Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-06-11
nj 8 G e ETA Ny.
LOVE OF COUNTRY.

| lhls Is my own my native land"
This is the language of poetry, and il finds a
triumphant response in human bosons all over
/ the globe.
| Whether it be the Grecnlandcr in the realm Of
eternal inter, or the Arab amid the scorchinr
sands of Zahara, or the Indian in his solitary
| wild, it may be said Of each, that in his own
cline there would he live, there would he die
| There is his home, there slumber the halow-
| ed dust OF his ancestors there is his paternal
mansion, in which his childhood was nursed, his
childhood carcssed and protected, and in his ma
turer years, instructed and admouIshed. Ii is
his own language he speaks, and by which he
coinmunes with his kindred and friends around
him.
Local attachments are among the strongest and
most permanent of which nature is suscepti-
Bile. Who can imagine the feelings of an exile?
Mountains may rise, and rivers may roll between
him and the land from which may be cast out,
or from which he may have exiled hmself; but
memory and imagination can bring before him
all that is lovely there, and by the contrasts,
torture his bosom with the keenest pangs.
sc How Often" said Camillus, on his return
from voluntary exile, chow often did my ma
tive country spread itself before me with these
hills and plains, the Theirs silyery flood This
scenery, SO familiar to my sight, and this sky,
beneath which was born and educated 20 He
felt that he had been injured, but with all her
faults he felt that he loved his country still. He
came indeed in the hour of disaster, and led forth
her troops 10 victorious battle.
The captive jew hung his harp upon the will
low, for his trembling hand could not sweep its
strings, to the heavenly melodies of happier and
better days. He could not sing of Zion's
songs, for the efiort woke within him affecting
remembrances OF home, and his native land.--
" He wept when he remembered Zion.''
Why weeps the invalid in foreign chimes p
Not merely that he must die in strange land,
or perchanee in his flight homeward, fad I'M
lettered tomb in the caverns of the great deep
But why need multiply illustrations Of this
sort to American citizens. With what intense
ard impassioned feelings may he exclaim, I" this
is my own my native land"
He may indeed share many ofthe beauties of
nature, and blessings of society only in common
with the jewellers of most other countries. But
does he not feel the strength Of, at least tie,
unfelt almost any where else? Yes, it is her
freedom, which more than any other tie, binds
an American to his birth land.
II is freedoms air that he breathes il IS free
dom's sun that shines upon him. 1t is freedom
priced in his hearts just estimation above all
price. 1t is freedom that kindles up in every
visage the smiles ofjoy and contentment. 1t is
freedom which invests with charm The spot,
otherwise most uninviting. The rock bound, sea
grit isle on our coast, where the fisherman
spreads his nets, may not win the heart of him
who treads in the green vale, and beside the I'M
ruffied streamlet but is not the tenant there as
free as the sea bird that waves her wing in mid
heavenl Ay amidst its eternal rocks would
our hardy countryman lnger while he lives, and
minele his las, farewell with the murmuring of
the pillows that beat its shores
But let me remark that in an American citizen
the love of country should rise higher than mere
affection il should be with him practical prin-
cpe. In a patriot what is feeling without ac-
ton Our fathers loved this land, but they bcd
for il too. Had their patriotism been mere afiec-
ton, sluggish feeling, their liberty would have
expired in its infancy. Lexington and Bunker
D. 4 L
distinguished by their iilustrious achievements,
and their bones would not have been mingled
with the soil of every state from Maine to Geor-
gia.