A Biography of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and of Washington and Patrick Henry: With an appendix, containing the Constitution of the United States, and other documentsJudson, L. Carroll (Levi Carroll)
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A Biography of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and of Washington and Patrick Henry: With an appendix, containing the Constitution of the United States, and other documents
Judson, L. Carroll (Levi Carroll)
Henry, Patrick, 1736-1799; United States. Declaration of Independence -- Signers; Washington, George, 1732-1799
The stamp act was repealed shortly after, and Mr. Taylor was one of the
committee that prepared a congratulatory address to the king on the
happy event. So ably did he discharge his public duties that his name
was uniformly placed upon several of the standing committees of the
highest importance, assigning to him an onerous burden of legislative
service. Upon the committee of grievances, assessment of taxes, the
judiciary, loans on bills of credit, navigation, to choose a printer of
the public laws, and others of importance the name of George Taylor was
generally found and often the first. For six successive years he was
constantly a member of the assembly. In 1768, he was upon a committee
appointed by that body to prepare an address to the governor censuring
him for a remissness in duty, in not having brought to condign
punishment certain offenders who had openly and barbarously murdered
several Indians, thereby provoking retaliation. It was respectful
and manly, but keen and cutting as a damask blade. It was a lucid
exposition of political policy, sound law, and public duty.
In October, 1775, Mr. Taylor was again returned to the assembly and
added fresh laurels to his legislative fame. In addition to others
he was placed upon the committee of safety, then virtually the organ
of government. An awful crisis had arrived, the dread clarion of
war had been sounded, American blood was crying for vengeance, the
revolutionary storm had commenced, and the mountain waves of British
wrath were rolling over the colonies. Firmness, sound discretion and
bold measures were required. Mr. Taylor possessed the former and
promoted the latter. He stood forth a faithful sentinel in the cause
of freedom, not a blazing luminary, but as solid as the granite rock.
He was in favour of prudence in all things, but was not affected by
the temporizing mania that at first paralyzed the action of many
who desired liberty but dreaded penalties. He continued to exercise
a powerful and salutary influence in the assembly of Pennsylvania
until the summer of 1776, when he became a member of the Continental
Congress, and sanctioned with his signature to the declaration of
rights, the principles of liberty he had boldly advocated. Although
Mr. Taylor did not tempt the giddy height of refined rhetoric, he
knew where and when to speak, what to say and how to vote—the highest
qualifications of a legislator.
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