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


' lean Union. in the mad conflict of human passion
and in the strife Of parties and factions, should
: broken ep and destroyed. | know not that
would to:ter and fall TO the earth, and minge il
, fragments CT Liberty and the Constitution, ~ he
State should be separated from State, and tactic
and ACKNOWLEDGMENT obterate forever all the hope
OF the founders of our Republic and the great ia
herltance of their children. 1t might stand. Blu
who, from beneath the weight of modification ant
shame that would Cypress him, could look up 4
Behold 1t! For my part, should live to such
time, shall avert my eyes from it forever.
1t is not mere military encounter of hostil,
armies that the battle of Bunker Hill POUNDS lis
principal claim to attention. Yet, even as a mer,
battle, there We're circumstances attending it ey
traordinary In character and emitting il TO peculiar
distinction. 1t was fought on this eminence; in
the neighborhood of yonder city; in the presence
oil more spectators than there were combatants in
the conflict. Men, women, and children, from
every commanding position, were gazing a. the
battle and looking Tor It's result with all the ca
gerness natural TO those who knew that the issue
was iraught with the deepest consequences to
them. Yet, on the 10th of June, 1875, there was
nothing around this hill but verdure and culture
There was, indeed, the note OF awful preparation
IN Boston. There was the provincial army at
Cambridge, with its right flank resting on Dor
chester and its left OH Chelsea. But here all was
peace. Tranquility reigned around.
On the seventeenth every thing was changed.
Ch yohuer heigHt hau arisen, In the night, re-
doubt in which Prescott had commanded Per
ceived by the enemy at dawn, it was Immediately
cannonadcd 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 dis
! lodge the colonists.
( l suppose it would be difficult, in a military
point OF view, to ascribe to the leaders or either
side any just motive for the conflict which follow.
ed. On The one hand II could not have been very
Important TO the Americans TO attempt to hem the
British within the town by advancing one single
post quarter OF miles while, on the other hand
II the British found it essential 20 disodce the
American troops, they had it in their power at no
expense OF life. BY moving up their ships and
batteries they could have completely cut of all
communication with the main land over the neck
and the io.ces In the redoubt would have been re-
duced TO state Of famine in forty eight hours
But that was not the day :or any such conside-
ratIons on either side. Both parties were anxious
to try the strengths of their arms. The pride OF
England would not permit the rebels, as she
termed them, 10 defy her to the teeth, and without
Tor a moment calculating the cost, the British Gle.
neral determined To destroy the fort inmediaiely
On the other side, Prescott and his gallant follow
ers longod and hrsed for a conflict. They wish
ed 1t, and wished it at once And this is the true
secret oil the movements on this hill.
VIII not attempt to describe the battle. The
cannonading-the landing of the British-their
met-the repulse--the second aitack-the second
repulse-the burning of Charlestown--and finally
The closing assault, and the slow retreat of the
Americans--,he history Of all these is familiar.
But the consequences of the battle of Bunker
Hill are greater than those Of any conflict between
The hostile armies of European Powers. Ii was
me hrst great battle Of the Revolution; and no.
only the first blow, but the blow wlich determin-
ed the contest. 1t did not, indeed put an end TO
me war; but IN the then existing hostile state of
feeling, the difficulties could only be referred TO
the arbitration of the sword. And one thinr is
certain, that after the New Eng land troops had
shown themselves able to face and repulse the re-
gulars, II was decided that peace never could be
established but upon the basis of the indepen-
dence OF the Colonies. When the sun of that
day went down the event of independence was
certain! When Washington heard of the battle
he inquired if the.miitia had stood the fire of the
regulars And when told that they had not only
stood That hre but reserved their till the enc
my was within eight rods, and then poured it in
with tremendous effect, "Then," exclaimed he
:" the Liberties of the country are saie.''
The consequences of this battle were lust of
the same importance as the Revolution itself.
III There was nothing of value in the principles
oil the American Revolution, then there is nothing
valuable In the battle of Bunker Hill! and it's CON
sequences. But if the Revolution was an era in
tile history OF man favorable to human happiness
Iii 1t was an event which marked the progress
OF man, all over the world, from despo,isln 10 Ii
berty--ihen this monument is not raised without
cause. Then the battle Of Bunker Hill is not an
event undeserving celebrations, conmem orations
and rejoicings.
What, then. is the true and peculiar principle
OF The American Revolution, and of the systems
OF government which it has confirmed and estab-
ished! Now the truth is, that the American
Revolution not caused by the instantaneous
discovery OF principles of government before I'M
heard Of or the practical adoption of political
ideas such as had never before entered into the
minds of men. 1t was but tine full DEVELOPMENT
OF principles OF government, forms OF society
and political sentiments, the origin of all which
lay back TWO centuries in English and American
history
The discovery OF America, its colonization by
the nations of Europe tine history and progress OF
the colonies, from their .abishment 10 the time
when The principal of them threw off their allie
g!ance to the respective States which had planted
them and founded governments Of their own, con-
situte one OF the most interesting trains OF events
In human annals. These events occupied three
hundred years, during which period civilization
ana knowledge made steady progress in the Old
I W Ord: so that Europe, at The commencement of
The nineteenth century, had become greatly
changed from that Europe which began the colo
nlzation OF America at the commencement of the
fifteenth. And what is most material TO my pre-
sent purpose Isl that, in tie progress of the first
OF these centuries, that is to say, from the disco
very OF America to the settlement of Virginia
ana massachusetts, political and religious events
TOOK place which most materially affected the
stats OF society and the sentiments Of mankind
especially Ill England and in parts of continental
Europe. After few feeble ard unsuccessful cC-
forts by England, under Henry the Seventh, TO