The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-09-21
gyorcester:
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER o.. 1925.

Mn. DAvls's ADpREss.-We intended to
notice this performance in our last, but the
portion of our columns usually reserved for
editorial matter, being nearly filled with the
interesting address of the President to Gen.
La Fayette and the answer of the latter, we
were prevented. The production is highly |
creditable to the author, displaying no small
degree of research, in bringing to light facts
connected with the early settlement OF this
town, and with its subsequent history; at the
same time exhibiting liberal views Of civil gov
eminent, and feelings welded to the institu-
tions Of our own country. Much interesting
matter is contained in the notes appended to
the Address, relating to the measures taken
by the town in its corporate meetings for OPP
posing the oppressive system of Grest-Britain
before the war, and for the support of the
struggle after the commencement Of hostilities.
1t will be seen, by the instructions given to its
Representative to the General Court of the
Province, and to its Delegate to the Provincial
Congress in 1774, that this town was not be-
hind others in the expression of an indepen-
dent and fearless spirit. Its resolutions "a
mount, ia the words of the author, g to an un-
equivocal declaration of independence, and
require their Delegate to assist in the torma-
ton of new and popular form of governments
unless every infraction of the rights OF the col
onists should be redressed before the Congress
should meet" 1t is from tse early records Of
the individual towns Of the State that we can
derive, better than from any other source, an
adequate knowledge Of the spirit, the feelings,
and the efforts of the mass of the community
in that eventful contest which f" tried mems
SOULS" and laid a foundation for those liberal
principles which are so rapidly peryadng the
entire American continent. Doubtless many
other towns resorted to measures as patriotic
and as worthy as those adopted by the inhabi-
tants of Worcester, but which, like those, have
been, for the most part, unknown and unap-
preciated, 10 consequence of the obscurity in
which the records of them lie buried. In read.
ing the history OF our revolution, we are pre-
sented only with the prominent and striking
events of the period. The marches of armies
their battles, victories, and defeats, the siege;
of cities and storming of fortresses, are indeed
recorded in glowing colours, and the heart O.
native American beats high while he dwell'
upon their hardships, their long suffering, and
final triumph; but the silent exertions of those
who supported these armies, who submitted t.
privations at home for their maintenance in the
field, who watched their motions, and prayed
for their success, with an ardor CT feeling anC
patriotism nothing less than that which ami
mated the soldier in the fight; these make Mt
parade on the page Of history-we find then
only in the relations of the aged survivors Q
the struggle, or in the obscure records OF indi
= 81 i~..HA and villages. We were there
lore glad to meet in tangible IolHs r.sts -urrel
though interesting, account of the domestic ex
ertions Of our town at that period, and trust i
will operate as stimulus to other simila
efforts.