Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-07-24
AN GRAFTON,
Delivered at .qtton, ,Fadisoa county, Illinois. on
Saturday, Jaiy 3, 1919.
BY JAMES ". WHITNEY,
ATTORNEY AT LAW.

assembled to celebrate the 9TH Of July,
l776; the period from whence we date
the origin of our independence as ma
ton. This event, so important, and SO
momentous to the cause OF freedom,
Justly summons us, with patriotic
voice, to encircle ourselves around the
shrine of patriotism, and also, with united
hearts, to offer up our vows, and to pay
our alterations upon the altar OF liberty.
The contemplative mind is carried back
to the time, when it saw our fathers but
few in number, but with courage undis-
MAYED, cncountaring the legicns oftyran-
ny and oppression, risking all their
earthly hopes, and every thing dear to
their affections, in the cause OF freedom.
And when we consider the magnitude of
that contest, the immense and unspeaka-
bic BLESSINGS that have resulted there
from; surely we do not doubt, and Ger
tainly none ought to doubt, the propriety
of meeting on this day, to devote their
hearts and minds to the independence OF
their country. And if there are any in
this assembly, who doubt the propriety
of celebrating this day, let speedy con-
viction operate upon them, and the most
sincere repentance make athorough abb
solution from their political error. But
let us with united voices exclaim -
Hail, all hail o suspicious day !!
we would welcome thy glad return, and
offer upon thine altar, the tribute OF
thanksgiving and Joy.
The subject of American Indepen-
dence, has so frequently been the theme
Unpopular eulogium, and has employed
50 many able pens; and the history Of
the American Revolution, has occupied
the minds of SO many eminent geniuses,
that to go infinitely into the one or the
other, would perhaps but i'll become him
who has now the honor to address you.
A short sketch of the past; summary
view of the present; and probable con-
lecture of the future prospects of civil
liberty, is all that will be attempted.
Our forefathers who first settled the
continent of America, were prosecuted
and driven from their native country, on
account of their religious opinions
They sought an asylum from oppres-
sion, in the rude and uncultivated wilds
of America, where they could worship
God agreeably to the dictates of their
own consciences and, by persevering
and laborious industry, they provided an
ample support and sustenance for them
selves and their offspring. They clear
cd the ground, they erected comfortable
habitations, and made great exertions to
educate their children; they founded
civil policy, and raised decent and ele-
giant structures for the worship of the
Almighty; and their morning songs and
their evening prisons assembled to Heaven
for blessing upon their labors. They
were lords of the soil which they cult
waited, and they owed allegiance to none.
The earth yielded them a competent
supply, and they siaked their thirst with
water from the fountain. "The Hooks
that ranged the vallies Free" and "the
cattle on thousand hills" were theirs.
A simple, agricultural people.
For some considerable time after the
first settlers landed in America, they
scarcely seemed to attract the attention
of the British government-and cele-
brated member of parliament has said,
that the first settlers in America were
driven thither by persecution, and grew
entirely by the neglect of the mother
country. But when their Improvements,
and their advancement, had begun to at
tract the notice of the British govern
ment, that government Immediately
commenced interfering in their affairs,
and began to model, and remodel, their
forms of government. Almost, all the
colonies were burthened with the trouble
and expense of supporting agents at the
British court, to make known their
wants, and to make applications for re-
dress of grievances. The British govern
ment endeavored to monopolize all the
trade and business of the colonies, and,
finally to impoverish them, undertook to
draw large sums, by way of taxation, from
.Nhe Americans; backing their arrogant
pretensions by asserting chat they had
full power and authority to bind the
colonies in all cases whatsoever, without
their consent. Our forefathers examin-
ed into this claim, and they found it left
them nothing that they could call their
own. They laid before the king and
parliament of Great Britain the alterna-
tive, to remove these burtheIs, or re-