The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-07-13
(FoR THE ENQUIRER )

pose Of celebrating the Anniversary Of indie
PS'.lence At the particulars REQUEST OF few
friends, Mr. Nathaniel Henry, of Buckingham
County. and one of the younger SONS Of the
ilastrious Patrick Henry, read 10 the Assem-
bly, the Declaration of Indcpe ndence, aud &C.
compan ed it with the following Grafton,
which is published at the solicitation OF his
audience
FELLOW CITIZENS,
Very contrary to nv ex-
pectaton and wishes, 1 have been prev llled
s,pon 70 arise as the speake" on this anniversary.
Assured am of my inability 70 elucidate a
subject which requires the grandest powers of
eloquence, should have declined The honor of
such a task, had any other gentleman in this vi
cinty slept forward to assume it to himself
But the die is cast; have ventured to present
myself before this polite assembly, and must
endeavor to JUSTLY the distinction conferred upon
me by my friends, in AS competent way as the
very short time given me tor preparation viii ad
INIT AS to my being stranger IN this section
of Virginia. trust no apology wilt be demanded
for that circumstance, and that the individuals
of this assembly will Danish the local or person
al prejudicies which might possibly arise from
such source, while address them on The theme
of Independence Thank God L claim ailegi-
ance under the same happy republic with those
who surround me, aud have casually visited this
place to join in the present commemoration AS
an American citizen, doubt not shall receive
that generous, sympathetic attention due from
my beloved fellow rountrymem Without fur
ther preface Inow proceed, fellow citizens to
read to you in emphatical and impressive
man ncr possible the Declaration of American
Independence, after witch shall offer few
cursory remarks somewhat connected with that
great charter of our liberties.
(Here Mr. Henry read the Declaration of In
dependence and then proceeded)
BY the revolution of the wheel of time, the
day of our national enfranchisem has once
more arisen from the east upon our land. Me.
thinks it may be assImilatedto the day of mans
redemption, when the morning stars sang tnge-
ther and all the sons of God shouted for 10Y -
~ that sacred ara, the family of mankind was
supernaturally redeemed from the curses and
calami,ies about to devoive upon them from the
TALL of Adam On the fourth of July, i776 the
colonies OF North America were declared for
ever free, BY great, solemn and memorable in
strument which announced with truth their ii;.si,
and complete emancipation. Kccollecting with
undiminished admiration the virtues Of those We
seran, Roman heroes who bequeathedt us, (their
posterityl the political blessings now within the
sphere of our enjoyment, we have met together 20
celebrate the marvellous success of iheirarms in
the cause offreedom Such display ofgra,i u le is
insignificant indeed when compared with the
pectacie which gives it birth but it is in the ma
turc ofthngs,tbe most acceptable sacrifice we can
tender as "a symbol of our obligations to the at
Shievers of independence Nay they condescend
whether in heaven or earth to receive even this
paltry tribute which giows with the sincerest
PATRIOTISM, it 1t be wanting i'll pomp and magni-
Ii ence. II is observed by modern author of
Chfebrify, that revolutions are beacons set up to
guide the oppressed on their way to freedom
And IN this point OF view, the revolution which
dissolved the ties between these states and the
parent empire, is infinitely more worthy OF eulo
Ry and yeneration, than all others recorded Ell
ther in ancient modern annals The latter
vtaa 1nf -
eng the felicity OF man, have invariably redou
bled the misery of his condition. Iftney remo-
we'd one political evil, they introduced others of
more hideous aspect, more repugnant to the
primary interests of society. Or as in France,
they commenced with the subversion of the exis
ting monarchy and tho assassination of every
member Of the royal family, reared upon the
ruins of former establishments patry imbecile
system of counterfeit democracy, and then result.
ted in despotism whose vortex well nigh swal-
lowed up the liberties of the world But the
revolution OF America is marked by no such me-
isncholy horrific features 1t rescued the people
of this hemisphere from The grasp of foreign des-
potism, and dispensed to them freedom and indie
pendence. II burst the letters of their colonial
subiuga alton and gave them distinguished i'm
portance among the sovereign nations of Europe.
1t introduced new and illustrious ara into the
science of history For until the war which ra-
Eed here during the last century, no decisive
Il
nation desperately struggling tor its rights 1t
had been immemoraily held, that man pas.
sive and impotent in his nature, that if retained
5or period III state of servitude, his pride
might be humbled and his love of independence
forever chilled. But thanks to the benevolence of
Heaven this great political dogma has been at
last refuted, ard the dignity OF human nature
highly raised by the triumph of the patriots of
'76 over the arms OF Great rtaIn. Yes, Anne
ricans, we have convinced the whole world that
tyranny cannot always endure, that if it carries its
rigor beyond certain point, the genius of e
Emancipation will rise in his might, power and
majesty, and smite it low in the dust We have
announced with a voice which alarms the despot
and cheers the subject amidst his sufieriHgs, that
there is spirit ofterrbe revenge felt by oppres-
sed humanity, which, when forced into exercise
and Systematically directed, may lead to the full
lest redress OF its grievances Rejoice then, oh
philanthropy, at the conf 'natiOn of these me
Inorable truths. Hitherto thou hast been weeping
with bitterness over the bondage and calamity
which overspread the globe Thy countenancc
hath appeared pensye and distressed. BY con.
semplatmg the hardness of the fate Of man, the
serenity Of thy reign hath been annoyed. -
But put off the gloom of thy brow, and the
painful sympathy of thy heart---rhe times
are changed inexpressibly for the better, and
IN this side of the Atlantic, at least, the political
armament biaIes with tie bright star offreedom
Here the desert is made 10 smile, the forest
knoweth not its dreariness, aud the whole yege-
table creation seemetn conscious of the transition.
Government, law, and religion flourish ia ele-
Inent entirely new They adapted, though
by divine agency to produce happiness and con
tent among the people, aud to attach them nsu-