Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-07-20

his country and, rare iellcIty--he was
suffered TO witness at the extent Of halt
an hundred years, the veritication OF his
prophesy. II has fallen to the lot of but
few men, in any age of the world, to wit
ness so many happy changes as he has.
lie has seen the people OF his country
pass through four wars, and multiply
from two milion ms to twelve-'seen what
were frontiers once MAIDS midlGnds Ro,s,"
and numerous cities blossom in the will
dernesS around him, and throw a surplus
population into the ranks of civilization
on it. march to the west. lie has lived
twenty years beyond the bounds of hui
man life. He was born the 10th of. De-
tober, 1885, graduated 1885, and COM
menced the practice of law 1853, and
continued sedulously engaged in his pro-
fession until l774, when bis reputation
Tor talents, independence, and Roman
energy, caused the public to demand his
services; and since that period his histo-
nv has been blended with that of bis
country, and is known in some mea
sure to all.
IL VIOLIN ups at ltllS HlJIilGiIt- IDtpOSSt~
bic to give even seanty chronicle of his
services. This must be left TO his bio
grapher, who will have an ample field
foi his labors-the materials for a mon
ument more durable than brass, lie all
at hand for the workman. The patriot,
statesman, and christian, is gone. There
is no tear to be she'd at his exit; for the
gratitude to heaven for preserving him
so long, and that he died at such a mo-
ment, has drank it ere it fell, Had the
horses and the chariot of fire descended
to take up the patriarch, it might have
been more wonderful, but not more
glorious. Boston Gazette.
"Behold die; but CD shall be with you.
Con, before whom my fathers did walk-the
God which fed me all my life long unto this
day." JAcoB, Gen. Xviii
Such may, without great stretch Of
Of fancy, be supposed to have been the
language, as it undoubtedly was the sem
timent, of the ilustrious and venerable
patriarch JOHN ADAMS, when about
to yield up his breath to Him who gave
it, on the glorious Anniversary of the
event in which he bore so serious and
important part. At the age Of ninety, he
Rad lived beyond the ordinary span Of
life, as fhis spirit fondly fingered Ger
the scene until the arrival of the day of
Jubilee. Long and gradually declining
in health, under the pressure of the ma
tura! inhrmites of age, he reached has
last hour on the Filtietb Anniversary of
the most ennobling act Of his long and
useful life. Like the illustrious JEFFER
SON, whose days were prolonged to The
same era, and almost to the same hour
his last thought was of his country. His
already benumbed faculties reused by
he trumpets' clang and caunon's roar
Of the Day of Jubilee, he inquired, of
those around his bed, the cause Of these
signs of rejoicing, and was informed
that it was IN honor of the Fourth Of Jn-
Ia. He answered land these words were
his LAST 1T IS GREAT AND GLORIOUS
DAY." How wonderfully accordant is
this last mortal token of the inclination
of his mind, with the sentiments of the
following letter, which, in the meridian
of his life, he addressed TO friend on
the occasion of which he lived to witness
the Fiftieth Anniversary:
''Philadelphia, July 5. 1776.
yesterday the greatest question was deci-
ded which was ever decided among men. A
resolution was passed unanimously, That these
United States are, and ef;sght ought TO be, free
and ndebendent States"
"The day is passed. The 9Th of jaly, 1875,
win be memorable eboch in the history Of Anne
RIGA. | am apt to believe 10 will be celebrated by
succeeding generations. as the GREAT ANNl-
NERSARY FESTIVAL 1t ought 20 be com.
nlensorated as the day Of deliperauce, by solemn
acts of devotion to the Almighty God. It ought
TO be solemnized with pomps, shows, games,
sports, guns, bells, bou(ires, and Nominations
from one end effhe continent 10 ;he other, from
nis time foreverf You will think me transported
with enthusiasm; but am not. | am well
aware Of the toll, and blood. and treasure, it
will cost to maintain this declaration, and sup
port and defend these States; yet, thro' all the
gloom, can see ray of light and glory. can
see that the end is worth more than all the
means; and that posterty will triumph, al
though you and may rue-which | hope we
shall not. Yours, &c. JOHN ADAMS"
These are the sentiments of the Patri-
at, which time had no power to change,
nor death, itself, TO extinguish. The
last breath of this venerable man depar-
ted from him at the very hour when, ac-
cording to history, the Declaration of
independence was proclaimed 10 the
State House Yard in Philadelphia, on the
day of its adoption.