Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-06-16
FOURTH OF JULY.
Celebration of American Independence:

Celebration OF American Independence. I
Mr.. Editor AS the time Of celebrating |
the day on which our forefathers declared |
that call men were created free and equ al
and endowed by their Creator with certain
inalienable rights, among which were life,
liberty, and the pursuit Of happiness" draws
nigh, have deemed it proper to offer few
thoughts on the manner of observing that
day. think great improvement has been
made in past years, and think there is room
for still further improvement. There has
not been as much powder and intoxicating
liquors used for few years past as former
ly. There has not been as much sacrifice
of human life, 10 consequence of their use,
as in former celebrations, and all who desire
the peace and good order of society will
admit that, so far, much has been gained
In lieu of those practices, in many places,
Sabbath School scholars have been assem-
bled,-addresses been given, showing the
importance of cuItivating right moral and
religious principles, in order to retain the
freedom which the majority Of the people
of the United States now enjoy. Temper
ance addresses have also been given, setting
| forth clearly that true freedom can not exist,
where man is bound down by alcohol and
that the people of this nation Gas mass)
are yet willing to pay an enormous tax for
| the consumption of an article which, 10 an
| Gent days, was one of the chief causes of
the destruction Of cities and kingdoms, and
that unless this practice be done away, this
nation will eventually lose her glorious
privileges. The pecuniary- loss to the U.
States, annually, from the consumption Of
intoxicating liquors, is estimated at not less
than two hundred millions of dollars. And
this is but a small item, in comparison with
the amount of crime, wretchedness and loss
Of human life which necessarily, or at least
ever do, accompany the practice of using
alcoholic liquors as drinks. The cause of
Bibles and missionaries has in some cases
been touched upon on this day. These en-
terprizes, if properly conducted, will tend
to perpetuate the freedom now enjoyed by
the majority of the people of this country,
and extend the came boon to those now
enslaved. But alas! there is but small
portion of ministers and orators of this
boosted land of liberty, who dare plead that
these blessings shall be extended to, and
enjoy ed by the colored man of the southern
= off ha
rectors of most Of the great benevolent So
cieties Of our country, shut the slave out
from their sympathies, and bestow them up
on the shareholder. Hence the necessity of a
separate and distinct organization, for the
purpose of carving out the principles on
which were based the Declaration of Amer
lean Independence. And contend that.
under the existing condition of the United
E States, the cause of the enslayed and de-
graded colored people should be the main
theme of discussion on each Fourth of july.
until we become what we profess to be, a
nation OF freemen. This cause should stand
e as the prominent one on that day.
The reason shall offer for this is, tina: this
e is the day abore all Others, when we boast Of
e TIE glorious principles on which our govern.
e ment is established. The time when we
5 laud those who dared to declare in the face
: of the monarchs of The whole world, ,ha,
5 all men were created equal, and declared
0 that they were willing to lay their fortunes
+ their sacred honor and even their Jires IN
J. this holy altar. Many of those who made
: this solemn declaration seemed willing tc
! carry out these principles. But others con.
: tinued to hold In bondage even those who
$ fought for the liberty Of their masters. rem.
resenting that the period was not remote
when slavery should cease. More than
o sixty years have elapsed since the famous
/ declaration was put forth, and instead Of
diminishing, the number Of slaves has vastly