The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-07-14
DOMESTIC.
The following is the OR.f7TONfron
ed by JOEL BARLOW, ON the 4th Juiy.
o r ATION.

K
The day we now commemmo-
rate will never cease to excite i'm US the most
leXniltrating reflections and mutual gratula-
tions. Minds oE 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 invigorate their patriotic sentiments.
lhe thirty three years of national exist
ence, which have brought us to our present
condition. are crowned indeed with instruct
i've facts, and comprise an interesting portion
OF history. But they have only prepared this
gigantic infant of natien to begin its deve-
loPement. They are only the prelude to the
greater events that seem to unfold themselves
befors us, and call for the highest wisdom to
give them their proper direction.
1t appears to have been the practice of the
public speakers, called to give utterance TO
the feelings OF their fellow citizens on the
anniversary OF this day, to dwell chiefly up
on those memorable transactions which ne
cessitated, and those which afterwards SUP,
ported the act of Independence, that gives
name to the present festival Such were the
expressions OF Britain and our effectual re-
slstance TO those expressions. Transactions
so eVentful are doubtless worthy to be held
in perpetual remembrance. And as they
ought never to be forgotten, they should fire.
quently be recalled to the notice of our youn-
ger brethren, who can know them only from
their elders. But those conflicting scenes are
now become every where matters of record:
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
ether subjects growing out of the interests of
our blessed country.
Our departed heroes and statesmen have
not gone without their fame Our tears have
mingled with the ashes of those fallen i'm our
battles, and those who have descended in
peace to a later tomb. Our gratitude at
tends the precious few who remain to lis of
that list OF worthless; the illustrious relics of
SO many fields of danger. and so many years
OF labor; who led us in all our darings, when
resistance to tyrants, as well i'm the forum as
IN the field, was deemed rebellion and threa-
tened with death. Their whitened locks,
that still wave among us, are titles to our
veneration they command and they will OBJ
tam 1t, 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 evinced
by the pious culture we bestow on the rich
heritage, they have secured and are handing
over to our possession. The present race is
likewise passing away; but the nation re-
mains 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 tIevolved
upon us. We have duties TO posterity as well
as to ourselves. We must gather IN our
strength and encounter 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 upon our infau-
cy, we may look forward with solicitude to
a state OF adolescence, with confidence to a
state of manhood. Though as nation we
are yet III the morniBg of life, we have alrea-
dy attained an elevation which enables us to
discern our course to its meridian splendor
to contemplate the height we have to climb,
and the commanding station we must gain.
III order to fulfil the destinies to which we
are called, and perform the duties that the
cause OF human happiness requires at our
hands.
To prepare the United States to act the
distinguished part that Providence has as
signed them, it is necessary to convince them
mat the means are within their power. A
familiar knowledge OF the means will teach
us how to employ them in the attainment of
the end. knowledge will lead to wisdom:
and wisdom in no small degree is requisite
IN the conduct of affairs so momentous and
SO new. For our situation is in many res
poets not only new to us, but also to the
world
The form of government we have chosen
the geographical position we occupy as rela-
tive TO the most turbulent powers of Europe
whose political maxims are widely different
from ours the vast extent of continent that
is or must be comprised within our limits.
containing not less than sixteen hundred mil