Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-12

to the left, Muhlenberg being in COM
mand.
So far as military matters were con-
cerned. Peter Muhlenbergs career was
closed with Yorktown. He was made
major general, and grant OF 10000
acres of land in the Ohio valley was
made to him in recognition of his serv-
ices, but he was to see no more lighting
He lived for a time at Woodstock. and
then he went to his fathers home at
Trappe Pa. In the spring of 1854 he
started for the Falls of Ohio tnow LOUIS
ville), intending to locate there. That ne
had a discerning eye may be seen from
what he wrote regarding the river coun-
try and Louisvil e. OF the Ohio val ey
ne said: From what | have seen OF the
River Ohio and the lands on both sides. l
make no doubt that in time this wi ! be
the first and most valuable settlement In
North America. At present the country
is inhabited by wild beasts only
Louisville he described as "a court
house, a Jail and seven hutS besides me
fort He added. however, from the
prospect of the lands in the vicinity OF
the town, and its situation, IT promises
fair to become place of great impor-
tance."
He returned to Pennsylvania without
settling at Louisville, and in 1iSo, al
though he had been a resident OF the
state only two years, he was elected vice
president of Pennsylvania. Benjamin
Franklin being elected president These
elections were held under the Constieu-
ton of 1776. which assigned these titles
TO the first and second officers of the
state. The general continued in this Of
flee until 17SS, when the present Constitu-
ton of the United States was adopted.
Under the new COnstitu ion Gen. Muhien-
berg was elected a member of the First
Con,ress to serve from March t. 1889.
to March 4, 1891. His brother, Frederick
Augustus Mfhlenberg, was the first
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The general was member Ut the Third
and Of The Sixth Cong. esses. He always
was a strong supporter of Thomas JET
feFson, and when in 1901 the choice OF a
President between Jefferson and Burr was
deadocked in the House of Representa-
tives, Muhlenberg worked for his old
friend as he never worked before. Not
only that, but when it was planned by
prominent federalists to declare The eec-
ton null and void and vest the executive
power in the chief justice so as 10 keep
the federal party in control 1t was an
nounced by jefferson that If such an at
temp was made it would be resisted py
force. Gen. Muhlenberg was selected by
Jefferson to depose the usu ping govern
ment with the militia of Pennsy wanna.
On the thirty sixth ballot. however, Jet-
ferson was elected President.
On February Is. 1901, Muhlenberg was
elected United States senator. ne served
only few months, and resigned L be-
come SUPERVISOR of internal revenue. In
1902 President Jefferson made him collec-
tor of the port of Philadelphia, and he
held the Office until he died, October i,
1907.
He died Of a disease caused by exp sure
in the revolutionary war, t~oub tn It
caused him grea suffer ng Eor a year
prior to his death. His body was laid
away alongside that of his father in the
churchyard Of the old Lutheran Church at
Trappe Pa, the oracle CT Luthe anlsn
in America. Perhaps no me dest Oh
churchyard in all America contains the
dust of so many great men as does thal
in Trappe.
Copyright, 1909, by Richard Spillaneo