Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1885-03-12
NEW ENGLAND SKETCHES.
NO. I.
THE OLD STATE HOUSE.
nv REMI.Y g. SIDEIINGER.
For the Sentinel.

BY REMLY s. sTDELINGER.
For the Sentinel.
I presume that OF all historical cities
of America, Boston takes the lead, for
this being one of the earliest places
settled and our forefathers beginning
their struggle for liberty in this vicin-
fly in the old Revolutionary days, the
old land marks have great interest
for most people.
THE OLD STATE HOUSE
at the head of State street in tie
Northern portion Of the city is very
interesting land mark and / think de-
serves more than passing notice. It
is a very modest looking building zof
drab colcred brick. 1t is situated on
slight rise and is not very far from
the wharves among the latter being
the celebrated tea.wharf The build
ing is about 100 feet long, by 80 wide,
two stories in height and is. situated
north and south. The under portion
or first floor is occupied by telegraph
company. The entrances to the upper
portion, where we find the halls and
relics, are placed on either side. We
ascend half dozen steps and enter
small hall way, and the first thing
one notices is tablet placed OH the
wall at the foot of the circular stair
way, on the tablet is found the follow
ing: "On this spot stood, until its
burning on Oct. Sd, Ill, the first
town house of Boston, founded in 16-
81, by Capt. Robert Keayne. Here,
in 1913 was erected the second town
house whose walls endure until this
day, as do the floors and roof con-
structed in 1747, after a second fire
had devasted the chambers. Here
the loyal assembly obeyed the Crown.
Here the spirit of liberty was aroused
and guided by thu eloquent effects and
actions of Otis Adams, Painey, War
rem, Gushing and Hancock. Here
the child independence was born ;
here Washington received the tribute
of an enfranchised people,
Here was installed the government
of new state here for ten years our
civic rulers assembled, and here by
the vote of our city council of 1881,
have been reconstructed in their orig
inal form; the council chambers and
Representative Hall, hallowed by the
memory of the Revolution. May our
children preserve the sacred trust.
Now let us ascend this circular
stairway. We see circular hallway
at the top of them, out of which leads
several doors, we enter the door on the
west side, but we only enter a small
ante-room, which contains many rel
lies of Colonial days; we come out
and go into another ante-room con,
tanning the same sort of articles. From
here we enter
THE REPRESENTATIVE HALL
in the South end of the building. This
is also filled with many relics Of Rev
olutionary times, among them being
the drum beaten at the battle of Bun
ker Hill, in 1875, also the small brass
cannon and warriors flags that oul
forefathers fought with and under
as we take our seat in the Speaker
old chair AVID place our note book or
the old desk, / almost imagine we arc
in the presense of the old heroic mem
bers of the legislature that here assem-
bled Gin the days that tried men'i
souls" as Thomas Paine said.
Yes, this is Representative Hall
where in the eprovincial days convened
the great and general court, where, in
behalf of the people, official authority
was given to the wish of the province
Here in 1851 was delivered the mem
orial plea of james Otis against the
writ of assistance and was resounded
later, the protest against tea.
Here in April, 1865 was received
the notice of the passage by Parlia
ment of the Stamp Act, and here OF
October oath, of the same year, frs
appeared in public life, as represen
tative of the people of Boston,
SAMUEL ADAMS,
that fearless leader, who was destined
to bear SO renowned part in organic
ing the Revolution; here in 176S wa
passed by the general court, the his
toric resolve which ordered letters tt
be written to the colonies, with respect
to heimportance of joining with them
in petitioning his majesty at this time
The English government demanded
the immediate resembling of the order
but the General Court* refused it
compliance by vote of92 to II .sThel
followed the reaction of the minute
of this meeting in the decision to quar-
ter troops belonging to the king, il
Boston, the first detachment arrivin,
from Halifax, Sept. % or 20, 1868.
At noon on Oct. LIST, the troops
which consisted of the 144th and 29tl
regiments of infantry and campan,
of artillery, were landed at Lon;
Wharf. By orders of Governor Ber
nard, Faneuil Hall and this lowl
house, as it was called where assignee
them as quarters a portion of th
14th infantry occupying this room.
think lean now see the stern, travelled
stained soldiers marching in with reg
ular steps, obeying the word of com
mand, or waiting for orders th
the main guard WAS posted in front O
the building and the cannons wer
drawn up and leveled against it.
The following May when the Gene
raj Court met in this room, the fir;
work done after organization was t
resolve "that an armament by Ian
and sea, investing the metropolis an
, a military guard with cannon pointc
: at the very door of the town hous
where this assembly is held, is incor
sistent with that dignity, as well {
that freedom which we have right
deliberate, consult and determine"