The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-07-07
GRAFTON Apostle TO THE DAY, BY
MR.. RADFORD

MR.. RADFoRD.
FELLow-CITIZENs,
The aiirmblags of this numerous and
enlightened audience, ths novelty and grandeur
of the fcene prefented to my mind, confci-
outnefs of my incompsteDcy to render jufticc
to the fnhje6t before me, combine to imprefs
me with the mott awful feelings. But that en-
thuGafm of fentimtnt, which infoires you on
this location, the throb of pa,riotifrn, which
beats reiponive in each fympa,hetc bottom,
will caufe You. | truh, to forget a youthful
prefumption. DO not afpire TO the hope of
kndling in your breaGs new emotions, or of
enlivening you with a dfplay of eioquence IF
can aiIit in reviving fcnfations which have ne
yer failed to animate you on this day, my high
eft expectations will be anfwered.
What fpe6tacle 70 interefting and fublime,
can be exhibited to the human mind, as the re-
voiution of an empire The iiTue is indeed
momentons. Should the enemies of the human
race, by thofe inidious arts, which tyrants ne.
yer fail to praefife, lull the people into blind
confidence; or inltsated by bolde ambition,
darDgly teiZe on the reins of government, then
caiamities of every deiCription are the refult
The liberty, the lives and The property of the
iubJrcts, are expoied to the rapac,ty of their
rulers: every punihment that the human mind
can invent, every cruelty that malignity can
fuggeft, are made fubiervent TO vindiefve paf-
ions. ii inc cauie Of freedom prevail, tyrants
are hurled from the " bad-eminence" to which
they have been RATED :ts people :ic;, 5cfiiiIie
thofe rights which were given them by natures
God, and eHabiifh that form of government,
which they think mon conducive to their fecu-
rty and happinefs. Thefe are the efft6s of
fuch victory and fuch confrquencGs reflett i'm
portance on onr !ubject. The American Re-
volution itdnds confpicuous in the annals of the
world. 1t has evenuated in the emancipation
of great people from the orprellion of TO-
reign power, and in the erection of republic
can government on the ruins of corrupt mo-
narchy. To celebrate the achievements of our
aucettors in this fevsre coui Ct 10 manjfet to
the world our admiration of their virtues end
heroiim TO catch fpAik of that iacred fire
which animated them =; and to Offer up molly o.
rifons to the author of nature, .or our happy
deliverencc from tyranny, we are tbs day con
vened. On this ocCACon at Leaf, iet IN univer-
lal fentimcrt Of gratitude be fe! let us diff
card from our migds every idea, thar may in
tcuupt the harmony OF our devotion to the
caule of Freedom let phiIanthropc feelings
pervade orr breaits, on the day conGecrated to
the celebration OF her triumpbs and let us re-
trace, with undiminiihed pleali;re, the various
fcenes of difficulty and danger through which
cur parents pailed, in their approach to her
temple.
JliOI 10 luc tUOIlS VI lne americans TOR tree
dom, the inhabited world preiented to the re-
publican melancholy PROTECT. Mankind had
long groaned under The ,Doft uDfupportable ia.
very. IN vain did the various nations of the
earth Gee aiinnaIly diicover their agonies, BY
murmurs and complaints in vain did theylen.
deavourto rife in arms a,,aiut their cruel on.
preliors; each attempt onIy tended TO produce
more violent convulions, aud terminated in
renetting more cloiely the chains of d, fpoiifm.
Expelled from the enlayed itates of Eurcpe.
the genius Of Liberty at length found = fpol
where corruption had not taken entire fway.
Alfred, rather than injured, by the negled OF
their parent rate, the Briiiih colonies in A.
meriCa had lien 10 comfortable importance.
and toOn begaDto attract her attention. Com
mercial reiiretlons were laid upon them and
endeavours were made 20 retard their advance
to wealth and power. In fpite of thefc they
progrefed rapidly. The rays of fceRce iNu.
mined The mjnds Of their citizens, and figns Of
incrCafing fondneis for freedom end nppofiiiou
to tyranncal laws, weie foon discovered. The
intereit of Great-Brtan prompted her 10 fno.
Their the flame that was kindiirC. The def
IruaiVe iyasm fhe had purified; the rvinoas