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(Audio & Transcript) Mandeville, LA - It's never out of fashion to bring in the Founding Fathers when we're looking for insight into the unconstitutional acts that have become commonplace in today's Washington. Today's lesson, the acts of Patriotism shown by Charles Carroll of Carrollton after the Tea Party's very first victory in 1773.
1773. The election for members of the Lower House took place on May 14th, 1773. Every county returned delegates in opposition. to the proclamation of Governor Eden. Annapolis was the one hope of the gubernatorial party. The result of its effort here was as disastrous to the expectations of the "Whigs," as it was farcical to the candidates. The Gazette of May 20th tells the quaint story:
" Last Friday was held the election for this city, when Mess. William Paca and Matthias Hammond were -chosen by a very great majority of the freemen, indeed, without any opposition; much was expected, as Mr. Antlumy Stacart had long declared himself a candidate for this city, even before a vacancy by the resignation on Mr. HnH, whose friends in the county insisted upon his taking a poll there. Mr. Stewart's private character justly recommended him to the esteem of his fellow citizens; but as he was originally proposed to turn out Mr. Hall or Mr. Paca, who stood high in the esteem of the people, and as a strong suspicion was entertained of his political principles and court connexions, Mr. Hammond was put up in opposition to him, and on the morning of the election so great was the majority of voters for Mr. Hammond, that Mr. Stewart thought it prudent to decline.
" The polls being closed and Mess. Paca and Hammond declared duly elected it was proposed and universally approved of to go in solemn procession to the gallows and to bury under it the much detested proclamation. A description of the funeral obsequies may not be disagreeable to the publick.
"First were carried two flags with the following labels, on one Liberty, on the other No Proclamation. Between the flags walked the two representatives: a clerk and sexton preceded the coflSn ; on the left, the grave-digger carrying a spade on his shoulder. The Proclamation was cut out of AnKUm's first paper and deposited in the coffin, near which moved slowly on two drummers with muffled drums, and two fifers playing a dead march : after them were drawn six pieces of small cannon, followed by a great concourse of citizens and gentlemen from the country who attended this funeral. In this order they proceeded to the gallows, to which the coffin was for a time suspended, then cut down and buried under a discharge of minute guns. On the coffin was the following inscription:
The Proclamation.
The child of Folly and Oppression
born the 26th of November 1770
departed this life
14th of May 1773
and
Buried on the same dav
by
The Freemen of Annapolis.
"It is wished, that all similar attempts against the rights of a free people may meet with equal abhorrence: and that the court party convinced by experience of the impotency of their interest, may never hereafter disturb the peace of the city by their vain and feeble exertions to bear down the free and independent citizens.
- American Cicero by Bradley J. Birzer
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