Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-31

the delaware State from 1875 to 1872, OF
which he was a member, aud lately pub
lfsned by order OF tbs Legislature. Among
his descendants now living In the State are
the Ridgeiys OF Dover, and MIR. Henry
Gsddes Banning OF Wilmington.
After his return from Philadelphia, Cesar
Rodney, in 1859, was chosen speaker oil the
assembly, aud ~ the unsettled question
between Great Britain and colonies never
permitted repose, resistance and discomfort
grew apace, and the need OF his courageous
counsel became more urgent as the arbitrary
aRRressions OF the crown continued to
force the reluctant colanists to decide be-
tween resistance or unreServed and slavlsh
submission.
The stamp act Congress had thus brought
about colonial union. The vlndictive leg
islation OF Great Britain continued. and
the town 81 Boston seemed especially
marked for royal vengeance. The charter
o. MaSsa ,husettH wRs rudeiy violated IN ita
Guat essential features; the fort OF Boston
was 'lOsed to all commerce.. aud avery safe.
guard 10 personal liberty aE1 Local sell
government was abroHated
dust setion served 70 precipitste the In
syllable cortilct, and early 10 1774, u
| general sentimental congress of tha repre-.
sentauS as ~ zach colony was recommended
by Massachusetts, aud ready response soon
cama from oTsrG quarter.
No :alcny moved with more alaority
| MAJ bI'hWhAoi anu Wy hOuc Wdb tue uuuiJ
determination 10 make the cause OF Maasa-
| chu5etts thair own, and TO resist NJ the
Threshold all measures intended for their
subjugation .alrs disanctly anu clearly
avowsd. The sousral meeting OF the frae-
holders aud Inhabitants OF New Castle
| county was vt the town Of New Castle, June
29:h, l774, Thomas MIAsaa being their
| chairman.
The ,reeholders and iuhahltants Of Kant
met In Dover, on July Goth, l774, and'a like
meeting was held by the treemen OF Sussex
county, at Lewestown, on July 2Sl. The
/ tenor OF the resolutions Adopted lu Zach
county was substantially the came. and
| AFTER the most express and aolemu rec1g-
milton OF the sovereignty OF George
Ill, and promising due allegiance to hls
government. reeiied tue various aets OF
parliamentary oppression against Boston
SO dangerous to the common cause OF
America. Each county appointed com.
mittee OF thirteen members to correspond
with similar committees In tho state and IL
the sister colonies, and Caesar Rodney was
one OF the number from Kent. On August
Isl the three counties met In convention ct
New Castle and Rodney was made ahair.
man.
The resolutions adopted on August Id,
l774, reci'e the history OF American
grievances With ii gig0t and iignity that
charaoterizes the pupils u.tefancss Of tna
period.
1t was at once unanimously resolved to
instruct the deputies then appointed TO
attend the general Congress aud "that
they do endeavor 60 prevail web thu depu.
ias from other colonies TO aitpt the fol-
lowing Or similar resolutions"
This men who led tina councils OF Della
ware were well Instructed iG the English
law and lived III obedience to its preuepts
therefore whsn they mat 10 popular con.
vantiou they tecognised this most eligible
mole Of ehdeascSiGs TO pcocurs redress
Tor their grievances would have been
through their Legislative assembly" but as
that boiy could not I've convened until Sep.
temb5c 30th, iolloWng, aud AS the pro
prl5tary (John PenL) mad al eRdy refused
TO convene the Legislatures o. Pennsylvania,
wheh so requested for tbs slme purpose,
the best and most propsr mode Was by this
convention, ahi this characteristic resolu.
tton is to bs found At q. 59T Of the volume
Of the American archives already cited
The three deputies 20 the continental Con.
gress were Cesar Ro1a5y. Thomas Mexican
and George Read.
This congress met a. Philadelphia on
september. 9th, i714, aad vas composed OF
30 delegates, among whom was George
Washington, OF Virginia. Their sessions
lasted uat.l October 26tn, l774, and their
proceedings relate to ull tAe measures 81
parliament which were considered uncon-
etitutional Rnd suover1iva of the rights aud
liberties OF the coonists rs British subjscts
After reciting, In detail, ths proceeding:
OF thia congress Mr., Bayard continued:
CAESAR Rodney Was man OF action In ar
, era Of action; born not out OF his propei
tins, but In It; and, being fitted for tn,
hour and Its work. ha did Il we'll. He wa,
recognized, and, naturally, at once became
; Influential and mpresslve---dlstlnguls
I for the qualities which were needed IN the
days If which he lived on earth.
He was possessed of a nOblB ardOr. hi
spirit Was ah ime and It never alcGered o.
! wavered throughout the long and weary
3oniiict that followed.
He had served In the Continental Con
gress. Of l.7i with Washington; no haC
heard OF Wasbington'S uttarRnce IN tn,
/ Virginia Oonyention early Ia 177I, when he
was delegated to attend IN Philadelphia:
II vii! raise laD0 men, suosist them at
ciy own expense, aud march clyseli at thai
! head for the relief u Boston,
, Moved by patriotic impulse, be had ccun
, seled the collection u Washington as Gon
, nander-ic.chlet OF the colonial forces, snt
from the beginning to tho end OF the con
1 dice sought to hold up bis hands and sus
. tala him at all times and IN all ways,
. II Ia 10 the honor OF Cesar RodGey anl
4 his native State. that he gained ani re
taiGsd to the end the ABSOLUTE soul ienc
. OF Washington. Thanks he to God mi
D brother Delawarsans. thanks be TO u ID, tn
. history OF our little commonwealth Al tn
{ war Tor American Independence disclose
1 the name OF no venal Or seltishiy AMBITION
trader "a his countsy's woss, and n51e 4
o home, ia the character and traditions Q
a men VI our own State, We and our chadrs
y can Iook for exsmplar5 of courage an
: fidelity equal to sny In tho broad land
i Their numbers were few, and the trumpe
!, OF local ard sa,f laudation not 4
!. loud as may sometimes have been heard 4
D other quarters, bur every Deawarean ma
8 proudly look and ASK the whole world t
0 look, upon the uGsllllsd record OF gu
revolutionary Ancestors. and hnh Their
i abundant Gauss Tor honest p.iis and SrRte
i tul ceDembrance.
4 Cmsaf Rodney had the Slay!.er In mod
> as well as the ,ortlts- in re.
:. He had vaior, but sa had that discretion
y waleh Is Its better aad moro GnselAsn part
I He was LIBERAL In his j.1snea:s aud gen
Il erous 10 his antagonists. H.ags als powe
. anG =Iccass II allayin2 local .rrlta;!ons an
It dis Affections; OF composing s.r!iesj OF con
= yertins opponents int allies, and foes iu.
D friends.
! have diligently read all tina document
= wtthic my reach which rs!ats !c the aetlo
j OF tha Inhabitants OF these Sclaties durta
y the war for Independence. sa3 ;oncus /
1t :he statement made by our !aE.aEtsd ftian,
10 Judge william G. Whitley IL els az +rs.
y. aetors the Legislature IN 1915. "teNt
4 Rodney 1ors tkAa 20 AcT other mal
j. Delaware do va owe tbs position whi1
Ii, our State and people took in thu. most In
!. portant contest"
q The stir OF military preparations for
y copaict, which nilsd the very air ms
I, breathed, but which had not been iormi
% lated Into tho1ghts, nuch loss into word
BEGAN here In Delaware before the battle
Lexington.
4, Already the preparations for the! enrc
g. c.ent Aud equipment OF tbs militia ha
% been vigorously carried out, and IN EN-
nnnntp tha nIantinn Of haId nff. .,Ars n