Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-07-14
GRAFTON:

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F'e!loe Citizens:
Nearly fifty years have elapsed
since the wise and fearless members OF
the first congress, proclaimed the noble
and daring truths contained in the De-
claration of Independence, which we
have Just heard so impressiveiy read
Most OF us born since that egentful pc
riod--nursed in the lap of the mountain
nymph, swee, liberty, taught FROM our
earliest youth to revere that instrument
as sacred, and to look upon is princi-
pies as self-eyident propositions, cannot
without effort properly feel aud appre
sciate the extent OF that wisdom which
first conceived, aud the force of
that energy which first declared them.
Upon this our political sabbath, permit
ma TO give my feeble aid towards enab-
ling YOU thus TO feel and appreciate what
we owe to these sages and heroes, who
first severed our bonds and caused our
country to take her station among the
nations Of the earth, in all the proud dig
nifty of Independence. And when we
consider lac hazards run, tie dangers
encountered, the sufferings endured, the
character of these our benefactors, and
the extent of tise boon bestowed; we
cannot hesitate tori ace next to The gra-
titude which ,se owe to the giyer of e.
vary good and perfect gift, the gratitude
which we owe TO these our p0titica! So
viopys.
The people Of these colonies had, for
more than a century, been warmly at
tached to the mother country; they re-
vered it as the land of their sires, and
many even who owed their birth to this
soil, recognized it byshe endearing APP
pelation of home. The government,
though not kind and fostering one, was
nevertheless far from that tyraunical and
oppressive enc which it is often repre-
scented to have been. The intercourse
between the two countries, was fire.
quent, aud the social connexions, many
and strong. The time had arrived when
all these ties of kindred and affection
were to be rent asundsr; those whom
they had long looked upon as country
men and friends, were to become stran-
gers and enemies. and driven by dire
necessity the child was to raise her arm
against the bosom ofthe parent. Behold
the warmth Of filial affection breathed
in the early petitions and remopstrsnces
concerning tie stamp act and yoa will
have glowing commentary on what |
have iust said True it is, that the per-
verse perseverance, oil besoitsd minis
try and obstinate monarch in the wicked
and tyraDnical attempts to tax us with
out our consent, had alenated the
hearts of many. True it is that the blood
OF our citizens poured forth like water
on the plains of Concord and Lexington
and the heights Of Breeds bill, by a |
band of merciless mercenaries, had
slaked this flame of love. Yet there
were many who still fondly cluns to the
hope OF reconciliation, and were ready
80 exclaim, ,''England with all thy faults,
we love the stll.n Here then was the
first great danger TO be encountered,
that OF internal discord and discussion.
These fearless representatives. hesitated
not to meet it, and having exhausted e.
very source of petition and remon-
STRANGE, and brought the question to this
single alternative, either an uncondi-
tonal submission and sacrifice of our
liberties, or manly struggle to main
tain them. They rose in the majesty of
their strength, severed those ties SO
fondly cherished, and proclaimed that
allegiance was no longer due to 60
vernment which invaded the rights,
'trampled upon the Liberties, and turned
a deaf ear to the prayers of the govern
ed They declared that all hope of re-
Cancellation was extinct, and that II we
wished to be free we must fight Our
Countrymen were worthy of their conf
dence, and responded to the declaration
by an almost universal acclamation OF
applause. The Discontinued were hush
ed, the timid trembled in silence, whilst
the brave rushed 10 the standard of Ii
berry or death,
And who were the men who thus as
serted their countrymeu's rights and vol
unfairly made Themselves the forlorn
hope IN this battle for our liberty? Were
they men Of desperate fortunes, seeking
TO profit by change and 20 rise amid
connections and commissions? No, they
were the wise, tue learned, the elevated
and excellent of the land, who had eve
ny thing to hope from the patronage OF
the kingIy government, aud IN opposing
il ha2arled fortune, life, honor, and fair
fame. I say honor and fair fame, for
who but knows that unsuccessful insur
recton is ever termed rebellion, and