South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-07-23


especially belongs their legitimate
place in each heart, we should not for
get the interest Heaven took in the Sc
lection Of men who possessed the reIi-
gion, education, sentiments, power and
materials to lay the "deep and broad
foundation of this mighty empire"-
They were pious men-followers Of
the meek and lowly one. Had they
been disciples Of the warlike Moham-
ed, or the peaceful Confucius, or of i
dol Gods, their posteri,y would no,
have stood where they do this day,
nor this nation have presented after
the lapse Of, centuries so sublime a.
spectacle to an admiring world.
The consequences, my friends which
have flowed from the revelation in A.
merica, have been so often the themes
Of Orators and Statesmen, that my
mind sinks in utter hopelessness of
presenting them to you either in colo
cation ofthought interesting or new, or
In vesture oflanguage pleasing or nov.
Ell we all know, and we all feel, that
not the lsas. Of the blessings by which
these United States are di,inguished, is
our unexamplsd constitution, diffusing
equal rights and privileges to all, upon
defined and prescribed principles and
acknowledging the people as ths origi-
nal source Of power. II 10 Indeed
the great pillar Of our nations glory,
under its operations we have seen our
country increasing with unparalleled
rapidly 10 power. influence, intelli-
gsnce, dignity, aud general prosperity,
happiness, aud comfort. We have
not only the best civil polity that ever
spread its protection over the rights Of
| mao, but also the wisest religious
freedom operating civil good. You la
dies have great reason to rejoice on
! this hallowed day.-It is mainly thro'
the indueacs Of the christian religion
that the female character has assumed
and maintains Its proper dignity 10 the
scale Of human existence. If we look
10 the ancient commemorative We fnd
that woman was considered Of an order
inferior TO man. In Rome, all that the
greatest panegyFist Of the sex could say
| in favor Of his beloved daughter, con-
| fsssedly superior, even when writing
her episaph, is that she was dsasisida.
rot s-gad-nbout. And the eloquent
Netelus Numidieus, ia his famous
speech, speaks Of woman as mere ami
mated machinery; withou. mind, orl
soul, or heart. In gallan, Athens too,
Aspasia the beautiful and talented As
pasta, whom Pericles, Alcebiadss, and
even the sage Socrates, used to visi, on
account other brightltalenls versatile
I ity Of intellect and rich and varied at
tainments--wa looked upon a, bea. as
splendid show. Their very goddess.
es, what were thayf There is not one
in the whole ancient mythology, tina,
wise man would select as wits, or a
friend. The factis, that in all countries
where the christian religion does not
prevail, the female character is insig-
nifcant and degraded. And in no
country does the dignity Of the sex,
1 stand as high as it deservedly does in
this land Of civil liberty and religious
tolerance. You ladies, then, have pc
culiar cause for rejoicing -This is in
an especial point Of view, the day of
your indepeadence-we nay comrades,
OF the other sex, have likewise peculiar
reasons to rejoice not only that the
female character has been elevated TO
a just and equal companionship with
ours, and by this great mo al and intel
ec,ual comfort added to life but also,
tina, the tendency Of this government,
| is TO augment the civil dignity Of
man. The freedom OF our country
might be expected 10 be exhibited in
/ the sentmenis, manners and deport-
ment Of the CITIZENS in general, and
manly independence. A consciousness
of political power, ought to give to the
people, such digni,y that it might al
most be said of them, as ambassadors
OF Pyrrhus said of the Roman Senate,
they appear nation Of kings.
Seeking, for years, to establish upon
the ruins the ancient dynasty, at one
time republican governmaat, and at
another a limited monarchy, il vaccila.
ted in purpose aad object--and frested
and tossed until it wearied itself into
comparative repose under the consu,
late OF the "soldier of dsstiay." The
history of this distinguished warrior il
but little more Than continued repeti.
lion Of splendid victories over the 20
ten,ates OF Europs--he has been con-
sidered the efficient instrument in the
hands of heaven TO carry out the terrible