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

knew that the odious Dudlngstoh was
aground miles off, and that the rlsils
tide would not release him TIL CLOCK
next morning, Such luck was TOO soou
to be thrown away.
The captain Of the packet had no
sooner told the prominent merchant MT.
Brown, than the merchant told one OF
| the captains who was in his service, anu
this captain was seen to hurry OF, wear
ing a pleasant expression of countehaIice'
Soon a drum was heard in the streets,
and the voice of proclaiming the Tor
lorn situation of the Gaspee Cordial IN
vitation was called out to all citizens
who would like to bear a hand IN the
destruction of the Gaspee to meet at
Savages tavern at first dark The sum
mons was gratefully obeyed, and by
o'clock eight boats, manned by the rep
resentative citizens of the town, were
rowing toward the Gaspee.
At midnight they reached the British
vessel surprised the one sailor who was
on the watch, shot the lieutenant VINO
came hurrying to the deck in his night
shirt boarded the ship and easily mas
tered the leaderless, half-a-wake ana
wholly unprepared British sailors
Landing the captives on shore WAsre
every care was taken of the Wouhdeo
Dudingston the assailants set tire 70 the
Gaspee. and by sun up she was smoN
ing bulk, while the daring men who had
boarded her were rowing nome 10 "iedA-
fast and congrat ulations.
The English government was deeply
stirred. for the burning of the Gaspee
was an overt act. fragrant and defiant
of premeditated high treason Who did
It? That was the only question Of doubt.
ProcIamations. Offering large rewards
were issued without results. ROYAL COM
missioners were appointed to investigate
and troops were put at their service to
assist them in bringing the culprits to
punishment Again there were no re-
suits; investigation failed to identify
the guilty. Parliament lost its head
and passed an act to punish with the
death penalty any person who should
destroy any object belonging to an Eng
fish war vesseI-an act so general IN its
terms that it could have been held to
embrace the most trifing article of ship
furniture, equipment, or naval uniform
Worst of all, the persons accused were
to be sent to England for trial.
Mr. sydney George Fisher says TVS
ut is difficult to see how the government
could have been more conciliatory and
forbearing.
-
tho spring Of 1913 the Gaspee incident
the commission Of inquiry which had
been created. and the act of parliament
which threatened the entire citizenship
Of America with loss Of trial by jury in
the American courts had rearouaed the
spirit OF resistance TO Great Britain.
The younger members of the house
Patrick Henry, the two Lees, Dabney
Carr, Thomas Jefferson and one or two
others >broke away from the more con-
servative eounsels Of the older leaders,
held private meetings apart and mapped
cut an aggressive policy. Richard Hen
~ Lee proposed the creation OF a com
mittee of correspondence, and Jefferson
reduced the plan to writing. DabneS
Carr was made their spokesman to the
house, and on March T. 1773 in a speech
of eloquence and power, the young tri-
bune moved the famous resolutions which
were adopted unanimously and which
caused Governor Dunmore to dissolve
the house. These resolutions, citing what
had taken place in Rhode Island and in
parliament, proposed a standing commit
tee Of correspondence and inquiry to oh
tain Information OF all proceedings of
parliament in regard to the colonies to
keep up and maintain correspondence
and communication with the other colo
MES. and 10 report from time to time
to the house. This committee consisted
OF the speaker. Peyton Randolph, Rob-
ert Nicholas, Richard Henry Lee.
Edmund Pendleton, Patrick Henry Dab
hey Carr, Archibald Cary and Thomas
Jefferson. The dispute as to whether
Massachusetts or Virginia should have
the credit of organizing the revolution
airy movement may be left where Ban
croft pat it:
$50 Virginia laid the foundation Of our
t,nion. Massachusetts organized a prov
ince; Virginia promoted a confederacy.
Brilliant Dabney Carr, We see him
here at his best,at his highest. We see him
unfurl the flag of union, see him on
pinnacle of patriotism from which he
surveys every colony, planning for all,
hoping for all. inspiring and uniting all.
The warm impulse Of brotherhood QJ,ens
his arms to the north as we'll as to the
south; his rapt vision takes in the future
as well as the present and the past "rhe
cause of one the cause of all is the
gist Of his speech and the pith of his
plan; and. while Rhode Island has touched
the chord, the music IS that Of union
union Of hearts and of hands. Hes last
speech and his best! His one great dp-
pearance in q national role; his almost
unconscious placing Of the corner stone
Of the republic. We see him here with
the radiance OF inspiration upon his hand
some face, the clarion call Of heroic pa
triotism on his lips; we shall see him no
more at all 1t was only Yesterday. as it
were. that jefferson saw him in his very
small house, with a table. half dozen
chairs one or two servants, yet the hap
piest man in the universe" For Martha
Jefferson, his devoted young wife. was
by his side; and on his knee his little
how He speaks. he thinks. he dreams
of nothing but this young son, Every IN
1t a source Of pleasure" Independent Of
riches. contented in his poverty. happy in
his wife and child: studious, but no re-
clusa: ambitious, but in no feyerish haste
to rise: patriotic and earnest, but not
morbidly intense mere he was In 1770, a
philosopher whose healthy enjoyment of
life amid comparative prjvatious excited
generous admiration in all who knew him.
Thirty five days after he lays the corner
stone of what was to be the greatest
of all REPUBLICS, death darkened thai sma1l
house. where he had been so unenviously
happy draped the poor wife in the weeds
of widoWhood and to the lips of his little
children Taught the wall of orpnanhool.
He was only 80 years old-died in the very
glory of Young manhood. died when his
readings and his studies, his hopes and his
planS and his dreams seemed Just to be
leading forward to the harvests of stead
led efforts.