The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-07-10
PETERSBURG. July 6.
THE Seth ANNIVERSARY.

lE1FI Jotn ANNiNEkSARY.
OF AMERICAN -lNDEPEN DENCE
Was celebrated by the Citizens of Pc.
tersburg, on saturday last, with their accus-
toned gaie.y-with an accordance of politi-
cal parties and in harmony, uninterrupted
by the occurrence Of a single incident un-
friendly TO the growth Of social and kindred
feelings, and of just political views
As usual, the " dawn of opening day"
was announced by salute from the Artille-
ry and the early part of the morning con-
tinued to be enlivened by the arrangements
OF the military corps-by the spirit stir
ring drum, and soul thrilling FIFE"
AT . O'Clock the Inhabitants generally re-
paired to Powell's Tavern Clears being en-
tertained that the pressure of the croud
upon the galleries, &c. would endanger the
on stage erected on the elevated plane inthe
Nor& front ofthe tavern inthe presence of
ms fellow citizens, of the military corps, &c a
brilliant assemblage of ladies, BENJAMIN
WATKINS LEIG H, Esq. Gin his usual distinct
q nervous manner) read the Declaration ;of
independence, the Act declaring War
sainst England, and the Presidents Procla-
nation growing out of THAT act-TIe con-
Guided with an impressive appeal to the pat
riotism of his countrymen, exhorting them
to- humanity, to rally around their govern
ment, to bury the little distinchons,of party,
and to devote their. whole enervics to the
prosecution 'ol the'war in which we are en-
gagged. as the surest mea1s to bring it to A
speedy and an honorable isSue-rhe most
iveiy effect, was produced by this short
Out plthy haiangue, and an Instantaneous
burstot applause manifested very general
coincidence in the patriotic sentiments of
the Orator.
Mr.. SHELTON JONES Cat the previous
solicitation of the General Committee) then
rose, and addressed the meeting as follows ::
AZ Eit the declaration of American In
dependence has been read, and read too
Win 30 much en- pAasi' * accompanied by
comments from the gentleman who recited it
SO appropriate & animated, any thing that
can say upon this august occasion must be
poor indeed. But you have requested it of
me, q deemingit an honor to have been cho-
sen, TO speak your sentiments at this jmDo,.-
tant Crisis, could not find it in my heart to
rcfuse.-l have some claim on your indul
gence, as the time allowed me for arrane
ing my thoughts on this great question, was
short--and OF that short period i, was only
at intervals that l could attend to the sub
ject.
!, shall offer no acknowledgement for the
honor winch the patriotic citizens of Pc
tersburg have conferred on me. / call IT
an honor, for we'll it may be so considered
at this momentous crisis, to be selected as
the organ, by which the sentiments of rs
are TO be reheated. In saying that should
offer ne acknowledgements for that which |
conceive have justly termed an honor CON
TERED on me, 1t is because have eyer held
III such sovereign contempt all efforts at un-
necessary apology, and all attempts to ex
tort compliments, by feigning to confess de-
teCts and blemisheS, which we neither feei
nor see.
The sentiments said !, Of rs are to be
they are to be rcheafed-
for little else remains for NE to do, but TO
Gull and to gather together, from the fra
grant parterre which adorns the portals OF
American independence, and the last retreat
OF human liberty, a few of those flowers
(Which have OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and some
times .withered snce) that were planted
there six and thirty years ago. have SAID
" a few OF those fowers"--I say again q
few"-for shall be brief i'll this address
The majesty of grief is often seen in silence
--and so true courage, with the deliberate
purpose TO act, disdains the advent.
tious aid, falsely and dastardly suppas
ed to be derived from high vauntings and
v ain bcastinSs, tricked out in all the ponp
Of language, and sometimes in /erocioKS
boD6aSt. Move have a plain tale TO
- q
know well what we are abuut-we know
hat we have to encounter Ito use the Ian
5uage of one of their greatest poets) an
Did and naughty nation, proud in arms J" but
let us tell this otd and hanghty nation,
frohd in arms, that there is but one word
IN their own language, which we do not utl
lerstand. and that is the word for. Yes,
let us tell this people, we know that you are
brave and patriotic--but 7yc are as brave
and patriotic as you are.--Your own iinmor-
al Shakespeare has told you, that she who
has right on his SIDE is doubly armed" We
therefore have the advantage of you've
nave right on our side, and thence we claim
he superiority over you. We go to the bat
lie doubly armed--with courage equal to
your own, and the certainty that we are
lighting in a just cause. Gould You saw
he same, It might be dubious contest
5ut as it is, we are confident we shall van
luist you.
This is the language we should hold to
Britain. And when they deny IL, we can
say to them--we acknowledge yonr brave
ry, the savage Of the wilderness is brave.
1ut he is no less savage on that account.
We acknowledge you to have distinguished
ourselves in every region Of the globe, for
a lamentable length of time, almost from
he commencement Gf the Christian npa.--l
But in what have you distinguished your
'elves' The FIRST authentic accounts we have
't your sea glrt-isle, state, it is true, its in
labitants to have been a war-like race. -
But how far the Romans masnifed their