Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-07-14
NO. 20.

among us, identified With the existence
and glory of our country. that of the
immortal Washington. The undaunt.
ell spirit which led onw ard her son,
amid the dreadful calamitics If war.
whose mind vas the tal,sman Viii,
guided the resources Of hi, country IN
the haieyon days of peace. hath "snur
To that bourne from which no traveller
returns" His fame IL the watchwo,,I
~ liberty, the richest and the most en-.
dearcd inheritance which was ever
transmitted 20 postrritv. His beloved
name IS eneirolcd by n halo of glory,
so dazzling in its lustrc. that neither
the ravagcs of time nor The vicissiiutc
Ut circumstances can oblicratc or sully
II. Itrises superior To extinction. IL
Will not. like the vague memory If
vision, disappear or be los, in the in
terminable vortex Of time The whirl.
wind OF faction can never blight -
immaculate purity, nor the burning
siroc of calumny blcmi,h its radiant
brightness. Its image is sealed Oh the
hearts ct every lover of has country:
u stands emblazoned in bright and liv-
lng Characters on the imperishable Ia.
blet Of Immortality.
HE soldiers. tco. Of the Revolution
have disappeared; they have been sum
moned from among u, time after time.
tiil they are seen but a the last fall.
ing leaves Of autumn bcfnre the des-
troying raysges &c n winters Storm
Look, aud behold arrsyed bciurc YOU
the last remnant Of the troubled DAYS
"l 20. They beheld America. the land
ol your hopes, sgita,cd by the shock Of
British arms; they have seen your
plains floating in the blood Of frieris
aud brothers and they too have seen
the last blow struck TO highlands SWAY.
Their hairs, scattered here and there.
whltcncd by the uustaycd hand Of
time, tell Us, in unmistaken language.
the ravagcs OF that stern messenger 20
which all humanity bows in unrc,i,:.
ing and submissive acquiesc.nce.
But do they die Their deeds in.
mortal, borne on the wings Of tiinc.
1--we ioreNer-iorever claim the tribute
OF applause. Eternal honors " ait thcir
sacred shades, and from their ashes
fresh heroes spring. Are they called
away to that calm and peaceful haven
where storms and tempests affect them
not, the Genius of Liberty. which ho-
vcrs over the dcstinics Of America.
borne on her golden pinions, receives
them into her genial bosom, drops the
tear OF pity on their memory. ana "a
pidiy watts them 10 the shures OF ina
mortality.
Bot can VIC contemplate that cran-
deur and prosperityto which our couu-
Try hath attained. with delight aud al.
miration. unminglcd with gnpleasine
reflections and we'll founded alarm lrr
their perInanency When We dfAw
the curtain. do we not see clouds
Taught with threatening aspect lurking
behiad as II to crshroud the bright lus-
tire oil our union ~ ono horrible scene
oil obscuTl'y and nights Do We noe
behold n storm rising ~ the f,irest
portion of this hemisph q which mer-
aces 10 burst IN the terror of - ihun-
der, ere long, and to desolatc this oar
country with all the horrors OF civil
diSscnsIon ? Are thes. remarks tn.
unmcaning chimcras Of a disturbed
imagination : Are they the Idle phAn-
toms oil troubled fancy? Would 20
Heaven they were so Written in al
the awful Indications olruin. they stand
the dreadful realities OF fact.
/ This country hath now arrived to
crisis OF mOmentous interest 90 every
patriotic bosom. The Rubicon Of ~.
destiny - already passed, and 10 fate
IS hld IN the dark mysteries Of futuriiy.
Shall the dazzling escuioheon 81 rs
lame be stained by 50 foul blot a. CT
wi discofd: Shall Que ct as brich,es.
stars be stricken out. and swept swav
to The vortex Of ruin: Shall one dear
stripe be erased forever. and consigned
To thc deep gulph ct eternal oblivion
Shall the glorious compact ofthc mon.
the vessel ia which The de,iii,,es 81.
country are embarked. be swallowcl
up ~ the quicksahds or destruction
Shall internal cOmmoii0u. like iic "a
lthl present 81 the poisoned tunic. Cou-
sumo with unguenchablc ire the vide
spread glory OF our Union Shall the
WaF hawk Of civil dissensiOn dart her
burning ial0ns into her ,itsls. and
pierce her 20 deaths Shall the sons
which size has iostefed, sheath the dag
ger Of unartestcd and ruthless temer,.
~ m the best blood which animates
her heart Methlnks the shade Of
Washington repInes Me,hinks that
noble band Of heroes who died on The
held OF battle, IN the ehihusiasm ofdc.
Voi'on TO their country. would rise and
rtbuke The fell spirit of civil di.corJ
those wounds which poured out their
.hcarrs blood, would bleed afrcsS, could
hey behold tic unhappy attitude q
the south they would. 10 redeem Ter