The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-07-28
R1RFORD'S PATRIOTISM.

every way.
R1RFORD'S PATRIOTISM.
1t has been generally believed that
the first Declaration of Independence
OF British rule and authority made in
any of the Colonies was at Mecklen-
burg, North Carolina, in May, ITS,
but the action taken by the Revolu-
tionary Association of Hartford coun-
ty, on Saturday last, report of
which will be found in another column
of The AEgis, points to prior Declare
ton of Maryland patriots, who OIL
March %, 1775, pledged themselves to
their country "by every tie held
sacred among mankind" at the risk
of their Lives and fortunes" to carry
into execution the resolves of the
Continental Congress and the Provin-
cial Convention. This action was
taken by the Hartford Committee at
its meeting held in Hartford Town
(now Bush), on March 2e, 1915, two
months before the Mecklenburg meet.
ing and more than Il year prior to
that of the United Colonies on July
4, 1776.
The bold and brave stand taken by
the Hartford Committee should ever
be held in sacred remembrance by
A norio,pS in uaporol op5 as,ao;oIl,,
by the people of Maryland. The cir.
cumstances lder which the Declare.
ton was made; the condition in which
the colonies found themselves under
the exercise of despotic power by the
British King; the violation Of the
common law by the British govern
ment in depriving the colonies of
their rightful inheritance of it's pro-
lection; the imposition of taxation
without epresentation-all of which
were the controlling influences that
led up to the Declaration of Rights,
adopted in October of the previous
year, and caused the Continental
Congress and Provincial Conventions
to petition for the recognition of their
INTERCHANGEABLE enjoyment of life,
liberty and property-the right to dis
pose of which they had never coded
to any power when these circum-
stances are taken into consideration,
as well as the fact of so many proving
recreant to a true American spirit, the
very boldness of the little band of Inc
who composed the Hartford Commit
tee, in proclaiming to the world that
they virtually threw off all British
rule that controverted the assertions
of the Congress and conventions,
marks the event as justly entitled to
the first place in American independ-
ence.
The existence of the "Harford
Declaration" has been known to the
people of the county for many years.
AS long ago as 1876, when everything
relating to the history of the Revo-
lutionary War became peculiarly in
terestipg, it was talked about and
published in The A'gis A meeting of
the descendants of Hartford patriots
was held in Bel Air on June 18th of
that year, at which the late Henry
w. Archer presided with Herman
Stump, secretary. DIR. George w.
Archer read paper, prepared from
the original minute book of the Har-
ford Committee of 1111j, in which he
set forth the Hartford Declaration as
taken from the original, with the
names of the signers. The action of
the descendants of the signers on Sat.
urday last was reorganiz ttion of the
association of 1876, and is to become a
permanent organic ition. Its intend
ed purpose, to celebrate the one hun.
dred and twenty fifth anniversary of
the signing of the Hartford Decla-
by ceremonies to be held at
Bush on March %, 1900, is to be
commended by all who desire to place
our State in position she is rightful-
ly entitled to on the ''topmost round
of the ladder of Revolutionary fame"
and we have no doubt but that all
those who feel The tingling touch of
patriotic fervor on such occasion. will
gladly aid in making the event mag
success, as brightly deserves
to be. Our good citizens of the coun-
ty should become actively interested
in this commemoration which places
our dear old Hartford in such q glor-
ious position in the eyes of the Amer
can people.
The lfgis pledges its most earnest
support in such a worthy cause.
THE CRAWFORD SYSTEM RE
STORED.
After two trials of the convention
ton system of nominating candidates,
the Democrats of Hartford county, by
4 vote cast at the primary meetings,
asst Saturday, determined to return |
to the old plan of selecting candidates,
NilCH AIsG "CjG l1io OpeldtlOu III 1911
and continued without interruption
until 1897. The vote for the era wford |
plan was almost unanimous. Only G2 |
votes were cast for the present 81 stem
and 220G for the Crawford system. At |
The next general election, therefore,
every voter will be free to choose for |
himself the candidates he would pre-
er to have placed on the ticket.
There are evils in both systems, but
some of the worst features of the sys-
em to which the party has determin-
ID to return can be lessened by legal
zing the primaries. Therefore when
he Legislature meets next January
We hope bill will be presented which
will throw around the primary cleo
ion the restraints of law, SO that
Illegal voting may be punished in the
anne manner as if committed at a
General election.
Vice President Hobart's friends
ave started boom for him for Presi-
ent.