Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-07-12

J Union, to the imPro, ,smcDt OF It's own conCii-
ION; Of its moIsl snd political CONDITION, b,
wise and liberal instiiut IONS by the tuilNa
ton OF the understanding and the a,ari-
by academies, schools, and learned institutes
by the pursuit and patronage OF learning,
and the arts: OF it's physical condition.. by
associated labor 10 improve the bounties, and
TO supply tho Deficiencies Of nature; to stem
the torrent % its course; TO level the noun.
tam With the plain; to d'sarin and letter The
rsglng surge OF the ocean. Undor dkings, vi
which the ianA,age now hold 10 no esagger-
ated description, have become happ'l, Iamil-
iar, not only to the conceptions, bat 10 the en-
lterprizc, OF our countrymen. That, tor the
commencement Of which we are here ussc'h-
bled. is eminent among the number The
project con,emp!aies conquest over phjs
cial nature, such as has never yet been acme
we'd by man. The wonders Of the ancient
world, tho Pyramids Of Egypt. the Colossus Of
Rhodes. the Temple of Ephes 5, the Mauso-
leum Of Artemisla, the " all Of China, sink
| into Insignliio ance before It--nsgniicanoc IA
| the mass and momentum of human labor, re-
qnned FOR the execution insigniiicance III lie
comparison OF the purposes TO be- accomplished
by the work when executed 1t ~, therefore,
a pleasing contemplation 10 those sanguine
and patriotic spirits who have 81 long looked
| with hope TO the completion Of this undcrtak-
ing, that it unhcs the moral power and iesour-
ces; first Of numerous individuals; secondly,
| OF the corporate cities Of Washington, George
town, and Alexandra; 3dy, OF the great and
powerful States Of Pennsy ,aniaVrg, ia; and
Maryland; and, lastly, by the subscription
authorized al tho recent session Of Congress,
Of the whole Union.
Friend, and oD-laborers: We are in
fp 4 ba HnIv ella nf ttut nj At
the creation Of man, male aud female, the
Lord of tho Universe, their maker, blessed
them, and said unto them, be iiuItiul, and
multiply. and repIenlish ,he Earth, and sub
due Il. To subdue the Earth, was, therefore
ono Of the first duties assigned to man at his
creation; and now, in his fallen condition, it |
remains among the most excellent of his oc-
cupations To subdus the earth is preemin- |
emily tho purpose of the undertaking, to the !
accomplishment Of which the first stroke OF
the spade is now TO be struck. That 1t is to
be struck by this hand, invite you to wit
ness-[Heie the stroke Of the spade* land
in performing tins act, call upon you all 10
JOIN me in iervont supplication to Him from
whom that primitive injunction came, that he
would folot ,ih his blessing this joint effort
Of our great community, to perform his will in
the subjugation Of the Earth for the improve
ment of the condition of man. That he would
mako it ono Of his chosen instruments for tho
preservation, prosperity, and perpetuity Of our
Union. That ne would have in his holy
keeping all the workmen by whose !abcrs It
is TO be completed That their lives and their
health may DO precious in his sight; and that
they may live TO SEQ the work Of their hands
contribute to the comforts and enJoymens Of
millions Of their countrymen.
II. n. d..
say, that deem the duty, now performed at the
request Of the President and directors Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, and Of
Tho Corporations ofthc District of Columbia one
Of the mos: fortunate n.cidents Of my life
Though not among the functions Of my official
esteem II as privilege conferred upon
me- by my fellow citizens Of the District. Cali
ed, in the performance Of my service heret ofore
IS one or the Representatives Of my native
Commonwealth in the SENATE, and now as a
nemher Of the Executive Department Of the
my aboas has been among he in
nabhants OF the District, hpger than at any
,ther spot upon earth In availing myself of
his occasion TO return Ia them my thanks for
he numberless acts of Kindness that I have
experienced at their hands, may | be allowed
70 assign 1t as motive operating Upon tho
heart and superadded TO my official oblig atoms,
Tor taking a deep in'eres, in their welfare and
Among the prospects of iuturry
which We muy indulge IN the rational hope Of
seeing realized by this junction of distant wa
ers, that OF the auspic'ons influence which It
will exercise over the fortunes Of every portion
IF tho District, is on- upon which my mind
lwclIs with unqualified pie ,snre. I, rs NY
earnest prayer that they may no, be d.sap- !
pointed.
1t was observed that the first step towards
be accomplishment of tho glorious drs,inics Of
'ur country. was the Declaration Of Indnpen- '
lence. That the second was the union of these ,
States under our Federa'ive Government The
bird it irrevocably fixed by the act upon tho
:omne n ccmen, of which we are now enp,oed !
What time more suitable for this operation
:ould have been selccIei than the Anniversary
,f our great National Festival? Waat place
more appropriate from whence 10 pro cecd. than
hat which bears the name Of the Citizen War |
Tor who led oar Armies in that eventual con-
est TO the field, aud who first presided as the .
1hef Magistrate OF our Union! You know that,
" this very undertaking, he was one of the
irst projectors; and if, IN the world Of Spirits.
he affections Of our mortal existence retain
heir sway, may We not without presumption,
ma gine that he looks down wtn ooinpla cency ,
Ind delight upon the scene before aud around ,
ID.
But, while indulging a sentiment Of Joyous
at tho benefits to be derived from
his labour Of our friends and neigh bors, let ms
lot forget that tho spirit OF In'crnai Improve
nent is catholic and liberal. We hope and be-
ieve that is practical advantages will bo ex- !
ended to every individual in our Union. In
,rsying for the blessing Of Heaven upon our
ask. we ask il with equal zeal and sincerity
ipon every other similar work in this Confed-
,raton; and particularly upon that which, on
his same day, and perhaps at this very hour,
$ commencing from a neIghboring city. 1t IL
,ne Of the happest charac actoris,ics in the prn-
,iple Of Internal Improvement. that the success
,f ono great enterprise, instead Of counteract-
L. |