The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-05-30

the ears OF the coIonists promptly
from over sea that spring; but they
were not slow to perceive that they
must look for no concessions; and
did not wait upon parliament in their
preparation for a doubtful future.
Upon the very day the congress of
committees" at Philadelphia adjourn
ed. provincial congress" in Massa-
chusetts, formed of its own authority
in the stead of the house of delegates
the governor had but just now dis
solved. had voted to organize and
equip the militia of the colony and to
collect stores and arms
Virginia In Arms.
Virginia had been equally bold, and
almost equally prompt. far away as
she seemed from the kings troops at
Boston. BY the end of January Charles
Lee could write from Williamsburg:
The whole country is full of soldiers.
all furnished, all in arms. :. +.
Never was such vigor and concord
heard OF, not single traitor, scarcely
a silent dissentient'
Every county is now arming a
company of men for the avowed pur-
pose of protecting their committees, /"
Dunmore had reported to the ministry
before the year 1774 was out, "and to
be employed against government II
occasion require. AS to the power of
government which your lordship di-
reefs should be exerted to counterfeit
the dangerous measures pursuing
here, / can assure your Iordship that
it is entirely disregarded, IL not Who'll
| ly overturned. There is not justice
of peace in Virginia that acts except
as committeeman: the abolishing Of
courts of justice was the first steT
taken, in which the men of fortune
and prominence joined equally with
the lowest and meanest."
Washington Asked to Lead.
| Company after company, as it form
ed, asked Colonel Washington to as
sumo command over it, not only in his
own county of Fairfax, but in countie:
also at distance-and he accepted
the responsibility as often as it wal
offered to him.
1T is my full intention" he said
simply, ito devote my life and fortune
to the cause we are engaged in,
needful;" and he had little doubt an.
longer what was to come,
Still Runs With the Hounds.
i He found time, even that stirring
year, to quicken his blood once ant
again, nevertheless, while winter held
by run with the hounds; for he wal
not turned politician so sternly ever
yet as to throw away his leisure upol
anything less wholesome than the hall
sport he loved.
On the goth of May, ITS, the sec
ond Virginian convention met, not il
Williamsburg, but at Richmond, ant
it's chief business was the arming o
the colony.
Maryland had furnished the ironica
formula with which to justify wha
was to be done: Resolved, unani
mously, that welI-regulated militia
composed of the gentlemen freehold
ers and other freemen, is the natura
strength and only stable security o
free government; and that sucl
militia will relieve our mother-coun
try from any expense in our protec
ton and defense, will obviate the pre-
tence of a necessity for taxing us OF
that account, and render it unneces
; sary to keep any standing army
ever dangerous to hberty-in thii
province"
Patrick Henry Declares War.
Mr.. Henry, accepted the formul;
witch great relish, in the convention a
Richmond, in his resolution that thu
colony be Immediately put into pos
ture of Defense" but he broke will
it in the speech with which he sup
ported his measure of preparation.
In thi1 there was no plan or pre-
tence OF peace, but, instead. plail
declaration of war
Once more did Edmund Pendleton
Richard Bland, Mr.. Nicholas, and Col
onel Harrison spring to their feet t,
check him, as in the old days of tn
Stamp act. Once more, nevertheless
did he have his way, completely tri
umphant
(TO BE CONTINUED