Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-07-08
Some Curious Incidents
Connected With the
Writing and Signing
of the Document So
Dear To the Patriotic
American History Of
the Liberty Bell.

~NERY school child in the United
T. states learns something Of the
causes which led to our separa-
NrA ton from the Mother Country.
The stamp Taxes, a refusal to give
US representation and the claim Of
absolute sovereignty over dom este af-
fairs without our consent are familiar
To all But there are many incidents
somewhat trivial when standing
alone. though full of significance when
taken together, not generally known,
which not only reflected the policy
Of the English Government but also
Indicated the temper Of our people
and a growing determination to have
a voice in the regulation Of our in
ternal government These incidents
extended over a period Of nearly two
decades. Although the colonists had
suffered in SO many ways everybody
still openly professed loyalty to "our
gracious sovereign" but there was an
undercurrent of resentment al the I'M
Just treatment ny England and feel
ing that independence was the only
way out Of the difficulty.
Early Patriots.
Few, however, were hold enough to
speak openly on the subject. Patrick
Hon-y's biographer declare that he
was the first Of all the leading men in
the Colonies to suggest a declaration
Of independence and that his patri-
otto outturst on this subject in 1913,
although Il startled the Colonists by
It's very boldness, set them to think
ing
Another historian asserts that even
before Henry had made his patriotic
speech man named Christ opher
Gadsdcn had in 1854 made n stirring
address to large concourse Of people
IN which he declared that independ-
ance was the only solution to the
unconstitutional taxes levied on the
colonists by England
Both John Adams and Thomas JEFF
ferson believed that A perfect indie
pendence was the only way in which
the people could get any sort Of JUS
tice, Ada became very unpopular
with the proprietary gentlemen on &C
count Of his views and for time was
practically ostra cized by Philadelphia
society, Jefferson said little hut he
felt deeply on the subject for the germ
OF patriotism vas dropped into his be-
ing by Patrick Henry many wears be-
fore. He had met this reckless Young
advocate OF liberty while a school boy
and soon became an intense admireI
If HenrY's courage and oratory. and
by the time the Continental Congress
came in existence jefferson was fairl,
stepped In enthusiasm for liberty.
Despite the fact that nearly ever,
member of the First Continental Con
eress felt that the crisis with Grea,
Brita ain was near at hand they took
no action whatever toward declaring
independence, the discussions beine
more along the lines of an American
union.
The Mecklcnburg Declaration,
In the meantime the people Of ont
" the counties OF North Carolina de
cded to take things in their owl
hands, so on the twentieth of May
l775. the citizens of Mecklenburi
County set forth a declaration of In
dependence from Great Britain. Tn,
battle Of Lexington was still fresh il
their minds, and the wrongs of thes'
patriots who died an that field wer,
told with great feeling They furthe
declared that King George was a ty