Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-06-27
which surround it. Without just, moral object,
therefore. made known 10 though missed against

which surround it. Without just, moral object,
therefore, made known TO man. though raseo against
the skies, 1t exces only convection OF power, mixed
with strange wonder. But, if the civilization oil The
present race Of men, founded is solid science,
The true ledge of nature and vast discoveries IN
art end which stimulated and purified by moral SEN
,ment, and by The truths Of Christianity be not ces-
tined TO destruction before the final termination oil hu
man existence earh the object and purpose OF this
edlhce will be known Till that hour shall come. and
even If civilization should be subveted and the truths
Of the Christian religion obscured by deluge of
barharsm the memory Of Bunker Hill and the Anne
rican Revolution will still be elements and parts OF the
knowledge which shall be possessed by the last man to
whom 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 occa-
sion so national in its object and character, and so
much connected with that Revolution from which the
Government sprang al the head of which he is placed,
may we'll receive from him this mark Of attention and
respect. Well acquainted with Yorktown, thescene of
The last great military struggle of the Rerpiuiion his
eye surveys the field of Bunker HILL the theatre
of the first of these important conflicts. He
where Warren fell, where Putnam, and Prescott and
Stark, and Knowlton, and Brooks fought He heholds
the spot where thousand trained soldiers Of England
were smltlen TO the earth in the first effort of Revolu
tionary War, by the of bold and determined
yeomanry, contending for liberty and their country
And while all assembled here, entertain towards him
sincere personal good wishes, and the high respect due
his elevated Office and station It'll be doubted,
that he enters with true American feeling into the
patriotic enthusiasm kindled by the occasion which
anima,es the millions which surround him.
His Excelency, the Governor Of the Common.
wealth, the Governor OF Rhode Island, and the other
distinguished public men whom have The honor TO
receive visters and guests to-day, will cordially
unite in celebration connected with the great event
of The Revolutionary War.
No name in the history of l775 and l776 is more dis
tinguished than that Of President of the u s.,
whom we expected 10 see here, but whose i'll health
pre- vents his attendance. Whenever popular rights
10 be asserted, an Adams present; and when the
time came for the formal declaration Of independence it
the voice of Adams that shook the halls Of Con-
gress. We wish we could have welcomed 10 US this
day the inferior of Revolutionary blood, and the just
and worthy representative high Revolutionary names,
merit and services.
Banners and badges professions and flags, announce
TO us, that amidst this uncounted multitude are thou
sands of natives of New England, now residents in
other States Welcome, ye kindred names with kim
dred blood ! From the broad saYannahs of the South
from The newer regions Of the West, from amidst the
hundreds of thousands of of Eastern origin who
cultivate the rich valley of the Genessee or live along
he chain Of the Lakes, from the mountains of Penn
sylvanla and the thronged cities of the coast welcome
welcome Wherever else you may be strangers, here
you all a, home. You assemble at this shrine Of
liberty, the family affairs at which your earliest de-
volions paid 10 Heaven near to the temples OF
worship first entered by you and near to the schools
and colleges in which your education received
You hither with glorious ancestry of Liberty
You bring names which on the rolls Of lexington
Concord and Bunker Hill. You come, some Of you,
once more TO be embraced by an aged Revolutionary
father, to receive another perhaps last, blessing
bestowed in love and tears by mother yet surviving,
to witness and to enjoy your prosperity and happiness
But, II family associations and the recollections of
Of hrin will
mingle with your greeting much Of local attachmea at
and private affection, greeting also be given, free and
hearty greeing to every American citizen who treads
this sacred soil with patriotic feeling, and resp'res with
pleasure in atmosphere fragrant with recoectons
l775 This occasion respectable-nay, il is grand
i. is sublime, by the nationality ofts 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 10 not one That has
not deep and abiding interest in that which 1t com
!nemorates.
Wo bede the man who brings to this days worship
feeling less than wholly American! Wo betide the
man who stand here with the fires OF local resent
menlx burning, or the purpose OF omentng local ea-
louses and the stres Of local interests fostering and
ranking in his heart. Union, founded in justice, in
patriotism, and the most plain and obvious common
Interest," union founded the same love of liberty,
cemented by blood shed in the same common cause;
union has been the source Of all our glory and great
ness thus far and IL is the ground OF all our highest
that it might not keep its position if the American
Union, in the mad conflict of human passions, and IN
the strife Of parties and factions, should be broken up
and destroyed | know not that it would totter and
fall 10 the earth, and mugle its fragments with the
fragments Of Liberty and The Constitution when State
should be separated from State, and fac'ion and DIS
membernent deliberate forever all the hopes of the
founders Of our Republic and The great inheritance OF
their children. II might stand. But who from be.
meath the weight of modification and shame that
would Cypress him, could look up to behold u! FOR
nv part shonld live TO such time, shall avert my
eyes from IL forever
II is not as q mere military encounter OF hostile ar
mics that The battle Of Bunker Hill POUNDS its prncl.
pal claim TO attention. Yet, even es mere batle,
there were circumstances attending u extraordinary
in character and emitting it TO peculiar d'.t'nct'on
II was fought on this emnence; in the neighoorhood
of wonder city, in the presence of more spectators than
there were combatants in the conflict. Men, women,
and Children from every commanding position, were
gazing at the battle and looking for its result with all
the eagerness natural to those who kne" mat the -
she was fraupht with the deepest consequences 10
them Yet, on the 10th of June, 1775, there was no.
thing around this hill but verdnTe and culture There
was indeed the note Of awful preparation in Boston,
There was the provincial army at Cambridge, with
it's right flank resting on Dorchester and ITS left on
Chelsea. But here all was peace. Tranquility regned
around.
On the seventeenth every thing was changed. On
wonder height had arisen, in the night redoubt in
which Prescott commanded. Perceived by the enemy
at dawn, it was Immediately cannonaded from the
floating batteries in the river and the opposite shore
And then ensued the hurry of preparation in Boston,
and soon the troops Of Britain embarked in the attempt
to dslodge The colonists -,
| suppose it would be difficult, in military point
of view 10 ascribe The leaders either side any
lust motive for the conflict which followed On the
one hand, it could not have been very important to
The Americans to attempt to hem The British within the
town By advancing single post quarter of mile;
while. on the other hand if the British found il essen
ta 10 disodge the American troops, they had il in
their power at no expense Of life By moving up
their ships and batteries, they could have completely
cut off all communication with the main land over the
neck and the forces in the redoubt would have been
reduced to state of famine in forty eight hours.
But that was not the day for any such considerations
on either side. Both parties were anxious to try the
strength of their arms The pride Of England would
not permit the rebels she termed them, 10 DEFY her
to the teeth, and, without for moment calculating
the cost the British General determined to destroy The
fort da,cly On the other side, Prescott and
his gallant followers onged and thirsted for con
nct. They wished it, and wished il at once. ANA
this is the true secret of the movements on this MI.
| will not attempt to describe the battle. Ihe can
D., hair adj