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

tolerance. Was it for the Sons Of Slres
like these, who had encountered the ter
rors of the bowling wilderness and the
hostility of a savage foe for the sacred
privilege of worshipping God, as accor-
ding to the best light they had, seemed to
them most proper, was it for them say
to bow their necks to the yoke OF slavery
and submit it to oppression without resis-
lance? Let Boston and Concord, and
Lexington and Buker Hill and a thousand
other batle-felds answer Mat question to
posterl'y.
"New Englands Dead New Englands Dead
On every hill they lie,
On every field ocstritc made red
BY bloody victory.
Each valley where the battle pour'd
Its red ana awful tide,
BohelI the brave New England's sword
with slaughter deeply dyed,
Their bones are on the northern hill,
And on the southern plain,
By brook ard river, lake and rill,
And by the roaring nain."
And what was it. my friends, that nerv-
ed the patriots Of rs to do battle for
their country2 What glorious reflections
are involved in the answer to this qnes-
ton No disreputablc lust of conquest
led them on to battle and to victory, but
Il firm determination to resist the ell
croachments of dcspotic power impelled
them to unfurl their banner 10 the breeze,
and was the means, under Divine ProvI-
dcnce, of browning their eXertions i'll the
cause of liberty with the most complete
success. Like Lconidas and his heloie
band Of Sparlans, Il ey thought it better to
die lrccmcn than to live slaves. In the
emphatic language Of Mr.. Webster, /" it
was en- question Of principle that they
raised their flag against Power, to which
for purposes of foreign conquest and sub
iugation, Rome in the height of her glory
is not to be compared. a Power that has
dotted over the surface of the whcle
globe with her possessions and military
posts, whose morning drumbcat follow
ing the Sun and keeping company with
the hours, circles the Earth daily with one
continuous and unbroken strain of the
martial airs of England"
Among the numerous worthless of The
times that tried mems souls, first in rank
stands the immortal name OF Washington!
Venerable and illustrious name! Greece
may boast or an \ lcxandcr, Rome of a
Cassr ard Pompey, and Carthage OF a
Hannibal, but it was reserved for Amerl-
ca to produce character destined to
throw all former glory into the shade by
uniting with the gifts of genius the purest
and most godlike virtue. Though pos
scssed of keen relish for the peaceful
pursuits and enjoyments Of private life, at
the call Of his country, he girdeG on his
sword TO lead her armies TO battle, and
having once drawn ii and being thorough
ly convinced Of the justice of her cause,
never returned it to its scabbard until the (
objects for which she fought were accom-
plished, and her liberty'and Independence
recognised and secured. With Il mind
never too much clated by prosperity nor
depressed by adversely, he appears 10
have been chosen instrument in the
hands of Providence to assert successfully !
ly the rights Of his country and vindl-
cate her most righteous cause. We shall
in vain search the records Of History TO
find charter equal in all respects 10 that
Of the immortal Washington. Numerous
examples we may doubtless find Of one or
more virtues exhibited to the admiring
gaze Of succeeding times, but it was reser
we'd for the Father of his Country to COM
bine the various excelIencies Of other
great men in his own character and thus |
display to the world degree of pcrlec
ton never before elualledand never to be /
hereafter surpassed. And yet, my friends,
rghtt Gus as we believe our cause 10 have
been, and fruitful as our Revolution APP
rears in instances of heroic virtue, it is
to reflect, such is the per-
vcrsity of human nature, that Ii is chiefly
because their efforts were rewarded with
success that full justice is done to those
Illusrious men who distinguished them
selves in that evcntlul warfare. Had it
been otherwise, had 1t been their lot to
meet with dceat instead of success, what
IS now called Revolution would then
have been termed Rebellion, and those
who took an active part in the war would
ave been stigmatiscd as Rebels and Trai
ors, instead of being honorcd as patriots.
"Robcllion! foul disllonouring word"
"WAosc wrongful blight So oft has stam'd,"