Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-08-09

Delivered in the FIRST Pres5yteriun Church Charles
ton on Monday. July 4, 1881. 6y The Hon WIL.
| LIAM DRAYTON:
FELLow-CITIzENs:-
Among all nations, whether eplis h,ensd or ba,ba
rou', the custom has Prevailed OF celebrating by public
ora'ions, those achievements which edounded TO the
glory OF their ancestors, and 10 the happiness Of their
pos e;iy. America may proudly, and not vainy boast
ma, re annals CT history EXHIBIT political aci 90
ooo'e IN ne conception and important in ito results
az the Declaration Of Independence ct those Ubited
Sn'es, Ga the n of July, l776, the sun ros. upon
.hr'een subject eoonies-beo'e II satk in darkness
bsamsd upon tbr cen free ard sovereign States. To
'orm a proper estimate Of the mngnanuous daring a
these who guided our councils, and tous our battles
during the revolutionary struggle, we n,u4i adver, TO
the re alive sust'on of the c3n.ndog parties al i,s
commencement. These 5 aies then contained popu.
laon no, .eding three niliou.. They were with
out an armed trigae or regular bstiaion-wihout an
ally-wi'hout revenue-w hout :, ur ion-yyiihou,
mu;k4ts Tor their soders ciot.iIg protect ,h- IN
from the incleDency OF the weather tents 10 shelter
them from the fury Of the elemens Great ,ain con-
dusted by the mighty g.nius OF that minister no.
arm smote the House OF Bourbon erd with The other
welded the democracy OF Eagiaud," had recently
vanGushed France snd Sian, end prescribed t. them
the terms OF peace, by which she rsqurea vas, re.
gons in three quarters Of The globe. II .e was the
most formidable in the wo: J-her armies were numer.
ous, brave, disciplined and provided abundsnIy with
military stores and inn Of warbler
enabled her 10 add 10 herowu Ie,ource The i'd OF
csnary veterans and OF Iadisu savasas To encounter
sneh fearful odds? was America ssaead on by cypras
,on hsapsd upon sppres.iop9 Hss her peoyl. saff.r
ed 'ho'e wrongs which make endur snce inolssabis?
Had thai fields heen ravagsd THAR cities ssek.d
their property piilsg.d. Had the privacy Of their dwell
ngs been invaded, the fruits If ;ssr inJnsry been
r@v,-h.d fom them by 6tcaI plund,rer.i Had they
been victims to arbitrary con-crip,ion or to bloody
prescription? Meme OF these questions could be an
sSered Sflifmatively. Amoric.'s cauie Of quarrel
~ss-the imPcs ton Of a petty tau, which le-
We'd merely as sn svldsrce Of the prerogaivs OF
The country 10 raise from the colonies
They refused yield TO taxation without represen alton;
and in defence OF abstract principle their citizens
mutually pedgDg to each other their lives, their for
tnRtr Al.
appealing 10 God and their rights rushed into the con-
flict with the most potent monarch in Europe"
That conflict was between Great Britain and her colo
nes but in its result far wider circle embraced
Liberty and Despotism the copIbatans. Should
the latter have prevaed-shOuld Liberty whose BAN
unfurled have been struck down by
the power OF her adversary-the gloom of slavery
would not have darkened our plains alone--it would
have extended its baeful shade the oppressed in
every region and retarded the ameIioraon of the con
diion OF man. Happily, the spirit which reused a.
merca TO assert her rights did evaporate in hasty
ebullions OF resentment, transient resolutions
ssance. AS she entered into the Struggle with reck-
less defiance OF consequences did she persevere,
with an unirng zeal and steady enthusiasm. Before
independence had been proclaimed the battles of Bun
ker's Hill and of Fort Mourie had been fought. At
Bunkers HILL the half armed militia of Massachusetts
toed for hours the attack of British veterans-twce
forced them to retire in disorderand when overwhelm
ed by numbers, many of them chose rather be bayo
need al their posts than TO surrender them TO their
vindictive conquerors. At Fort MouItrc. with equal
SRS sfo %d:ee o Under the fearless
Moultfie in Palmetto Battery, defended by So can
non, opposed armed vessels of the then
the ocean, mounting n7o ns, and having hoard 5000
land troops BY the GOODNESS and determination of this
small garrison, the British squadron compelled
retire, crippled and disabled, with loss in killed and
wounded, equal to one half oil their vicors.
Alter enduring tells aud dangeisand every spScis, CT
prvatonaei suffering Gisls!ers and defeats, fore
fathers accomplished their great design After seven
long years of these in!an, States broke The chains
which arbitrary power endeavoured to tive upon hem
they wrung from Great b aio The reluctant renuncia.
ton oil her lawless ptetensions and her acknowledge
ent OF he rights OF those who 'set honor in one eve
and death in the oher, and looked death nde
ly. To detail the events Of the revolutionary war,
would be repeat what never he for gotten, and
wha, hiss often been told sin thoughts thai breathe and
won unading renowa, by their devotedness, and
conduc', and vaor, is the province OF the historian
end the bard. Time wouIi fail were 10 altemp,
,he enumeration, and 10 parlicuarize some, would be-
Injurious to others. To those Of them, Who nrvive
IL, pay the Tribute Of our feVen. and enduring graz
utude; and we owe IL to the memories OF those who
have gore htnSe, who "died amidst their mourning
counuy's eriss"-o proclaim, "ihat the good which
hey have done ia no, inferred with their bonestha
il il be Do registered in heir epaphs, il is recorded
in The reeessrs Of our hearts, where il viii remain un.
Ill shall become false TO ourselves and traitors 10
our eountry.
Aud, ina. revolutionary band, 10 whom are 20
largely indebted, name, by common stands
forth pre- emnep the name OF ashingt on. As has
yer been uDnoced on this day, will not depart from
the ample Ano her motive, with me for bringing
before on tho character snd de eds Of Washin gon is
thu, in publications. Of general circulation, although il
is admitted, that he was national benefacior, is de-
MED that he was grea II has been said, that he
had "oniy common sense and common honesty" UC-
less specific me ane gs 10 words,
son in a circle What some may call "grear it is moi
for NE 10 determine. In my estimation, he is great,
vvho has accomplished great ends with comparatively
inadequate means. b. this criterion lea Washing
be teIed From tho fhent 10 the conclusion
OF The war for Ird dependence, he commanded ar.
mics. These armies, when he was placed Al their
head, undisciPned impatient Of sontroul imp.r.
fecIy armed, bIdy clothed, frequently naked, and Of
ten desIiiuie of the DeceiSafies ct hfs With these
trcops, inferior in numbers TO their opponent, he
snsisined seven campaigns against The ifSined and
tststsu soldiers OF Great Britain and Germany,
| led by brave and experienced sficsrs. Otss
vanQusbsd, he 80 stsD css ctod together As wrecks
| ami fragments of his broken baUaliops, termed
them snsw, inspired asrn wits his spirit. esd 10
| them Was again fetdy to renfsnt an sHsmy flashed
with victory and soeu,isrnsd TO csrques Wbsn our
star dimmsd-W hSn our fortunes at the
low cit ebb--"whsn cloud, oN,cufsd ColumbA's day.
by perous, sud brilliant, aud successful exp1i',
eeivsd End sshduslsd by himself, be terminated his
! dropping country BY nofSl and physical courage
by ebfhprt hanUYs stn5-by judioiout dsias-by tho
5killu adaptation OF 10 their ttjscoSy prsssrv-
Ing bis squsDimiiy amidst dsta aud famine, snd mu-
tiDy, and conspiracy in his campby permitting adj
vantage 20 be taken OF HE skncss by hs sstg snt
and svaiiag himself. promptly, OF Svery opportunity 10
fls heir Fl t-wib lbs AID OF HE galSnt a'sosia'e'
be uinstsly tfiUmphed. Alter The adoption Of tho
/ Federal Contiiuion, lie was uusOimoUsiy elected
Precedent OF she United atcs. The SUPP ndous tHec'
retultng from ths revolution In Francs, the nsfious
inierntdjisg OF her dipomaiisis IN our Internal con-
cefn the jeaousies Of Great Britain add Der maehina
ions geos rising property, he resenimen's OF
France becauss America III EO eide WIN her ~ her
European Quarrels, immtnse national dsht, an IN
icisnt revenue Inisn yssions Of coil, and
mas tc iusurrgetion were some, hOJsh not ali OF the
diHieui 8 in which our 6rst PfeSid,n waJ invJlv.
az bt o Objected IN This statement Of The cause Of quarrel
Bnn that when independence was DECLARED various o