Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-04

by Catholic nobleman and a band of emigrants
mostly OF the same religious persuasion. who
sought a retreat in the new world from
land Of persecution. and under whom.
saws Bancroft. religions liberty obtained
home its only home in the wide world" 1t
offered an asylum to the Puritans and all shades
OF dissenters and nOn-conformi5ts from Virginia
and other colonies, from the persecution to
which they were subject, and of which they
availed themselves SO largely that they soon
outnumbered the Catholics.
The tolerant spirit which prevailed is evident
in the form of the oath taken by the early gov
ernors. IN which they pledged themselves mot
10 trouble. modest or dlscountenance any per-
son whatsoever in said province protesting TO
believe in Jesus Christ for or in respect of mis-
or her religion" nor to make any difference
Of persons in comforting rewards, offices
favors.' but merely they should find them
faithful and well deserving and endowed with
moral virtues and abilities fitting for such re-
wards, Offices and favors.'
THEY ALL LIVED IN PEACE.
In 1919 IAN act concerning religion was
passed which declared that ''the enforcing of
the conscience in matters of religion has fire.
1Uentiv fallen out to be of dangerous conse-
Guerce. ana that ''the better TO preserve mu-
t1al love aat unity no one protesting to be-
hcve H. Jesus christ should Dc troubled Ia the
free exercise Of his religion. writer describ-
ing the condition of affairs in the colony i'll
1856, where be then resided SAYS that 1.-The
several opinions and sects which lodge within
this government meet not together in mutt
nous attempts to dlsquiet the power that bears
rule. and that 1.-THE Roman Catholic and the
Protestant Episcopal (Hhom the world would
persuade have proclaimed open wars irrevoca-
bly, against each other contrarywise concur in
an unanimous parallel of friendship" 1t is
almost, incredible that colony which had ex
perienced the benefits of and prospered under
81
should have ever given place on its statute
books to laws conceived in the spirit of bigotry
and patterned in servile manner upon the pre-
scriptiye acts OF the British parliament.
The condition of affairs which prevailed in
the early days was happily restored by the
Maryland declaration of rights and constitu-
ton. adopted in 1776. which declared THAT
every man having property in, common in
terest with and an attachment to the commu-
nifty ought to have the right of suffrage" and
THAT AZ 1t is the duty of every nan to worship
God in such manner as he thinks most accept
able to him, all persons protesting the Chris
tian religion are equally entitled to protection
In their religious liberty" and ought not to be
mo.ested in person estate on account Of
their religious profession or practice.
GEN. BRADDoCK's TROOPS.
In the month OF April. 1855, the town was
treated to its first sight of British redcoat.
During the month of March seventeen trans
ports and two ordnance ships. under the con-
voy of two men-of-war-the Sea Horse and
Nightingale at Alexandria, having on
board two regiments of infantry. the forty
fourth, under the command of Col Sir Peter
Halkett. and the forty-eighth, under Col.
Thomas Dunbar. each 500 strong. These
were to be recruited to 700 after their arrival
in Virginia, and with two other regiments of
1000 men each. to be raised In America. were
to constitute force under the command of
tn lis
lodge the French and drive them from the
country west of the Alleghanies. One of these
regiments of Sir Peter Halkett-marched
for Fort Cumberland. the site of the present
town of that name. through gap in the Blue
Ridge. and by way of the Valley of Virginia, to
Its destination. The other. that under COM
mand of Col. Dunbar. marched from Alexan-
dri.I to point opposite Georgetown, from
which the men were ferried across the river
and took the road from Georgetown to Fred
eriektown. Maryland The baggage of this
portion of the force was brought up the river
by boats.
AN HISTORIC ROCK.
On the former bank of the canal. just south
of the observatory grounds, there is a rock
called '.Braddock's rock" from tradition that
the force of the general landed at this place.
Although this tradition is not well founded,
is shown By the orderly books of Gen. Bad
dock. which were published in Lowdermilk's
history of Cumberland. and which give the line
of march of both regiments in their different
routes to the common point at Fort Cumber-
land. vet this rock is historic. Before the day
of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal it was a large
and bold projection into the river, and about it
the river was particularly deep. From the fact
that it afforded excellent landing place 1t
became known in early days as The Key of all
keys." corruption of QUAY Of all Quays.
When the Chesapeake and Ohio canal was con-
structed through this part of Washington the
towpath bank filed up through the water
of the river, and in order to make it 1t became
necessary to blast and remove a large portion
of this rock. During the administration of the
early commissioners of the city large quantities
of stone were qUarried from this place and used
in the construction of the buildings.
That Gen. Braddock's force did not land at
this place is quite evident from the fact that the
mouth of Rock creek in those days was a very
considerable body of water. and the point to
which they wished to get being the road out
High street leading to Fredericktown. Nd.
a landing on the east side Of Rock creek would
of necessity have involved the unnecessary
trouble of the crossing Of another body of
water, that is, the creek itself.