Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-06-23


the ground Of all our highest hopes. This
column stands on Union. know not that il
might not keep its position, II 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
il would totter and fall to the earth, and min
gle its fragments with the fragments Of Liberty
and the Constitution, when State should be
separated from State, and faction and dismem-
berment ohierate forever all the hopes Of the
founders of our Republic, and the great inner
iiance of their children. It might stand
But who, from beneath the weight of moftii-
cation and shame, that would Cypress him,
could look w TO behold III For my part, should
! live to such time, shall avert my eyes
from il forever.
1t is not as a mere military encounter Of hos
tile armies, that the battle of Bunker Hill
POUNDS It's principal claim to attention. Yet,
even as u mere battle, there are circumstances
attending it, extraordinary in character aud
emitting il 10 peculiar distinction. IL was
fought on this emincnce; 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 IFS result with all
the eagerness natural TO those who knew that the
issue was ilaught with the deepest consequent
ces to them. Yet on the 10Th Of june, l775,
there was nothing around this hill but vrrdure
and culture. There was indeed, the note Of
preparation in Boston. There was the provin-
cial army al Cambridge with its right flank
resting IN Dorchester and lis lell on Chelsea.
But here all was peace. Tranquility rrigncd
around.
On the l7lh, every thing was changed
On yonder height had arisen in the night, q
relouht in which Prescott commanded. Per-
ceived by the enemy at dawn, il was immedi-
otely 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 dislodge the colonisis.
SUPPOSE il would be difficult, in military
point of view, to ascribe TO the leaders on ei-
Their side any Just motive Tor the conflict which
! followed. On the one hand il could not have
been very important 10 the Americans to al
tempt to hem the British within the town by
advancing one single post quarter of mile;
while on The other hand, if The British found il
essential 10 dislodge The American troops, they
had il in their power, al no expense Of life
BY moving up their ships and batteries, they
could have completely cut off all communities
/ ton with The main land over the neck, and the
| forces in the redoubt would have been reduced
To state of famine in ioriy-eight hours.
But that was not the day for any such con-
slderaIons on either side Both parties were
anxious TO Try the strength of their arms The
pride of England would not permit the rebels
as she termed them, to defy her 10 the teeth
! and without Tor moment calculating the cost
| the British general determined To destroy the
fort Immediately. On the other side, Prescot
and his gallant followers longed aud ihirsed fol
q conflict. They wished it, and wished il a
once. And this is the true secret Of the move
mcnts on this hill.
! will not attempt TO describe the battle
The cannonadng landing Of the British
their advance--ihe GOODNESS with which III,
charge was met--thc repulse--ihe second al
tack---the second repulse--ihe burning o
Charlesiown--and finally the closing assault
and the slow retreat of the Americans-the his
tory OF all these is familiar
But the consequences of the battle Of Bun
ker Hill are greater than those OF any conhic
between the hostile armies of European pow
ers. IL was the first great battle of the Revo
luton; and not only the first blow, but th'
blow which determined the contest. II did not
indeed, put an end TO the war, hut in the ihei
existing hostile state of feeling, the ditficutie
could only he referred TO the arbitration of III,
sword. And one thing is certain; that alie
the New England troops had shown lhemsel
yes able 10 face and repuse the regulars, il wa
decided that peace never could be established
hut upon the basis of the Independence of tn
colonies. When the sun of that day wen
down, the event Of independence was certain
When Washington heard Of the battle he in
qured il the militia had stnod the fire Of tn
reg ulars, And when told that they had no
only stood that fire, but reserved their own Ill
the enemy was within eight rods, and ihe
poured il in with tremendous etiect-''then,
exclaimed he, "the Liberties Of the country an
saiel"
The consequences Of This battle were Just O
The same importance as The Revolution ITSELF
If there was nothing of value in The princi
pies Of the American Revolution, then there
nothing valuable in the battle OF Bunker Hi
and its consequences. But if ,he Revolution
was an era in the history of man, favorable L
human happiness--if il was an event whic
marked The progress olman, all over the world
from despoiism to iberiy-then this monumen
il not raised without cause. Then, the battl
, of Bunker Hill is moi an event undeserving Gel
ebrations, commemorations and rejocings.
! What then is the true and peculiar principl
Of the American Revolution. and of the sys
, tenn OF government which il has con6rme
aud established! Now the truth is, that III
American Revelation was not cansed by III
instantaneous discovery OF principles Of gov
, eminent before unheard of, or the praciicahl
adoption of political ideas, such as had neve
before entered into the minds of men. II wa
/ but the full developement of principles of gov
/ eminent, forms of society," and political SEMI
D ments, the origin Of all which lay back tw
: centuries in English and American history.
The discovery Of America, its colonizatio
by the nations of Europe, The history and pre-
{ gress of the colonies, from their establishment
e 10 The lime when the principal of them hire,
T of their alley lance 10 the respective State
. which had planted them, and founded govern
I, ments of their own, constitute one of the mos
interesting trains Of events in human annals
t These events occupied three hundred years
: during which period civilization and knowedg
L H. Il IL