The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1915-06-25
RODE FOR LIBERTY
LIKE PAUL REVERE
Caesar Rodney Is One of
Americas independence
Day Heroes.

Day Heroes.
How the historians and romanticists
have missed the true and dramatic
story of Caesar Rodney's ride is one
of the mysteries which surround the
Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Mexican, one of the three
signers of the Declaration from Della
gNare, has given unassailable proof of
|g2he essential facts in the case of Gaze
sar Rodney and his ride. According
to letters written by him and particu-
larly one to Caesar Rodney's nephew,
Mexican sent word by horseman to
Rodney, who was then i'll at Byfield,
one of his farms near Dover, Del,
that his vote was absolutely necessary
if freedom was to be proclaimed
Pennsylvania and South Carolina
had voted against independence. New
York held aloof because her delegates
had not received instructions from the
Assembly of that colony. Congress
WAS in turmoil, the army panic strick-
en-, the sentiment for submission to
Great Britain growing stronger hour
ly in all the colonies. 1t was neces-
sary that all the colonies should vote
\ in the affirmative if independence was
to be proclaimed.
In the vote that was taken in the
statehouse (now Independence hall)
on July /, Delaware's vote was not
cast, there being two of the three
delegates present. Thomas Mexican
voted for freedom and George Read
against it. Caesar Rodney, as has
been said, was i'll in his home. His
! affection was cancer, that had at
tackled his face to such an extent that
he was compelled to wear a veil to
conceal the fearful ravages of the
disease. For this reason he had new
err married The malady had pro-
crossed for four years at the time of
these occurrences.
Mexican, shrewdly calculating that
\ if Delaware's vote were cast for in
dependence on the following day Penn
sylvania and South Carolina might be
induced to change their decisions. de-
termined upon the desperate expedient
OF sending for his sick and cruelty
al figured colleague. Estimating at
Nts true worth the patriotism and de-
Termination of Rodney, he instructed
the messenger to arrange at his (Mc-
Kean's) expense relays of horses to
carry Rodney on his ride of seventy
miles.
In spite of the terrific heat, the urg-
ing of relatives and the command of a
nurse and a physician, who warned
him the task might mean death, the
patriotic Delawarean arose from his
sick bed and set out for Philadelphia
with the messenger. SO eager and
determined was he that his compan-
ih was soon left behind, and Rod
hey -foGe' alone through the torture
of that blistering July weather.
Mexican relates that he met Rodney
at the statehouse door as he dis
mounted and assisted him into the
chamber. There, with the remnant of
his strength, Caesar Rodney cast the
yot.' Of Delaware for independence
1t is Mexican again, corrobroated by
Adams, Franklin and others, who re-
lates that Edward Rutledge of South
Carolina thereupon was deeply moved
and changed the vote of his colony.
After a stormy scene the Pennsylva-
MIA delegates who were opposed to the
resolution declaring liberty removed
themselves from the congress, and the
patriotic faction, with Benjamin
Franklin at its head, promptly cast
the colonys ballot for independence.
The terrible strain of the ride told
severely for time upon Caesar Rod
ney, but he rallied and lived few
years longer, dying at Byfeld in 1884
a serene, courageous death in his for
ty-sixth year.
Of all the signers of the Declara-
ton Caesar Rodney is the onlv one of
whom there is no portrait. The late
Thomas F. Bavard of Delaware, Unit
ed States senator and secretary Of
state, was one of those who held the
opinion that a portrait showing his
yelled face would appeal strongly to
the patriotism of the American peo-
pie. l
John Adams has given an excellent
description of Rodney in one of his
letters to his wife. He shows the ma
triot as tall and excessively thin, due
: to the malady that killed him.. His
head, according to Adams, was alb
normally small, scarcely larger than
! two big apples. His manner was gen
= tie and kindly, but deeply impressive
when he was aroused. He looked un
on death cheerfully, walking with it
always. His patriotism was of the