Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-07-09
ORaTION.

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You can imagine, fellow citizens,
more easily than can describe TO you,
with what emotion rise, to assume my
part in the commemoration OF an epoch,
! so dear to US, and momenrOus to mankind.
In looking back to that day, when Thir-
teen States, asserted solemnly, and in the
| face of the world, those rights, which
| they pledged their lives and fortunes TO
maintain. can bu! be filled with the
recollection OF those scenes. through which
they passed to independence and sover.
eighty. All, which liberal curiosity,
national pariiality, or flial affection, have
induced me to familiarize to my fancy, are
| now Swallowed on its fields; and my bosom
is alternately Hwed or melted, as amidst
the venerable images of revolutionary pa
triots, one countenance presents itself,
stern with virtue, and another smiling with
love. But cannot attempt to transfer to
your tancies the scenery, which fills my
own, The copy of copy, would be fee
bic in its colors, and faint in its resem.
blance. cannot presume to deleniate the
triumphant baltle-felds, or disastrous re-
treats Of the long war, nor to group be-
tore you in striking and commanding atti-
tudes the forms of its heroes. This has
been done by those who were spectators
and actors in the eventful scene, and whose
memories were wildly impressed with
what they saw, and what they did. Mine
! must be different, and fear you will
think, duller task; for instead of descr,b-
! ing the imposing circumstances, which ac-
cofnpanied the Declaration of lndepen.
dence, shall rather dwell on the vir-
tues, which procured its accomplishment;
instead of depicting the battles' which
won for US this vast empire, | shall only
point at their glory as a light to cheer US in
the labor of its confirmation and enlarge
ment--and instead of hoping to increase
in extent or brilliancy the renown of our
heroes, | shall be happy to add even one
summer flower to their graves, nor shall
mourn its heeting existence, if it be ap-
proprate and fragrant. And it has always
seemed 10 me, that the celebration OF this
day wa, established by our ancestors, not
for vain Civilizations in our real or fancied
prosperity-not for idle triumphs in the
Joys of memory, or of hope-but that the
happiness of our condition might be exhi.
bted in connection with the virtues, which
established it, and which are necessary TO
its Continuance-and that the trump OF
their fame might be sounded to animate
their descendants in the pursuit OF similar
renown. Yet on this festival Of twenty
four confederated nations, whose rejoic-
ings have saluted its first dawn in the East,
thrilled along the wide Atlantic border
and will attend its departure in the West,
it is fit that we too should unite IN the uni>
versal merriment, and mingle our voices
with those, which are exslaiming "Hail
Columbia, happy land!"
know it is the ardent wish of all our
countrymen, tina: this happiness may ever
continue. Let US then look little at The
prospect they have of being grati6ed, &
at the means necessary to this end. Now
the Bill of Rights is OF great authority with
me. This ineslmable instrument declares
-"that no free government, nor the bless
ing of Liberty can be preserved TO any
people, but by firm adherence to justice,
moderation, temperance, frugalitya and vlr-
tue, and by frequent recurrence to fun.
damental principles" These then are the
qualities, which we are called upon to en-.
courage and admire; but ! fear they are
very much out of vogue nowadays. The
facilities Of transportation are now so great,
that all Christendom has become in many
respects like one community. and the no.
{! tons most current in the saloons OF Paris,
circulate briskly on this side of the Allan
tic, and even disturb the rural felicity and
homely virtues of the inhabitants OF our
forests. Who ever pronounces any opin-
! ions at all differing from those, thus gene
rally received, is Immediately attacked by
the gendermarie of fashion as uttering and
| publishing counterfeit ones; and the cir
cumstance of their possessing beauty or
dignity is mo protection against ridicule.
Still must profess myself an advocate tor
! some almost antiquated doctrines, and a
| believer in the existence Of disinterested-
| ness, patriotism, and thousand other gen
erous virtues. Nay, 60 farther and think
| that men, not only ought to be, but gene
/ rally are. beloved and admired in degree
proportioned to their moral excellence, OF
rather TO what is presumed to be their mo-
raj excellence. Ihave only time to give
hints on this subject, but if you will exa-
mine It closely, think you will hno my
conclusion correct. A poet, for instance,
is admired, not so much for bis feiIclly 10
the use Of language bis magical power
over words, nor for the multitude. variety
and brilliancy Of his conceptions as loI
| that deep sympathy, which ne evinces
with all that is finest in nature, loveiiest
in emotion, and intensest in passion-as
for that harmonious and exalted soul.