Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-08-27

overcome by your presentation Of The caims which my
fellow citizens OF county and especially of our town,
con'd Oh right, make upon me in matter OF this sort
Your present request, being preferred the same
grounds, must meet The same compliance from me-a
compliance, beg you to believe gentlemen however
much il may mpeach my appreciation of my obligations
to The best OF friends, and the most faithful of conu
ents, even more reluctantly yielded than was that to
your first call
copy of the address accompanies this reply, and is
submitted 10 the disposition of The committee
With The highest respect,
Your fellow. citizen,
sILAS WRIGHT, JR.
Han. MisEr JESrsos ond Others
Committee of Arrangements, &c.
ADDRESS.
FELLOW. CITIZENS: We have assembled 10 commemo.
The 63d anniversary of the ndepe ndence of our
beloved country Full SO yenrs have this day minated
since the Declaration OF Independence To the reading
of Which you have just listened, published The
world BY tha, band of patriots who the Represen
auves Of The then l3 confdera,ed British CoIones,
dared 10 place their 10 that pershabe charter
Of human rights md TO give il 10 their fellows their
equals their brothers, all the lands under the SUM- as
the map of rational liberty
II was new theory OF civil government. II taught,
that rights belonged TO The people well as The prince:
That grants of power, not coming directly from the
Sovereign ofihe Universe, must proceed from de-
na bile power, and be- based upon some dPtinabe right
10 make the grant: Tina, the power in subordna
lion 10 The Great Creator Of all things the RATIONAL
accountable beings created in his Image and endowed
with emanatons from his re son and justice: That if
they To h. governed, beyond his government, the
sovereignty of power mus, rest with themselves, and
the exercise of that power be for their exclusive tempo
raj wearr That the people, therefore, the
rogns Of all proper earthly government and that rulers
not The masters bat The servants of the people
Hence lis declarations "ita, all men created equal
that they endowed by their Creator with certa:n
unalirnabe rights that among these are life, liberty,
and the pursuit Of happiness that 10 these rights
,l,a
"rt powers from The consent OF the governed" DC.
After this lapse Of time and tins Of - cure noes
OF the same national festival he who addresses en-
lghtenPd audience OF the free citizens OF the republic,
npon its sixty third return has enyabe task To make
his discourse either interesting, useful 10 his hearers
For one generation, the wisdom and talents and eo
qupnce Of the first among the actors in the Of
the Revolution were annually employed to present TO
Their counrymen the patriotism, patience courage and
suitrirgs, of those, who had first voluntarily, by The
force Of arms, won an enrthly crown Of inCstimabe
price 10 be worn by free and sovereign people;
10 impress upon their hearers the value of that conquest
and The duty nf is preservaliHn Their audiences were
.re conquerors themselves those who had fought and
BLEED aud suffered in the great battle for liberty and who
knew and felt the truth Of The representations made 10
them. The pictures thus drawn by personal actors and
apsied BY living witnesses. have been handed down TO
in figures Of light, and constitute our most lively
mniscences of the past lnlest pride Of citizenship
for the present and the foundation of most conf
dent hope for the future.
second generation followed, and summoned it's
moving orators, upon every recurrence Of this joyful
anniversary, to commence the living history OF these
Of surprising interest," 10 mixed audtories, Of
those who had and felt and borne, and of the
mediate descendants from the martyrs in that gornus
cause the who had fallen upon The battle field or
mel an early grave from The and tolls and prva.
tnns Of the prntraced contest Here again life in
the pictures and living witnesses 10 correct the shades
and coorings These, too, have descended 10 u.s. and
jnined with the Others live in memories, in our
hearts, and in our Libraries
Still q third generation has succeeded and passed
away. Like the relics Of that mighty Revolution, its
attentions 10 The anniversary which celebrate CONT
nue. 10 dmnsh and yet signal instances annually pre-
senled themselves where the tongue of eoquence and
the pen of power carried Us back again 10 seventeen
hundred and seventy six and brought up through
the moving scenes of half century with the interest
Of reality and the truth Of history This last generation
has occupied period OF peculiar interest II opened
upon the worn soldiers OF the Revolution, thnly
scattered extended country, and just beginning
TO receive the bounty of that country for the tolls priva
tons suferings and services Of that seven years
II has them passing like shadows among The lhrong
ing multitude OF our increasing population, and like
shadows, entering @ that undiscovered country, from
whose bourn no traveller returns, their o,ering and
enfeebed steps supported 10 The verge by that ongde
frrrd pension, which is really but the honest wages
Of faithful and unrecomprnsfh military service in the
achievement OF American Independence. STILL as
spnbe the citizens 10 commemorate the anniversary Of
that Declaration Of independence, 10 sustain which they
served and toiled, and fought md exertiun within
their ynuthiui power was more chseriuy, or earnestly
made than that of the aged veteran, join in the
festivities to hear again those heartfelt recounted
the bravery Of his companions arms lauded the merits
Of his commander inche exoled, and the blessings TO
his country, Of their Joint tolls and trials, wo tty ap
precated, by those who so fast crowdng him from
The stage Of human action Look at the aged patriot
he listens the reading OF that imppshabe declarations
he hears the peals Of Joy sent up the heavens as
testimonials Of gratitude 10 those who, with him, sns
tanned it, and lis principles, at the peril Of her lives,
their fortunes, and their sacred honor While his
nerves lrernble beneath the weight Of years, you will
see the halo Of youth encirc- his brow the fire of en-
kndled patriotism brighten his eye, and the gratifying
survey Of immense people, made free and prosperous
and happy by his pains and perls almost overwhelm him
with mingled sensations Of pride and hankiulness.-
This remnant of that wonderful OF men continued
10 elevate the tone, 10 guide the and 10 correct
the Of the historical narraors OF the events OF the
Revolution, during this period.
We are al the commencement of the fourth genera
tion since The Declaration of American Independence
ushe.ed 10 The world and yet 10 are spared
and then Of those venerable fathers, TO whom We
may look for remembrance, for instruction. for
agenent The presence of a few, too few, Of them
cInsecrate present assembage and link u.s. by liv
ing chain, with the days and times and incidents We
would celebrate With US and this generation however,
they must depart and be upon earth. Before
another twenyone years shall have passed away, Inc
revolutionary fathers The revolutionary soldiers Inc re
evolutionary pensioners, must in the ordinary course OF
nature, have been gathered to the silent tomo lne ast
sad tribute must have been paid TO their Ving worm
1.-The last mournful epsph Of their country ana OF 'heH
country must have been written ano Inc american
peape and The world must be lett without iiVng Wit
ness #, and actor in, that great struggle, "hcn gave
h, - new md uniried system OF government based
80 Tho rights of men rational. accountable beings
h- ,h.n upon the accidents of birth, wealth.
Gill The memory Of this anniversary die with this
CL.n H.. Ill