Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-09-09

t that hour was full Of darkness and Of d.,
The day was to decide the fate of on, uOuOt.
and of mankind. The Genius Of ! i c0pas
gardee her suffering votaries, and nea ueIy r.
additional strength in her cause. a fsn siG
spirits. The eloquence Of John A Al" matsr
down all opposition. Without his s3, N boz.
our independence might have been los. support
language of Thomas Jefferson, Gle n ln&t
lossus Of the Congress, the pillar ard V" %,
OF the Declaration of independence ~ uppr
advocate and defender" 81 well , 49, ssotg
said one of the venerable few who are t ,,as
among US to narrate those events co. -.Hl kt
with our early history, and from wbo."ss'i
record this anecdote, "the exertiops ~. Ups!
made to secure the passage Of the rs. .s Wee
declaring these colonies to be free and ;r '54l'r
dent states GAS Virginia" adQed h. SgPea'
the largest state, it was arranged amo,. Vas
representatives, and we'll understood bv * The
legates, that she should propose the ,e,o Tt Ht.
accordingly, Richard II. lee was desicn,,ssggo'i
his colleagues. AS Massachusetts, wac H' s" .!
in point of responsibility and iegri,ory 't ;.
also understood that she should second -" v"
solution; and John Adams was appointed "' It IT.
the LIST Of July, l776, Richard Fl. Lee IL. Va
dent patriot, and accomplished schoJ,r "' d.
the floor of Congress; and as he spoke ''k
Crowds rose to vengeance as his accents
"And independence thunderd from his t onunSS'
The effort was deserving the occa,;o,
was crisis that called forth every eyer,;o, Il
his genius, every acquisition of his talent VI
who heard dwelt with rapture on the s,e,t -"
He appealed to them as men, as pa,rio,s y,
freemen. He narrated in The stronpes, !. g
guage, all their suffering, their many hsrdsbn".
"Cut off from all hope" he said "if we p o.
back, what may we not expect! Driven bv s.
injustice of England to desperation, wh,; r WIG
left? We may fall IN the contest, but the c.",s
of freedom will not fall with US. MILAN, ~.
unborn will rise to support this declaration and
bless, to the latest hour, the founders Of hi.
republic " In conclusion, he said, "to thee
Genius of Liberty! do appeal on this solemn
occasion; thou benign Power who have kind.
ly guarded the ancient republics Of other DAYS
protect and preserve our country"
John Adams then rose in that dignifed and
manner which ever secured hih
a favorable reception before word could ,,.
cape his lips; and in seconding the resolution
he is said never to have spoken as he did On
this occasion. His whole soul was engaged in
the enterprise. "His eloquence, like his cha.
racter, was bold,manly, and energetic" IN the
might of his strength, he arose, and portrayirg
in The lveliest colors, the blessings Of Libe.t
the evils and the degradations OF slavery be
called on them, as friends and fellow sufferers,
to aid him in declaring that they "wert born
free and equal" At the close of his address,
he remarked that he appealed to no power!pt
had watched over any ancient republic, (allud.
ing to the aposlrophe Of Richard Il. Lee,) No
heather deity did he invoke, but, for the equity
Of his claim, and the justice of his cause, he did
appeal TO the almighty God.
the effect was electric. One spirit seemed
to animate all. independence or Death was tha
aspiration of every heart.
81 was ever, myself, said the venerable Ho>2.t
Morris, who is The original author Of dis en-
ecdote, "wavering in the cause should hs!2
certainly went with the majority, but whaa ,his
appeal, SO powerful, was made to the God o.
Hosts, in manner more like a divine EsiAS
han mortal, my soul was fred---l was 7eadT
% march against the pointed bayonets OF lhe
yrant George. l would have cried Liberty and
or Death for america, though the
,alows had stared me in the face" w