The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1821-08-01
"A ID ID II T. 5 5
Or JOHN QuINcY ADAms,
| Concluded I

not the 'onH enumeration OF Ip,oe rabie wrongs
| concentrated ~ this Deciaratlcn Il l. not tno
melancholy ca'all que Of alternate oppfe ssion
and eh'resiy, OF reeiprocated indiguity aud
femonst'sncc, upon which, in the oelsOl alton
oi ihis anniversary, your memory dclights 20
dwell For Is II yet that the Justice oi your
csnse was vindlcated by The God OF battles
that In conflict of seven Years, the history OF
the war by which you Da,ntained thai Docia-
ration, became the history Of the oi,uizsd
world that the unsrimous voice Of enligGtsn.
ed Europe, and the ver dict Of after age, have
sanctioned your assumption OF sovereign pow.
er and Iha, the name OF your Washington is
en'osed upon The records ot time, Ii 81 10 the
glorious line OF heroic viriue. IL is not .has
the monarch himself who had been your op.
Pressor, was compelled 10 recognize y,u ss q
sovereign and independent people, and that
The nation, whose feelings Of irsle Inity for YOU
had siumsered IN the zap OF p,ide, was awak-
ened IN The arms of humiliation 10 YOUR equal
and no lcnger contested rights, The prima-
ry purpose OF this Deciaration, the prociana.
uon 10 the world Of the causes Of our Ievolu.
uon, is "with tho years beyond the flood" IL
rs OF no more interest TO Us than the cbasti,y
oi Lucre'is, OF the apple on the head Of tic
child q! Tsll.-Lute less than forty years
have revolved since the struggle for mde pen.
dence was closed another generation has a.
iisen and, in the assembly Of nations, QUO
republic IS already mats on Of mature age.
Tho cause OF yout Independence Is no longer
upon trial the Boal sentence upon /, has long
brcn passed upon eai tn aud Iauhed IN Heav.
on.
The interest which IN this paper has sur
vscd the occasion upon which IL was issued
Iho interest which Is Of every age anc evo,y
cline the interest which quickens win tho
lapse OF years, spreads as u grows old, snd
brIBhtens as II rccedes, Is IN The principles
which II proclaiuhs. IL was the iirst sole mn
declaration by nation OF thc only iegnimase
foundation oil civil govGrnT.ent. IL was The
corDF stone OF a new fabric, destined TO COW
er the surface oi the giobo. IL demolished az
q stroke the lawiuines, OF all govc,nme ents
founded upon CONQUEST. 1t swep, awsy all ho
rubbish OF iaccumuisted centuries Of scrvnudc.
IL announced IN practical io,m 10 the world
the 'transcendant uuth OF The unalien nabe SOW
e'eignity Of the people. IL proved that the
social compact wds no Ggmen, OF the imsgiI
nation, but a real, solid, and sacred Lond Of
tho social union. From tho day Of ibis Dec
Iaration, the people ol North Amctiea were
no longer the fragmen, oil distant empire,
implo'ing justice and mercy irom an ine xora4
bic master in another heni. phcrc.-i ICY
were no no longer chIldfen appealing ~ "a
TO the sympa,hies Of . heartiess mother no
longer subjects leaning upon the shaticrei
columns oi royal promises, and invoking the
tstb oi parchment 10 secure their rights:
They were nation, asserting as OF rigb, and
maintaining by war, its own existence. A
| nation was born IN doy:
How many sges hence
" Shalt this. their lofty scene, be acted DER
"In states unborn and accents yet unknown 7"
Ii will be acted o'er, fellow ciiizens, but Il
can never be repea,ed. 1t stands, and must
forever staDd alone, beacon on the summit
OF moUn,ain, to which the inbnbir ants may
turn their eyes for genial and saving light,
ill time shall be lost in eternity, and this
globo itself dissolve, nor leave o wreck be-
hind. IL stands forever, light Of adm oni.
lion TO the rulers Of men, light Of salvation
and redemption TO the opp ressed. SO long
as this planet shall be Inhabited by human
beings; SO long as man shall be. OF social ma =
turc; so long as government shall be ne eces-
sary 10 the great moral purposes OF society /;
| and so long as il shall be sbused 10 he purs
| poses of oppression, so long shall this De-
! clsration LOid out TO tho sosei eign snC TO tho
subject, The extent and the boundaries Of
their respective rights end duties, founded in
/ the laws Of nature, opd Of netuie's God.
| Five and fory ycare have possed away since
this Declaration was issued by Our is'hers,
and here ars we fellow citizens, assembled in
the full enjoynen, Of i,s fruits, TO bless iAp
| Author Of our being fo' the boun,ies Of his
Providence in casting our lot in ,bi' favored
| lsnd 10 remember, with efusions OF grsii.
| tude, the seges who put fohb, end the heroes
who b.d for the establishment Of this De-
cla,s,ion end, by tho communion OF soul ir
| the "a. .perussi and hearing Of ihi, instrument,
! to renew the genuine Holy Alliance Of us
| principles, to recognize them as eternal
| uutbs, end 10 pledge Ourselves, and bird our
postefity, to q faithful and devis,ing sdher.
| ence 10 them. --------
| Fellow citizens, our fathers have betn
faithful TO them before Ms. When Tho liitlo