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


knelt in prayer and battle for world"
Such topics, my friends,I must be
permitted to pass over with mere re-
Numbering notice; for long familiarity
aud continued repetition have stripped
them of the graces of novelty, and OF
interest. But the character OF the spir-
il Of freedom which actuated our an
cestors, its canses and its effscts--sub-
jects of higher intellectual order may
even yet elicit attention and interest
The spirit of the Revolution ! my
Coun,rymen, what lesson of moral
sublimhy does il teachl sit isanot that
valgar renown pnfchasable by physi-
cal strength nor yet that higher csle-
brity acquired by intellectual excel
Ience, that is due to our ancestors
these may exist without lofty thought
or noble purpose.-Ths spirit Of the
Revolution ! 1t was purely of moral
and religious character. Righteous was
the object in view and just we're the
means Of its accomplishment. 1t was
not prompted by ayarice, ambition or
envy lit grew out Of the very nature
OF things and was sustained by the de-
ducible necessity Of an abruption from
English dominion--i,s progress was
limited by that necessity, and confined
to il infusncea-The spirit Of the
Revolution | In difficult times it was
wisdom-in doubtful exigeneies, firm
ness--in peril, it was courage-under
oppressive trials, forti,ude-and amids,
seductive temptations, patriotism-"in
the dark hour Of adversity,it was With
out fear and in the bright hour Of
prosperity full offalth." lathe worlds
history il stands alone, t.like Adams
recollection Of his fall"
Previously to the hot outbreaks Of
ancient, and indeed Of most modern
revolutions, those who became actors
in the dreadful revelry appear to have
remained for ages oppressed with a
lethargic indifference to the evils ander
which they unconsciously groaned,
and to have Rugged In osci.ancy Of
heart, their chains of slavery; until
some signal abuse-the violation Of
Lucreiia--ihe death Of Virginia--,he
oppression Of Tell, reused taem from
their slumbers, when startled they
looked back with disdain and humilia-
ton at the condition from which they
had escaped. Ii was not so with the
patriotic actors in the revolution OF A.
merica. They took Of their situation,
a prospective view fraught with con-
temptation. They judged Of the effect
by the cause--of the future by the past
--of the pressure of a grievance by
the badness ofthe principle. Reason
ing upon the inevitable increase ofim
position on those who are, or who are
though. to be, without power and have
none to help, and calculating the pro-
gressive enlargement Of English de-
mands upon their service and proper
ty-they clearly foresaw either, that
they and their posterity would be sub
jects of goading vassalage, or that
from the dark brow Of fulurity despe-
rate struggles would come with al
most godlike heroism they chose to
meet the difficulties at once-to make
the sacrifices their owD--to incur the
hazard and endure the trial, that we,
and those who shall come after US their
descendants "might reap the harvest
and enjoy the increase" Gsnef-
ols men--exalted patriots --sagacious
statesmen, for such deep moral and So
cial affsction-such proud sell. devotion,
and noble bearing, the increasing nils
lions of your postefity along the At
lantic shore--and they, as the tide OF
emigration rolls back to those wild re-
sions where the sun makes his bed {;
from the frigid north OF Maine, to the
mellow cape Of Florida, will annually
in all future time, as we at this hour,
come up to the consecrated temple, TO
do honor to your bright names and
proud deeds to look steadfastly on
the brilliancy of your glory and to
learn from the spirit we celebrate the
wises, maxims Of public duty in all So
cial emergencies.
'.How sleep the brave who sink in rest,
BY all thor country's wishes blest
There honor lives pilgrim, gray
To bless the turf that wraps their clay !;
And freedom shall awhile repair
To dwell weeping hermit there"
He who attributes the revolution of
our colonial vassalage to the IMPOSE
lion OF the stamp tax, or tea tax, or
any other imposition OF taxes as mere
pecanisry burdens, must be blind and
contracted Of mind. He pays too but
sorry compliment to the spirit-the