Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-03-28

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stolen shall not exceed ten dollars.
Sgo, l3. All Acts and parts Of Acts
inconsistent herewith are hereby re-
pealed.
CONTEST OYER THE ADOP
IION Of our CONSTITUTION.
In this country the opponents of the
Constitution OF l7S7-our happy Con.
stitution-were quite as sure that that
terrible instrument would destroy pup
ular liberty as Lord Sbcl5urnc was
that the British star would set ii Amer.
leu became independent. "'Tis really
astonishing" said Richard Henry Lee,
"tbat the same people who have nst
emerged from n long and cruel war in
defense OF liberty, should now agree TO
fix an elective depotism upon them.
selves and their pOsterily." "Somc OF
the powers must be abridged" said
Samuel Chase, "or public liberty will
be endangered, and in time destroyed"
Joshua Atherton congratulated anti
Constitution members OF the Now York
Convention that they had the opportu-
niiy"to save our devoted country from
impending ruin George Clinton said
of the same Convention: "Thc lriends
to the rights of mankind outnumber
the advocates OF despotism nearly two
TO one"
Nor was the opposition confined to
words. The spirit OF party WIS fierce.
Mr.. John c. Hamilton asserts that
there was n party combination 10 take
the lie OF his father, the great champi-
on OF the Constitution, by the duel I;
aud Col. Oswald did certainly chall, nge
him, but upon explanation Withdrew
the challenge. On the 81 of Jnly, 1888,
twenty days before the New York Con
vention adopted the Constitution, came
the news Of the ratification by Virgin
ia The friends OF the new charter
marched to the fort in Albany, read it
aloud with exultalion, and fired salute.
The next day, the 4th of July, the op
pOnents of the Constitution, who be-
hcved that its adoption would be the
setting OF the star of American liberty,
marched TO the fort aud burned the
charter. Its friends, rejoicing in pro
spectiye victory, attempted to pass
tnumphautly the house where the
other party were holding their crlebra-
lion. But the latter fell upon them
and drove them back. The Constitu-
tionallsts rallied, and approached by
another street. But again the other
party were ready, and had planted II
small cannon loaded with stones to re.
pei the assaulling column. The Con
stitutonalists pressed on, and as the
dragons at their head began the
charge, the Observation-Disclosures tried
to fire the cannon. But IL bad been
spiked, like the gun in Gov. DORIS as
sault upon the Providence arsenal IN
1912, or the printing was wet, and IL
would not explode. A conflict follow
ed, and the stony battle OF Greet street
is historical.
In the city of New York, after the
Constitution was adopted, its friends
resolved TO punish lts opponents by
destroying the press OF the publisher
tireenlcaf, whose paper bad been the
organ Of opposition. They assaulted
bis house. He fired u pistol among
them, and gallantly defended his castle.
But the mob triumphed Greenleai
and his friends fled, and the publication
OF the paper was suspended for many
days. The rioters also proposed TO
visit John Lamb, tough old soldier OF
the Revolution, who was Collector Of
the Port under the State government,
and who was subsequently appointed
to the same position under the new
Constitution by President Washington.
Lamb was as brave as lion. He made
due preparation. Four veterans OF
the war, two young men, and colored
servant who hid attended Lamb at
the battle OF Monmouth, composed the
garrison Of the house. The General
directed in person. His house was on
the south side of Wall street, midway
between Pearl aud William streets,
about the present site of the banking
house of Brown Brothers. Ilo had
laid in fifteen or twenty stand of arms,
with proper ammunition and side.arns.
The lower doors and windows We're
barred, the hall was barricaded with
the furniture OF the duing-room, the
stairway was obstructcd in the same
manner, and the garrison was massed
in the second story. Tho boys were
stationed at the magazine to hand irerb
muskets and to load. The General
placed each man, With strict orders not
to fire until be should begin the action
and all the lights in the house were
cxtinguished except at tho arsenal.
Loop.holcs were cut in the window.
shutters for observation. aud the Gen.
oral calmly awaited the assault. The
rioters arrived. They filled tho street
in dense throng. They roared,
threatened and challenged But there
was no reply. The house was darl,
held council of war. They decided
that the house was either deserted OF
garrisoned. They knew General Lamb
and concluded that IL was probably moi
deserted. Then embracing the better
part OF valor, and shouting defiance
they Withdrew.
The Constitution 30 bitterly opposed
was adopted. But II has not ruined
our devoted country, as Joshua Alher-
ton feared, nor have the rights OF man
kind been imperiled, as George Clinton
hpln.v.l The despoulinp A merriam