The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-07-02

son wan member. and asked 70 resign.
Hughes then being III In bed, the COM
mittee retired to await results. Thorn
son, however. returned to see him the
following day, and was asked BY
Hughes IL the committee was serious In
Its demand. Thomson replied that
while he would prefer not to speak for
the COMMITTEES as a whole he could as
sure him that he, personally, was very
much In earnest. The committee the
cred Il his resignation, although pro-
testing that It would be productive OF
dire results.
On the Sd Of October. l774, Thomson
was elected a member OF the Pennsyl-
vania assembly, and on the bth was
made secretary Of the first continental
congress. This incident can best be
told In Thomson's own words. as re-
corded by William Allen.
II was married TO my second Wife
Hannah Harrison--on Thursday; the
next Monday came to town TO pay
my respects to my wifes aunt, and the
family; just as alighted In Chestnut
street the doorkeeper OF congress, then
first met. accosted me with q mes
sage from them, requesting my pres
ence--I followed the messenger 20 the
carpenters hall, and entered congress.
I walked up the aisle and standing OPP
posts TO the president I bowed, and
gOlu a dWdllcQ MS DlGhHuEo. ne TO
piled: Congress desires the favor Of
you. sir. to take their, minutes
bowed to acquiescence, and took my
seat at the desk. After a short time.
Patrick Henry arose TO speak. He OBJ
served that our public circumstances
were like those OF man IN deep en-
called his friends together to advise
what was best to be done for his ro-
lief--one would propose one thing, and
another different one, whilst perhaps
a third would think OF something bet
ter suited TO his unhappy circun-
stances. which he would embrace, ana
think no more Of the rejected schemes,
with which he would have nothing TO
do. thought this was very good in
struction to me, with respect to the
taking the minutes; what congress
adopted committed TO writing: with
what they rejected, had nothing fur
Their to do; and even this method led
to some squabbles with the members,
who were DESTROYS OF having their
speeches and resolutions, however, put
to rest by the majority, still preserved
upon the minutes"
This address OF Patrick Henry'A
taken as a course Of procedure for
keeping the minutes of the congress- n
responsible for the complete records Of
the sessions which are today kept In
the Congressional library, and which
have won for Charles Thomson tho
name, OF being one OF the ablest secre-
taries to one. of the greatest bodies ever
convened.
Thomson served as secretary to con.
gress throughout its existence, is yearA
At the end Of that time he was appoint
ed by that body to notify George
washington of his election to the pres
idency o. the United States. Thomson
went to Mount Vernon, where he was
met by General Washington at the
door, and, after the most friendly Of
greetings, Thomson delivered the mes
sage OF congress and Washington re-
Piled. The two then, went to New York
together, from which place Thomson
notified congress that he had carried
out his commission.
Thomson resigned as secretary OF
congress July rs, 1889, and never again
held public office He retired to his
home Harriton, and took up the study
OF Greek and Latin where he had been
forced TO leave off by the call to con-
gress. He devoted his time to a trans
lation OF the new testament from the
Greek. and the old testament from the
Septuagent, which, 1t Is said, was the
first English version Of the Septuag gent
that had been published.
At the time OF his resignation from
congress, in 1850. Charles Thomson was
" yOolS Oiu' IN 1910, at the age or 81,
he was almost deaf enc of several
pRralytic strokes he had about this
time left him practically helpless. An
other followed later and by Soma
strange chance, left him suddenly re-
covered, so far so. In fact, that he lived
until August JIG, 1924, when he died IN
Lower Merton, Montgomery county.
Pennsylvania, at the age ofS96. AL
though not OUTLYING ali OF the signerx
Of the declaration. Thomson, neverthe-
Charles Carroll of Carrollton being tha
same age at his death.