USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > History of Independence Hall : from the earliest period to the present time : embracing biographies of the immortal signers of the Declaration of Independence, with historical sketches of the sacred relics preserved in that sanctuary of American freedom > Part 6
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The plan of the monument was intended to repre- sent the " Thirteen States," by a shaft having thirteen sides or faces, one of which is to be appropriated to the devices which its respective State may deem proper to place upon it. This shaft or column is to be united by an entablature, upon which the Declara- tion of Independence shall be cut into the solid stone, and surmounted by a tower. The thirteen faces are to contain such inscriptions and emblazonings as each State shall direct, commemorative of some citizen or
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citizens of her own, who took part in the responsi- bility of that Declaration. Nearly all the States have taken some measures in regard to this National shrine, and have decided to assist in its erection. So that, in all probability, the work of its erection will com- mence at no distant day, and be prosecuted vigorously to completion.
THE OLD STATE HOUSE BELL.
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CHAPTER V.
THE OLD STATE HOUSE BELL.
"The old State House Bell-time-hallow'd Bell- Thy magic tones were first to tell In thunder peals, a nation FREE !"
WHOEVER has visited Independence Hall for the purpose of contemplating those relics of the past which are here preserved, and to muse on associations surrounding this holy shrine, must have felt an inde- scribable and irresistible reverence gently take pos- session of his meditations, while standing beside that greatest of all orators the world ever knew or heard- "the OLD STATE HOUSE BELL !" Its tongue is now still, and its voice is silent; its sides look dark and heavy, and a perceptible corrosion is indicated by chemical action of the atmosphere on its surface-but the peals it thundered over the land on the Fourth of July, 1776, ring with as much potency-excite as deep patriotism-awaken as strong emotions-fill the soul with as fervent love of country-inspire as holy sentiments-and thrill with as warm a glow the chil- dren of those noble patriots whose deeds gave direc- tion to its voice, as when it proclaimed " Liberty throughout the land and to all the inhabitants thereof !" Its vibrations still reverberate through the room in . which it is placed-the air is yet tremulous with its echoes : although the hand that rung it on that memo-
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rable occasion is stiff in the icy embrace of death- the gray-headed patriot who anxiously awaited with trembling hope in the belfry the signing of that Declaration, whose ejaculations-" They'll never do it! They'll never do it !" whose eyes dilated, whose form ex- panded, and whose grasp grew firmer when the voice of the blue-eyed youth reached his ears in shouts of triumph-" Ring ! RING! they have signed, and our country is free !" has been long since gathered to his fathers-the events of that day will commemorate his honor to all coming time. No patriot can look upon this bell without recalling the circumstances connected with its first proclamation to the world, that the United Colonies were " free and independent States." No patriot can fail to recall to his memory the effect which that announcement produced on the anxious multitude below. To some, it gave the first thrill of enthusiastic resistance to despotic power-to some it was a harbinger of joy-to others it imparted strength in the hour of gloom-to others again, it was a mes- senger of evil, causing them to sneak away, muttering as they did so-" Well, we are in a pretty mess of trouble now !" But the same patriot, passing over the history of five years, will also remember in connection with these facts, that on the 23d of October, 1781, in the boding hour of night, a very different proclamation was heard in the same vicinity :- " Past twelve o'clock, and Cornwallis is taken!" Then might be seen mothers, and daughters, and sisters, and brothers, hastening to the windows, in dreamy abstractions of delight, joy- fully exclaiming, " Who is taken ?" while the watch- man plodded on his way, shouting continually, "Why, Cornwallis! he was taken by Washington and La-
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fayette, at Yorktown, Va .! Past 12 o'clock, and Cornwallis is taken !" The bells rung out the glad tidings; the city was illuminated, and jubilant shouts gave evidence of unbounded joy. The "pretty mess of trouble" which the sound of the " Old State House Bell" had plunged the people into, had been success- fully overcome, the barque had safely weathered the storm, the invincibility of despotism was broken, the Colonies were free. The remainder of that night the eyes of the people were sleepless ; friend congratulated friend, and united prayers of gratefulness ascended to the throne of the God of battles. Who would not, then, have been on the side of liberty ? Who did not then feel that the cause of those struggling patriots was good? There were none to say, "We are in a pretty mess of trouble now." No! the sword of the tyrant was broken, and freedom stood a towering prodigy before the eyes of an astonished world! His- tory has, however, preserved less of the incidents con- nected with this bell than the citizens of the country desire-the only importance attached to it having been created in consequence of the purposes to which it was applied during the revolutionary struggles of our ancestors, and the prophetic inscription it con- tained.
"The motto of our father band, Circled the world in its embrace- 'Twas 'liberty throughout the land, And good to all their brother race !' Long here, within, the pilgrim's bell Had linger'd-though it often pealed-
Those treasured tones. that erst should tell When freedom's proudest scroll was sealed !
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Here, the dawn of reason broke Upon the trampled rights of man ; And here a moral era woke- The brightest since the world began ! And still shall deep and loud acclaim Here tremble on its sacred chime-
While e'er the thrilling trump of Fame Shall linger on the pulse of Time !"
After the completion of the State House in 1734. measures were set on foot to secure means and funds sufficient to place in the dome a bell appropriate for the building. As they had already supplied a great public necessity, by placing a clock in the west end- not in the steeple, as Harper's Magazine represents it- many influential citizens opposed the measure, on the ground of extravagance, arguing that the "great cost of the State House had imposed a heavy tax upon the citizens, and further expenditure was useless." The better judgment of the people, however, after several years, prevailed, and it was decided to have a bell. But another great and discouraging difficulty met the speedy accomplishment of their purposes. There had been but little molding and casting effected in the Colonies, in consequence of the home govern- ment monopolizing almost exclusively every depart- ment of manufacturing, thereby subjecting their sub- jects in the New World to depend upon the mills, looms, and furnaces of England for a supply of such articles as Parliament might think proper for them to have. It became necessary, therefore, to submit to the inconvenience, trouble, and delay, of sending to London for a bell. This was done. The size, pecu- liar shape, weight,* motto, and thickness, were accu-
# The weight of the bell was 2030 pounds.
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rately mentioned, as directions for casting it, and the order was sent in the latter part of the year 1750. About a year would elapse before they could reason- ably expect the bell to reach this country. It came at last, in 1752, and before it was landed from the ship, hundreds of citizens repaired to the vessel to ex- amine it, and congratulate the city on its safe arrival.
The tone was clear, distinct and forcible, well cal- culated to inspire feelings of pride in those enterprising citizens, who had been chiefly instrumental in pro- curing it. But their high anticipations were doomed to meet a sad disappointment. A day or two after its arrival, while removing it from the vessel to the place for which it was intended, it met with an accident, by which its tones were rendered discordant, the beauty of its appearance mutilated, and its uses almost de- stroyed. In fact, the bell had to be recast, and it was decided that an experiment should be made in the city. Accordingly the task was assigned to Messrs. Pass & Stow, who were to perform the operation, un- der the superintendence of Isaac Norris, Esq., Speaker of the Colonial Assembly. To that gentleman is as- cribed the honor of having originally suggested the motto, " Proclaim Liberty throughout the land, and to all the inhabitants thereof," which the bell contains, and which proved so prophetic of its future use. In regard to the new bell cast by Messrs. " Pass & Stow." Mr. Norris remarked that-" they have made a good bell, which pleases me much that we should first ven- ture upon and succeed in the greatest bell, for aught I know, in English America-surpassing, too, the im- ported one, which was too high and brittle." No doubt such were the facts, especially in reference to S
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the last part of Mr. Norris's remarks, and in that re- spect, also, the bell was significantly emblematical. Efforts were made to restore the bell to its original sound by boring holes into it, but the attempt proved unavailing.
Such is the brief history of the origin of the "Old State House Bell;" and it is to be regretted that no „ more definite reminiscences connected with it have been preserved. During the struggle for that Inde- pendence and Freedom which was proclaimed by this bell, while the British threatened to take and occupy Philadelphia, this bell, together with that belonging to Christ Church, was taken down, and conveyed to the river, near Trenton, where they were buried in the water, in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of their enemies. In this condition they remained from 1777 to the close of the American Revolution, when they were brought back to the city, and placed in their former situations. The bell was always an object of great admiration, and attracted thousands from every part of the Union to see it. But little attention, however, was manifested by the authorities of the city, into whose hands has since been assigned the preservation of this holy place, in keeping the relics in good order, until 1854, when that body ordered the Hall of Independence to be fitted up in a style commensurate with the impressive character and associations connected with it. This bell was, therefore, placed .upon a pedestal having thirteen sides, representing the number of States that confederated for the accomplishment of Freedom, with the American Flag gracefully folded above and around it. A spread Eagle sits upon the bell, holding in its
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beak the E Pluribus Unum of the land, and in its talons the emblems of our greatness and invincibility ; while its piercing eye penetrates the surrounding era in patriotic watchfulness of our country's interests. Who can gaze upon that proud bird, and not feel that he is our country's symbolic guardian ?
"An emblem of Freedom, stern, haughty, and high, Is the gray forest eagle, that king of the sky ! It scorns the bright scenes-the gay places of earth- By the mountain and torrent it springs into birth ; There rocked by the whirlwind, baptized in the foam, It is guarded and cherish'd, and there is its home ! When its shadow steals black o'er the empires of kings, Deep terror, deep heart-stricken terror, it brings : Where wicked Oppression is armed for the weak, There rustles its pinion, there echoes its shriek : Its eye flames with vengeance, it sweeps on its way, And its talons are bathed in the blood of its prey ! Oh, that Eagle of Freedom, when cloud upon cloud, Swathed the sky of my own Native Land with a shroud, When lightning's gleam'd fiercely, and thunder-bolts rung, How proud to the tempest those pinions were flung ! Though the wild blast of battle swept fierce through the air With darkness and dread, still the eagle was there ; Unquailing, still speeding, his swift flight was on, Till the rainbow of peace crowned the victory won. Oh, that Eagle of Freedom ! age dims not his eye, He has seen earth's mortality, spring, bloom and die ! He has seen the strong nations, rise, flourish and fall, He mocks at Time's changes-he triumphs o'er all : He has seen our own land with wild forests o'erspread, He sees it with sunshine and joys on its head, And his presence will bless this, his own chosen clime, Till the archangel's fiat is set upon time."
As a relic of the past, the " Old State House Bell" must ever remain a hallowed memento. He whose heart thrills with emotions of patriotism must forever
-to you
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regard it as the first messenger that declared the emancipation of the Colonies from oppression, and that every successful blow struck in the cause of Freedom, was inspired by the sound of that Old Bell. May the time never come when American freemen shall forget to venerate it, and shield it with their life-blood, if needs be, from destruction and dishonor.
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INTERIOR OF INDEPENDENCE HALL.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S OFFICE DESK.
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CHAPTER VI.
WASHINGTON'S STATUE.
"Bonum virum, facile dixeris, Magnum libenter."
CALMLY, as if gazing upon the pictures which sur- round the walls of Independence Hall, or watching the varied emotions of those who come to pay tributes of respect to this consecrated shrine, stands the statue of GEORGE WASHINGTON. The sweet serenity resting upon his face, interpolated here and there with lines of intense thought ; the mild depths of his dreamy eyes, in their immovable sockets; the tranquil smile play- ing about his mouth, and the impress of reverence everywhere discoverable on his countenance, speak in irresistible language the character of the man. Bold, and yet affable ; stern, yet tempered with hu- manity ; meek, but sensitive to patriotic influences ; frank and unconcealing, yet indicating a decision of purpose, there stands the "Father of his Country," pictured in sculptured immortality, every lineament of his noble nature glowing with patriotism, and throwing a halo of glory over his form. In his pres- ence, before this piece of inanimate sculpture, lives over again the entire history of the country ; our feel- ings become intensified, for heroes of the past century seem to be looking down upon us. More sublime in 8*
رابع الفر باسادة 1
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moral grandeur _than the Colossus of Rhodes; more chaste and awe-inspiring than the Belvidere Apollo, the figure of Washington is encircled with the radi- ance illuminating the history of his own greatness. Independence Hall would never have been complete without this statue. Its associations would not have been half so inspiring, nor the interest attached to it half so great, had not the likeness or statue of its founder been placed among its holy archives. In more than one respect, Washington was a singular man; and perhaps this is the most appropriate place, in the scope of our work, to sketch a brief biography of him. It is no easy task to measure the influences of Wash- ington's life upon the people of this country-it was great in his own day, and is greater now. Whether as Chief Magistrate of the Nation, as Commander-in- Chief of the Army, or in the various councils to which he was constantly called, we find him ever the same true, efficient, noble, and great man! He filled his
post, whatever it was. Possessed of remarkable natural abilities, of rare insight into the characters of men, grasping the genius and philosophy of life, its events and purposes, his judgment never failed to be that of wisdom. He was wise, energetic, and thorough. As the first President of the Nation, he was the best. In fact, to whom, all things considered, shall we look for an equal in his successors, good and great men as some of them have been ? He was the people's magis- trate-no partisan, but an American President of the American people. All the views of Washington were carefully weighed and considered before he gave utter ance to them; and therefore, in this particular in stance, he was a model for all statesmen, warriors, and
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patriots. Typical of all that is great and good in man, he stands forth in his own sublime majesty-the pride of an admiring nation. Few men there are of any kind, and still fewer of those whom the world calls great, who have not some of their virtues eclipsed by corresponding vices. But in the particular in- stance of General Washington, this was not the case. In all his public acts he made the most reverential allusions to Providence, and in his private character he exhibited religious humility in an eminent degree. His equanimity was unparalleled. One even tenor marked the greatness of his mind, in all the varied scenes through which he passed-in the most trying situations he never despaired, nor was he ever de- pressed. He was the same when retreating through New Jersey before a victorious enemy, with the re- mains of his broken army, as when marching in tri- umph into Yorktown over its demolished fortifica- tions. In his character we have a man as nearly per- fect as finite beings can become in this world of change and dissolution, and the whole range of history does not present an individual on whose career through life we can dwell with such unmixed admiration. So happily blended were his qualities, and so finely were they harmonized, that the result gave to the world a man, who,
Take him for all in all, We ne'er shall look upon his like again."
In every acceptation of the term, George Washing- ton was a patriot, a hero, and a man. And while we stand before this inarticulate representative of one who is worthy to be designated the "Father of his
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Country," feelings of profound reverence irresistibly come over us. In imagination we can recall every in- cident connected with his eventful life; because it is the privilege of great men-those men who shape the des- tinies of the world, and leave a name conspicuous for praise or execration-to place their impress upon all things they may touch. The places where such men have triumphed, suffered, or even for a time resided, are imbued with an interest which no lapse of time can obliterate. Who could stand in the long gallery of the old palace of Blois, where the great Duke of Guise was set upon and assassinated by the guards of Henry III., and not represent to himself that fierce tragedy which was there enacted so long ago? Who could fail to see with the mind's eye,almost as vividly as with the veritable retina, the great captive wrestling with his murderers-the contortions of his powerful frame, as he felt himself mastered and overcome-the heavy fall as the poniards pierced his breast-and the noble face, pale and dabbled with blood, upon which the false Henry gazed even then with scarcely sub- dued terror? The blood is still there, we are told, as the blood of Rizzio still stains the floor of Mary's room, in Holyrood-and that blood rouses for the be- holder, from their long sleep, all the fierce passions of the actors in the terrible scenes which were there played by those real-life tragedians. But an interest as great attaches to the places where men who have ruled the world as captains, statesmen, or writers re- sided. We trace, or seem to trace those influences in their early surroundings, in the books they read, the men with whom they were accustomed to associate; in the very landscapes upon which they were wont to
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gaze; and even if only a small portion of their lives was passed in a place, if they were temporary visitors there, still the all-embracing imagination takes delight in restoring the great figure to the landscape, and in framing, in the bright, golden past, the noble linea- ments of his face. Sentiments not dissimilar in cha- racter inspire us on visiting every place where Wash- ington has been. But nowhere do they so thrill and affect the senses as in this sanctuary, dedicated as it is to the relics and inspirations of the past. Here we remember was played the first act of that grand and wonderful drama which attracted to itself the eyes of the whole world-and here we can gaze upon the heroes who represented the personale of that eventful period. We can here almost see the boy of sixteen, with his open, noble face, his curling hair, his long waistcoat, hanging cuffs, cocked hat, and ruffles, mounted on his good riding steed, and fording the Shenandoah, as he did in his youthful days, when on hunting or surveying expeditions. By a single effort of the imagination, all the incidents connected with him are called into activity ; and from the time of his expedition to the West and Braddock's defeat, history begins to busy itself with WASHINGTON. But history has never told half of the incidents of his life. Here, in this Hall, we see the image of that great man-a most venerable and eloquent relic of the past ! What American standing before it, and tracing with a glance the boundaries of Washington's active labors, but feels in his heart the tumultuous surge of thought sweeping from the heroic past to the prosaic present, and washing away all images and objects, except that single lordly form! I have stood here at evening,
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when the red sun-set of the west cast its faint and thoughtful rays on the trees in Independence Square, and have felt as though the spirit of the past touched me with its magic wand, and caused to rise up and defile in a long, glittering line, before me, all the stal- wart figures which illustrated and made glorious those old heroic times, so filled with grandeur, self-denial, and self-sacrificing, patriotic devotion. And among that glittering throng I have seen one figure rise pre- eminent above its companions, first in war, as first in peace-equal to every emergency ! What a vast genius ! What a splendid, unparalleled career! The mind is lost in wonder when contemplating that man and his great life, so brimful of vicissitudes and triumphs !
It may, perhaps, be venturing too much to say that the American Colonies would have failed to achieve their independence under other leaders than those which Providence fitted and prepared for the occa- sion ; but we firmly believe that GEORGE WASHING- TON was the only man who could have conducted the Revolution to as grand and glorious an issue in so short a period, and with so inconsiderable a loss, when the virulence of the contest is taken into con- sideration. On this point in the character of Wash- ington, some one, unknown to me, has truthfully re- marked: "To a thinking mind, the Providence of God here lies everywhere potent and manifest to the most careless eye. Early wanderings in the rugged wilds of the Alleghenies-the crossing deep rivers on rafts-the exposure to heat and cold, wind and rain- was not the hardness thus acquired of signal advan- tage to the chief when in that glorious retreat through
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New Jersey, the elements seemed to fight against him and his poor barefooted soldiers! That long agony at Winchester, with the whole frontier calling to him for assistance-assistance against the dreadful foe who murdered all they met, men, women and children- was not that anguish, that awful responsibility, sent by Providence to harden the commander who was to guide the destiny of America-to assume, as the heart and brain of the Revolution, the weight of our almost desperate fortunes ? It was Providence which shaped that lordly character, perfected that vast strength for a definite end; which gave to the man George Wash- ington the indomitable soul, the sleepless energy, which were indispensable in the leader of the Ameri- can Revolution. What other man in all that eminent throng, but would have 'despaired of the Republic.' He never despaired; but went straight on like destiny -a marvel to his friends and associates, a terror to his foes-and with stern, impassive calmness bore all, complained of nothing, and finally saw dawn and rise in meridian brightness that glorious triumph, which his splendid genius shaped and made so perfect." Such was the career of that great man, before whose statue in Independence Hall-placed there by Mr. Rush-the sensitive mind loves to ponder. And was he not, in truth, a great genius ? was not his a won- derful, gigantic life-a career hitherto unheard of, and never since equaled ?- a pattern of self-sacrificing patriotism and personal dignity worthy of emulation by all? Young, patriotic Americans, go imitate his example, and our country can never be endangered.
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CHAPTER VII.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
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. "Lives of all great men remind us We can make our lives sublime, And departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time ; Footsteps that perhaps another, Sailing o'er life's solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brotehr, Seeing, shall take heart again."-Longfellow.
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