Middletown transcript., 1915-05-08
MIR. RODNEY'S RIDE
Philadelphia Newspaper Published
A Very Interesting Story
MADE TRIP FOR NATION


Selden S. Deemer, of New Castle, and
the Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton propose to place in the Independ-
ence Hall, in Philadelphia, the Philadel-
phia Press has the following article,
concerning the ride of Caesar Rodney:
Following the action of the Indepen-
dence Hall Advisory Committee, which
met last week and accepted the offer of
Mrs. Selden S. Deemer, of New
Castle, Del, who with the Daugh-
ters of the American Revolution wishes
to place tablet to commemorate the
ride of Caesar Rodney in Independence
Hall, the memory of the man who made
indepenence possible Is about to be
honored Although the Advisory Com
mittee has accepted the tablet, it will
be necessary for the Art Jury to ratify
this acceptance before the tablet can
actually be erected.
Historians have told us of the events
which led to the signing of the Declara-
tion of Independence. Men who wrote
with force and grace have painted word
pictures of these events and the men
who enacted them. A poet made the
name of Paul Revere known in every
household in the land. But Paul Re-
we're only saved a state by his ride,
while the man who saved the nation by
a ride made in Revolutionary days re-
manned almost unknown until one hun
dred and thirty-five years later, when
poem reused his fellow-c -countrymen to
the first act of recognition so long de-
layed.
1t is only now, four years after the
poem dedicated to him was printed, that
his memory is to be honored as it should
have been long ago.
The man was Caesar Rodney, who left
what he thought was his death bed on
the morning of July d, 1776, to ride from
mis- farm near Dover, Del, eighty miles
to what is now independence Hall in
this city to cast the deciding vote for
the lower counties of Pennsylvania called
Delaware. Thus he turned what SEEM
ed inevitable defeat for independence
into victory for the Declaration drawn
by Thomas jefferson, and freedom for
his country.
Just how the historians have missed
the true incidents of Caesar Rodney s
ride, is one of the mysteries which can
be explained only by two facts; that the
United States government has never
had the records of the Revolutionary
war, and the events which preceded it
printed; and that no record of the hap
penings in the State House, now called
Independence Hall, We're ever recorded
by the men who struggled in its cham
Der from July l, to the afternoon of the
4, when liberty was proclaimed through
out the land.
HAD LITTLE TO WORK WITH
Although historians have done their
| best to chronicle the events of the
greatest day in the history of this nation
they have had little not handed down
by word of mouth to work with. The
secretary's record is a meager memo
randum of business, dry as docket en-
try in the court minutes. Only one mar
John Dickinson, wrote, and then in out
line only a report of his own remark!
upon the first day. The words of Han
cock, Franklin, Biddle, Lee, Jeffers OF
or any of the others who placed theil
names upon the parchment were nevel
recorded nor can they be traced today
for the millions for whom they SHOULD
have been preserved.
But it was of the valor of Caesa
Rodney this story was, intended. Th'
trial vote taken by the delegates Oh
July /, was indie .isive. Some of tn,
colonies were against declaring them
selves Independent at that time. New
York had been excused from voting
The votes of Pennsylvania, the battle
ground of the conflicting opinions, an
South Carolina were cast against Inde
pendence. The two delegates fror
Delaware had tied, and the great me
of that greatest of gatherings, a gath
ering of merchants, divines, masters o
political science and geniuses, began t
fear for the success of the measure.
During the night of the Sd, Thoma
Mexican, whose vote for independence
had tied that of George Read, for Del;
ware, making that province negatiV
quantity, found the solution which cal
red the day and won freedom for th
country. He despatched a messengt
: with instructions to spare no expens
but to reach the side of the absent del,
gate. Caesar Rodney, who was thougI
to be dying on one of his farms ne,
Dover.
AS this messenger left the hall whei
4 the delegates from the thirteen coloni,
I: had been debating the sentiment wi
e hourly growing stronger in favor
. Great Britain. 1t was necessary tn
r all of the colonies should vote in the q
r firmatiye if independence was to be pr
claimed. Congress was in a turmo
while the army was panic-strieken. A
. eyes were upon John Adams, who to
the delegates the question was going
o be settled by arms and not votes, VIII
a McKean's messenger left for the far
CONTINUED on Fifth Pagel
|" Unclaimed Letters The following /