The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-07-02
STORY OF THE HISTORIC
LIBERTY BELL OF
PHILADELPHIA


tone sounded by the Bell.
1t called the Assembly together to
many sessions during which the foun-
dations of American liberty were laid;
summoned them in August of 1883
to the meeting at which it was resolv-
ed to continue the issuance of Pro-
vince money, despite the prohibition
of the Lords of Justices of the Crown.
and again in May 1755, when the AS
semblymen informed the Proprietary
-overnment that they would maintain
= right ito judge for ourselves and
''~ "~rs tituents of the utility by di-
1t convened the Assembly
February of 1857 sent "Mr.
F"""k'in home to England" to secure
redress for grievances; it called the
Assembly together in September, 1854
to receive notification from Massachu-
sets Bay that the Colonists there
were determined to oppose an Eng
fish Stamp Act and. again, when Pen
nsylvana joined with the Bay State,
it called the legislators together to
prepare for a Congress of the Colon
les. and little later to act on Parlia-
ment's decision imposing stamp du-
ties and other duties on His Majesty's
subjects in America
These Subjects in America" were
becoming distinctively Americans. The
odious stamps came into port aboard
the Royal Charlotte" and in October
l765, the Bell, 'muffled and tolled
called together the town meeting
which resolved that the stamps should
not land in Philadelphia But the
Stamp Act was enforced, and so the
Bell. muffled again. tolled the death
of liberty" the people meanwhile
burning the detested stamps. In Sep
TENDER. 1866, it convened the Assem-
bly, which voted tb4,000 to the King
the last large appropriation made for
such a purpose.
AT the call of the Bell Philadelphia
merchants assembled in April 1868
to protest against restrictive legisla-
ton by Parliament; again, in July.
1868. when resolutions were adopted
setting forth:
"The Colonies are reduced to
the level of slaves.
Justice is administered, gov
eminent is exercised and a stand
ing army maintained at the ex-
pense of the people. and yet with
out the least dependence on them.
"The money which we have
earned with sweat and toll and
labor being taken from us without
our knowledge or consent, is
given away in pensions to ven
al slaves"
Then followed the Belts call for
meetings to petition for repeal Of the
duty on tea; to denounce the buyers
of such tea as enemies of the new
country, and to express determine
ton that the "detestable tea" which
the ship polly brought over should
not be "funnelled down our throats
with Parliament's duty mixed with
it"
Historic occasions now crowd each
other. The Bell announced that the
port of Boston had been closed, and
then that the Battle of Lexington had
been fought, the tiGings reaching
Philadelphia April "a, 1775, and the
consequent meeting of 5000 people,
by computation" resolving ito asso-
ciate for the purpose of defending with
arms, their lives, liberty and property
against all attempts to deprive them
of these inalienable rights" it sum-
moned patriots to the memorable
meeting of June 7, 1875. when Richard
Henry Lee offered his resolutions.
"that these United Colonies are and
ought to be free and independent
states as such they have and of right
ought to have full power to make
war"
And then it convened Congress for
consideration of Declaration of In
dependence, and on July 8, 1916, it
sent echoing round the world the
Proclamation of American Independ-
ence.
The State House Bell was now the
Liberty Bell.
Then came the war of the Revolu-
ton; the flight of the Bell to Allen
town, and its return to Philadelphia
and its old home in the steeple until
1871, when it was lowered and re-
hung in the tower below.