Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-07-13

America, was the establishment on its soil
of Democratic principles-onlyt the best oil
those principles of human government
which existed in the old world were
brought To flourish in North America
The principles of civil liberty which in the
old world had struggled up against all op-
position. through many ages, gaining much,
but still depressed by the daily and near
operation Of the privilege Of the Peer and
the prerogaiive Of the King. were planted
here in a soil to themselves and far remov-
ed from the antagonist influences. The
pageant of the throne came with the first
native generation of our fathers TO be only
disianty heard of--not witnessed near at
hand--and not cheating the mind with the
glitter of its show. The splendours of a
wealthy and privileged peerage were too
far off to dazzle mems eyes and confound
in their hearts the principle Of human e.
quality. So, in time, growing stronger,
and higher upon our soil, with every pass
ing year, the Democratic principle came to
be of giant growth, and our public heart
and mind came, before any gun of the Re-
voluton was fired, to be as free, as full of
the passions of freemen, as they have been
at any time since, OF are at this day. So
imbued with the spirit and the principles Of
civil liberty our forefathers waged the war
Of independence and SO imbued with the
spirit and the principles ofcivil liberty they
established our present institutions OF gov
eminent. The Presbyterian ofthe North,
stern in his opposition to wrong, harsh in
his manly nature. and all scorner of the
gen,ler emotlons--the cavalier of the
South, fiery, gay, impeiuous, courteous
unlike in all else were yet affiliated, tand-
ed in sympathy and arms by the prevail
irg spirit Of liberty. Such men, so band
ed-so fortified with such spirit could
not fail in a war against oppression !;
such men, counselled by such aspirit could
not establish unworthy institutions. To
those brave and wise men--to the few liv-
ing, TO the many dead--ii is duty oftbis
day TO offer the tribute of our reverentiaI
love. May posterity never forget to pay
a tribute so we'll earned and SO easily rem
dered.
Honor and love TO one and all Of the
bright company Honor and love 10
the least Gifts members! Honor and love,
overlooking from all hearts and all lips, to
its great head--the man who led the war
of Independence through many trials to
fair entiing-ihe man who crowned the
victories of warfare with yet nobler yicto-
ries of peace--the man who possessed all
heroic, wise, and gentle qualities in prodi-
gal meastirc--whose courage never grew
coid--whose wisdom was never at fault
whose stately gentleness was so winning
whose splendid integrity stamped and visi-
bic on an honorable brow rebuked all base
ness as the sun dispels darkness-Honor,
and love, Overlooking, and eternal to
WASHINGTON!
Under the institutions Of government
which made our successful ''stand for lib
erty" avail ng, we have gone on to pros
per and be happy. We may say with per-
iect truth tina, we have grown to be great
and powerful nation.
Our peopled territory has spread from
the Gordon Of the old coast provinces over
a land of mountain, lake, plain and river
whose beauty the sun does MT see equal
led on the broad earth, and whose limits
are wide beyond any dream OF our early
patriots The old provinces, hugging the
coasts Of the Atlantic have grown like the
Banyan tree. Descending boughs have
taken root in the soil-new stems have
been formed which rival the parent glory
and the far spreading mass OF boughs and
foliage, OF strength aud beauty, which looks
a forest is but one tree--the multiplied
columns, dis,inc, to the eye, and each one
stately in itself and strong and beautiful,
are but the supports of our mighty crown
OF living green.
Our pcopled territory extends from the
lakes to the Gulf OF Mexico, from the At.
lan,ic we'll nigh 10 the desert land of the
far west, and our population is fas, making
plantations in the Oregon. On our far
north are the wintry forests of the FIR tree
ON our southern bounds fer,id summer
rpens the orange and all the delicate fruit
age of the tropics. We have all climates
within the bounds of our varied and beau
tiful land. A traveller may live in per.
petual Spring-breathing the vernal airs
and eating the vernal fruits, and never
pass in his pleasant journey beyond the
limits Of our country. He may follow in
the golden round of the seasons, and ever
keep pace with the dedicate footed May"
and the blessings of flowers and gentle airs
that attend her passage over the smiling
earth.
We have the energies Of all races al
work within our limits. Europe has flock
ed to our asylum. The sturdy English
man has come to be amongst his old kind
red The mercurial Frenchman--the sol.
id German--thc incident Spaniard--the
Irishman wearing his heart on his sleeve
the Swede-the Dane--the Pole--haye
come to lose their national traits, the Pc
culiarities of their distinct races in the
prevailing blood of our Anglo Saxon race.
The arts Of peace have grown rapidly
amongst US. Great cities, which are their
best stages, have come into existence with
well nigh the magick celebrity with which
the genii ofihe Arabian tale built that n i'd
night city for the caliph. And they have
penetrated into the lonely places of the
country. The busy hum Of trade and the
industrial arts is heard in the recesses of
The mountains and in the clearings Of the
forest.
And commerce has houri,hed amongst
t,s I'm, Lins f,..i.rh,ad A III III, nrn.