Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-07-17

4 dictionary struggle, proclaime ed to the world
those imperishable truths, which you. have lust
heard so imprcssively read; and which, with tho
unerring certainty of the polarity of the needle,
guided them from their state of imbecility and
vassallase, through the macy labarynths of Bri-
tish oppression, to state of perfect indcpen.
dence. Such procla nation at that time. and
In the then defenceless situation of our country.
certainly manifested. n patriotism and fearless
ness no less honorable to its authors, than han.
py for their postcrity. The very design of
the proclamation was one, that ordinary men
would scarcely have dared to conceive, and
which none but extraordinary characters would
ever have accomplished. Fortunately for us,
by those by whom it was conceived-it was
accomplished. With JErrERosS, MAD
Isos, FRANKLIN, and an ADAMS in the cab
lnet-and a WAsHISGToN, a HAMILTON, u KNOX.
a MARION, and PUTNAM in the field, British
dexterty and British strength were. subdued
and humbled; and America, marching forth in
the majesty of her greatness, took that elevated
position among the nations of the earth to which
by nature and by natures God, she was entitled
And now, since we are enjoying the full fruition
of the labours of those who lived i'm shines
| that tried mems SOULS" does il not become us
to recur to their deeds of valour and to deepen if
| possible, the impressions that sense of their
greatness and goodness have already made on
our hearts? And gentlemen, allow me to add
that whilst engaged in this sacred duty, it will
become us TO cultivate and to cherish that
grateful sense of the superior and superintcnd-
ing power of that "Being who rulcth and over
ruletil the destinies of men," with which our
hearts must on this occasion be inspired
vi those illustrous personages who acted
part in the contest that secured to US our hber-
tiess there now remain but few; indeed, with
| lew solitary exceptions they have all game the
way OF their predecessors. Soon, not one of
| The gallant band will survive. Even now their
| voicesin the councils of the nation are no lonper
heard To other pilots the direction of our political
bark has been committed. To others we now have
to lock for protection & security against the
wiles aud evil Vaccinations of designing men
men who would trample our rights under foot,
and who would reduce US TO that degraded COLI
| dition from which we originally emerged But
against all such, have we not, in the virtues and
intelligence ofthe present generation, sufficient
guaranteed Let us not then, at this time, allow
our happiness to be marrcd by reflections of so
| unpleasant nature, but feeling our strength;
| and knowing our wills, let US give indulge nee
to those feelings. which in the spirit of seventy
SIX would proclaim to the world, that self.govern-
nient is the Prerogative of man.
Since the people of America have embarked
in this unprecedented experiment, half centu-
| ry has rolled into the sea of eternity. During
this period nothing has occurred that could, in
the slightest degree, impair their confidence
| in the final success of their mighty cause or
that gave them reason to regret ever having
espousedt. On the other hand, in the lanquaoe
OF inspiration, call things have worked together
| tor their good Our, national strength has ra-
pidly advanced. Our national importance has
been daily unfolding itsef-and even now we
are progressing. But whilst this is acknowledge
ed to be the case in national point of view, let
us examine into our individual circumstances.
We all sit under our own ''vine and fig tree,
and none dare modest or make us afraid" 1t is
true we labor and Toll, but it is in the pure and
healthful atmosphere of lberty--and that, too
for the purpose of entering into the fruits of our
labours. Heaven is suspicious. Peace and pen-
ty overflow our land. What more could we ask ?
What more should we desire?
Gentlemen, we are highly favored people.
| We have succeeded to the inheritance of the
richest boon, that ever fell to the share of man
"A country vast in extent, and possessing the
| greatest variety of the most fertile soil, and
most salubrious climate. A government mild
but energetic; that discards the distinction
ofpatrcian and pebeian asodous and letestable,
| hat tbo lJo, 81, N
men are by nature, equally free and ndepen-
dent" Under such circumstances does not every
bosom throb high with emotions of Joy and glao-
ness, whenever we look around us. Turn which
way we may, orr eyes are met by the infallible
signs of contentment, improvement and happi-
ness. Such then, are the results of equality of
freedom; and which certainly demand our pro.
foundest gratitude, and upon which our minds
should this day dwell
If, gentlemen, there is any one feature of our
admirable constitution, which it would be i'm
possible to do complete justice, and on which
we could not set too high value-it is that re.
cognized in the pithy maxim that "all power Of
right, resides in, and emanates from the people, :"
This maxim, it is true, has from the earliest
ages been admitted and admired in theory, but
it has been reserved for the people of America,
practically TO exemplify it, The happy results
that have already flowed, and that must yet con-
tinue TO flow from its complication, who can
duly appreciate? Barring, as it effectually Does
the claims ofall TO any thing like distinctive
privileges, inherent in the possessor, and receiv-
| ing virtue and intelligence the only passports
to power and emolument, it certainly stimulates
all to Jealous improvement Of their minds and
cultivation of the virtues oftheir natures with an
eye ''snglc to the purpose ofbeing useful in their
day and generation" AS a practical illus
tration of the correctness of this view of the
subject, l need only refer to the case of our
present President Andrew jackson was born
to no hereditary honors His parentage, his
birth, his youth, were all shrouded in obscurIty
j On his advancing t1, Ir,a.Lae-I