Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-07-24
GEN. HAMILTON.
FoRT HILL, 10th June, 1855.

This gentleman being invited to the same
fourth Of July celebration. which Mr.. Calhoun
was prevented from attending, was also forced to
decline from the state of his health, but trans.
mitted in lieu, the following very eloquent letter.
PENpLEToN, July 18th, 1888.
Gentlemen:-I cherished the hope until late
hour this morning, that my health would permit
INV being with you tot day, aud that | might in
person return you my sincere thanks for the very
| hatterins and friendly invitation you have given
me to unite with large and respectable number
of the citizens of Anderson. in the celebration
of the Anniversary of American Independence;
but being compelled to leave this for Charleston
in the course of two or three days, | do not deem
il prudent TO put nv cOnvalescenCe to any pre-.
/, yious trial by iajudicious fatigue or exposure.
am therefore constrained to express nv great re.
greet, that am unable to accept an invitation
thus kindly rendered. 1t might, under ordinary
circumstances, be proper to conclude this com.
municaon with this apology, but the occasion it.
self, the deeply interesting crisis through which
our State has just passed, and the relation hold
to the latter, will, am in hopes, excuse the few
remarks with which | propose to trouble you.-
You will find in the sequel, that my purpose Is
not to indulge in frutless metaphysical discus
sion, but to discharge more grateful, though
mournful and affectionate office.
The celebration of the Anniversary of the In.
dependence declared by the old thirteen free, So
vereign and independent States, before even
their confederation in 1878, cannot fail to pro-
duce a.salutary moral influence. it regarded With
just estimate Of the lesson this great event in
cuicates. If, for example, it in,igorates love
for liberty itself, just sensibilityto every thing
! -. a. d aud nd
rishes also an attachment to the sovereignty Of
these States, under an abiding conviction, that
as the great struggle for independence was wag.
ed and contaminated by each of them, in its So
vereign capacity, however, conformity they may
have acted, furnishing, as It does, type Of their
present relation towards each other, exercising
again conformity sovereignty which flows from
each, and by which the agent created by this So
vereignty is responsible IL each and all. il cannot
fail in its lofty and cheering associations, to make
Us better men and better trustees Of that freedom
which has been con6ded to our care.
But If, on the other hand, we set up false idols
and worship in stspid spirit of bgotry. the
mere effigy for the divinity itsef.-if, under the
name Of Union, the substantial essence of liberty
is to be lost sight Of, and the very term itself is
to be employed not only as a cloak for fraud,
violence and injustice, but for the basest serviIi
ty and man worship, we shall have learnt as lit.
tie from our fathers as from the august moral
which the day itself teaches, and find that we
have approached not much nearer in our adora.
ton Of the real objects Of the Union, than the
Egyptian did to his God, in worshipping Gro
codile.
Since our last anniversary, our State has pass
ed through severe trial. THANK God she did not
falter. II our victory is not as complete as we
could have desired, or as the justice Of our cause
would have justified, we have not, at least. our.
selves to reproach. II is enough that substan.
tial interests were secured, and, amidst almost
unexampled difficulties, the point Of honor was
preserved, by the single and unasssted efforts Of
our party If we had been united at home, and
if. after South Carolina had avowed in the face
Of the world her utimstum, all her children had
gathered around her in flal obedience and de.