New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-10

son OF Stephen Ward. who was born In 1880 and died
in 1907 and who was a member from wcstchcster
County OF the Isl. Id and Lid Provincial Congresses
a member OF Assembly in 1870. and a member Of
C,e NcwYurk senate from 1770 10 1857. Mr.
Ward read among other thin1 a letter written on
July H. ITO By John Hancock. to the representa-
tves Of the state Of New-York. then In convention
al White pqaIns. lie al~o read the resolution OF
these delegates, dated July o, 1879. In which they
said: Resolved, unanimously, That the reasons
assigned by the Continental Congress for declaring
the United Colonies and Independent States are
cogent and conclusive and that while We lament the
crue, necessity which has rendered that measure
unavoidable we approve the same, and WILL at the
risk OF our lives and Fortunes JOIN with the other
colonies In supporting it,
JUDGE MILLS's ADDRESS
Judge Isaac Newton Mills. Of Mount Vernon, the
orator Of the day. then stepped TO the front Of TIE
platform. and In clear. ringing voice. that could
he easily heard In all parts Of the grounds, delivered
tho following speech. witch most attenuvcly
listened to and appauded at frequent Intervals:
Mr. President Fellows OF the Society Of OF the
Revolution, Ladies and Gentlemen.
We met at the birthplace Of State. On tlis
spot lG years ago today, by the resolution
vncial Congress, approving and adopting the Declaration
Of independence NewYork born anew. from yassol
province Into sovereign State. Tha, day the suns
morning n0onttde here on the lesa
although perhaps overdutful subjects III
whflo evening ISaiance tell upon Of free
men, emanciIated by that act III the morning and AT
noon the lawful proclamation was "God save the Kng"
while evening 1t ana since has been and
shall be; God IN people" applause
From OF the passage OF that this,
the citizens OF State have owned allegiance 10 no
earthly prince, power poteatae. their in
hecnt sovereignty expressed the forms
.tituted popular government, National state and mu-
n!cipal.
Americans born and bred we love the story OF the
~ tho naela Va fonh frof.
It's and development varying phases o!
colonial life In the signed by the Pilgrim Fathers
in the cabin Of the Moyiower, she tossed upon The
wintry pillows q that Northern coast; IN the long ana
teless struggles In every province with and
savage soil, conqucring both IN the town meetings and
other like local assemblies those nurseries OF free thought
free expression anc popular IN the French dur
Ing which the colonies acquired he science and practice
ii mutual conference and combination, and in which on
many bloody field they learned that the provincial with
his us'y musket the equal OF thy boosted
grenadier Of England ia the protests against the acts
Of Parliament, under the Of mo taxation without
representation; the writings q Franklin aud Paine the
eloQuence Of OTIS and Henry the armed resistance at
Concord Bridge. and along the Lexington hehway the
sturdy defence Hin committees safety
and Of correspondence; the Provincial Congresses the
Continental Congress with its long delihe hes
ton. and then IN the final OF passage amid ali its
dramatic surroundings the boy waiting outside Independence
Hall for The signal! the old belman the tcepr above
and finally amid lcss OF the bell with
biazen tongue last truth proclainng Liberty
Throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thcrco
"One thought the sal,os spoke.
The resonant bell towers vibrant stroke"
the origin Of The Declaration the
Of Runnymede; some 70 tho Maynowcr Compact;
even to the Mecklenburg Resolves; moro deeply
truly that Unborn love OF sen-owncrshp and sen
government which is prcemnrnt!y Characteristic OF
the Anglo.saxon race. The entire and trend OF
colonial lie developed seFclance and self-rellancc
IS the mother Of Independence.
INHERITANCE M THE cOTONY OF NTw.YORK.
The constitution OF the Continental Congress such
It's action IN declaring Independence needed
rmatlon by the Provincial Conventions Congresses.
prime Importance the revolutionary
cause Her geographical oca.on manifold resources
and tho character Of hoy p,ople made her aid ndis-
pcnsahc Her majestic Hudson with connecting water
ways, formed thc only and practicable means q
and from the Northern provinces The noted
highways crossing her territory from the passes the
Highlands from city 10 hCr eastern boundary
afforded the usual and tIme of with Nation
ruling the the only avenues Of communication be.
the Eastern Southern colonies one OF those
highways with unchanged SIN passes :hi,
place. Hew-York the keystone OF the continental
arch. With sustaining strength arch might stand
without that fall. Without her the revo, would
have been In history but rebellion with hef was
bound be and revolution.
When the Fourth Provincial Congress assembled here
morning OF July o. l77G The position and probabl"
action Of this colony upon the question Of renouncinE
allegiance the English Grown at least BY outward
manifestation. by means assured Her population was
composite character lacking the sombre
vcngenco o. Puritan forgetting d wrong. and
naughty pride OF the cavalier dcscended planter o.
the South. who wished % own no master Although the
pcoplo OF this colony Ind deed and pro-
tested against unjust and ARBITRARY acts Of Parliament
as early ana as vigorously did the people OF Massachusetts
or Virginia yet they upon the whole suIrcmey
servaye. Their provincial life In the main especially
years. had been prosperous ond contentd lhey
artcnty iped for and redress vtn the bounds
chung that ideal 10 the
very latest possible moment II justice were only done
by Parliament, ary, they were ready to forgive
forget and be concliaed. This undoubtedly the real
poon and sentiment OF the though not OF all tho
opc Thus on 9th OF June only thirythree days oe-
fore the third Provincial Compress he'd practically
refused 70 the resolves pas>rd o. inc '"s'
Convention on the May in favor Of an immediate
declaration OF Independence and by the a'Ur BODY trans
,,,,nd N the former for approval concurrence and
that Congress on llth Of June. only tweny'eieh
DAYS before had unanimously resolved mat 'he goou
pcope Of this colony have no. IN inc opinion Of 'n's
Congress authorized this Congress or the Delegates OF
,h,. c,,onv f., tho Continental Congress declare this
colony 70 be and independent OF the Crown Of
Great Britain" and shortly thereafter inc Ht"'i"N
delegates in Continental Congress were by ieter RON
the Provincial Congress- advised IN accordance Win ht
resolution and in substance vote for declaration
Of independence Indeed, when the fourth PToVihcia
Congress July .. 1t found awaiting IL eV"f
from the delegates in the Continental Congress o'"u
July nraying further Instructions upon the moihcn
ton. question and indicating plainly that those d"eSates
did not consider themselves authorized without iurh'
instructions tn favor !ndepcndency. That lcucr az
i conesion says 1--WE wish. therefore fol earliest
advice and instructions whether to consider our
colony bound ty OF the majority g. ia The Con-
tnenrnl ,oncre.s in favor OF irdepcncency, and vote
at large on questions arise Ia consequence
thereof or only concur IN such measures moy b"
absolutely for the common safety aDd dcehe"
Of America exclusive OF the idea Of independently"
These various Official and resolves establish mas
putaby that prior 10 the OH Of July u" colon! OF
New.York was in no offcaiiy. ~ the acts "
IT., accredited representatives., committed to the Dcc'af'
alton Il Indcfendcnce.
TIE DEPUTIES HAD POWER TO ACT.
Tho members OF the fourth Provlncipl Congress which
convened here were, however ELECTED the express
sue lndependency and specially authorized TO ACT nOn