Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-07-31

seldom experienced in our climate at
this season of the year.
The Capitol was crowded with very
respectable assemblage of ladies and ci-
tizens, to hear the reading of the Decla-
ration of Independence, which, our rea-
ders already know, was to be accompa-
MED by an Address by the Hon. JOHN
QUINCY ADAMS. OF the matter and
manner OF that Address we cannot speak
in terms adequate to its merits. The
profound attention OF a crowded audience
during its delivery, and the burst of ap-
plause which followed it, evince the i'm
preston which it made on the hearers.
We were most agreeably disappointed
in finding that, instead of "a brief address,
such alone as we supposed the short
ness of the notice would allow, Mr..
Adams had prepared, and SO far studied
word, a finished Oration--such as might
have been expected from bis pen, had
two months, instead of two weeks,
been given to its preparation. OF
this mastery production, understand
ing that it will be permitted to be pub
lished, we shall not here attempt an ana
lysis. 1t will give some idea fits COM
prehensiveness to say, that the Orator
commenced with the origin oil human So
ciety, tracing from the dark ages, to the
era of our independence, the usurpatlons
OF kingcIail and priestcraft, and the sub
M ..r.ftt IL
gradually obtaining, through the lapse of
ages, a knowledge of their rights, they
saw them at length in their full extent,
and the men Of America burst asunder
the Lilliputian ties which bad bound
them down, and declared, in the most
solemn manner, the only true principles
OF governmenr--assertl the equal
rights of man, and the supremacy Of the
popular will. Here MIR. Adams intro
duced and read, with great effect, the
original Of that illuslrous Instrument,
the ID claration of Independence. Then,
resuning his discourse, he pointed out
in wha consisted the great importance
of that event in our history, and the rea-
sons which recoinmend its heartfelt and
perpetual CoUmemoration. That II
proclaimed our separation from Britain,
however grea, ali incident that is Justly
considered, he showed TO be of infinitely
less Importance than the solemn denial,
then for the first time made, Of the ema-
nation OF a po~ er and rights from Kings,
and the assertion of its oligination with
the People, sc. The Treaty Of Peace
oil 1888 was quoted TO shew how our In
dependence, thus based and thus decia-
red, was recognized by the King OF Eng
land. Passing on to the formation of
our Constitution, and thence beyond that
epoch, Mr.. A. brought up the history of
our country 10 this day, corc!4aing with
an eloquent yindicatlon Of the literary
and scientific character OF our county
from the sarcasrns and cavils of Euro
pean writer's, and an assertion of the bril-
liant success that has thus far attended
our system of government, which has al
ready endured for more than one gene
ration of the sons of men. We will say
no more of this performance, at present,
than that we hope it will soon be in the
hands Of all our readers. in shape
which will enable them to preserve 1t
for their own benefit and for that of their
posterity, as being the best exposition of
the causes, motives, and effects of our
revolution, that, in SO compendous a
shape, is any where to be met with.