Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-08-01

Defiance Band.
Invited Guests.
N Committees %
Marion Band
Engineer Corps.
German Band. :
Citizens of Ohio, and other States. z
Miami Warriors
Kekogue Band.
Citizens of Indiana
The Procession then moved TO the Grove, selected
Tor the occasion. Alter Prayer had been made by
the Chaplain, and the Declaration Of Independence
read, General Cass rose, amid the deafenng shouts OF
the assembled thousands, and delivered the following
GRAFTON
ms day, Fellow Citizens, is memorable IN the his
tory OF man. 1t is the anniversary of the birth Of ths
great Republic. To day born into the family
OF nations. In the calendar of time there is probably
no event, which will produce more powerful and per-
manent effect upon the destinies of the world. Our
Revolution sanctifed by the momentous prin-
cIPe OF resistance to oppression, aud opened TO in
curry the whole system of Government, with free
dom of investigation and power of discussion, which
had never before been united in any practical exam
nation into that great department Of the concerns Of
man. The three score years and ten the term ofhu
man life, have not yet passed away, and where
we' From dependent Colonies, have become
independent Republic. From small people, thinly
scattered over the Atlantic coast, we have become
mighty nation, with power every where acknow-
lodged and respected; with a name known and honor
of future ADVANCEMENT such Providence has rarely
degned to confer upon man. Within this brief Pc
Rod, brief in the history of societies. the great tide of
civilization has passed the Allegheny mountains, and
has spread and is spreading the prairies and
forests Of own beautiful West, and will not stop
Till it reaches the boundary OF the Continent upon
the shores of the Pacific. The decree has gone
forth, and will be fulfilled The prospects of the
future may be in the progress of the past
He who runs may read. Neither political jealousy
ma MI cuntdI lu uufooo I'd
If they could, fellow-c.zens, march would be
stopped. Perhaps, while | address YOU measures
arc in progress TO wrest from territory west
Of the Rocky Mountains Island after Island, Cour
try after Country, are falling before the ambition of
England She is planting her standard wherever there
is people to be snbdued the fruits Of their industry
to be secured With professions of philanthropy, she
pursues the designs of ambition. And she is encirclng
the Globe with her stations, wherever she best
complish her schemes of aggran disement. The sun
never sets upon her Empire. II is nv deliberate OPT
nIon that nation, since The fall of the Roman pow
er, has displayed greater disregard for the rights Of
others, or more boldly aimed at universal domination
Our claim 10 the country West of the Rocky Noun
tains, is rs undenable right 10 Bunker Hill or
10 New Orleans, and who will call in question our title
to these blood stained fields And trust it will be
maintained with vigor and prompti,ude equal 10 iis
Justice War is great evil but not so great Ma
lIona dishonor Little is gained BY yielding 10 nso.
lent md just presn;ions IL is better TO defend the
first inch of territory than the last Far better deal
ing with England 10 resist aggression whether OF ter
rory, of impressmen Of search, when first attempt
ed than to YIELD in the hope that forbearance will be
met in just spirit, and will lead to amcable
promise. Let US have no red lines upon the map of
Oregon. Let us hold to the integrity Of just
claim. And il war comes, be it do not myself,
believe it will be long avoided, unless prevented by
testine difficulties in the British Empire And woe be
to u.s. if latter ourselves it he arrested by any
system of concession. OF all decisions this would be
The most fatal And We should awake from it, dis
honored, If not ruined people
It is profitable in the career Of life occasionally TO
pause to Withdraw ourselves from the ever busy
scenes with which m'ngIe, and 10 look back upon
the progress have made, and forward, far il is
given 10 us look orw ard upon the prospect before
u.s. There are high places in the journey Of life,
whence the region around IS best contemplated and
understood In all time, great events have been thus
CONNER The principle has its foundation in
human nature, though perverted in its application by
power or Superstition. And many monument, which
has survived its history and the objects OF its
founder yet looks out upon the silence around it, the
solitary evidence of some great, but forgotten event IN
the ftful dra ma of life. And have come up today
to one of these high places TO commune together We
have met from many portion OF our common country
and this great assemblage testites not less by IFS NUN
hers than by the imposing circumstances, when sur
round it, that there here passing one OF those scenes
which mark The progress OF society, and which form
its character and oitentmes ills destiny And so It Isl
and il is GOOD for US 10 be here We have 10
fight a battle, to commemorate one,-we have not
come 10 worship Mt The shrine OF power TO celebrate
the birth or the death OF some unworthy ruler, the
last step in political degradation. Nor have come
to commence to complete, nor to commemorate some
useless but imposing structure, erected by prde but
paid Tor by poverty. would not, however, be msun
derstood Far be il from to censure or to check
those feelings of love Of country or OF religion, which
seek their oupcurngs in the erection OF memorials upon
spots which have drank the blood Of the patriot or of
the martrr Ii is tribute TO virtue which honors the
dead and The living. But let it he voluntary Then It
will neither be unjust in its object nor oppressive IN It's
pshment il will teach lesson TO after ages,
which NAV stimulate virtue TO action, and give fort.
,ude To endure till The day Of delveance comes with
its struggle and lis reward. Look al the mighty Pyra-
mids which rise over the Arabian and Libyan wastes,
and which cast their shadows far in the desert, mock
iny the researches and the pride Of man. They tell no
tale, but the old tale of oppression lhey speak 10
their very maesveness of pride and power on one sioe
and of misery and poverty the other One OF The little
channels which the Felah has diverted from the great
river at their base, and which spreads verdure and fer
tility the valley, that owes SO mneh 10 Co., ana
so little 10 man. is far dearer 10 The oppressed poPnia
ton than these useless, but mighty structures
Oar Eastern brethren. with the Characteristic liber
ality and patriotism, which make the descendan's oil
the pprms proud Of the land OF their ancestors, have
lust completed and dedicated mon uIneht TO marx the
site of the battle, which opened the great contest De
tween powerful Empire and her young and distant
p,oyinccs and whose Influence, IT II did not give tc
the Revolution its fortunate Issue, impressed It's cbarac
ter upon the whole struggle. We have no such place
TO haow-but we have the people TO DO The deeds BY
which places are sanctfed, and where The pilgrims
Liberty come not to worship but to reflect We have
MT he wealth nor those "appliances" by which the
long and imposing procession, and the gorgeous pa
geantry, which great city arrange and display
affect. and almost subdue the imagination: We bav
no, the Chief Magistrate of the Republic, with hi
official Councillors to mark, as IT were, with naona
character. The occasion OF our assemblage Nor have
We constructed an obel,sk, simple and severe in il
style bu, lasting as the deeds it commentaries, whds
foundation is lad in The graves of martyred patriots
but whose summit rises towards the Heavens, teIn
the story of their fall and proclam,ng the gTa.''ud
of ,ba;r coun,rvmen Hnt there are here stout heart
and strong hands Thousands who would deeot
themselves. as did the men OF Bunker's Hill, 10 th
cause of Freedom and who would tight rs they fought