Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1894-03-02
A Patriotic Address.

The bronze tablet to commemorate the
site of Old Congress Hall, in Baltimore, was
unveiled on February 22d, in the presence
of military and civic organizations. Mr..
William Ridgely Griffith, president Of the
Society of the War Of 1919, presented the
tablet to Philip d. Laird, president OF the
Maryland Society, Sons Of the American
Revolution, with an appropriate address.
After the unwilling of the tablet by Mr..
Charles Il. Holloway and several patriotic
airs by the Fifth Regiment Band, Mr.. Laird
made the following address:
"One of the objects of this society,"" said
he "is to mark the scenes of the Revolution
by appropriate memorials.
1--WE believe that substantial service will
be thus conferred upon the community. We
believe that in persistently recalling the
events which gave birth to the republic we
contribute to the civic education of the
people in measure and kind which no other
influence can excel. We believe that, how
ever great may be the achievements of this
nation, however relfreliant it may become,
however extended its influence may be, the
time will never arrive when its citizens can
afford to forget the services of the men OF
which stimulated their patriotism or the self.
sacrifice and manly spirit of Cancellation
which resulted in the great constitution.
at is in this belief that we have met here
to mark by an appropriate memorial the
spot where o brief session of the Continent.
al Congress was held.
at was in December, 1776, scarcely five
months alter the Declaration of Independ-
ence, and in the most critical period OF the
war. The disasters Of Long Island and the
New Jersey campaign had revived the en-
thusiasm of the Brlton and the tory, and de-
pressed the spirits-though they had not
abated the courage and determination-of
the American people The English army
was encamped on the eastern bank OF the
Delaware, and the Congress, on the 18th of
December, adjourned to Baltimore.
"ln a building which stood on this ground
it reassembled on the Goth of the month. 1t
would be out of place on this occasion to
give in detail the history OF that session.
The act which made il memorable was the
passage of resolution which clothed the
commander-in.ch chief of the army with prac.
tically dictatorial power. Only the direst
necessity could have wrung such concess-
ion from the men who composed that Con-
gress II was at once confession OF their
own lmpotency and prayer for help.
Local jealOusies, conflicting councils, a
many headed executive had produced the
inevitable result-an inefficient service. The
time had come when the common cause
must dominate all local interests, and united
effort secure the fruits of the final victory.
And yet they did not act hastily. There was
none of the hurry and aimessness Of panic
in what they did. Seven days they deliber-
ated, and then, having maturely considered
the present crisis and having perfect reli
ance on the wisdom, vigor and uprightness
of General Washington, they gave him the
power to save or destroy the young and
struggling nation.
ut is coincidence-one OF those strange
prOvidences which we meet with so often In
the worlds history-that at the very time
when Congress was moving cautiously to
its conclusion, Washington himself was, I'M
known TO Congress, proving at Trenton and
Princeton how Just was their reliance upon
his wisdom and vigor. Seven years lacking
four days. later he proved the justice of
their reliance upon his uprightness-thus
establishing the trinity of his virtues-when
he stood in the old Senate Chamber, In An |
napolis, and surrendered, without regret, the |
commission that might have made him a |
king.
81 seek to draw but one moral from the |
event we commemorate. 1t seems to me |
tnat the great lesson IL teaches 10, that pow. |
er, curse in the hands of the weak and the
vile, is blessing in the hands OF the strong
and the good. So long as the people shall
follow the example Of their fathers by en-.
trusting it to those who possess wisdom,
vgor and uprightness, they will preserve
the heritage of freedom by preserving their
own sef.respect, when they disregard that
example danger and difficulty and disaster
will confront them on every side.
ut is now my very pleasant duty on be-
half the Maryland Society, Sons of the
American Revolution, to give into your
keeping, Mr.. Mayer, this memorial tablet,
well assured that loyal Baltimore will safely
guard it, and in the earnest hope that the
lesson it is meant to teach will guide and
direct her people to the latest generation
that shall walk her Streets"
In accepting the tablet for the city of Bal
tmore, Mayor Latrobe made some appro-
pirate remarks