Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-05

THREE
1T --- -
Virginia. and subsequently into kentucky
and Tennessee. AS early as iize tne,e
was Scotch-Irish settlement IN nearly
every one OF the old Colonies. For many
years there were never less than R.Uy
landed annually at the different ports OF
the country. all along the coast from
New York to Savannah. Thirty tnousnnu
came from Ulster alone. AZ me .,n,e
OF the Revolution Of l776. when the popu-
lation Of the Colonies was only ,3,VvVWv,
the Scotch-Irish people numbered nearly
one third of the entire number.
PART IN THE REVOLUTION.
DR.. Hoge beautifully emphasized the
fact that when our forefathers came from
their fields OF conflict with oppression IN
the old world. they came bringing the
principles for which they had sacElnceo
all but honor ana conscience, ana salu
that "as soon as the dispute between the
Colonies and the mother country com
menced. the entire Scotch-Irish people
united with one mind and heart In sup
port OF the cause Of independence Inc
part taken by them In that contest was
then made matter OF reproacn, ana !.
Is the recorded testimony of those VINO
were least in sympathy with their pur-
pose tnat they were the nrst 10 enlist
from the conflict and the last TO retire
from IT," DIR. Hoge then went on TO de-
Burgoyne met with an entire defeat-an
event that induced France to acknow-
ledge the independence of the American
States and enter into a treaty OF alliance
with them. Then the speaker gave n
description of the battle Of Kings Noun
tain, followed by the victories
OF Cowpens and Guildtotd, finally
leading TO the surrender of the English
army. at Yorktown, and the close of the
Revolutionary war. But. while brilliant
A nf arnr M
cure the independence of a country, no
constitutional government can be organ
lied by arms. To accomplish this great
task, the soldier must be succeeded by
the statesman; and this leads TO another
most interesting division of the discus
sion-the influence of the Scotch-lrish
statesmen and OF their fellow country
men In framing the political institutions
OF these United States.
MADISON AND JEFFERSON.
Dr. Hoge presented a sketch of James
Madison. and then of Thomas Jefferson,
and continued
when the Declaration of Independence
was under debate in the Constitutional
whispered through the hall. The House
hesitated. and the destiny of the nation
seemed poised. as II were, upon single
point. IL was then that an aged patrl-
arch arose. his hair white with the frOsts
of age. He cast over the assembly
look of inexpressible interest and uncon-
querable resolution, while on his cheek
the hue of age was lost in the nery
patriotism which Illuminated his face.
There is tide, said he. when he saw
the House was wavering. there is tide
in the affairs OF men, which we per-
ceive now before us. To hesitate is to
consent to our bondage. That noble in
strument upon your table should be sub
scribed this morning by every pen In
the House. For my own part. / have
OF property some. of reputation more.
That reputation is. staked, that property
is pledged upon the Issue OF this con-
test and although these gray hairs
must soon descend into the grave, l
would infinitely rather they should de-
scend by the hand of the public eXecu-
toner than to desert at this crisis the
sacred cause OF my country Who was
1t that uttered that memorable speech.
potent TO turn the scale OF the nations
destiny 1t was the venerable John
WitherspOon, president of Princeton Col
lege, and a lineal descendant of John
Knox Under the influence of Wither-
spoons appeal the Declaration was at
once signed, and each signature, though
some of them were written with
trembling hand, made the signer i'm
mortal Fourteen of these signers were
of Scotch-Irish blood, whose ancestors
had signed the Solemn League and Cove
nant in the Grey Friars churchyard, I'm
Edinburgh. one hundred and thirty-eight
years before.
MEN OF FAME
DR.. Hoge concluded by saying he did
not know how he could give his SearerS
a better impression of the influence OF the
Scotch-Irish race I'm shaping the civil and
religious institutions of the country. than
OF calling their attention to the names
of some of the eminent men whose fame
belongs TO the whole country. all OF whom
were descendants OF the sturdy STOCK OF
which IL was his privilege to speak. OF
those who won honors in the field he
mentioned Anthony Wayne, who at stony
Point achieved one OF the most brilliant
victories OF the war; Hugh Mercer who
fell in the battle OF Princeton; Colonel
Rogers Clarke, who captured the whole
line Of forts between the lakes and the
Mississippi river, and thus secured that
magnificent domain which Virginia, with
a generosity unparalleled. gave TO the
Government of the United States. John
Randolph declared that the campaign of
Clarke was worthy to be likened to that
OF Hannibal i'm Italy. He also spoke of
Generals Knox. Montgomery. Sullivan,
Starke Morgan, Marion, Andrew jack
son. who commanded 5000 men at New
Orleans, and defeated 1900 OF Yelling
toms finest troops commanded by Well
lingtons brother-in-law, Sir Edward
Packingham; General Sam Houston, the
hero Of San Jacinto: Stonewall Jackson,
who filled two hemispheres with the glory
of his name. Among statesmen he enume-
rated Alexander Hamilton Of whom Tai
leyrand said that OF the three most Illus
trtOuS men known 10 nlm ftdnlllton was
the greatest: Nathaniel Macon, Of Forth
Carolina, three times Speaker OF the Ma
tional House of Representatives; lredel,
worthy associate Of John Marshall on the
Supreme Bench; John J. Crittenden, At
torney- General OF the United states. and
John j. Hardin. the patroit and peerless
soldier. 1t was OF Hardin and his COM
rades in arms that the Irish-American
OHara wrote the oft-quoted stanZa:
ION Fame's eternal camping-ground
Their silent tents are spread.
While Glory guards with solemn round
rhe bivouac Of the dead"
To these / may add President James
Buchanan: Judge John Mclean, Of the
Supreme Court OF Ohio; Thomas Corwin,
Governor of the same State. scarcely less
eloquent than Mirabeau: Allen q. Thur
man. Thomas Hendricks; Thomas III. Ben
ton senator for a third of a century from
Missouri: John c. Calhoun, George Nc
Duffy, James l.. Pettigrew, William @.
Preston: Felix Grundy, Attorney-General;
John Bell. Union candidate for the presi-
dency I'm 1860 and James X. Polk, Presi-
dent OF the United States.
This catalogue of illustrous statesmen.
Judges. senators. soldiers, and presidents
is an oration i'm itself. and tells the story
Of the contributions made by the men OF
the Scotch-Irsh race To the progress,
power, and prosperity of our country.
Du A -