Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1822-07-20
OR Afk'AON,
nBLfvEWED
SAMUEL KERCHEYAL, ESQ.
~ Romnsy. Hampshire County IA. on tie
Ar inst. IA cpnnenaOrotion Of our
'Nationui Independence.
T2t Lew CITizEHs:
DELI vEH ED IT

- LSW tITfZENS:
W. have n.t for the purpose Of Gel
eNra,ins the Anniversary Of the most impor-
tact and aioriUus event recorded in the hi.to
~ of our Coaury declaration of In.
dep~ndcoce. Every Am.ricsn. who loves
hi, country, must experience an exquisite
qualification 10 join j" shis celebration. The
separation Of these States from the parent
country, and the establishment Of an indie
pendent government, upon principles new 20
the world, was a subject Of curious enquiry
and speculation to the Philosopher and Pol
s,ician abroad, End Of dep interest at hop,c
wax AMI unjust policy, sdopied by the
mother cpuntry towards her Colonies. and an
attempt TO enforce that policy by her arms.
had p odaced furious War between the tw o
nations. The cri.i, eppr oach-d: the e fort ,s
suovert Abe rights Of the American peop,e by
tha swCrd had i6fismed their recruitment
and opposition beyond :he hopes of reccnciIi.
ation;- the memorable 4 h Of J ely 1875 arri.
we'd. and the great council Of America dccla-
rcd her independent. The old government
was no more and new system existed.-
The long uight of oppression had passed a.
~ay aid the sun Of American Independence
rose in respondent brightness. How grand
how nob'e mnsl have been the scene, which
presented tie venerable Congress Of Ameri.
Ca III solemn copsuitation, deliberatinv and
ref .ctlog on the future destinies of their
Country! A member Of that venerable oocy
might have exclaimed,
-----" How many age, hence,
IS Shal tni. our lofty scsos be acted DER.
"in ststes unborn, and accents yet unknown {"
The declaration Of our Independence was
made in the midst Ola war wag,d against
IL, to subvert our liberties. The power Of
the most formidable nation in the world.
whose intilence extended in every climate.
was arrayed sgalnIt ns.-A nation whose
arms had ever bees victorious over her enc.
mics, and whose moral and military resour-
ces and long established fame, had raised her
to degree OF power and glory unrivsl'ed
amongst the nations Of modern times Tn.
provided with military equipments, few in
numbers, and, as yet, unski!led in the rudi
ments OF the military srt-what had the A
merlcan people To oppose, to the shty pow
ar of their enemy ? Tney had much-ths
]dsiness of their cau,e-t the spirit of patriot
ism, and the moral energy Of the nation
The spirit o; liberty was enthusiastic and al
most universal, throughout the C61n,ry.-
Where the public resources were ina euate
20 the exigencies of the great conflict, in
which ths republic was engaged, private lib-
crafty supplied their place aHd the wealthy
spent heir fortunes to purchase The iiber Of
theif Country.
After long and Intellectual effort 10 re-
duce America 10 her former state of subiec.
ton, the Government Of Grear Britain fi.d
ing IL irpracticabls to subiue the Country,
acknowledged our inde pendence, and agreed
to admit US tn rank amongst ,he atoms of
the world. Here fora moment ,us pause
he f.hI Oh l.
been effected except by force of arms. The
who govern is rapid, AID even though small
al inst, IL soon oecomss gigantic and des.
troy, those by whom IL was granted. Those
who have Onc1 been in,rusted with great
powsG seldom resign il without contest,
and The rishs of a ua;ion, when invaded by
unia wful power, are only to be rescued by
the sword.
Here, fellow Citizens, | might bring into
slew the great events, and recall to your
minds many OF !hc acis of individual gene.
costly sni ga:lantry by which tbs war of the
revolution was dstir guibhed. | might euio-
RiZe to you the characters of tbose men hose
wisdom ruled your councils, and whose wall
OF fought your battles, and set them b.frre
you as objects worthy OF your admiration ana
examples for your imitation
Bnt the events of hs Revolution, and the
eulogipm Of those who achieved them. 5re
in the ge6sra! History Of cur coun.
try and in the Biography of the persons them.
selves. With whatever degree of sati,fac.
tion we may 'pe.k or hear their panegyrics,
the highest suIOg} We can besiOw upon them
10 TO Initiate their virtues.
There is enc name, however, that of
WAsuINGToN which stands conspicuous
and p'e.emireBs above the rtAt, end should
n"s re silzDtiy gassed over. great and ven
cradle rame, which does honor to that
Of his country in every other in the world
In his youth he had distinguished himself by
g'tant and perilous enterprises, and had
displayed fortitude and perseverance, which
had raised him high ia the estimation of his
country he had borne an honorable part IN
general Btadjock's campaign, against the In
dians, ana on the unfortunate day of that Of
Bcsi's defeat and death, with the loss Of the
flower Of bis army, WAsHIEGToN ahowed
degrees of valor and iortituds which none
could sur2sSs, and of prudence & conduct far
above his years When She War of the Rev
oluico commenced, he stood frs, amongst
his cuuntry0et in military fame, and was
chosen TO be the commander Of the American
Armies,
During the contest which ensued he disc
played to ,hs World the talents Of a great
General He was capable alike 10 plan and
TO execu,e. By HE moderation, prudence
and yigisuce, iu The most unfavorsbl, times,
rs kept his Counlrymen united In the great
cause In which they were engaged: 81 by an
sncorroptibls integTity,--a fortiiude which
never sunk under mi'iorGunes, snd q success
sion of ga!lsnt deeds, he inspired his country
with aconfdepce towards him which has re.
~ seldom fallen TO The lot 81 msH.- h has
pr1seh TO The world that be deserved il for