Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-07-06

bears no inscriptions, fronting to the rising sun
from which the future antiquarian shall wipe tn
dust. Nor does the rising sun cause tones o
music to issue from lis sunnmit. But at the rs
ing OF the sun, and at the setting OF the sun, il
the blaze OF MONDAY, and beneath the milder eff
tugence OF lunar light, it looks il speaks, it acts
to the full comprehension Of every American mind
and the awakening of glowing enthusiasm i'm eve
ry American heart. Its silent but awful utter
ance; its deep pahos, as it brings to our contem
platior the 18th Of June, l775, and the conseSuen
which have resulted to us, to our country ant
to the world from the events of that day, and
which we know must continue 10 rain influence
on the destinies of mankind to the end of time
the elevation with which il raises us high above
the ordinary feelings of life, surpass all that tn.
study OF the closet, or even the inspiration Of gen
ius can produce. To-day il speaks TO u.s. Its
future audltories will be through successive gen.
erations Of men, as they rise up before it. Its
speech will be Of patriotism and courage of civil
and religious liberty of free government of the
moral Improvement and elevation of mankind
and OF The immortal memory of those who with
heroic devotion have sacrificed their lives for their
country.
In the Older World numerous fabrics still exist,
reared by human hands, but whose object has been
lost in the darkness Of ages. They are now mon
uInenis of nothing but the labor aud skill which
constructed them.
The mighty pyramid itself, half buried in the
sands of Africa, has nothing to bring down and
report to us but the power Of kings and the ser
vi,ude OF the people. Ii it had any purpose be-
You'd that OF mausoleun, such purpose has per-
ished from history and from tradition. If asked
Tor lis moral object, its admon,ion its sentiment,
It's instruction To mankind, or any high end in its
erection, 1t is Slent-silent as the millions which
lie in the dust at its base, and in the catacombs
which surround 1t. Without just moral object,
therefore, made known to man, though raised a.
uai pS thp ski Wait
er, mixed with strange wonder. But if the civil
lzatIon OF the present race Of men, founded as il is
III solid science, the true knowledge of nature, and
vast discoveries in art, and which is stimulated
and purified by moral sentiment and by the truths
OF Christianity, be not destined 10 destruction be-
fore the final termination Of human existence on
earth, the object and purpose of this edce will be
known till that hour shall come. And even if
civilization should be subverted, and the truths Of
the Christian religion obscured by a new deuge
OF barbarlsm, the memory OF Bunker Hill and the
American Revolution will still be elements and
parts OF the knowledge which shall be passed by
the last man TO when the light of civilization and
Christianity shall be extended.
This celebration is honored by the presence of
the Chief Executive Magistrate of the Union.
An occasion so national in its object and charac-
ter, and so much connected with that Revolution
from which the Government sprang at the head of
which he is placed, may well receive from him
t..
ed with yorktown, the scene OF the last great
military struggle of the Revolution, his eve now
surveys the field OF Bunker Hill the theatre of
the hrst OF these important conflicts. He sees
where Warren fell, where Putnam, and Prescott.
and Stark, and knowlton, and Brooks fought.
tie beholds the spot where thousand trained
soldiers of England were smtten to the earth
in the first effort of revolutionary war; by the arm
OF bold and determined yeomanry contendinp
Tor liberty and their country. And while all as
sembled here entertain towards him sincere per-
sonal good wishes, and the high respect due to
his elevated office and station, it is not to be
doubted that he enters with true American FEELING
INTO the patriotic enthusiasm kindled by the occa-
sion which animatcs the millions which surround
him.
His EXcellepcy the Governor of the Common
wealth, the Governor of Rhode Island, and the
other distinguished public men whom we have
the honor to receive visiters and guests to-day,
Will cordially unite in celebration connected with
the great event of the Revolutionary war.
No name in the history of I775 and l776 is
more distinguished than that of an ex-President
of the United States whom we expected to see
here, but whose i-health prevents his attendance
popular rights were TO be asserted an
Adams was present; and when the time came
Tor the formal Declaration of independence, it was
The voice of an Adams that shook the Halls of
Congress. We wish we could have welcomed
blood and the just and worthy representative
Of high Revolutionary names, merit, and servi-
ces.
Banners and badges, professions and flags, an
nounce to us that amidst this uncounted multi
tude are thousands Of natives of New England
now residents in other States. Welcome, We kin
cred names, with kindred blood From the broad
savannals of the South, from the newer regions of
The West, from amidst the hundreds of thousands
Of men Of Eastern origin who cultivate the rich
valley of the Genessee or live along the chain of
Lakes, from the mountains Of Pennsylvania, and
the thronged cities of the coast, welcome, well
come! Wherever else you may be strangers
here you all at home. You assemble at this
shrine of liberty, the family affairs at which
your earliest dcvotons were paid to Heaven; near
to the temples Of worship first entered by YOU
and near to the schools aud colleges in which
your education was received You come hither
with glorious ancestry of Liberty. You bring
names which are on the rolls of Lexington, Con.
cord and Bunker Hill. You come, some of you,
once more TO be embraced by an aged Revolution
AIRY father, OF TO receive another, perhaps a last
bestowed in love and tears, by a mother
yet surviving to witness and to enjoy your pros
Perity and happiness.
But if family associations and the recolectons
OF the past bring you hther with greater aacrity,
and mlngle with your greeting much OF local at
tachment and private affection, greeting also be
given, Zee and hearty greeting, to every Ameri-
can citizen who trcads this sacred soil with pat
roc feeling, and respires with pleasure in an at
mosphere fragrant with recollections of i715.
This occasion is Iespectable--nay, it is grand.
it is sublime, by the nationality Of its sentiment.
In the seventeen millions of happy people who
form the American community, there is not one
who has not an interest in this monument as
there is not one that has not deep and abiding
interest III that which i, commentaries.