Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-07-15


SO went to bed where eagerly his sickness
Pursued hlm still and three days aficr this,
About the hour OF one (Which he himself
Foretoll should be his las)
He gave his honors TO the world again,
His blessed part TO Heaven, and slept in peace"
SHAKESPEARE.
ADAMS AND JEFFERSON.
II is on occasions like the present, when a great
people called to mingle their sympathes, and to
shed the tear of sorrow over the names of fallen
greatness, that we are reminded that no station
however lofty, no talents however distinguished,
King of Terrors and that all must at one time or
another, slumber IN the dark valley Of the shadow
of death"-for
zone common grave
Receives, at last, the coward and the brave"
But whilst we mourn over the lowly mounds
That hide from the ken of niortals the great and
good, we are consoled by that Gospel which is the
soother Of our cares and opiate for our SORROWS
We lock forward to that blessed day, when at the
sound Of the trump OF the Archansei, we shall be
summoned to congregate simultaneously with the
fathers and benefactors of country, and in those
to them the out pouring. of grateful hearts. And
whilst the nation weeps DER the sepulchres of her
favorite sons--whilst freemen congregate to pay
their devotions to the departed spirits of ADAMS
and of JEFFERSON, there is one consolation left TO
cheer the mourner, and to pour the balm Of Gesd
on the wounded spirit. We in those moments of
sorrow, recount their virtues, and celebrate their
acts ofgreatnes,, and ascend to the high vaults Of
Heaven, the thanksgivings of freemen, for the
peaceful enjoyment of those institutions, which were
secured to u. by those Patrarchs. whose departure
for another and better world, fills our souls with
sorrow and lamentation.
Little did we expect, whilst around the convivial
board, ou that joyful day when we celebrated the
anniversary Of our liberties, and were Offering TO
the authors of independence. in voluptuous Ii
bations testimonials Of regard, ofreverence and
oflove, that they were at that moment wingins
their way to the bosom Of their God. Little
long and useful life to the service of their country
would, whilst we rendered 10 them the adulations
Of honest hearts, fall insensibly into the embraces
Of the relentless monarch, and with their bushing
honors thick around them, bid this world long
ind last farewell, and on angels wings ascend to
the abiding place of the ust, the righteous and the
happy. But alas they have fed--peace to their
manes-and let grateful country offer the incense
Of gratitude aud affection TO their memories.
They fell ,ull Of years und crowned with honors,
and though there were days when conflicting inter-
ests and opposite opinions, poured upon them the
viruleuce political anathemas and vile aspersions,
they now quietly repose beneath the cold cod of
the valley,
"By freemsn honoured, and by freemcu mourn'd"
1t were an idle atelnptto recaptuate all Of the
virtues which were concentrated in the bosom ofth
Sage Of Quncy-it were an idle task to undertake
to place HIM in more favorable light Than that in
which he stood whilst a sojourner in " this earthly
tabernacle, for all who knew him, loved him for
his patriotic zeal, and admired him for his unequal
led talents. His life presented one continued chain
Of acts Of uobleness-anl he lived for the welfare
of his species. Coming before the world at an e.
ventul moment, when, if he chose, he might by
his influence hav decided the destinies OF this peo
ple aud wore himself the crown" he spurned all
sinister motives and base designs, and risked his
fortune, his life, his ALL for the establishment of A.
merican liberty and Independence. Fixed and de-
termined in his views, he descended to no narrow
policy or unhallowed zeal to advance his personal
aggran''izement or popularity--and lived but for
his country and the happiness of America. For
that country which he loved, adored and revereJ,
he exposed fame, fortune, and the prospect of pre-
ferment, and considered all an humble and paltry
sacrifice, if he could but secure its independence
will,' said he in those eventful days when
the affairs Of America were desperate, and when he
was solicited by friend to abandon the csuse-"
will first this people groveing in the dust; and
my hands bound and my body tied to the stake. be
fore will swerve from the path Of duty, or aban.
don the principles which I have avowed, and which
Ihave pledged my sacred honor to maintain"
Nor did he swerve or deviate one title from the
plain, strait-forward path which he had marked
out for himself but vending his way with renew
ell perseverance,, completed the objects he had in
view, and laid the key stone of our Liberties.
Is he had been daunted by threats or il wealth
could have purchased him, he would have aban-
doned our cause and attached himselfto the inter-
cats Of tho nother country--c,r xxhno