Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1893-11-09
AN INTERESTING CHAPTER OF AM
ERiCAN HISTORY.

The Philadelphia Times writing
Of the passage of the old Liberty
Bell through Allentown, Pa, on its
reurn from the Worlds Fair say:
The old L berty Bell will feel
very much at home in Allentown
to-day, for there is Pennsylvania
German blood 10 the BELLS genea!"
egg. Is proclamation in 1916
sounded the knell of the colonial
naturalization laws and Data Of al
iogiance. It was the seal of Ger
man unity ana German loyalty in
the cause of the revolution, and its
tones had scarcely died away before
the proprietary government and
me Tory Council ceased to exist.
a committee from the Continen~
al Congress had Instructions to
1emove tie bells ofthe State House
and Chris Church 20 a place Ct
safety when the British forces,
uuder Lord Howe. threatened
Philadelphia in August, 1777, and
tais body Of Colonial Vigilants, in
their rounds Of the Second street
tavern stables, noticed a large and
heavy wagon, almost new, that
suited their purpose. This was the
property OF Frederick Lesser, a
oyal citizen from Lynn, who
agreed 70 a contract to hanl the
bells into the Lehigh country,
which be did SO promptly that the
precious freight was in Bethlehem
long before Howe encamped at
G6rmantovn, September %, of the
same year, Some patriot who found
Leiecr's wagon broken down under
the strain. completed the journey
to Allentown and slowed the bells
away in the celler of ZION Reformed
Church, ard it is in front of that
historic edihce that the Welcome
ana commemoration exercises take
place this morning.
Old Liberty is perfectly at home,
therefore, at Allentown and among
the Lehigh German yeomanry,
whose hospitality and whose kins
ship were eignalized 80 markedly
IN the heroic events of one hundred
and sixteen years ago. For his
service the Continental Congress
gave 10 Lesser a grant for 100
acres Of land at the junction Of the
Allegheny and Monongahela rivers
where Pittsburg now stands, but
the patriot Of Lynn never claimed
il.
The General Assembly that met
III November, 1875, instructed the
delegates TO The Colonial Congress
t. vote against separation from
Great Britain, and refused later to
rescind this action. Efforts TO have
tie Objectionable naturalization
laws and obnoxious oath Of allegi,
ance to King George repealed re-
suited in failure and it was found
that IN the election Of new mems
bers to the Assembly Of May, 1776.
three out of four returned were
determined non-separationists. This
was the crisis in Pennsylvania that
confronted the Congress when
Richard Henry Lee introduced hi
resolution June Z, declaring that
"the United Colonies are, and
ought to be. free and independent
Statea," but the 104 delegates il
. the Provincial Conference that me,
two weeks later settled the question
Of Pennsylvania attitude. THIS
conference was the response to tie
call of the Philadelphia committee
for a conference of the counties,
and the German counties were nc
longer represented By the Tories.
The newly enfranchiaed German
vote was the potential factor in the
change Of public sentiment, and
the American cause received the
hearty and undivided support OF
the German settlers.
It is tie descendants of this ele.
meut that are conspicuous in atten-
ton and welcome to Old Liberty
on it's return from the Chicago Elk
position. Interest," in the event
centres in Reading-to which city
Washington marched to protect
his stores when be abandoned Phil
adelphia TO the forces of Howe in
September, 17T7-ald in Allen
town, whose proud claim as pros
tecfor and custodian Of Indepcn-
dence Bel has never suffered the
shadow Of contest.