Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-07-19
DOME 8WI0e
THE GRAFTON

THE GRAFTON
DsitUered at the CITY CELEBRATION at Yasbi, otou|
IF The lM of Juy by FRANCIS s KEY:
Inc spe c'acle Of happy people, rejoicing in hack
iu'ness beOfe God aud the wofd for the bIe.sjnr n,
evl hosry - no vain pageant. 1t presents an oIe,-
Ing acceptable 10 Him who gives virtuous effort il.
iUPuI'e anu lis success and u holds forth 10 all man
KIND light to animate aud direct them in the pursuit
oil blessings which ora the common RICH, Il all.
We are assembled, therefore, in the discharge of
high and holy duty. We have opened h. records Of
time and reed that bright page that proclaimed 10 the
world the solemn purpose oil The fathers of our country
aud The sacred pledge they gave for its fulfmen Tn
pledge has been redeemedihe purpose
and we are here, in the rich possession of what vAor
mas wen and wisdom has preserved for us.
Well may he FEAR who has been bonored 40 the in
sumeht OF expressing your selings such an coca
SION 20 ADDRESS himself 10 those who have just listened
to the glowing language OF the paper we have heard
Can he attempt 10 take you back the proud period
when THIS Clio ious instrument was first uuroIied in
,hat assembly OF patriots whose names it has made i'm
inof'a! Can he hope to shew you how they gather.
ed around 1t Can Language o. The speaking canvass
pain! ths kindlns counienanees with which they learn.
ed to hear W the high resolve, seen uron every brow?
che ready hands, which gsI Lfs aud fortune and ss
cred honour TO sustain il?
Your m'ginaiions must portray this scene Your
owe isehss give you conce plion OF lie grandeur and
shew you, in all the glory of The act IN al has ennobsd
them, the men whose names have gone forth to an al
inifDg world, and viii be handed down distant .ners-
tons
They sleep in honored graves, rescued land their
monument aud their names eDgraven the hears Of
their counrymen. All have left the scene of their la
mong us, upon whom wa are still permitted q Iook
with reverence and afTsciion-whose days have beer
prolonged thai h might see the rich fruit OF a pa
rlots abOrs, Gni That tue world ugh see, in the CRATE
iul homage oil thankful people he ward that ATS
such iabors shaI! leave it your warm he ars INV
courlrymen, TO oiIsr tribute OF praise to these our
oenelae'or', all That language Can express. shall
leave to yourselves TO cali up the circumstances OF
the scene 10 which have alluded, whish witnessed
the event 'ha' mas marked hi' day day OF glad.
ness.
shall endeavor to discharge a more humble duty,
by hiilns up such por'cn OF your time l may feel
allowed 10 claim on this occasion, by inviting YOU 10
consider win me what thai blessing is which calls
forth, on this day, nsiOD's gratitude and ioy WHAT
ns which, throughout the limits of our spreading
country, calls together countless nulIitudee assem-
bed Ike ourselves 10 testify their reverence for the
day. What is that raises their song Of triumpb, a,
II one heart animated all The mas and heal in evs,y
pulse OF our population
Is 'hai this fair world was opened 10 the en-
terPrize OF our fathers! That Ibis broad and beautiful
land is birth rgh2 This is indeed blessing which
demands cur lhapk but human happiness re ouires
more ihan any land, however enriched by nature and
adorned Oy af' can give. There PORTIONS OF the
EARN, lair and favored own iuher,ance where
lhere no f'Joicing whose patriots (f there be any)
o1n only weep over their wrongs where all the boun
tss Of Providence aye marred by the folly and wick
e.ness of man.
Isi that The country thus rich 10 The qif,s Of Hea-
yto' was rescued from oreisn dcminion' that in the
INSTRUMENT Jos read % US, u cast off all depe ndeDce
upon me power that oppressed H. and stood forth s an
independent nation among the people OF the ea1u and
that what thus hoby declared has teen glorousy
accompli.hst?
This, TOO, deserves thanks, But had this been
all nad nothing further been e6sced Tor the security
and happiness Of delivered people il might have prov
su short'Red Joy'-loo oieh have such struggles
tefmihaeI even when successful, only in a change OF
mesiers loo oilen some msTule mas started M il,
more tolsrable than that which was ovefihronn
such might have been the coadf5n Of our country
But II was ioreseen and provided for by the men she
had called to her councils. Al the commencement
th'y locked to the close Of the conflict. AT ihe mo.
IA
cd ali the purpose aud the full extent of resistance
ihey declared what they meant 10 put down. and " hat
ihey meant 10 set up. Iaey entered upon the over
'sro" OF ore authority and the esabshme nj of another
as upon one and The work; and thereby both en-.
sured The success OF their effort and made that success
The blessing which we find H.
Had thsr measures bean dictated by loss wisdam mr.
eoursgs they would hSys made it a much lesJ work
far inferior project
They might have determined upon resistance, blin5Iy
leaving to ctcumslaocos to guide them ia lie cSur.S
and in lis results.
THESE might have led them 10 select ssms ether now
er to whom they nigh. transfer ,hemselvss and their
country 10 consideration Of osSon; and in the poor
nope oil hnd0g more leuisni master. Or thew might
nave established a new dynasty, calling tbs head Of
some iayofsd amy 10 throne, under slpulaons and
limitations mat he was to promise 10 regard And if|
an oIgeshy Geemed preferable, they could have par
celIed out ii power among themssvss 10 be held by
ihsfD and their heirs sucGessorg for The welfare f
the people. Very respectable sutboridas vgs1e IN he
found for all these schemes. Ether OF them wouId
no Goubi have been preferred by the eminent poIitie
" 'O1o ""y', 'o'ha' "Dlch was adopted. That
people could govern themselves, a people neither born
nor bred TO such busnes would ever have been the
opinion OF men who took their views from The leaTrinS
OF maj day, which bad been made the pensioned advp.
cate Of power 10 those days, il writer vas inclined
20 aeiehd popular gogeroments there were not many
paris Of we world where 1t could be- done with safety:
~nh5 me doctrines that denounced such governments
richly rewarded. ""'
10 England the freedom Of enquiry upon such topic,
cOu'u io always be restrained; and have at vari-
Gus periods been known and honored there "a he lear,
less champions OF civil liberty Yet even ibev have
generally protested 10 approve Of restricted monarchy
snd soked upon governments pa ely popular with fear
and apprehension " "
Under sueb circumstance and 10 such times. No mr..
dnary men could have put for the ID sclaaiion
cdn Aud The men who made this fearless
appeal 10 Cod and tho world in half Of The long vio
lated and almost forgotten rights Of mankind were no
ordInary men They were ted by pEJvldenos 10 the
eSig ney'o "hisb hey we're called