Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-09-05
Vol. u.-No. Cd.
riin N ueiwercd at Alexandria, D. G.. byWILLIAM F.
ito'N ioN esq. on the death of THoMAs JErrrp
son and JOUS AD.us NAA' 'SfiE En-

e sio~ ana gloomy march that brought us to this fano
-dhu tn' Sc solemn sounds of PRAYER and anthem still
lingering IN our carstclI u.s. INV fellow ,i,;zens IT.
meahcheiy occurrencc--great and calamitous-has
caied US together An occurrence more iDteres.ino
in lis character and universal in its impressons
upon Tue public feeling than any that has attracted our
aeh'ioD, since the beloved W ashine o,, was .cr,ova
from the scenes of his earthly glory
w hen renowned statesman a wortl,v na,r,t o- .
S'ah soldier, sinks into the sect tomb, " e give vept
10 our woncd flow of patriotism aud e. claim in the
uDess or our hearts-"A great man las fallen ;r Ts
49,. u' " such DC The strain OF ranegyric ordi-
""iy occas'ohs,-when the departed worthy leaves
many an equal, and many superior behind him =
sna'i ma language TO discharge that sacred du.
"Gh your kindness and misplaced confidence have
imposed upon
NO ordinary men were they whom now we Inourn
- M e ,ic'SSucs OF life, and in their peaceful COM
tnon WIN DEATH they were truly great Great in
Tue ihtui'Fe powers of mind aud great i'm knoyvedqo
ana wisdom In virtue, i'm patriotism i'm nb;,nt,ror
ana IN every quality that exalts aud atorns our nature
'i'y were great IN pre- eminent degree. But alas!
WHERE are uey now! Gone TO "hat undiscovered
country IRON whose bourn no traveller returns - yes
my 'eo" citizens, 1t has pleased the Almighty d.poser
10 summon into his august presence those il
s'tioa ana venerated fathers of the Republ;c JFC
fEkSoN and ADAMS. And impeIlcd hy an ,IInor
'auiS grautude for their services we have assembled
ro ~ ' 1r' '''oute Ok aiiectionae regard TO their
memories to offer up the homage of the heart to suro
nor excellence; and to mine our ferven, orsons m
heaven With feeble and unworthy euogics of the Ia
mentcd dead. - w 49,
surely, may saythc beauty of our Isre,1 is cone,
chow are the mighty faen,.n But ,bev have f,IIe,
iu OF years and full of bonors; and the BLESSINGS nj
emanciPated millions have followed their spr IN 1hose
es'ons "he'e ne Is without end, and where sorrow
ever enters we mourn their fall as becomes he
ieaved and grateful children, and vet we find n hahn
III me reecton that they had risen to the most ev.
tu hee, III the love and vencra,son of mankind and
uat lie iecitous termination of their mortal IN
truIFian'iy parai yzed the sting of DEATu and dcn.s
TO ue GRAVE IFS accustomed victory. Thanks TO that
o"'po'ent Beng, who speaks life and returns
IS 10 te DUST at his pleasure, they have been call,i
n ;od
icir transcendent merits. Nor is their elorious owl,
more Piohable TO Their own npersabIe fame than II
scious 10 the interests, and CRAFTY ing TO the feel,
ss .! ose WHO inherit the rich fruit of their vtuous
devotion TO liberty
from the earliest periods of political assoc
"hether we derive Information from authentic s
tory, from tradition from, lcgends--it las h a.,
usage ot nations To conseCratc some day to their avis
eiCe 'S al independent community, or TO their deli
cr"oco from Tie rude grasp of relentless oppression
,7o"e distinguished incident, in their political career
mas been selected 10y ALL and conspicuousIv bonored
''t might he contemplated the cause of their eIe
''o"' "'ne Wcv were yet IN prosperity and that.
wren o'cr'hen by adversely they might recur TO f,e
subject o! Their vcncration with melancholy neasure
I'' "c''e from II stimulus TO noble sentiments and
caring "a en'erpI,|c. Rome had her natena festivals
,'cece her Olympic Games-and ancient Jerusalem
ourne'. hailo"ed incense her aJtars-com,nerno,,
i've u ie ue'eanCe from slavery and from sacriIe
2'o"s Poutiol' 20 universal, indeed has been the sa
iutarN piacuce and so important has 1T been consider
cn III lis inIueuce upon the gov ernneuaI co,oo.n. ~
men, that those whose legends and history afford M
suihIuS occurrence entitled ComInemoraton h,r,
invariably resortcd to fiction supply the defc;encv
That, however not the condition of the S.tos ,;
compose Tins favored empire. They have been SHARED
Tie necessity OF that resOrt,-as well while ,lev ,ya
toofes OF the parent country as since their oJore
rle'a'i"n 10 Tic rank of free and powerful nation
he blood ot our heroes, and the wisdom of ours.tos
"'eh nave mp iied on the iare. page of history MANY
an 'ncueht winch ourselves delight dwell upon and
winch our ciIldeD, and children's children W m
proudly own as the work of their fathers
Among these incidents, my fellow ciiizens 10 ono
50 Crane III lis design so bold IN its execution and So
noHelous IN IFS consequences, that IL scars above N
INC dced' OF menand 10 after generations will no
p'aF {" cloud by day, and pillar of fire by night. To-
guide ana cheer them on their march 10 preatness-
hal bright and glorious nCident,-nced fell van ,nv
'rieno5'-,s the unanimous declaration, by a band ns
parrots Wat all men Wcrc born free and enr,i
and That these once prosecuted colonies arc aj Of Tipt
0usht IN nc free and independent State g.
! IhIs important act was idle r1raJo 10 in,irni5,
an empty applause of the world No--It was Tic
1hSPlinS OF lofty souls, determined 70 be free mr. o
u'e ~ ,.t hoy SumgS'e They knew that no compFo
mise Couid secure them from the vengeance of an,
ni'ouS and I|morseless psrent-Tbey were ay,rn ~
ihc 'oI' 'ne blood and the treasure If world cost H.
se!r' and perhaps their children. And With finn
teancc on protecting prov jdence they r1edoed ,;
lives their fortunes and their sacred hononr ,n s'.
the high ground they had taken fp0''
mat they received the divine ard which thew inn
piored-and that they never syervcd from tbeir ',
LUMINOUS Purpose-thc present moral and poI,,;coI
,uhaCy OF our country sufficiently attest
MO is not proud that such Declaration ornan.tsI
., "' y, MS ortb' y! 1t IS immortal In
s',uu'e"-wor'hy IT'S immortal author and worthy him
VINO was acknowledged 10 be the Piln of its sunno,,
10 Nrant5' 1t IS the band Upon the wall II Is fho
manifesto OF a nations wrongs inflicted By cruel
hhg-tne charter of nations rights scaled with the
APPRECIATION ola Just GOD.
wen may the day, that boasts an act so wise and
ChFarous clam TO be The faircst and the nobIest in
he caender,ur II fbe birth day of liberty in the
aha OF her cbocF-a land That has nourisbed her in
peace aDd in wat;-aud extended her fame and noeD
u every part OF tue world where the rays Of her Io
~ have not been refrsccJ by the impcnetrablc dark
G,ch r,, c1to,r' ~, 49,. e " ,8no dhce.
wisely selected as our National Festival and fv Years
Of Gains aud storms have seen US constant in orr f
dc Yoiiou. ~ "SS
When The day OF Jubilee had como and ,,;Il;o,,. r
ircemcn were assembled around the aIlars of Iiber,,
TO celebrate The triumph of The rights Of man over he
nhP1uS pietensions Of kings and Of patriotism over
ana the deafening pGhs Of cannon, were prociaiTn;
lle preCIOns irmll. illal In.nricn,..