The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-07-16


your, and as we sec nothing criminal in them,
we shall leave him in your own hands, to be
treated as you think fit
CELEBRATION OF TIE 4th OF July IN NORTH
East. We have received with the rcqucs. to pub
lish, an account of the celebration of the 4th inst
by the citizens of North East, but from the crow
dcd state of our columns, have only room for the
following address, which was delivered by DR..
Sewall.
FELLow-ClTIzENs:
The occasion OH which we have as
sembled together, is one fraught with the
deepest interest, not only to ourselves but
to the whole human race, for it is the an
niversary Of the day on which our infant
Republic sprung rcady-armed as it were
upon the great theatre of the world, like
Minerva from the head of Jupiter, and
stood prepared to Go battle in defence Of
her just and unalienablc rights. And, my
friends, think ii most lauGable custom
TO commemorate with ieasling and rejoi-
cling ihe annual return of the day on
which the axe was laid to the root of the
Tree Of Tyranny, whose pes,iferous
branches had been for ages casting NOR
al blight and deadly influence over the
happiness Of mankind. Cold must be the
heart of that man whose bosom does not
lhlill with emotions of pleasure, when he
hears the 4lh of July rs mentioned in
his presence, and his mind naturally re-
vcrts to the exciting associations connec-
ted with that ever memorable day. Let
no man say that it is all folly to assemble
together every year on this day, to hear
the same sentiments repeated over and
over again. BY aparly of reasoning; we
might as well say that it is all folly to go
TO Church every Sabbath. because the
truths Of the Gospel are familiar to our
minds, and we do not stand in need of be-
ing reminded Of them. But it is our duty
to attend upon the public worship of
God, no matter how poor an orator the
Preacher may be who undertakes to ex-
pound the scriptures, and in like manner,
it is our duty and should be our pleasure
to observe the 4th Of July as a hoIydav,
and reverence the text of the Declaration
of independence, no matter how poor the
commentary may be TO which we may be
called upon TO listen.
five take a retrospect of the past his
tory Of that glorious little island from
which we have derived our origin. we
shall find that the Anglo-Saxon race have
always been warm lovers Of liberty, al
though at first they had but faint con-
ccption Of its true nature. In the reign
Of King John, the first check was given
to arbitrary power, and the first idea of
written Constitution reduced to practice,
by the resolute Intervention of the arisio-
crazy Of the Kingdom, when that weak
but tyIanncal Monarch was forced TO
sign at Runnymcde, that memorable in
strumcnt handed down to posterity under
the name OF the Magma Charta or the
great Charter. This curlaled the royal
prerogatve and enlarged the privileges of
the Mobiles and was thus the first step Ia
ken towards the attainment of rational
liberty and the first blow struck at the alb
surd doctne of the divine right of Kings,
and its inevitable consequence, the duty
of passive obedience and non-resistance
10 tyranny. The theory of this great
charter was either held in allowance or
practically exercised accordingly as the
autocratc or democratic principles pre-
vailed in the Government, and was finally
confirmed and permanently established by
the Revolution Of less, when James end
was forced TO abdcatc the Crown, and
Prince Of Orange elected to reign
in his stead. Who is not filled with adj
whilst reading The spirit-sliring
history Of his Fdihcrlard, and of the
noble struggles of a Russell, IIampdcn
and Sydney against desroic power
Well may we be proud Of deriving our
origin from a land where the sacred fire
was never suffered to die on the Alter Of
Liberty, though often attempted TO be
qucnched in the blood Of its votaries.-
Holy priests Of most holy worship, it
was your daring courage that snatchcd
the Promeihcan fire from Heaven, be it
our part to keep alive the sacred flame
with religious veneration and emulate
your illustrious examples!
But, although our English Ancestors
always appear 10 have always cherished
an ardent love of liberty, aud just appre-
:ialion Of their own rights, they seemed |