Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-07-14
GRAFTON.

GRAFTON.
FRIENps AND FELLow-cITIxENs:
TRE day we now commemorate will ne
YER cease Co excite in us the most exhii-
rating reflections and mutual gratulations.
Minds of sensibility, accustomed to range
over the field of contemplation that the
birth of our empire spreads before them,
must expand on this occasion to great ideas,
and nvigorase their patriotic sentiments.
The thirtv-three years IF national exis-
tencc, which have brought US to our pre-.
sent condition, are crondci indeed with
instructive facts, and comprise an inter
| esting portion of history But they have
only prepared this Gigantic infant OF a
nation to begin its own development.
They arc only the prelude TO the greater
events that seem to unfold themselves be-
| fore us, and call for the highest wisdom to
give them their proper direction.
IL appears to have been the practice Of
the public speakers, called to give utter
ance to the feelings Of their fellow ..citiz ms
on the anniversary of this day, to dwell!
chiefly upon those memorable transactions
which pecessitsted, and those which az.
| terwards supported, the act of Inhepep-.
dence that gives name to the present festi-
val. Sach were the expressions of Britain
and our effectual resistance to those o..
pressions. Transactions so eventful are
doubtless worthy to be held in perpetual,
remembrance. And as they ought never
20 he forgotten, thay should Frequently b.
| recalled to- the notice of cur younger bre.
threu, who can lsnow them only from their
elders. But those conflicting scenes are
nov become every where matters of re-,
cord. They are detailed so copiously in
! our annals and so often by our orators, as
to render the repetition of their story at
| this moment, far less important than to
turn our attention TO other subjects grow 4.
| ing out of the interest ofour blessed country.
Our departed heroes and statesmen have
not gone without their fame. Ou< tears
have mingled with the ashes of those fall.
, len in our battles, and those who have de-
scended in peace to later tomb. Our
gratitude attends the precious few who re-
main To Us OF that list of WORTHLESS the il
lustrious relics of so many fields of danger,
and so many years of labor who led us in
all our darings, when resistance tn tyrants,
as well in the forum as in the field, was
deemed rebellion and threatened with death.
! Their whitened locks that still wave among
us are titles to our veneration they com !.
mand and they VIII obtain it, while the
! virtues they have taught US to practice
| shall continue TO warm our hearts.
But our respect for the memory and the
| persons of all our leaders will be best !.
WINGED by the pious culture we bestow on
the rich heritage they have secured and
arc handing over to our possession. The
present race is likewise passing away; but
| the nation remains and rises with its years.
! While we, the present race, are able to
call ourselves the nation, we should be
sensible of the greatness of the charge that
! has devolved upon US. We have duties
to posterity as well as to ourselves. We
must gather up our strength and encoun-
ter those duties. Yes, my friends, we are
now the nation. AS such we have arrived
at that epoch when instead of looking back
with wonder upNn our infancy, we may look
forward with soicitude to state of'adol..
escence, with confidence to stste of man .
hood. Tho az nation we are yet in the
morning of life, have already attained
an elevation which enables us to dis.
Germ our course to its meridian splendor /;
to contemplate the height we have to
climb, and the commanding station we
must gain, in order TO fulfil the destines to
which we are called, and perform the du.
ties that the cause of human Happiness re-
Iquires a. cur hands.
To prepare the United States to act the
distinguished part that Providence has as
signed them, it is necessary to convince
them that the means are within their pow
er. A familiar knowledge of the means
will teach us now to employ them in the
attainment of the end. knowledge will
lead TO wisdom and wisdom in no small
degree is requsitein the conduct of affairs
so momentous and 30 new. For orr stu
alton is in many respects not only new to
US, mt new also 10 the world.
The form of government we have cho-
sen, the geographical position we occupy a:
relative to the most turbulent powers o.
Europe, whose political maxims are widely
different from ours the vast extent of con
tineDt that is or must be comprised within
our limits, containing not less than sixteen
hundred millions of acres, and susceptible
Of population Of two hundred millions o.
human beings; our habits Of industry and
peace insead Of violence and war,--al
these are circumstances which render OUT
situation rs novel as it is important. II re-
quires new theories it has forced upon Us
new and bold, and in some cases, doubtful
experiments; it calls for deep reflection OF
the propensities Of human nature, an accu.
rate acquaintance with the history of hu.
, man actions and what is perhaps the mos
difficult to attain, wise discrimination a.
: mong the maxims of wisdom, or what are
such in other times and nations, to deter.