The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1843-08-10
Col. D. c. PARRISH.
GRAFTON.

GENTLEMEN: am fully persuaded
that your partiality alone, has induced
you 10 call upon me 10 appear before
You ihis day. the commemoraiion Of
which is calculated 10 excite the most
pleasing emotions in the heart OF the
patriot and philanthropist, and TO in
fuse into our bosoms stronger reso-
luton 10 maintain that freedom and in
dependence for which our foreiathers
fought and bled. Yes, gentlemen. this
day sixty-seven years ago, our ancestors,
CALLED and oppressed by England, their
s-rannical master, whose policy and prac-
lice we're 10 irea, them as serls and vas.
sails, threw off The yoke Of despotism, and
in solemn conclaye, declared that they
were and Of right ought 10 be free PEG
ple; and for the maintenance Of their glo-
rious cause, they mutually plighted : their
lives, their fortunes, and their most sa.
cred honcrs." Long, doubtful, and ar.
duoas was the conflict, but finally termi.
mated in favor of American freedom. The
first blow that was struck in her cause
was at Concord and Lexington. The re-
suit was highly advantageous TO the Anne
ricans. Though not quite three hundred
of tile enemy were slain in this skirmish,
vet it was Of infinite importance 10 ouI
cause; inasmuch as il had a strong tenden.
cy to inspire The timid and wavering with
courage and confidence. This battle was
| fought on The 10Th May, l775. which was
followed by the battle of Breeds Hill.
Though the Americans had made this
resistance TO British tyranny and aggres
sion, il was not The design even Of th'
leading men IN the United States at tha
period 10 renounce their allegiance TO ths
mother country. Their only object, near
| ly up 10 the time the declaration OF Indie
pendence was proclaimed from the step
Of the old State House in Philadelphia
was to obtain a redress Of grievances; am
for that purpose petition after petition
couchel in the mos, deferenlial and loya
Language, was laid before the throne; bu
The voice Of an opposed and injured PEG
pie was unhesra. They have. however
been charged by some of having had al
eye to independence from the very frs
outbreak between the two countries. Bu
this could not have been true, as the.
/; would haze made greater preparation
for the war, and they would not hav
made so many sincere and humble petl
lions to the king and his parliament
l,u, the complaint of General Wash
ington on his taking the command Of tn
i'll state Of the army. and the inefilcien
preparations for a war, prove incon'esn
lily tha. they were forced into this cours'
by the rash and oppressive measure
of Great Britain. About this period
however, The great parliality and attach
meat Of The American colonies to Brl
tain and the British Cons tuition CAV
kway rapidly. Many bold and fearles
essays which appeared in The newspaper
were greatly calculated 10 extend tl,es
opinions, and particularly those OF The
mas Paine, entitled .Common Sense,
in which he assailed the conduct Of u
mother country, towards America, and d
, clared that a further connexion With m
: twas unsafe, and in she largest degree IN
! polite. Tie even attacked their consti',
: lion, and successfully exposed il 70 rid
: cuse. Independence became The CO..
mon theme of conversation throughouttf
i length and breadth Of the land. Thong
: the Americans had acted hitherto on u