Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-08-01
Communicated for the Enauirer

American rston."
Communicated for the Enquirer.
At Dimcrous meeting of tho citizens of Cum
herland County, held the Courthouse on the 24th
July, 1896, for the commemoration of the deaths
of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, the Coun-
~ Cour having adjourned in order to afford an
opportunity for that purpose, Major John Hatcher
"a revolutionary soldier) was called TO the chair,
and George II. Matthews, Esq. appointed Sc
cretary: Whereupon Capt. John Miller addressed
the meeting in the following words:
llr. Choirnian-You have heard the funeral
knell ,hst is sounding through our land. Onr H.
lusirious fellow-citizens Jefferson and the elder
Adams, no more. These distinguished bene-
factors of their country, ard of the human race
"now live only in the memory OF their own great
actions, and the hearts OF an aifectionate and af-
ficted people" On that day, fifty ears from the
day which they together signed our Declaration
Of Independence, they brealed their last; on that
day which the prophetic and patriotic spirit of one
of them had predicted would be celebrated i'm all
ai'er time with " festivals, guns, bells, bonfres
and iluminations," after half cen;ur,'s enioy-|
of the fruits OF their lsbors, end of the con
solaiory reflection, that their felloyy-c citizens ~,
from full experience ofiis benefits, continued
90 approve the perilous and doubtful choice they
had make for their country betv cen submits
sion and the sword" their pure spirits tool, their
flight TO the eternal world, up borne by the acrIa
nations of ten millions OF lreemen, who were. Of
that moment, pouring out the tribute Of latitude
FOR their services-unconscious of their impendins
misfortune. The loss OF such men is, at all times
lust cause of grief 10 The whole human family: hui
especially does 1t become the favored country
which has given them birth, and TO IS hose happi
ness, independence and freedom, their best eyer
tons were devoted, TO pay their memory the
homage OF their gratitude, affection and respect l.
therefore, move you that committee be appoint ed
so NffIfit ..r
this meeting, ON the melancholy occasion which
has called together.
Whereupon the Chairman appointed John Mil
Ter, John g. Page. DR. George W. Crump. Ran
dolph Harrison, Allen Wilson, Daniel A. Wilson.
Francis 3. Deane, jr Everard Jones, VIM MI
Thornton, Nelson Page, Col. NJ. Langhorne, DIR.
VIM. b. Smith, James Robson and D, John front
a committee, Who reported the following preamble
and resolutions, which unanimously adopted:
When, in the course OF Providence, our creates,
benetactors are removed from this world. j, ID
manly TO weep. Such cause of grief We ar
knowledge aud deplore in the deaths of our illus
trous fellow citizens, Thomas Jefferson and T. br
Adams the one the author, the other the able.,
advocate OF our Declaration of Independence; a
composition, which, for elegance oil eictlon. cor
RICHNESS OF sentiment, and the manly shirt nj
freedom that breaihes in every line, is unrivalled
by any other production in The English languase.
and deserves 10 be transmitted to endless genera
lions, in The tairest page OF history, and to be-
come the signal of arousing men, throughout the
world, 10 burst The chains, under which, monkish
ignorance and superstition, had persuaded them
TO bud themselves, and 10 assume the BLESSINGS
and security OF self government" Were this the
only monument to their fame, il would be suTi
Client to immortaliZe their names But not %.
Throughout the peri!ous and stormy conflict of the
revolution, they among its first and mos, efr
Gent advocates; and contributed as much by their
bold fearless, and decisive cnuuciis a., 49,
result, any OF their compatriots did or could
except The man who has been universally admit
ted, at all times, and under all circumstances N
be g hrst IN war, first in peace, and first in the
hearts OF his Countrymen,'' the beloved the i'm
mortal Washington, the father of his cop,trv
The unexampied period f sixty-one vears of the
lite OF our veneraed Jefferson, was ernpioyeI in the
most arduous, important, and responsible nuhic
duties, involving the good of his native state of
his country, and OF mankind; which he DISCHARGED
with a zeal and ardor which no difficulties conl
aoate, an ability, which the weight of Years could
not impair, and devotion to the great rights of
man, that the near approach Of death itself coud
not eXtinguish. But it is not our pur,ose 10 20
cite the history oil these sages OF the revolution.
their euoSy. And il would be unnecessary-they
are already written in the hearts OF their country.
men.
We rather recur to the memorable and oIorious
circumstances attending their deaths. On the
'NSiiec anniversary VI tbat great day which
they together signed, they together haIloyed bv
their death and parting benedictions, the sacred
instrument that gave birth 10 a nation II was
the very day on which it was the express wish
ot one OF them land doubtless il was The ferven,
aspiration ofthe other,) that he might be permitted
to depart, and repose ia the bosom of his father
and his God How solemn and afTec,ino this 90
cond and last appeal, the verge If the grave
&c to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rec
tiiude OF those n'entions;' with which, in The
dawn OF their lives, they, with the host of yorthe.
who joined them in the deed, declar ed these states
g free and independents" and for the support OF
that declaration, " with firm reliance on divine
providence for protection, mutually pledged to
each other their lives, their fortunes & their sacred
honor" We mean no mpiety, W hen we saw.
that God, by these special acts of his Providence
seems to have 10 bis seal that their work was
good, and to have confirmed the important truths
which they so gloriously asserted and illustrated.
both IN life and in death Soemnly and awfuily
impressed with these feelings and sentiments:
Therefore
HeSotued, unanimously, That the members of
TINS meeting will wear Grape on the left arm for
'hirty days, as testimony OF gratitude Tor the
services, OF sympathy for the DEATH and respect for
the memory, of oui illus,rious benefactors, Tho
mas Jefferson and John Adams.
HeSOtued, As further testimonial of the esii-
nation in which we hold the character and servi-
ces OF Thomas Jefferson, The favourite son of Vir-
gnia, that the delegates of this county be instructed
to vote for the erection OF some durable memorial
at the Seat Of Government, to perpe,uaie his me-
fnory and illustrate his public worth
RESOLVED, That the foregoing proceedings be
published In the Richmond papers.