Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-07-12
GRAFTON.

rhled tog ether why arr Tue hS"ut the
iaue.ased and the youns-tae miIthiul and
,ho serious-tnp wise and The ignorant the
s,ook nous follower of the Chr,s ian S hope,
nd The cav thoughhess Votary oil lhe world :
an.atlsfying yauity-ali cone'egaled hefe, up
on one common occasion "hy arc these
VI" ,s,aI ceremonies military pomp aud
aageantry Why is the sonod oi marital mo-
f,ohea,d in the choir of the Ltrraal Why -
=. ,scred pulpit occupied by QUE, who speaks
,, t,rrh the inappfe cable treasures OF hi,
,.rd5 IL is the sabbath Day OF Freedom
-. I,bilee of lndependence-th Anniversary
# NAnon's political regtntraiIon
Providence, which is always beslowing upon
,,,,o,thv and f,llen man. lis Klndllest blessings,
a.s safely conducted us through the ne" All
.a,;ad scenes of another year, conierrlng upon
,,,,.elyes fayois very far exceeding our merits
ID .hoypring upon our beloved country an
,neoualled happiness prosperity and freedom
and we are properly met together upon this
sac,ed occasion, to render 10 the Great Dlsprn-
.er of all good, tribnte OF pious gratitude for
Gis former unparalleled beniticeuce, and
nrayer Of earnest application Tor his future
snne,intendent care and protection.
This is day Of unusual JOY aud fesivity in
mr. land II is day of public thanksgiving,
eel apart aud appropriated bv the Patriot and
the PbiIanthropiat. Ne have come together
IN forget for time our local attachments and
nariaIities-,o repudas our political prefer
eDces and disikes-io harmonze aud reconcile
our angry CONVENTIONS add our seeming coh-
Sims of Observation-Disclosures by the exacer-
batons Of party feeling, with 20 line Of demar
calion drawn between US. Unminiful wheibe,
We are habed in the imposing decorations Of
military splend0r. or aItiIed in the humble
yafb Of peaceful citizens, we are not parizans
lighting under the banners OF this great maU
or that; we are not Infatuated zeaIois, wearing
The White Rose OF York nor the Red Rose OF
Lancaster. No weare al broihers-we are
all members OF that great " Catholic party that
owes IFS country.
In an assembIage of Freemen, who thus meet
sooether TO celebrate the anniversary OF their
political existence, and 10 mingle tears Of sor.
row over the graves of their common ancestors,
there is a moral beauty, which strikes the
mind with irresistible force, claiming aud re-
ceiving its deepest admlration--thereis an in
structve lesson addressing itself 10 the iudg-
neGt, which rivels aud euchalnS the exercise
Of its proioundest faculties. Hislory,--tha
faithful chroncler OF past events that great
look Of experience, whence we draw all our
lessons of practical good. will teach ia the
humiIiaiing truth, that, from the earliest period
of CT ilzed society, down To that memorable
epoch III the annals of the world, which gave
birth to our own country's Independence. man
mad constantly and invariably been ths slave O f
remorseless tyranny and, forgetting the dig.
nifty IN which nature certainly designed TO iu-
vest his character, even iondled the land and
Kissed the rod Of his unfeeI6g oppressor
Strange, indeed, is it, that being fashioned
Ctas C,Y I he q
aim with so many pr'ucely attributes, snauIJ
have slumbercd through ages ueier sac6 an
aggrsva,ion of injuries. Humanity racoiis AT
the bare mention OF that lron desp0,isrn, winch
maj ked the character Of he Eastern Monarch
yes Of Antiquity CreduIny siares. when il is
void, that in tbs, age Of moral darkness. more
than million of human beings followed the
footsteps, aud were bhndLy subservient 10 the
capltous viii of mOuarch, who madly hoped
10 conquer the waves of the mighty ocean, by
subscribing them TO the punishment due to
individual delinquency. The profound gloom
OF that age was, indeed, followed by the short,
but spleD''J era of GreciaH aud Roman ascru-
daDcy.-Here, The human MUD shofe forth
with unu'ual brilliancy-here, genius exhibit
ed TO the world some OF It's brightest scntiIla
'ions-sclence reared her head over surround
ing error, and philosophy assumed her native
elevation OF character The Genias of Liberty
or moment lowered over the wOrld-aray Of
hera sentiment beamed upon mankind; hui
mat ray was like the ti,tul dash in the Didnlg hi
s'ofh-lt passed away, and all asaln was dark
o'ss' Happy for mankind If SO resp.epdeni an
sra mad never ceased. Happy for the world,
II We days of Grrclan aud Roman simplicity
H4d never been forgotten loo soon, how ever,
j man relapse INTO his ltlmevai barharty,
me miserable darkness, drspotism and ST.
y ss''hon OF the 4" middle ages" viii find no
fe IN the annals ofthe world a parallel,
s7Ve IN those worst days of oriental barbaris.n,
10 Which we have Just alluded.
butthese iron times are passed away. A
'f'gRl and glorious sun has arisen in ms West
: ~ world, which, since the 4th day Of July,
1''o' mas thrown lis cheering RAYS over the
"oe extent OF our own country, and which
10 remain above the horizon III fade
eSS and eternal spiendour, iii il has shone
upon every nation Of the earth, and dlspe fed
every Cloud that now hangs lowering over The
'i'ei'ies OF man. Mark the change in the
aspect Of human afaIrs, which has followed
'nrs ever to be remembered event 4 foreign
'Etan' no longer Claims and receives our allie
s'ance-we no longer bow at the saudy foot
''ool OF sell created power, We stand forth
nee, IN manly pride aud ndependepce-wilhi
10 monarch on the throne TO WELD over our
'eaas despot's sceptre--wilh no privileged
''"eF OF aiistocracy in our land 10 exercise
''e' our persons and our property its hateful
awe bow to no majesty but the majesty
~ vT'ne-we acknowledge no aristocracy bui
~" which is founded in merit anu sustained ny
'"penor genius
ia's within the purposes which have drawn
- toeether on this day, to speak very briefly
= 'ne Incidents by which so miraculous
'"dngs IN the affairs OF men has been effected.
!" enoarR'ns upon the wide aud tempting field
'"'on iies before rae, crowded as il is with so
ANY bright historical incidents, which reflect
a' most iostrous glory upon .the American
""acier, am aware, that tread upon
> 'a''i which has ofientimes ben ,rodden be
TT follow IN the beaten ack of hundreds,
mo- before me, have told the tale of their
."un'ry glory to admiring muIti,ndes. But il
ot Tic voice OF him who has the honor to i
''~ess vow OF the humble garb N which his