Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-07-18

morning, will he found the Grafton delivered BIZ IL
lion; Thomas Nj P-ttit, in independence Square, Of
me fouIth OF July last before the Democracy of III
Ci'y and County of Philadelphia the publication bein
made in compliance with resolution unarimous
aooP'ed hy The meeting We are sure that render
WIZ derive much qualification from perusc Of thi
eloquent and patriotic address Ii is very ably written
ana is IN every respect worthy of the interesting
sion which drew it FORTH
GRAFTON,
Pronounced on the 18th Of july, is43, in Indeptndsne
o90a1c 0yore Me democratic Citizens Of The City am
County of PhiiadeIphia-BY THOMAS Nj PErrlr.
rhehos ana fellow-Cltizens: We are assembled t
the Gay OF our countrys deliverance'
the Gay, which, in the language OF deoarted Revo
inlonary patriot ought 10 be "so!emnized with pomps
SHOWS games, sports, guns, bells bnnfires and llu-
nations from end OF The Continent 10 the other
from ms linc forward, forever II is our good for
tune TO meet for the celebration of this glorious day
on the very spot, which, OF oil on earth, is the mos
appropriate to noble purpose 1t was in that Hall
That the Declaration which has lust boon read was de
loeroteiy considered, gravely mntured, and with q
CONSCIENTIOUS reliance on the protection Of the Almieh
vlne ohy sure tower OF defence against oppression
-hrmly, wisely, and effectively adopted II was here
on this very spot, that mmediately on the consum
NATION of the vote for independence, proclamation
was made by herald Of the immortal Congress of '76
To tho multitude assembled in this square awaiting
IN GREATNESS anxiety the result of the consultation
}eci'nn 10 tie Kings OF Great Britain were rejected
and renounced, ~ tie and by the authority OF the
good people OF these States, and that the United Co.
lonies had become free and independent Republic,-
|, IS among the happy triumphs Of that llrstri-
Gus epoch, that at the end of sixty-seven years it
IS permitted 10 succeeding generation houored, too,
6y the pregence of few OF the venera,ed survivors
OF That very PERIOD 10 together on this haowed
ground, IN all the happiness of continued Liberty and
IN Inc fu career OF nationa prosperity, TO mng.e their
reJosngs on its renowned anniversary This delight
full privilege, my friends, is ours While millions of
our counirymen from the Columbia river 10 the At
lant'c ocean, and from the Madawiska 10 Kew West,
are at this moment sending up their 10 PGans in loud
peais 10 The skies, 1t especially belongs 10 ur TO give
iorth wIth glad and grateful hearts, cur song OF
triumph from place endeared TO by lis elevated as
socatons, rendered classic by the pen Of unexarrcra
ted history, and consecraed to the genius Of free in
situations
The first act of sovereignty exercised BY the thirteen
united colonies of North America, was that by which
they pronounced themselves free and indepe ndc nj
States. Appeals had been made to hs people of
Great Britain, friends and brethren, and made in
van-memor'als had been addressed 10 the British mo-
march, whose ear was deaf to the language Of suppl
cation, and blood had been shed at lie xnqon and Bun.
ker HIll-put 1t was not till the dissolution of the civil
compact, Which held the colonsts part of II. British
nnlion, that sovereignty was inserted The assertion
once made-the elements Of Society once separated
aew combinations were Instantly formed new and no.
mentous responsibilities instantly created and
Inc leaders and the people of new milton, became
actors, Tor lie or for death, in mighty drama.
The double and siupendou struggle for civil and re-
ligous liberty, which had agiated the nations OF the
old world, had before this, rescued from the grave in
winch fraud and superstition had for sges kept bu
rled the simple principle which now seems self evi
dealt that man entitled 10 the exercise Of his reason
The early settlers of our country started in their career
on our shores, with the benefit of this principle and
TIA FnIi dsv
rndnent was planted in fertile soil; and, like the
grain of mustard seed, it grew and became snd
lect, with asrsat brapc w %
md eso,,.ahy which followed the discovery Ct the
mariners compass, with information also OF The lnven
ton Of printing and of the vast advance which had
be- accomplished in Europe, in the science Of mind,
the coonisis mpelled by their native energies, made
apd progress in all the arts of civilized life Popula-
alon sprcadlhe forests disappeared at the command
of the genius of agrlculture-under the mild influence
of the spirit of peace the desert bossomed and villa
yes, towns and cities up for The use of man
Education hourished in we'll established schools and
colleges. The worship of the Almighty in the mode
which each mans conscience dictated, was protected
and encouraged Prosperity and conte eminent covered
the land.
How long this condition Of things might have CONT
nued, il were useless now 10 enquire When the gene
ra,ions Of men who settled borders had passed
away from the earth, and succeeded by Inhabl-
tants native TO the soil, The strongest ties which bind
mother country 10 colony were dissolved. the
bonds Of friendship and consequently were felt and
acknovledged, while The original parties existed,
even though en- ocean interviewed but at the time
that Edmund Burke deemed it necessary, or po-
lite, rpologse 10 the people Of Brs,o for the Of
fence Of sympathizing with the people of America,
whose cities were burned and country ravoged by
British soldiers il is quite clear, that The mass OF the
Cooniss and the of the British nation had be-
come strangers to each other. The basis of q commu
MON OF country was extinct
r. ~ do roft The
moral law, that The connection should be Dissolved, we
must look the causes plainly but SO eoqnenty set
forth in the Declaration of independence for he i'm
mediate grounds Of separation. Hence the peculiar
propriety of making the reading o. that immortal
document most important part Of our celebration
of this day, as no reflections, however naturally
belonging to the moment, would ne productive OF just
effect if they failed 10 comprehend reference to the
view which there cmphatically presented
Notwithstanding, however, the oppressive conduct o.
infatuated Government, the people of the coonlei
for wears sought for justice by the means of peace
Neither suppcaton nor remonstrance would move tc
reason the Infatuated spirit Of British rulers Repeated
petitions were "aaswered only BY repeated injury =
The fnndame principles Of the social pact which
the colonies had nbbed from their British ancestors, ans
for which the British people had themselves ACHE we'd
re yolution were denied have application 10 The
inhabitants of this land Fire and The sword the in
strument. at length employed to enforce subp,'snn
The spirit OF an armed resistance was enkndied WIZ
was not accomplished the bloody plains Of Lexing
ION WINS completed in the Hall of independence in thu
Civ of Philadelphia The sword had been drawn nnc
bruyely used upon the first occnson the scabbard wa
thrown away when our sovereignty was asserted OF
| the last
| To the pen Of the historian must be assigned the jus
and elaborate tribute of praise to those who, with
| can empire for a stage--heroes to act,
| And angels to behold the swelling scene,''
conducted to glorious conclusion the heroic dram
of American freedom. We pause but for mo
men 10 recur to the immortal conflict Fearful ndeet
were the odds the part Of the oppressors. Expert
enced generals and we'll appointed armies, were obedi
ent to his orders. The fay Of his navy foaed ssPe
rior strength every The first Organization o
the elements of resistance yet 10 be effected; 81
the apparatus of war, with the single exception OF IN
domablc spirit, 10 be created With deep re
verence We may yield TO the belief, that IN Heaven
chancery had been recorded the decree OF America
independence. fl not for "the wise TO glory Il
their WISDOM for The mighty TO glory IN their mig m
nor The ri. glory in their richer, for The Su
prems Governor Of all things had been appealed TO 10
the rectitude Of the intentions Of our foretaihers
the patriotic statesmen and warriors Of our revolution
Heaven in,rus,ed the cause Of human kind. Thfoug
years of appalling discourasenen,s the stout hearts
our people quailed not with fear-their cheeks wer
npbanched by dismay. In the North in the centre,