Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-10-17
SEVERAL REASONS WHY
City Official Contributes by Request
Appeal to Patriotism While Shades
of Mason and Washington Hover
Over us.
(By Charles H. Callahan,
Over us.

| In a recent issue of Wash!ngto!
Caily paper the opinion was adv'n:e'
that the wireless sent out from Be.'
| lin accepting President Wilson
terms of peace was the most import
ant message in the history of a
world. We could no5 agree to TN:
claim in toto. Other messages sem
in the distant past, and by slow Pre-
cess, loom up to claim recognition
bringing in their treirl events Which
can never be relegated to second place
in the chronicle of this or any other
nation. One in particular we would
recall, which is of special interest to
Virginians and particularly to the
! citizens of Alexandria and Fairfa:;
Comfy. In the spring of 1776 the
Fifth and Last Convention, by which
the Colony of Virginia had been gov
Ell. ed since Dunmore dissolved the
Burgesses in 1774, met in Williams
burg. Among the first acts of this
heroic band was to declare for indie
pcndence. No filibustering, no desul-
tory debate characterized their deli
lbcra.ions. They got down to business
from the start. Read business and ull-
animously-
Resolved, That this colony is anG
If right ought to be free and inde
pendent state, absolved from all ale
glance to the Crown and Parliament
of Great Britain" And to clinch the
natter, they further
Resolved, That the delegates an
poiatcd to represent this Colony in TIE
General Congress be and they are
hcrehy instructed to propose to sha:
respectable body, to declare these
United Colonies free and indepeneni
states"
This lea in sequence to the Della
ration of Independence with its at
tendant blessings to humanity.
J. was simple message, drawn by
riovincials, in an old fashioned vii
laea. 1t was not flashed to the world
5y an electric spark, or borne on the
wind as was the Teuton plea for
peace. These marvellous agencies o.
intercourse and transmission were g
century sway in the future. No dram
attic scene was staged, or romantic set-
ting arranged for this most momen-
tous act IN the worlds greatest poll
tical drama. A hardy courier receives
the precious missive and is off on his
tedious ride. Up through New Kent,
.1.ncver, Caroline and Spottsylvania
Counties to Fredericksburg, thence oil
through Stafford; and Prince William
% the crossing of the Occoquan al
Dla Colchester, thence by @ly ot
Alexandria to the ferry at George
towr he pressed on and on, through
MARYLAND and Delaware, to his journ-
ovs end at independence Hall ir
Philadelphia. Perhaps this humble and
fo, ootteu rider did not know the ma,
ture of his missiop, or, if he did
failed to grasp its tremendous import
He did not know it, maybe, that bach
behind him a farmer by the name o.
Mason was at that very moment pen
n:ng wonderful instrument destined
TO become in the course of time TIT
basic law. the infallible rule and guid'
10. the liberties of mankind the worl'
over, or that the message he. bor
would inspire genius to arouse, b
! force of reason : and .,unanswerahl
4logc, determined shqps for, equality, an
a personal freedom in the breasts, of mi
! inns yet unborn, thai. BY. ats, iBfuenc
| L.,nl,pJ ,yo,,ld ohonra to O dennocra :.