Evening star., 1927-03-13
CONGRESS TO MARK
YORK II SESSION
Committee Named to Take
Part in 150th Anniversary
Celebration There.

Since Congress adjourned, but pur
suant to n resolution passed in the
closing rush, joint Congressional
committee has been appointed to par
ticipate, as officially representing the
Congress of the United States, in the
celebration of the 150th anniversary
of the meeting of the Continental
Congress at York, Pa, September 80
1877. This celebration will be held
in York September 80.
The joint Congressional committee
officially representing Congress, which
is the lineal descendant of that Con.
tinental Congress, is composed of Sen
ators Fess, Ohio; Caraway, Arkansas
Moses, New Hampshire, and Swanson
Virginia. and Representatives Acker
! man, New Jersey; Crisp, Georgia; Til
son, Connecticut, and Moore, Vir.
ginia.
Shortly after the defeat of the Con
tinental Army at Brandywine in Sep
tember, 1877, the Congress adjourned
from independence Hall in Philadel-
phia to meet in Lancaster, Pa, the
capture Of Philadelphia by the British
forces under Lord Howe being immi-
nent. Only one days session was held
in Lancaster when it was decided that
the Susquehanna should flow be-
tween Congress and the enemy,
whereupon it adjourned to York, Pa,
then a thriving community of about
l 500 inhabitants. with 2S6 houses.
Remained for Months.
The Continental Congress arrived at
York September 80, 1877, and contin-
ued in session there until June 81,
177S, when a resolution was adopted
that Congress adjourn until Tuesday
next, to meet at the State House In
Philadelphia
The period that York harbored the
Continental Congress was one of the
most trying IN the history of the coun-
try. The chief cities We're in the
hands of the enemy. Government
documents and the small amount of
money in the Treasury were hauled
on wagons carefully guarded by two
regiments of troops. Members of Con-
gress travelled on horseback.
Washington and his army had re-
treated in an orderly way to Chester,
Pa, where he and his generals were
preparing the troops for the attack on
the British at Germantown, October 4,
l777, when dense fog prevented the
accomplishment of Washington's pur-
pose to capture the British army
The people of the Thirteen Colonies
were looking toward York as Congress
sat in session there trying Ito find a
way out.
Adams Exports Patriots.
Samuel Adams expressed the situa-
ton In appealing to a mass meeting
OF American patriots, October 8, 1877,
saying:
Our affairs are said to be desperate,
but we are not without home and not
without courage. The eyes of the peo.
pie of this country are upon us here,
and the tone of their feeling is regu-
lated by ours"
Twenty-six of the men who met in
Congress at York had signed their
names to the Declaration of Independ-
ence. They included such men as
Samuel Adams. John Adams, John
Hancock, Elbridge Gerry, Francis
Dana. Henry Marchant, Nathaniel
Folsom, Richard Law, Eliphalet Dyer,
Louis Morris, Gouveneur Morris,
Philip Livingstone, Charles Carroll,
Samuel Chase. Francis Lightfood Lee,
Robert Henry Lee, Benjamin Harri-
son, Thomas Mexican, John Wither-
spoon, John Penn, William Drayton,
Henry Laurens, Nathan Brownson,
Edward Langworthy, Joseph Wood,
Daniel Roberdeau, Robert Morris,
Joseph Reed and James Smith.
The first national Thanksgiving
proclamation in the United States was
issued from York on official confirma-
ton of Burgoyne's surrender, and
copies were sent to the governors of
the 13 States.
The famous cabal of Thomas Con-
way against George Washington was
defeated this period and Washington
rose to a higher position of esteem
than he had previously held. His
enemies were censured and ridiculed
and Congress came to recognize
Washington as the true leader of
American armies.
Prussian Leader Arrives.
Another event of importance was
the arrival at York of Baron Won
Steuben, member of the staff of
Frederick the Great of Prussia, dur
ing the Seven Years War. The
baron landed at Portsmouth, n. H.,
and John Hancock furnished him and
his party with sleighs, drivers and
saddle horses for the inland journey
of more than 400 miles to York. He
arrived at York February 8, 1777, and
was received by Congress with dis
tinguished honors.
He was given the commission of
lieutenant general of the American
forces and sent to Washington at Val
ley Forge.
General Washington was not slow
to recognize his ability, while Won
Steuben perceived in the ragged and
motley army which he passed In re-
view the existence of soldierly quail
ties which needed nothing SO much
as training. Alert and untiring, he
worked with these soldiers from morn
ing till night, showing them how to
advance, retreat, or change front
without falling into disorder; how to
perform; in short, all the rapid and
accurate movements for which the
Prussian army had become so ia
nous. This training was so effective
in the discipline Of the army that had
1t not been for the treachery OF Gen.
Charles Lee, the Judas Iscariot of the
Continental army, the Battle of Mon
mouth might have ended the Revo.u-
tionary War.
French Help Assured.
During the months that Congress
was in session at York America re-
ceived it's most important help and
promises of help from abroad. On
May 2, however, came the most Inn
portant news yet received. Simeon
Deane, brother of Silas Deane, arrived
from France and brought to Congress
at York a letter from Benjaman
Franklin, with a copy of the treaty
of amity and commerce and the treaty
of alliance, under which the French
government had decided to send an
army, a fleet, and a vast sum OF
money to aid the infant Republic of