not
for self, but for the land they loved; not fol
personal ease or aggrandizement they
toiled, but with a willingness to lay all
their personal possessions on the altar OF
sacrifice, that their country might be free
For this, they pledged their lives, theii
fortunes and their sacred honor. And look
ing back through the dim twilight'oi years,
to the meeting Of that illustcious body
and marking the pure motives that aetna
ted them, we fain would pause and breathe
u prayer of thanksgiving to Hin who led
them through the darkness into the bright
ness Of civil and religious liberty, for the
example Of fidelity they have lett us ant
pray that he will make us worthy sons o.
such h0nored sres. Among the important
duties devolving upon them, was the elec-
tion Of q Commander-in-C Chief OF the CO
lonial forces. Comprehending the immense
responsibility and trust they were about &c
Of
knowing how finite were human judgments
Dir. Franklin rising in his place is reported
to have moved 'that before the vote fOl
Commander-in-Chiefo of the army is taken
the Chaplain be requested to invoke tht
Divine aid and blessing" and there, witt
bowed heads and sincere hearts, they be-
seech the Ruler Of the Universe to bless
their cause and give them man whose
trust is in the Lord who will lead their ar
mics to defend their country, their loved
ones and their homes. Gods ear was no
closed to their prayers, for when the ballot
was taken and the name Of George Wash
ington was announced, we know, as we
look back over the events that followed,
that If ever man was called 70 a particular
work, and was used as diVinely-appointec
instrument for the accomplishment OF God
designs, George Washington was the maj
who was to break the yoke Of thraldom
,ello MAS to be tho soul of the lseyolM5l9n
aud eSfabIiS1nenT OF TIIe- ZrrlIUr1CtET I15J1rc,
whose liberties should be as free as Caf
water in the brooks or the clear sunlight o.
heaven. The modesty of this remarkable
man is only cquaIed by his greatness. IL
aeeeDting th,s position he said to Congress
t.I am truly sensible of the high heno
done mo by this appointments, yet Zee
GREAT distress from consciousness that III,
abilities and military experience are no
euuaI to the arduous trust, but will eEeFl
eyerv poWerI possess in their service aDt
for the support Of the glorious cause. 10y
well lie fulfilled his promise let history an
swe1. Not only was the year lIl5 mcmof
able because of the meeting OF tn
Continental Congress, but events Wet
transpiring that were replete with interest
prominent among which was the 1lfsU re;l
battle of the war. Heretofore the bntlsi
soldiery coming upon detenceless clt,ZeE
had disoraced the name OF soldier by shoo'
inc them down in cold blood and murdeIIp
| peaceful inhabitants like dogs on the street
Of Boston. But the 18th OF April daWne
uIon men with whom patience had ceased
| and they resolved to submit no longer u
see their property burned and their bfeti
rem slaughtered by their side, for when th
enemy opened upon them they returned I'd
fire, and as darkness closed the battle =
| killed, $50 wounded, with 70 prisoners, tol
| how they had punished their foe. Inns ef
oagement was followed by the brilliant e.
ploit of Ethan Allen i'll capturing llcoi
deroga and Crown Point. Marching d
forces ND to the fertilization he demande
it's surrender. The commander; suFprlse'
enanired in whose name he made such
demand; when this gallant soldier IN n
reply reminding us Of Gldeou's host, SAT-
| 81 demand the surrender III the name
| the Great Jehovah and the ContlhehC;
/ Congress- The British commander, appa
emily realizing that the Contlnental's IA
4 become the cause of Heaven, suTrenoere
to superior power, and 100 cannon, beside
| ammunition aud stores, became the prope
/ ty Of the victors. :,
Tie year 177G was ushered in finding tt
| colonies struggling against a relentiess e, e,
emy. VIM. Penn was sent to England Ia !, u
preceding year i'll hopes that all dlfhcultl'
might be adjusted, and returning home
ported the cool reception he had receive
and that their attempted conclllatlon al
compromise had been rejected. AiIhouS m
savora1 epraoements had taken place and
| (i0IOllal ION GCsS iiftNa SISAi "a
thew had appointed General, with his .
my to carry on the war, yet it was not t
the 4th day of July, 1776, one hundred yea
AGO to-day-a day henceforth forever II II
mortal in the history of the world = that
formal Declaration of Independence W
nassed. which forever separated the 20
. nies from the Crown of Great Britain. ii
, act nrompted England to send reintorc
n,ents 10 her army in America, under sc
| Howe. whose forces now numbered 3o,O
, wen-armed, drilled and equipped. Agar
these Washington could muster but 80
men. poorly armed and unacquainted VI
military taetics,-but with these he untu
, h;s banner, and after fighting the battle
/ Long Island leads his army through ~
i Jersey. and on the Goth OF December figi
the battle of Trenton, and gains tru
nhant victory, which was followed sew
days afterward by the battle OF Prlneett
] with another victory for the Contlnen
cause. Duiing the year 1777 the bait
Of Brandywine. Germantown and Sarato
, were fought, which although undecist
q to fhe main cause at issue, ncverthel'
: ao,,,,;,,ced the enemy that the America