Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-25


At half past twelve O'Clock the procession
reached the First Presbyterian Church. The
Orator wore green coat, in compliment to the
day, having IN his hat shamrock, encircleG
by sprigs Of laurel. After sacred music by the
choir, and most eloquent and impressive
prayer by the Rev. Mr.. HAKNsoN, appropriate
70 the cause Of civil and religious liberty, the
Orator came forward on a Stage erected Tor the
occasion, and addressed the audience.
Mr.. Cusrrs observed 1t is circumstance,
no doubt, OF great rarity, that Protestant
orator should oficiate % the festival OF a Ca.
tholic SAINT Blu, in the present instance, while
the indy idual chosen bscpm,s honored by
your choice, the CHOICE itself il IN proof of The
exceeding good fellowship and harmony which,
in our happy country, exists between religion
lists Of different denominations.
Among the admirable features in the Consi-
tuition and Laws OF this Republic, none are
more wise, juste and benehcenj in themselves,
and none productive OF more excellent effects,
than those which secure to every one The rights
of conscience, the free federation Of religious
opinions, and afford equal and perfect pro,ec-
ton TO every mode and ceremony by which the
the Throne OF the Creator.
With due respect for the religious faith Of
the vast msioriiy Of those who are assembled,
in various parts of the globe, for the celebration
Of this day, and in the fullness and sincerity Of
q zeal which shall ever be proud 10 acknow
ledge as feeling for The cause Of unhappy lre>
land, your orator appears to your bidding, and
will humbiy endeaNor 10 perform the duty
which your favor and Kindness have assigned
him.
The isle of Iernc, Juverna, or Hibernia, as i,
has been variouslv called by antiquarian hiso.
rians, fell q conquest TO the army OF Henry H.
the immediate descendant of the famed Nor.
man Conaueror Of England, in the twelfth CEN
Jury. The Irish were, al that time, rude but
brave and hospitable people. not so much Tn =.
lghteDrd as were the people of these countries
which the Roman Eagles had visited, and
thereby impaired TO them the mehora,ng in,
huences OF civilization
Divisions amoug the native Chiefs the am
b,ion and avarce Of an Engli h-born Po,,e, and
tha, imposing Cause which prUduced "the frs.
fall of MAN." which "lost to MAX Antony The
world" and laid proud Troy in ashes" bu,
wi,hal is sill" Heavens last best gift to man, 4"
a Woman, had weakened aud distracted the
councils and army Of The Irish, that they be-
came an easy prey TO the invader. Again, the
weapons OF the natives, rude as themselves,
formed Blu, a feeble barrier, when oppose TO
the steel. clad ranks o! the Norman chivary,
at that ,ime OF day the most accomplished mas
tiers i'm the arts OF war. Henry, improving up
on the first successes If his lieu,enants, 6naly
landed himself, with a veteran and well APP
poirted force, and soon overraD and subdued
the Fair Isle. and then apportioned i, out
AMONG his followers, in The manner which his
famed ancestor had done, after the conquest Of
Ensllnd, ex ending, in the true spir,, of BAR
barian age, that courtesy which yictors, even
in more enlightened times, extend to the vans
uuished, the courtesy OF force.
ELL was the day when the Norman pennon
6rs, huttered in the breCzes Of Hibernia. Evil
was the day when the " Norman chargers
laundering heel" rang is loud tramp amid the
echoes OF !erna's Isle and evil was The day
when ecclesiastical avsrice, backed by the rage
Of conquest, promp ed knisht and squire to
SEEK renown in arms, and TO X asp, with mailed
hand, the rights and desriBits & an unoffe ndng
nsople, hapny in their native 'udeness, and un.
ambitious Of receiving those few lights Of civil.
iza,ion which, at ina, remote period, fee bly,
twinkled amid the general darkness of the
world Evi. was he dsy!-And the Genius Of
Erin, perched % her sea-gir' cliff, might have
attuaed her harp 10 wild note OF agony, and
halted the Invaders landing with the curse Of
Csmbria's bard : Run seize thee, ruthless
king; confusion OH Thy banners wait" But
although the victorious Norman had added a
gem 10 ais eororet, and that the sweetes,
gem of the ocesp," he read which wore il pill
lowed mol on huwerS. This wise n6.virtuous
King, as he mas been termed by the mos, Ia,
len,rd bot uniai;hful Of historians, lived TO be-
come the scorn of his subjects, for having ex-
posed his royal shoulders to be seourged by
monks for rhine which he did not commit,
and died miserable, cursing the hour Of his
birth, his children, who had betrayed him, and
all mank
But with the Pian,agene', by no means ex-
r,-rd the aggrrssors of Erin. The race Of Tu-
50 ar; Nassau, Brunswick, and that great
a{pocrisy and cunning, the reaown.
-es. no pretended 20 have received