Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-07-12
LITERARY CADET
PovIDENCE. SATURDAY. JULY I2, 1928.
INTERESTING CELEBRATION.

lNI EMS INV SBLCDh a ION.
The ceremonies which took place at th,
commencement Of the excavations Of the Ohio
and Chesapeake Canal, on the 4th of July
wore Of the most lively and interesting nature
The Address Of Mr. ADAMS, is faullless. Not
even Tho hottest partizans Of General Jackson
can take exceptions at tho sentiments or Jan.
guage expressed by the Chief Magistrate "a
spirit Of patriotism breathos throughout the
whole, which cannot fail to attract tho ad-
niration Of every friend Of our country.
Mr.. Adams must have felt high degree q
satisfaction. when assisting in performing these
ceremonies, and rejecting that it was himself
who first presented tho resolution to Con-
gress contemplating general system Of Inter-
nL improvement. This resolution was pre-
sonted on the 23d Of February, 1907, while
Mr.. A. was a member Of the Senate from Mas
sachusstts, and was at that time considered a
~ild and Quixoiie schs ne and IS being unwor-
thy Of notice.
The Intslligencer gives long and detailed
account Of the ceremonies, which we should
publish would or limits permit. All the For
eign Ministers, Heads OF Departments, officers
7oftho Army and Navy,at Washington, attended
and also tho Municipal authorities Of Washing
ten. Georgetown and Alexandra. and an unus-
ground. Mr.. Mercer. President Of tho Canal
Company, received the spade 10 be used in
striking the first bow) from the Mayor of
Georgetown, amidst tho universal burst. Of ap-
pause from tho multitude. Mr.. NJ. delivered
a short and pertinent Address to the people
and then turning TO Mr.. Adams remarked:
Mr.. Presideat: ona day halIowed by the
f"ndsst recollections, beneath this cheering
(may wo not humbly trust, auspicous) sky,
surrounded by the many spectators who look
on Us with JOYOUS anticipation; in tho presence
Of tho representatives Of the most polished ma
tions Of the Old aud Now Worlds; on = spot
where little moro than q century ago, tie
painted savage hold his nightly orgies; at the
request Of tho three cities of the Distric, Of
Columbia, I present to tho Chief Ma gistrats Of
the most po werfu republic on garth, for the
most noble purpose that was ever conceived
by man. this humble ins'rumen nt Of rural labor,
q symbol Of tao favorite occupation of our
eountrymsn. May the use 10 which ii is a
boat to DO devoted, prove the precursor, to our |
beloved country, OF improved agriculture, OF
multiplied and diversified arts, Of extended
commerce and navigation. Combining its So !
oial and moral influences with the principles OF
that happy Constitution, under which you have
Seen called to preside over the American
People; may it become a safeguard Of their
Liberty and independence, and bond OF per-
petusl Union!
To the ardent wishc. Of this vast assembly, |
unite my terven, prayer to that Infinite and
awful Being without whose favor all human
power il hut vanity, that lie will crown your !
labor with His blessing, and our work with |
Immortality.
As soon as he had ended, the President Of
tho United States, to whom Gen. Mercer had
presented the spade. stepped forward, and,
with an animation Of manner and countenance,
which showed that his whole heart was in the |
thing thus addressed the assembly Of his fel- |
low citizens;
Friend, and Fe'lo,c Citi:ens: II ia nearly |
full century since Berkely Bishop Of Cloyne, |
turning towards this fair land which we now
inhabt, tho eyes Of the prophet, closed q few
lines OF poetical inspiration with this memora.
bic prediction.
" Time, mobiles, Empire i, the la,Lr
A prediction Which, TO those Of US whose lot ,
has bean cast by Divine Providence in these
regions, contains not only q precious promise,
but 4 solemn injunction Of duty, since upon
those Of our posterity, It's fulGllnent will de-
pend. For, with reference TO what principle |
could il be, that Berkcly proclaimed this.
the last, to be the noblsst Empire of Time. II |
was, as he himself declares, on the transplant
taiion Of Learning and the .drfs to America.
or learning aud the arts. The four first acts -
the Empires Of the old world, and Of former
. sges--the Assyrisn. the Persian, the Grecian, !
the Roman Empire revere Empires Of con-
qasst; doninons Of man over man. The |
Empire which his great mind. piercing into |
the darkness Of fnurhy, foretold in America, !
was the Empire Of Learning and the Arts the
dominion Of man over himself, and over phys
teal naturs-acqurod by the inspirations Of
genius, aud the tolls Of industry, not wa,ersd
with the tears Of tho widow and the orphan:
not ce,nented in the blood Of human victims
founded not in dscord, but in harmony of
which the only spoils are the imperfections Of
nature. and the victory achieved 10 the i'm
provement OF the condition Of ALL wsll may
this be termed nobler than the empire Of con-
quest. in which man subdues only hs fellow
man.
To tho accomplishment Of this prophecy
the first necessary step was the acquisition OF
tho right Of self-goyernnsnt by the People of
the British North American Colonies, schis- !
ssd by tho Declaration Of independence, and
its acknowledgement by the British Nation.
The second wss tho union Of all these colon
ics under one General Confederated Govern
ment---s task more srduous than that Of the
preceding separation, but at last effected by
the present Constitution Of tho United States
The third step, more arduous still than eli
tbsr or both the Others, was that which we,
follow citizens, may nov congratulate our,sl-