Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1915-07-19
RODE FOR LIBERTY
LIKE PAUL REVERE
Caesar Rodney 10 One Of independence
Days Heroes Who Yet
May Be Famous

Press. AS an aftermath of the Fourth
Of July 1t is well worth reading:
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
ware. has given unassailable proof of
the 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 a horseman to
Rodney. who was then i'll at Byfeld,
one OF his farms lee Dover, Del.
that his vote was absolutely necessary
il 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 stricken,
Britain growing stronger hourly in all
the colonies. 1t was necessary that
all the colonies should vote in the af-
firmative il independence was to be
proclaimed.
In the vote that was taken in the
s~tatehouse (now independence halD
on July l Delaware's vote was not
cast, there being two of the three dele
gates present. Thomas Mexican voted
for freedom and George Reed against
It. Caesar Rodney. as has been said,
was i'll in his home. His affliction
was a cancer. that had attacked his
face to such an extent that he was
compelled to wear a veil 10 oncea the
fearful ravages Of the disease. For
his eason he had never married The
malady had progressed for four years
at h time of these occurrences.
Mexican, shrewdly calculating that
II Delaware's vote were cast for indie
pendence on the following day Penn
s%ylvania and South Carolina might be
induced to change their decisions, de-
termined upon the desperate expedt
lent of sending for his sick and cruel
~ disfgured colleague. Estimating at
its r worth the patriotism and de-
termination Of Rodney, he instructed
the messenger to arrange at his INC
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
sickbed and set out for PHILADELPHIA
with the messenger. So eager and de-
tormined was he that his companion
was soon left behind, and Rodney rode
alone through the torture Of that Bills
tcring July weather.
Mexican relates that he met Rodney
at the statehouse door as he dismount-
ed and assisted him into the chamber.
There, with the remnant of his
strength. Caesar Rodney east the vote
OF Delaware for independence.
1t is Mexican again, c~orroborated by
Adams, Franklin and others, who re-
iates that Edward Rutledge of South
Carolina %thereupon was deeply moved
and changed the vote Of his colony.
After a stormy scene the P%ennsylva-
MIA delegates who we're opposed to the
resolution declaring liberty removed
themselves from the congress-, and the
patriotic faction, with BENJAMIN
Franklin at It's head, promptly cast the
colony's ballot for independence.
The terrible strain OF the ride told
severely for n time upon Caesar Rod.
ney, but he rallied and lived a few
years longer, dying at Byleld in 1884 a
serene, courageous death In his forty.
sixth year.
Or all the signers OF the Declaration
Caesar Rodney Is the only one OF
whom there is no portrait. The late
Thomas F. Bayard of Delaware, Unit.
ed States senators and secretary of
state. was n Of those who held the
opinion that q portrait showing his
yelled face would appeal strongly to
the patriotism OF the American people.
John Adams has given an excellent
description Of Rodney in one OF his let
ters to his wife. He shows the patriot
as tall and excessively thin, due to the
malady that killed him. His head, &C
cording to Adams, was abnormally
small, scarcely larger than two big ap-
pies. His manner was gentle and kind
ly, but deeply impressive when he was
aroused. He looked upon death cheer.
fully, walking with It always. His
patriotism was OF the highest quality
and his craftsmanship remarkable for
It's plain, homely sense.-Philadelphia
Press.