Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-01-29

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| greet the Sons oi the Keystone Stat
as loyal sons of America. You hav
"a history, Governor, of which you ma
well he proud. The Keystone State
May / give you an incident illustratin
where that title came from? When
was first elected to Congress, som
fifteen years ago, when I was boy
serving with your honored Governo
Benjamin Odell, (App aute) just be
fore 1 left my home an old lady, s.
years Of age, came to my house ant
said "Mr. Tucker, want you to intro
due a bill granting me a pension.
Said 1, on what ground. Madam
because l am the grand daughter o
the man that made the union of the
States possible" Who was your grand
father John Morton of Pennsylva
MIA. :" (Applause) 1 looked into th.
history of the case and introduced
the bill. found these curious facts
When the Declaration of lndepen'
dence was first suggested by the 1 on
tinental Congress history records that
the vote was 6 to 6. Peansylvania had
asked to be passed. The clarion voice
of Patrick Henry had not then thrill
ed the American continent. Many
patriots were doubtful OF the move
ment. When the vote was taken In
the Pennsylvania delegation it stood
6 to 6 and Morton was absent. Being
summoned and told for what he was
called he came into the meeting with
evident agitation and emotion, but
without hesitation cast his voice for
the Independence Of the Colonies. Zap
plause).
From that incident you justly de-
rive the title of the Keystone State of
America, and, Governor, you are enti-
tied to it second time. If by that
act of declaration the Union became
possible there can be no doubt that at
Gettysburg. In that immortal charge
Of Pickett's Division. that must go
down to history With the charge of the
light brigade the fate of the Confed-
eracy was sealed and the continued
Union of the States made possible
,Applause.) First, the Keystone State
Ia making the Union possible, and sec
ond. in the result on your soil Of the
great battle that made the Union per-
msnent. (Applause)
But>to my subject, the real reason
why Pittsburg and the country ada.
cent thereto is not now subject to the
dominion of Virginia instead of Penn
must be attributed modestly to
,he patriotism of Virginia. When the
contest between the two states had as
'umed an acute form, Pennsylvania
Commissioners to go to
V irginia to negotiate settlement of
The disputed line. They arrived at
on the 18th day of May
ia, and negotiations were opened at
,uce with Lord Dunmore, the Cover
lor. After many meetings and insO-
ent demands made upon the commits.
ioners, as they thought, by the Gov
,rnor, be finally peremptorily broke
,ff all further negotiations on the 9th |
If May, IVA, He was not In an amia.
Die mood that day, for history records
he fact that on this day, by reason Of |
he defiant spirit of the House of Bur
: sses of Virginia against Great Bri- !
ain, growing out of the passage of the |
Boston Port Bill'' which resulted in |
he throwing overheard Into the Sea
t ''240 chests of this ebhorred and |
poison" he dissolved
be House. they, Immediately, not
q their official capacity, but as indi-
iduals assembled in the Long ROOM
f the Old Raleigh Tavern at Williams
urg and issued that address which
hould never be forgotten while the
pirit of liberty lives in American.
We are further clearly of the opinion
nat all attack made on one Of our
lister Colonies. to compel submission
0 arbitrary taxes, is an attack ON all
British America, and threatens ruin
o the rights of all, unless the united
Visdom of the whole be applied"
Fort Pitt and the contiguous coun-
ry was indeed fair and inviting field,
nuch to be desired. by Virginia. Our
lain was believed to be just, but when
American liberty was threatened and
Ter neighbors in Boston had received
be first blow from arbitrary power,
With patriotism which ever distln-
uishes her history, she chose rather
he part of defending Americann free
lom from tyranny than the expansion
f her own territorial limits. Free
ON for all Americans she preferred
0 her own aggrandizemeEt; In that su.
,reme moment, God Dless her, she for
.ot self in her desire for American
reedom.
Governor Warfield, you are not the
My man in this audience that's bound
o Pennsylvania by ties such as you
ave enumerated. Gentlemen of the
Keystone State, congratulate you on
our great history. thank you, and
ou Mr.. President, for permitting me
o be present at this Harvest Home Of
be Pennsylvania in New York. II
'ou were down in Old Virginia would
all it instead of a Harvest Home a
corn shucking." (Applause). l be
leve Ill these State gatherings. l be
leve in the cultivation OF State pride,
tate honor, state development, for, as
he traveller approaches the city of
" Washington and first sees that grand
donument erected to the Father of his
jountry piercing the very heavens in
ts grandeur;lrs beauty, its symetry,
,eg you to believe, Gentlemen of the
Keystone State. is measured only by
he strength, the symetry and the
Jeauty of each Individual stone com