Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-06-20

Mr., EptToR: Ga the AL day of next month, the
American nation will have finished It's 63d year
IL is with no ordinary feelings that the knowledge
OF this fact recurs to the mind of the patriot "a
fact that calls up the consciousness of his country's
proud station in the list Of nations-Ihat passes in
review before his minds eye. her whole history up
to The period when the stouiest hearts trembledf for
her-that naturally pictures to his fancy the scenes
OF misery and blooished through which The Heroes
OF the Revolution bore aloft the ark of Freedom
and as naturally suggests to him the duty Of cele.
brating its final issue in a becoming manner.
That the 4th of July, l776, discovered the first
dawnings of the lght of Liberty upon the dark ho-
rizon OF this worlds despotIsm, is as true as that il
IS the natal day Of our Republic. Previous to that
day, Liberty was without a local habitation or a
dwelling place; and the cspabiliiy of the People 10
govern themselves was considered a heterodoxy IN
polit;cs-was looked upon as a thing false in theory
and impossible to be reduced TO practice. The De.
claration Of Independence laid the foundations Of
The Temple OF Liberty, broad and sure, in this
country and the carrying out Of it's doctrines has
demonstrated. by the experience of sixty three con-
secutive years, that the ability of the people to 90.
vern themselves Is nota fantasy OF The Imagination.
The American Nation stands godfather TO L,ber-
ty throughout the universe. Our Revolution gave
birth TO the French Revolution, and that has chan
ged the political face Of Europ-. The fame which
was kindled in this country by the men of rs,
spread throughout France, Germany, Italy, Spain,
Sweden, Denmark and Norway and wa. only
stopped by the Pillars Of Hercules on the one side,
and the ne Plus ultra of Russian and Turkish des-
potism on the o.hcr. BY that flame The soil OF Eu-
rope was prepared, and the seeds of Freedom have
been planted thickly in it; and albeit their growth
has been checked by the tares of crowned heads
and holy alliances, yet will they take root and pro-
duce abundanily.
Turning from the view Of the progress of free
principles in the Eastern Hemisl, here-always a
subject of joy to the philanthopist, let US look
throughout the length and breadth of our own land.
As before observed, on The 4th proximo, our nation
will attain its 63d year. Within that period we
have seen a people rise in their strength and as,er,
their rights, and successfully. too: where the wild
beasts roamed and their wilder companions. the
Indians, we have seen State upon State spring into
being-until our flag is spangled with ftcenty-siz
stars; we have seen commerce manufactures and
agriculture flourish the Sciences, also, have pro-
we'd that the land Of freedom is their native home
TO crown all, we have seen the new world giving
laws TO the old. Added TO this-tiow much cause
for rejoicing do we perceive in our possessing ffee-
dom Of conscience and the security Of our persons
and property. And last though not lesst-we have
a free press, ever the palladium Of liberty; and un-
%examPled personal Independence. and immunity
from taxation, beside many other privileges ENJOY
ed only in the Uniied States.
These privileges, ineslimabls to US and f,rmida-
bic 10 lyrants only, were purchased by eight years
of toll and hardship in the war of the Revolution;
by the expenditure of millions of blood and tree-
sure; with the loss Of the property of our fathers.
and the devastation Of the land by a ruthless sol
d'ery; at the expense Of tears, and groans, and
'ighs, extorted from youth and age BY the horrld
brutality OF the instruments Of foreign oppression
and at the forfeit of almost every thing which could
render life desirable.
In view of these facts, shall we suffer the ami
versary Of the day which gave birth to a Natioa, to
pass by, without ~honorirg it as il should bel In