Mary Ella Lyng

“ And now gentlemen, the American Army needs a head. Who shall it be?
P. Henry: I think Mr. Adams has a man in view.
Hancock: Mr. Adams.
Adams: I have but one man in mind, a gentleman from Virginia, whose skill and experience as an officer, whose independent fortune, great talents and excellent universal character would command the approbation of all America and unite the Colonies better than any other person in the Union. If you speak of solid information and sound judgment, Colonel Washington is unquestionably the greatest man on the floor. ”

“ If this law goes into effect we will have men who for money will go into the North and return these people to slavery. There is a higher law even than an act of Congress. It is the Golden Rule: 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'
Member of Congress: I say, Sir, we should have our slaves returned. We need our slaves badly.
(Mr. Calhoun's speech is read) .
[Pg 32] Mr. Clay: I believe from the bottom of my soul that this measure is the re-union of the Union.
Member of Congress: Mr. Clay's country is Virginia. He does not understand that we of the South need slaves. ”

“ I ask you to surrender in the name of Virginia.
British General: I surrender. (Hands his sword to Clark) .
(French talk in corner. Father Gibault and other men come up to talk with Clark) .
Father Gibault: We beg of you, Colonel Clark, to spare our lives and the lives of our families.
Clark: Father, your lives are safe. America makes war on no church and will protect you all from insult. The King of France has made a treaty with the United States and is sending ships and soldiers to help us. All we want you to do is put up the American Flag. ”

“ Member of Congress: We would make a great mistake to fight England and France at the same time.
Webster: The British in taking our men have made it a practice to stop American merchant ships and seize the best sailors. They claim these men are British citizens and could be rightfully seized. Whenever they see a fine looking seaman, they say: "You are an Englishman, we will take you!" We must fight with the navy. If the war must be continued go to the ocean. There the united wishes and exertions of the nation will go with you. Even our party divisions end at the water's edge. ”

“ Calhoun: The Southern people using slave labor will raise more tobacco and cotton than they need so the tariff is hurtful to them. The Northern people using free labor will manufacture all kinds of things and the tariff is helpful to them. The Southern people are for agriculture. The Northern people for manufacturing. The Southern are for slavery and the Northern are for free labor. To protect the South from the North the state has the right to nullify a law of Congress. The state has the right because the state is above the nation. ”

“ Abraham Lincoln was elected President. Soon after war broke out between the North and the South. Lincoln declared that the war was not to free the slaves but to save the Union. Lincoln soon saw that it was time to free the slaves, so he signed the Proclamation of Emancipation. ”

“ Speaker and Gentlemen: I offer resolutions declaring that Virginia arm herself for the coming war.
Men of House: Why should we fight England? It is the greatest country in the world and it is our Mother Country.
Second Man of House: Why not send petitions to the King asking him to send his two armies out of Boston?
Third Man of House: We cannot fight England. Look at Drake. He checked the Spanish Armada on the sea while Raleigh checked the Spanish on the land. If we fight England it will leave us weaker than we are. ”

“ Our brothers are all ready on the field. Why stand we here idle! Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death! (Much applause) .
End of Act II.
[Pg 17] ACT III. INTRODUCTION: The next act will be the second Continental Congress where George Washington was elected Commander in Chief of the American army and where Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and others were appointed to draw up the Declaration of Independence. ”

“ Members of Congress and fellow citizens: England has been at war with France for a number of years. France under Napoleon has secured a large part of Europe. England has tried in various ways to injure France by proclaiming that no ships of any nation shall trade with France.
Napoleon retorted, issuing a decree that no ships shall trade with Europe and these laws hurt American commerce. Shall we stand this or demand our rights?
Gentlemen, I say we must fight. On to Canada!
Member of House: I think we should be very careful about going to war with Great Britain. ”

“ After Penn's father died, the King gave Penn a grant of land in payment of a debt owed to his father. Penn invited all persecuted Christians to the colony. He gave the colonists the right to choose their own rules and to make their own laws. He also gave them land for their houses and farms.
The next act will be Penn making a treaty with the Indians.
(Indians in row—Penn and people) .
Penn: (Talks to Indians) . We are the same as if one man's body were divided into two parts. ”

“ Columbus was fond of stories of the sea and liked the study of geography. He was anxious to go to sea and while a boy made his first voyage. When he grew up to be a man, he went to Lisbon the capital of Portugal. The bold deeds of Henry of Portugal drew many seamen to this city.
Lisbon was full of learned men and sailors longing to go on long voyages. These sailors had tried to find a shorter way to India but without success.
Columbus thought this could be done by going directly west. He thought the world round although most people at that time thought it flat. ”

“ He took command and with the help of Pocahontas the little Indian maiden, restored order and saved them from starvation. Pocahontas was ever afterwards called "The good angel of the Colony." The next act will be Smith talking to the settlers.
Smith: (Making speech) . Every one of us must work. He that will not work shall not eat. You shall not only gather for yourself, but for those that are sick. They shall not starve. Some of you will plant grain, others will build better houses. If this will take place we will all be happier and more contented in Virginia. ”

“ The sailors became discouraged and wanted to return to Spain. Columbus kept on and finally was rewarded. The next act will be the discovery of land.
ACT III. (Columbus talking to sailors:)
Columbus: I rejoice my friends that you have had the grace to chant the vesper hymn in so devout a spirit at a moment when there is so much reason to be grateful to God for His goodness to us. What cheering signs have encouraged us to persevere. The birds in the air, the unusual fishes in the sea and the plants seldom met far from rocks where they grow. ”

“ I think we should kill the woodchuck. If we let him go, he will be just as much trouble as ever, while if we kill him he can't eat any more cabbage and we can sell his skin for at least ten cents and small as that sum is it will help pay for some of the cabbage that he has eaten, so in either way he is of more value dead than alive. ”

“ On the day after the fall of Sumter, Grant made up his mind to return to the army. In August 1861 he became a brigadier general. From 1861 to 1863 his name was connected with most of the successful operations in the West, till Lincoln said of him, "I can't spare this man. He fights." His greatest characteristic was his indomitable grit.
The first act will be Grant sending his answer to General Buckner at the capture of Fort Donelson.
ACT I. (Grant at desk, writing and looking over maps. Men at wall looking over maps. Officer speaks to General Grant.) ”

“ We are all one flesh and one blood.
Indian Chief: We will live in love with William Penn and his children as long as the moon and the sun shall endure.
(Pipe of peace is smoked.)
End of Play.
[Pg 11] SIR FRANCIS DRAKE INTRODUCTION: Sir Francis Drake was the English "Dragon" who sailed the Spanish Main and who "singed the King of Spain's beard." He was a most daring seaman. From boyhood he had been a sailor. The first act will be Drake at the Court of Queen Elizabeth.
ACT I. Queen Elizabeth and Court
First Maid of Honor: Francis Drake has returned from his voyage around the world. ”

“ He came here with the intention of building a colony. The Spanish Governor, Alvarado, gladly gave him a great tract of land. Captain Sutter has great herds of cattle and many acres of grain.
Fremont: We then decided to cross the mountains farther to the south, where the San Joaquin River makes a gap. Here we beheld a great desert.
Man: An Indian told us that there was neither water nor grass—nothing. Every animal that goes on this desert dies. ”

“ This is where Magellan spent a winter when he made his trip around the world. One of my men will tell you what happened here.
Man: We sailed safely through the Strait but a terrible storm arose. One of our ships were lost and one sailed for England. We went from here, south and here we saw the first great treasure ship. We captured four hundred pounds of gold. ”

“ The next act will be President Jackson talking to General Scott about South Carolina.
ACT IV Jackson: South Carolina must be forced to obey the laws of the land. The tariff will be collected by force if necessary. To nullify an Act of Congress would be most dangerous to the Union. ”

“ Member of Congress: England's troops are numerous, well drilled and have had much experience. Our troops are few and poorly disciplined and unused to war. I think, all matters in dispute could be arranged without fighting. ”