Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-12-07
Adams Eu7ogy on Madison.-We ha

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Adams Eu'ogy ON Madison. i've have
received copy Of John Quincy Adams
Eulogy on the life and character of James
Madison, fourth President of the United
States, delivered at the request Of the May
or, Aldermen and common council of the
city of Boston, September 81, 1896. 1t is
noble performance, and makes PAM
phlet of 81 pages large svo. We annex
the concluding paragraphs.--Journai Of
Commerce.
This Constitution, my countrymen, is the
great result Of the North American Revo.
luton. This is the giant stride in the i'm.
provement of the condition of the human
race, consummated in period of less than
one hundred years. OF the signers of the
address toGeorge the Third, lin the Congress
of l774, of the signers of the Declaration
Of Independence in l776-of the signefs
of the Articles Of Confederation in 1871,
and of the slgners of the federal and ma
tional Government under which we live,
| with enjoyments never before allotted to man
not one remains in the land of the living.
The last survivor of them all, was he, to
honor whose memory VIC are assembled
here at once with mourning and with joy.
We reverse the order Of sentiment and re-
Election of the Persian king-we look back
on the century gone by--we look around
with anxious and eager eye for oSe of that
illustrious host Of patriots and heroes un-
der whose guidance the Revolution of Amer
lean Independence was begun and contin-
ued and completed. We look around in
vain. To them, this crowded theatre, full
of human life, in all its stages of existence,
full of the glowing exultation of youth, Of
the steady maturity of manhood, the spark
hing eyes of beauty, and the gray hairs Of
reverend age--all this to them is as the
solitude of the sepulchre. We think of
this, and say how short is human life /!
But then, them we turn back our thoughts
again, to the scene over which the falling
curtain has but now closed upon the drama
of the day. From the saddening thought
that they are no more, we call for comfort
upon the memory of what they aoere, and
our hearts leap for joy that they were our
fathers.
We sec them true and faithful subjects
of their sovereign, first meeting, with firm
but respectful remonstrance, the approach
of usurpation upon their rights. We see
them, fearless in their fortiiude, and conf
dent in the righteousness of their cause, bid
defiance TO the arm of power, and declare
themselves independent States. We see
them for seven years waging war of des-
olation and of glory, in most unequal con-
test with their own unnatural step-mother,
the mistress OF the seas, till under the sign
manuel of their king, their independence
was acknowledged and last, and best OF
all, we see them toiling in war and in peace
to form and perpetrate a union, under forms
of government, intricately, but skilfnlly ad.
justed, so as to secure to themselves and
their posterity the priceless blessings of in
Se' TS,eir Gays on EARN ra have ended, and yet
their century has not passed away. Their
portion of the blessings which they have
thus labored to secure they have enjoyed
and transmitted to us, their posterty. We
| enjoy them as an inheritance-won not by
our tols-watered not by our tears-sad-
dened not by the shedding of any blood Of
ours; the gift of Heaven throngs their suf-
fering and achievements, but not without
charge of correspondent duty incumbent
upon ourselves.
And what, my friends and fellow.c citizens,
what is that duty of our own? Is it to re-
mOnstrate the adder's ear of king beyond
the Atlantic wave, and claim from him the
restoration of violated rights No. 1t is
to sever the ties of kindred and of blood
with the people from which we sprang I?
To cast away the precious name of Brtons
and be no more the countrymen of Shaks.
peare and Milton, Of Newton and Locke,
of Chatham and Burke: or more and
worse, is it to meet their countrymen in the
deadly conflict of seven years war? No.
1t is the last and greatest Of the duties full
filed by them It is to lay the founda-
| tons of the fairest government and might.
est nation that ever foated on the tide of
time. No. These awful and solemn du-
ties were allotted to them and by them
they were faithfully performed. What
then is our duty?
Is it not to preserve, to cherish, to i'm.
prore the inheritance which they have left
us, won by their tolls, watcred by their
tears, saddened, but fertilized by their blood.
Are we the sons of worthy sires, and in
the onward march of time they have a.
chieved in the career of human improve
ment so much only that our posteriiy and
theirs may blush for the contrast between
their unexamplcd energies and our nerve.
less impotence! Between their more than
Herculean labors, and our indolent repose
No, my fellow citizens far be from us,
far be from you--for he who now address,
| es you has but few short days before he
shall be called to join the multitudes Of ages
past--far be from you the rcproach or the
suspicion of such degrading contrast.
You, too, have the solemn duty to perform
of improving the condition of your species
by improving your own. Not in the great
and strong wind Of revolution, which
rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the
rocks before the Lord--for the Lord is not
in the wind not in the earthquake of a
revolutionary war, marching to the onset
between the battle field and the scaffold- :
for the Lord is not in the earthquake : not
in the fire of civil dissention; in the war
between the members and the head in
notification of the laws Of the Union, by
the forcible resistance of one refractory
State-for the Lord is not in the fire and
that fire was never kindlcd by your fathers
No! it is not in the still small voice that