The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-09-22
Francis Scott Key
Congressional Record.

erick, Md, September IA, 1914, by
Hon. Key Pittman, United States
senator from Nevada, at the celebra-
tion of the one hundreth anniver-
sary of the writing of The Star-Span-
gled Banner by Francis Scott Key)
"Mr. Chairman, citizens of Fred
erick, and fellow countrymen: We
enjoy a peculiar privilege in being
present at the grave OF the great
American whose sympathetic soul,
100 years ago today, caught the pa
triotic vibration of all our people
and translated them into living eX-
preston. 1t is most fitting that the
celebration of the one hundredth an
niverSary of the writing of our ma
tional anthem should be held here
at the birthplace and the tomb of the
immortal author. 1t is a great honor
to you of Frederick. and you do
great honor to the memory OF the
dead by these most patriotic and
beautiful ceremonies. If ii be grant
ed to the dead to hear the pure, swecI'
voices of these thousands of chill
dren. singing the great song his
genius gave birth to. what pride and
happiness will be his. You to whom
the credit is given for this beautiful
monument to Key are entitled to the
grateful Commendation of all our
people.
The writing of the Star-Spangled
Banner VAS due 20 a cOmbina ion OF
events and conditions that rarely
coincide in the history of nations.
Incentives to great deeds frequently
arise. but it is of rare occurrence
that one qualified to receive and act
upon such incentives is subjected to
those influences.
"Francis Scott Keys life was most
ideal from the very day OF his birth
here in Frederick county on August
9, 1880, until his death at Baltimore,
Md, on the 11th day of January,
1S43. His father John Ross Key,
was a man of education and culture,
possessed OF Independent means, and
prominent in the affairs OF his state.
His mother, Ann Charlton, was
brilliant and charming woman,
sister of the colonial governor of
Maryland. All of KEYS ancestors
were patriotic Maryl2ndcrs and de-
scended from Phillip Key, who came
from England in 1925 and settled
on the banks OF the Potomac. The
boyhood days of Key were spent i'm
these beautiful mountains and val
leys, in an atmosphere of patriotism
and culture. After his preliminary
education had been obtained he went
TO live with his relatives at Annapolis
then especially the seat Of learning
and refinement There he entered
and graduated from st. Johns Col
leEe Soon after leaving college he
studied law under Jeremiah Town
ley Chase, at that time one of the
Judges of the general court Of Mary
land. Upon being admitted to the
l.. Il.
profession here i'm Frederick. His
abilities soon demanded wider
field and he removed to the city of
Washington. where he rapidly forg-
cd to the front of his profession He
carly acquired large practice be
fore the supreme court of the United
States. enjoying the privilege of be-
ing associated with such eminent
lawyers as Calhoun, Webster. Clay.
Choate. William Pinckney. Luther
Martin and William Witt. In 1898
President Andrew Jackson appointed
him United States district attorney
for the District of Columbia. i'm which
Office he served with marked distinc-
tion for three successive terms. He
was an intimate friend of President
Jackson and was intrusted by the
President with many diplomatic mis-
sions. notably among which was the
negotiations and settlement of the
Alabama dispute
ION the cath day OF August,
1914. Key, who was then in the Citv
Of Washington, was compelled To
witness the destruction OF the CAPT
tol by British soldiers from Admiral
Cock burns fleet. then lying in the
Potomac river, and u be the helpless
observer of the OutTaEeS perpetra ted
upon a defenseless people. During
Wis disorder, DR. Bcanc. a prOmi-
ncnt citizen of Upper Marlboro. Md.
was arrested on fictitious charges and
carried a prisoner to the British
E,,. Dr. Bcane's friends realized
that only prompt and powerful cf-
forts would avail 10 save his life.
The President intrusted Krv with
the mission to 90 to the British fleet
and inteTcede for the prisoner on
the Sd day OF September, aboard the
American ship Minden, Key reached
the British feet on Chcsapeak Bay
at the mouth of the Potomac river.
The personality of Key and his won
derful powers OF persuasion finally
won the consent of Admiral Cock
burn TO the release Of Dr. Bcane.
The British fleet at this time had ar
rived off Fort McHcnry. Just below
Baltimore The British admiral an
nounced his intention OF attacking
the fort and OF entering the city
Key and DR.. Beane were then trans.
ferred to the Miinden under guard
OF British soldiers and the lombard
ment OF Fort McHenry commenced
From early morning of the 18th the
British ships, lying out OF reach o
the smaller guns Of the fort, hurled