Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-07-13

ing towns, laying waste the fairest por-
tons OF the country, and like the Upas
blasting every thing within their contact !;
while the inhuman savages instigated by
the tender mercies of her ministry, were
destroying by the tomahawk and scalp
ing knife every age, sex or condition, :"
and while rewards were offered for the
heads of the American generals, and the
prisoners taken in battle were consigned
to perish in her prison ships, or to suf-
fer on gibbet, the arms of Britain SUI
tered a memorable reverse, in the cap
ture of Burgoyne and his army at Sara
toga. The pride of the British monarch
and his naughty courtiers had now re-
ceived fatal wound.-To this succeeded
the capture of CORVALLIS and his army,
at Yorktown, which led to the acknow-
ledgment of the independence of the
American nation, by Great Britain.
Thus after contest of Sc, en- years, in
which Great Britain lost thousands of The
lives of her subjects, and wasted millions
of her treasure, it pleased the Almighty
Ruler OF the universe, 10 crown with
most distinguished success, the efforts Of
our lorefathers in the glorious struggle
Tor seli-government the perils and va
rious sufferings through which they past,
the strongest efforts of the Imagination
are incapable of describing. The Ro-
man fortitnde and virtue, displayed by
them during that memorable period,
srands unriyalled in the history of ma
lions. The faithful pen of the historian
has recorded the renown oil their exp Lofts,
and after ages shall delight to dwell on
the bright catalogue OF their virtues
Reused from dependency by the I'M
daunted soul Of Washington, and con-
WINGED of their ultimate success by his
cool and sagacious councils, the cause
Of America IN its darkest period, was re-
animated with the bright eye OF Hope.
Like the meridian sun, bursting through
HE black and gloomy clouds alter a
dreadful storm, his presence seemed to
cheer and give new life to all around
hin disasters added fresh yigour to his
mind, and every new difficulty was met
by him wi h corresponding eXertions,
until in conjunction with his compatriols,
the great and glorious work OF Ameri-
can independence was accomplished
Departed shades of the mighty dead,
your immortal spirits clothed in robes of
azure light, have assembled 10 the realms
Of ethereal bliss, where, through never
ending ages OF eterni;y, you will enjoy
in the beatific presence Of divinity and
the heavenly host, the reward due to
your great achievements.
The American people, having extort-
ed from the British monarch an acknoW-
Judgement OF their Independence, found
it necessary, for their better government,
to concer, and adopt a union, which
while il admitted Of distinct local, or state
goVernm ents, under ccrlan restrictions,
combined for national purposes, the col
iectlse talents and physical lorce OF the
whole. Our present national consti'n-
ton, is the result OF the deliberations OF
their deles ates; and the declarations Of
European statesmen, thai the success Of
the revolution was but the presage Of
anarchy and despotlsm, are proven TO
have been the false and malignant pre-
diclions of Their own distorted magma
tons. Under this palladium of our safe
ty, we have arisen through successive
administrations to a height of prospcri-
ty and glory unrivalled in the history OF
the civilized world our possessions ex-
tending on the Atlantic from Maine 10
the Gulf of Mexico, and on the north
and west from the Lakes to the Pacific
ocean; embracing almost every diversl-
ty of climate and productions, are ill.,
creasing in population and resources ex-
ceeding the most sanguine calculations,
of the most devoted advocate OF Ameri-
can freedom. The march of improve
ment is progressing with a steady step,
and the expansive rays of science are
darling their beams through every part
of the republic.
The second contest with Great Bril-
tain, which closed in blaze OF glory at
New-Orleans, SO far from impeding our
course, has convinced the world of the
strength ofour government, and demon
strated the invincible courage, with
which our republican institutions and
maxims, inspire the breasts OF nation
of treemen. This second war OF indie
pendence, which in its progress and sue
cess, encircled the American soldier with
a halo of glory, terminated like the first,
in the complete humiliation of British
pretensons, and inflicted deep wound
on the vain and arrogant feelings OF the
boosters OF British supremacy. Britannia
ruler of the waves is no longer chaunted
in our ears, but like the fame OF Kid the
Rover, is consigned to the chambers OF
the nursery; while the hardy proves