The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-07-13

whose hands were ever given from youth
to age to the moding of better laws. bet
ter institutions. better conditions for tho
human race.
CHAPTER TX.
The stamp act congress of 1865, called
at the instance of Massachusetts, had
taken conservative position. In the
Declaration of Rights then issued, the
colonies merely claimed local self-govern-
ment,s and self-taxation, together with
trial by jury In the colonial courts.
In the congress which met at Phila-
delphia September 8, IVA, the petition to
the king for redress of grievances was
couched as IN 1765, in the language OF
loyal subjects; and the Declara-
ton of Rights made no marked
advance over - that OF 1865. so
far as assertion cf principles was
concerned. They frightened the bands of
the boycott against the mother country
organized TO enforce this boycott; and
resolved to ostracise all such American
citizens as continued to deal with Great
Britain. In fact, the attitude taken by
Washington. Lee, Henry, Adams, Sher-
man. Jay. Dickinson and Rutledge was
substantially that of a labor union of
the present day during a struggle with a
capitahstic trust Those Americans who
would not join the association and boycott
Great Britain were enemies to the llber-
ties Of tnelr couutTg,' and were them
selves to be boycotted. These recreants
to the common cause were "scabs, Tor
whom Washington, Adams, Lee, Jay and
Sherman had no respect. had only angry
scorn and bitter luminosity. Times change.
but human na ture simply goes round and
round.
The absence of Mr. jefferson from the
Virginia convention of IVA was no doubt
the reason why ne was not chosen by
that body as one OF the delegates TO the
first centennial congress. In January, 1775
ne was elected by the citizens of Able
marie as a member of their committee of
safety; and in March, 1875, he served as
their delegate to the second convention.
which met in Richmond.
1T was in this convention that Patrick
Henry made The speech so familiar to ali,
the burden of which was 1--WE must
fght" 1t was upon his motion that a
committee was named TO prepare Vlr-
ginia for the coming conflict.
With George Washington acting as
chief of revolutionary committee
charged with the duty of "embodyins.
arming and discipining" rebels, Lord
Dunmore thought it high time to put the
kings powder where his subjects could
not lay rebellious hands upon It. On the
night OF April % 1775 he caused a squad
Of marines from q British war vessel in
James river to come to williamsburg,
seize the powder. and cart II away to the
ship. AS soon as this fact became known.
the patriots assembled in arms. Al Fred
ericksburg the rebels were persuaded by
Randolph and Pendleton to dispense; at
/ Charlottesville they did not act because
Washington failed to come at their call.
| But in Hanover county, Patrick Henry
put himself at the head of the volunteers,
and straightway began the armed march
| of thou sa nds to Williamsburg. Dunmore
| fred off that habitual weapon of admin
| istrative warfare-a proclamation. His
! family fed TO the shelter Of a British
/ ship Marines were landed to protect the
/ royal authorities,
But Patrick Henry, deaf TO all timid
| counsels of the conservative element,
| came marching on. Dunmore's nerve
| failed him; and when the rebels had
come to Dorcastle. 16 miles Off. he sen;
a messenger offering pay for the pow
| der. In his haste he sent a larger sun
! than the powder was worth. and Henry
not aware that British marines had beer
landed and threats made to fire upon the
town. drew off and disbanded his men
! And as he wendell his way homeward
the most popular now Of all Nirginians
| Dunmore fired at him again--with another
| proclamation.
In June, 1875, Lord Dunmore convened
| the burgesses to take into consideration
Lord North's concliatory proposition
Many Of the members came to this SEES
sion wearing their hunting shirts, and
! bringing their rifles.
Peyton Randolph, who was president OF
! the continental congress- was now called
| home to preside over the burgesses, and
| MIR. jefferson went to Philadelphia to
! succeed hin-the Richmond convention
! having foreseen this vacancy, and having
elected Mr. Jefferson to fill 1t. Before
| his departure from the Virginia assem-
! bly,, however. he had been asked to pre-
| pare a reply to Lord Norths proposition
/ and had done so. With slight changes
| his paper was adopted by the house
| This "conciliatory proposition was, In
| substance, that parliament would ex-
empt from imperial taxation any colony
which would voluntarily make such con-
tribution to the common defense of the
| empire, and establish such fixed pro
| vision for the support Of it's own civi
| government as parliament should ap
! prove The objections to his propose