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Paca, WILLIAM, a signer of the Declaration of Independence; born in Wye Hall, Harford co., Md., Oct. 31, 1740; studied law in London; and began its practice in Annapolis, where he became a warm opponent to the obnoxious measures of Parliament. He was a member of the committee of correspondence in 1774, and was a delegate in Congress from 1774 to 1779. He was State Senator from 1777 to 1779; chief-justice from 1778 to 1780, and governor from 1782 to 1786. From 1789 until his death he was United States district judge. From his private wealth he gave liberally to the support of the patriot cause. He died in Wye Hall, in 1799.

Pacific Exploring Expedition. The acquisition of California opened the way for an immense commercial interest on the Pacific coast of the United States, and in the spring of 1853 Congress sent four armed vessels, under the command of Captain Ringgold, of the navy, to the eastern shores of Asia, by way of Cape Horn, to explore the regions of the Pacific Ocean, which, it was evident, would soon be traversed by American steamships plying between the ports of the western frontier of the United States and Japan and China. The squadron left Norfolk May 31, with a supply-ship. The expedition returned in the summer of 1856. It made many very important explorations, among them of the whaling and sealing grounds in the region of the coast of Kamtchatka and Bering Strait.

Pacific Ocean. See CABEZA DE VACA; NUÑEZ DE; MAGELLAN, FERDINANDO.

Pacific Railway. The greatest of American railroad enterprises undertaken up to that time was the construction of a railway over the great plains and lofty mountain ranges between the Missouri River and the Pacific Ocean. As early as 1846 such a work was publicly advocated by Asa Whitney. In 1849, after the dis

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covery of gold in California promised a rapid accumulation of wealth and population on the Pacific coast, Senator Thomas H. Benton introduced a bill into Congress providing for preliminary steps in such an undertaking. In 1853 Congress passed an act providing for surveys of various routes by the corps of topographical engineers. By midsummer, 1853, four expeditions for this purpose were organized to explore as many different routes. One, under Major Stevens, was instructed to explore a northern route, from the upper Mississippi to Puget's Sound, on the Pacific coast. A second expedition, under the direction of Lieutenant Whipple, was directed to cross the continent from a line adjacent to the 36th parallel of N. lat. It was to proceed from the Mississippi, through Walker's Pass of the Rocky Mountains, and strike the Pacific near San Pedro, Los Angeles, or San Diego. A third, under Captain Gunnison, was to proceed through the Rocky Mountains near the head-waters of the Rio del Norte, by way of the Hueferno River and the Great Salt Lake in Utah. The fourth was to leave the southern Mississippi, and reach the Pacific somewhere in Lower California-perhaps San Diego. These surveys cost about $1,000,000. Nothing further, however, was done, owing to political dissensions between the North and the South, until 1862 and 1864, when Congress, in the midst of the immense strain upon the resources of the government in carrying on the war, passed acts granting subsidies for the work, in the form of 6 per cent. gold bonds, at the rate of $16,000 a mile from the Missouri River to the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains, $48,000 a mile for 300 miles through those mountains, $32.000 a mile between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, and $16,000 a mile from the western slope of the latter range to the sea. In addi

tion to these subsidies, Congress granted tance being about 3,400 miles. Another about 25,000,000 acres of land along the railroad subsidized by the government, line of the road. Some modifications were and called the "Northern Pacific Railafterwards made in these grants. Work road," to extend from Lake Superior to was begun on the railway in 1863, by Puget's Sound, on the Pacific, was begun two companies-the "Central Pacific," in 1870. proceeding from California and working "Pacificus" and "Helvidius." Washeastward, and the "Union Pacific," work- ington's proclamation of neutrality was ing westward. The road was completed violently assailed by the Democratic press in 1869, when a continuous line of rail- throughout the country, and the adminisroad communication between the Atlantic tration found determined opposition grow

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and Pacific oceans was perfected. The ing more and more powerful. The Presi entire length of the road, exclusive of its branches, is about 2,000 miles. It crosses nine distinct mountain-ranges, the highest elevation on the route being 7,123 feet, at Rattlesnake Pass, west of the Laramie Ilains. The route from New York to San Francisco, by way of Chicago and Omaha, is travelled in six or seven days, the dis

dent received coarse abuse from the op-
posing politicians. Under these circum-
stances, Hamilton took the field in defence
of the proclamation, in a series of articles
over the signature of "Pacificus."
these he maintained the President's right,
by its issue, to decide upon the position
in which the nation stood. He also de-

In

PADUCAH-PAINE

fended the policy of the measure. To music in Germany; appointed Professor

of Music at Harvard in 1872. He is the author of the music which was sung at the opening of the World's Fair of 1876, and also of the march and hymn for the World's Fair of 1893, etc.

these articles a reply appeared, July 8, 1793, over the signature of "Helvidius," which was written by Madison, at the special request of Jefferson. The latter, in a letter urging Madison to answer Hamilton, felt compelled to say that Genet (see Paine, ROBERT TREAT, a signer of the GENEST, EDMOND CHARLES) was a hot- Declaration of Independence; born in Bosheaded, passionate man, without judgment, ton, March 11, 1731; graduated at Harand likely, by his indecency, to excite pub- vard University in 1749; taught school lic indignation and give the Secretary of to help support his parents, and also made State great trouble. Indeed, Jefferson a voyage to Europe. He studied theology, afterwards offered his resignation, but and in 1758 was chaplain of provincial Washington persuaded him to withdraw it. troops. Then he studied law, and pracPaducah. General Forrest, the Con- tised it in Taunton successfully for many federate cavalry leader captured Jackson, years. He was the prosecuting attorney Tenn., and, moving northward, appeared in the case of Captain Preston and his before Paducah, held by Colonel Hicks, men after the Boston massacre. A delewith 700 men. His demand for a surrender gate to the Provincial Congress in 1774, was accompanied with the threat, "If he was sent to the Continental Congress you surrender you shall be treated as the same year, where he served until 1778. prisoners of war, but if I have to storm On the organization of the State of Massayour works you may expect no quarter." chusetts, he was made attorney-general, he He made three assaults, and then retired having been one of the committee who after losing over 300 men, and moved on drafted the constitution of that commonto Fort Pillow. wealth. Mr. Paine settled in Boston in 1780, and was judge of the Massachusetts Supreme Court from 1790 to 1804. He died in Boston, May 11, 1814.

Page, THOMAS JEFFERSON, naval officer: born in Virginia in 1808. In 1815 he was in command of the Water Witch, which was sent by the United States to explore the La Plata River, and in 1858 he was authorized to continue his explorations. His report, which was published in New York, was the first definite source of information of the La Plata River and its tributaries. During the Civil War he served in the Confederate navy. He died in Rome, Italy, Oct. 26, 1899.

Page, THOMAS NELSON, author; born in Hanover county, Va., April 23, 1853; graduated at the University of Virginia; is the author of In Old Virginia; The Old South Essays, Social and Historical: Before the War; Red Rock: A Chronicle of Reconstruction, etc.

Paine, ROBERT TREAT, JR., poet, son of the signer; born in Taunton, Mass., Dec. 9, 1773; graduated at Harvard University in 1792; was originally named Thomas, but in view of the character of Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense, he had it changed by the legislature, he desiring, as He he said, to bear a "Christian" name. became a journalist and a poet, and was the author of the popular ode entitled Adams and Liberty. He became a lawyer in 1802, and retired from the profession in 1809. His last important poem-The Steeds of Apollo-was written in his father's house in Boston. He died in Boston, Nov. 13, 1811.

Paige, LUCIUS ROBINSON, author; born Adams and Liberty.-In the spring in Hardwick, Mass., March 8, 1802; re- and early summer of 1798 a war-spirit of ceived an academic education: became a great intensity excited the American peoUniversalist minister in 1823; retired ple. The conduct of France towards the from pastoral work in 1839. His publications include Universalism Defended; History of Cambridge, Mass., 1630-1877; History of Hardwick, Mass., etc. He died in Cambridge, Mass., Sept. 2, 1896.

Paine, JOHN KNOWLES, musician; born in Portland, Me., Jan. 9, 1839; studied

In

United States and its ministers had caused
the American government to make prep-
arations for war upon the French.
June Paine was engaged to write a
patriotic song to be sung at the anniver-
sary of the Massachusetts Charitable Fire
one
He composed
Society.
which he

entitled Adams and Liberty. It was adapted to the spirit of the time, and had a wonderful effect upon the people. It was really a war-song, in nine stanzas. The following verses expressed the temper of the people then:

"While France her huge limbs bathes recumbent in blood,

And Society's base threats with wide dissolution,

May Peace, like the dove, who returned from the flood,

Find an ark of abode in our mild Constitution.

But though Peace is our aim,

Yet the boon we disclaim,

If bought by our Sov'reignty, Justice, or Fame.

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can have none of my port, Mr. Paine, until you have written another stanza with Washington's name in it." Paine walked back and forth a few minutes, called for a pen, and wrote the fifth verse in the poem as follows:

Should the tempest of war overshadow our land,

Its bolts could ne'er rend Freedom's temple asunder;

For, unmoved, at its portal, would Washington stand,

And repulse with his breast the assaults of the thunder!

His sword from the sleep

Of its scabbard would leap,

And conduct with its point ev'ry flash to the deep!

For ne'er shall the sons of Columbia be slaves

While the earth bears a plant or the sea rolls its waves."

This song became immensely popular, and was sung all over the country-in theatres and other public places, in drawing-rooms and work-shops, and by the boys in the streets.

Paine, THOMAS, patriot; born in Thetford, England, Jan. 29, 1737. His father was a Quaker, from whom he learned the business of stay-making. He went on a privateering cruise in 1755, and after

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PAINE, THOMAS

Meeting Dr. Franklin, the latter advised Greene. In December, 1776, he published

him to go to America. He arrived in the first number of his Crisis, and conPhiladelphia in December, 1774, and was tinued it at intervals during the war. employed as editor of the Pennsylvania In 1777 he was elected secretary to the Magazine. In that paper he published, committee on foreign affairs. SILAS October, 1775, Serious Thoughts, in which DEANE (q. v.), who acted as mercantile as he declared his hope of the abolition of well as diplomatic agent of the Contislavery. At the suggestion of Dr. Benja- nental Congress during the earlier portion min Rush, of Philadelphia, it is said, he of the war, incurred the enmity of Arthur put forward a powerfully written pam- Lee and his brothers, and was so misrepphlet, at the beginning of 1776, in favor resented by them that Congress recalled of the independence of the colonies. It him from France. It had been insinuated opened with the often-quoted words, by Carmichael that Deane had appropri "These are the times that try men's ated the public money to his private use. souls." Its terse, sharp, incisive, and vigorous sentences stirred the people with irrepressible aspirations for independence. A single extract will indicate its character: "The nearer any government approaches to a republic, the less business there is for a king; in England a king hath little more to do than to make war and give away places. Arms must decide the contest [between Great Britain and America]; the appeal was the choice of the King, and the continent hath escaped the challenge. The sun never shone on a cause of greater worth. 'Tis not the affair of a city, a county, a province, or a kingdom, but of a continent-of at least oneeighth part of the habitable globe. 'Tis not the concern of a day, a year, or an age; posterity are virtually involved in it even to the end of time. . . . Freedom hath been hunted round the globe: Asia and Africa hath long expelled her; Europe regards her like a stranger; and England hath given her warning to depart. Oh, receive the fugitive, and prepare an asylum for mankind." The effect of Common Sense was marvellous. Its trumpet tones awakened the continent, and made every patriot's heart beat with intense emotion. It was read with avidity everywhere; and the public appetite for its solid food was not appeased until 100,000 copies had fallen from the press. The legislature of Pennsylvania voted to the author $2,500. Washington, in a letter written at Cambridge, highly applauded it, and all over the colonies there were immediate movements in favor of absolute independence.

Two violent parties arose, in and out of Congress, concerning the doings of the agents of Congress abroad. Robert Morris, and others acquainted with financial matters, took the side of Deane. The powerful party against him was led by Richard Henry Lee, brother of Arthur, and chairman of the committee on foreign affairs. Deane published (1779) An Address to the People of the United States, in which he commented severely on the conduct of the Lees, and justly claimed credit for himself in obtaining supplies from France through Beaumarchais. Paine, availing himself of documents in his custody, published a reply to Deane's address, in which he asserted that the supplies nominally furnished through a mercantile house came really from the French government. This avowal, which the French and Congress both wished to conceal, drew from the French minister, Gérard, a warm protest, as it proved duplicity on the part of the French Court; and, to appease the minister, Congress, by resolution, expressly denied that any present of supplies had been received from France previous to the treaty of alliance. Paine was dismissed from office for his impru dence in revealing the secrets of diplomacy.

Late in November, 1779, he was made clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly; and in that capacity read a letter to that body from General Washington, intimating that a mutiny in the army was imminent because of the distresses of the soldiers. The Assembly was disheartened. Paine wrote a letter to Blair McClenaghan, a PhilaFor a short time after the Declaration delphia merchant, stating the case, and of Independence Paine was in the military enclosing $500 as his contribution to a service, and was aide-de-camp to General relief fund. A meeting of citizens was

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