CHAPTER VIII. CONVENTION OF 1776. "In ferrum pro libertate ruebant! IN the annals of our country's progress from colonial dependence to its present greatness, perhaps there is no epoch that is regarded with deeper and more profound veneration than that era embraced within the narrow limits of one single month preceding the 4th of July, 1776. Public sentiment had long been maturing for decisive action against the encroachments and aggressions of despotic Europe-the people were ripe for open rebellion, and fully determined to put their resolves into practical execution. Wherever the foot of oppression had previously left its sad imprint throughout the land, a corresponding spirit of resistance became aroused. In the cities and villages, towns and hamlets; on the mountains, in the valleys, upon the hillsides, and in the vales-wherever the hut of the hardy pioneer sent its smoke curling upward through the interlacing branches of the forests, on the circumambient blue of heaven, there beat hearts as warm and noble, as true and fearless, and as restive for the approaching period when their chains of bondage should be severed, as in the seaboard cities, where despotic exactions were most injuriously experienced. A feeling of outraged dignity prompted to chivalric action—a spirit of patriotic daring to deeds of fame. Acting under that sense of resistance excited by the stern and steady impositions of the home government, every exalted motive of a jealous people became an incentive of noble action. Town meetings assembled in every part of the land; enthusiastic and eloquent addresses, fresh and gushing' from hearts sensitively alive to patriotic duty, were made; uncompromising resolutions were passed, and measures of self-protection adopted. In those primary assemblages were exhibited deep and abiding devotion to honorable administration of government-a willingness to abide all reasonable forms of law and requirements from the mother country; but a pertinacious opposition to all attempts of arbitrary coercion. They were willing to yield obedience so long as that obedience would not compromit their rights as freemen-but when the sanctuary of their freedom was invaded-when the lion sought to ravage their homes then was a sterner spirit evoked, and more energeticmeasures commenced. Delegates from each State were chosen to meet in convention in this "Holy of Holies,' this Temple of Freedom-Independence Hall-armed with authority to decide the matter for freedom or for bondage. The responsibility imposed upon those representatives of the people was indeed of no ordinary moment and importance. They felt that upon their shoulders rested the future prosperous and glorious condition of their country, or its ultimate enslavement and ruin. But they were equal for the occasion, and willing to abide the consequences of their action. The appointed day for the assembling of that great body of heroes in Philadelphia arrived: prayers for God's providence and wisdom to watch over and guide their deliberations went up like sweet-smelling incense from the altar of every patriot's heart. Feelings of tremulous joy and boding apprehension alternately took possession of the people, similar to those which excite a child on contemplating the first act of resistance to parental authority. The day dawned calm and beautiful; the trees appeared hung with pearls for the occasion, as the early dew-drops glistened like diamonds among the foliage. Not a cloud flecked the sky to dim the full unintercepted rays of the King of Day-not a single streak of sombre haze curtained the horizon; all was bright, cheerful, and augured significantly for the cause of freedom and human rights. One by one those brave-hearted men assembled in Independence Hall-silently, one by one took his seat, for the objects for which that Convention had met, and the subjects upon which it was to deliberate were the most stupendous in their issues and results, of which this earth has ever been the theatre or the witness! A nation's liberty or a nation's bondage, a nation's birth or a nation's death, were some of the mighty interests that were suspended in the scales of destiny. The life, the liberty, the prosperity, the reputation-aye, more, the safety of the household gods that clustered around the hearthstone at home, of each individual member of that heroic convocation, were all, all staked "upon the hazard of a die!" Some one has compared this more than Amphictyonic council to that "immortal assembly, which convened in the counsels of eternity, whose presiding officer was Him, 'who sitteth upon the circles of the heavens,' and whose delegates were angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, in which the great question of apostate man's redemption and salvation was discussed, and resolved upon." The representatives of thirteen weak and sparsedly-peopled colonies just struggling into existence, were, one by one, subscribing their names to a massive parchment, upon which they had set forth their declaration of principles--the Magna Charta of human rights. The eyes of the old world were intently fixed upon the star of hope, which was slowly rising above the horizon of the new. And as that star which rose in Bethlehem eighteen centuries ago, and took its solitary flight through the heavens, until it shone over against the place where lay the infant Saviour, in his lowly manger, proclaimed the glad tidings of man's salvation; which were caught up by the angelic choir of the sky, and called forth symphonies of the most exquisite harmony from the golden harps of cherubim and seraphim-so this star beamed forth the signallight to warn mankind of his civil and political redemption, and to announce the great truth that the sacred title-deed, which had been sealed by the hand of God upon creation's morn, and which was written in the royal and kingly birthright, that "all men are born free and equal," which had been buried in the urn of ages, and upon which the dust of cycles of years had gathered, was again found, and had become the political creed and text-book of the world. Far far away across the dark waters of the Atlantic, the longing gaze of the down-trodden serf was rivetted upon the bright rays of this great luminary of freedom, and his chains felt softer, his pulse beat higher, and his heart grew lighter, for with prophetic spirit he beheld the day not far distant, when its fervent heat would melt the manacles from his limbs, crowns from the heads of despots, and thrones from under the imperious footsteps of royalty. But it is sad to reflect that, one by one those gallant hearts have ceased to beat-one by one those strong arms have fed the worm-one by one those eagle-eyes have lost their light-one by one those matchless forms have been gathered into their narrow houses and the long sleep of death. Yet the spirits of those mighty heroes are abroad in the land prompting the sons of freedom to emulation and virtue. They are still with us, having claimed respite from that relentless monster, to enact over again their former labors in Independence Hall. Yes, we almost see their majestic forms rising from their long repose, clothed not in the habiliments of the tomb, but in the robes of immortality. The whole land is sensible of their presence "Their spirits wrap our dusky mountains, Eighty years have glided into the eternity of the past since those great men lived and walked upon the earth! It is true, the same sun still rides in majesty and glory through the cloudless sky that shone upon their life and death councils in Independence Hallbut what a change! It is true, the same mighty ocean that bore so proudly and so safely the fleets of an angry country, still rolls on, thundering its an |