Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-07-17


snuatng than any of the preceding, which likewise
passed IL was TO take off the duty tea sold in Eng
land, and 10 levy three pence per pound on all sold in
Amti ica, which virtually reduced the duty. For they
paid less now, than when duty Of four pence paid
in England and then shipped America duty Free This
however, had not the desired effect Though it no
burden, yet the principle Of taxation involved and
hence met the like reception with oil preceding attempts
II was not then the paty pounds, shings and pence
which about be drawn from their purses against
which they strongly reconstructed but was the right
claimed by Britain exact from them whatever she
might conceive TO be her interest. Admitting the
right to exact pound and YOU grant the right to strip
the colonies Of all their II was then conlro
versy for principle. The political horizon began
be darkened by clouds porientous OF war. Affairs rapidly
approached to crisis Both parties tended with acceer.
ating progress towards the awful collision The cOercve
OF the parent State prompted the colonies TO ex
tend their claims Hostile preparations on the one side
answered by enlstmens the other. War was in
evabe the gathering cou not he averted, and the
vinciats determined to prepare for the last extremity
In revolution was the only hope of liberty Revolu-
tons in other countries have been effected almost by mere
accident. Human rights and human reason have been
but the sport of chance and empire the prey Of ambition
and tyranny And the bonds of slavery imposed by one
tyrant have been burst only TO rvet the more hmy the
manaces of another more dreadful and destructive
despotism. But here the quite different.
Oppression impeed the coloniss to stand by their rights
The voice of unborn millions called upon them for safety
The blood spilled upon the fields of Lexington and Con-
cord announced the OF the dread conflict,
which was TO decide the destiny of half hemisphere.
But not until the bloody battle of Bunkerhiil was that
memorable Declaration of Independence proclaimed
throughout the United colonies The issues were now
Independence, slavery, death Who then would hest
which TO choose Would il not be glorious TO
die for the cause OF freedom, than TO live dependent
continually croucbng beneath the hand of the crowned
head of the insignificant little isle of Britain What
American would blush think that the United States
should ever be held subject 10 UGANDA mere speck
in creation larger than our own beloved Indiana
Our fathers spurned from them the idea They scorned
to be slaves Their watch word freedom. They
were content with nothing short of Independence And
though the struggle long and bloody they shrunk
from DANGER but encountered With heroic rmness the
most painful of fortune But after many severe
losses, and many brilliant achievements in hard-fought
fields, they succeeded, and goriousy in humb
ing the pride Of England, and lhwarting for once her
ambitious projects Of graspng for universal empire And
to whom shall the meet of praise be awarded for the
happy termination of the revolutionary struggle Let but
the Of Washington (he who Joshua-lIke stood at
the front Of baitle) be mentioned in connection with the
revolution, and the patrios heart swelIs with emotions
big for utterance. 1t is to Washington and bis noble
band that the blessings OF civil and religious
liberty, which so highly prize. Lincoln, Greene and
Montgomery more than Herculean honOrs clear
ing the world Of monarchcia hydras Marion in his
campaigns-n his daring adventures and haIrbreadth
escapes far ecpsed the fame of Jason when he dragged
the fallen Hector around the walls Of ancient Troy.
Lafayette displayed that magnanimty of SOUL equaled
only by the devotion of the Father of his Country And
Count DeEstang and Pulaski-lhose noble Poles who
when liberty, with all its blessings of freedom, had de-
serted their native land, fled TO Coumba-the last hold
and hope Of Freedom fought side by side with the bravest
of heroes and sealed their devotion to our cause with
their hearts blood. These they those
whom proud elevations among the nations of
the earth But where now are all those stout hearts who
braved the horrors of war; Most of them have gone
the spirit world They have fallen by until but
few left to tell the thrilling story OF the revolution
Here and there still left very few who are perhaps
spared monitors u.s. polar direct the
course of the And shall suffer their
TO be erased from the record of time Shall their memory
of.
response of every heart their fame eterna-their
memory undyng. Though ages may roll away, +" yet
Phoenix like they shall rise from the ashes Of each gene
ration, and in memoys record, their youth shall be
newed like the Eagles Long the liberty aud indie
pendence of our beloved America shall be maintained
shall the remembrance of her berators be cherished by
freedoms with warmth Of enthusiasm proportional
the magnitude of the blessings enjoyed Yes, though
with the roll of years and the revolution of empires this
Government should be cOnvulsed 10 its centre-every
vesge of greatness disappear and the iron grasp
tyranny sway the scePtre this happy republic
still their memory shall survive the wreck of time But
Independence once achieved is all accomplished Is il
sufficient that have thrown off the yoke of British
tyranny and erected the standard of bery7 Is enough
that the proud American eagle has subdued the lion Of
England Independence was achieved for US, and it is
for maintain it, Our puritan fathers laid deep and
broad the foundations but II is for build the gea
superstruciure They discovered the principle and laid
down the theory, and for solve the pro-
blem-the great problem OF mans capacity for self gov
eminent Statesmen and orators have passed their eulo
gums and poets have sung Of the glory of republic
and IL devolves upon prove ourselves worthy the
trust committed TO charge. The destiny of twent,
millions of ireemen depends upon the Of future
actions. Who then does not trembIe under the weigh
of responsibilities We each have a task to perform 70
which Alexander and Napoleon proved themseve
incompetent. Alexander could conquer world, but 4
govern himself he totally failed. Napoleon spread de
vaslaon throughout Europe, disposed Of thrones ant
sceptres his will-but died exile upon the seri
rocks OF ST. Helena, surrounded by British guard lie
US then profit by their example. Let wisdom and pru
dence guide us in all acts. For the wisdom
4 of the people depends the'welfare and permanenc
of republican form of Government of the excellenc
of our government we may indeed proudly boast. Ou
Constitution founded as it is upon immutable law
paure is perhaps the best the world has Upo
this truth founded the declaration. II is the law
equality, equality not Of condition, but of right TIL
rights of the people then acknowledged by the
stutiOn. All rights belonging TO Government, are bu
rights ceded to il by the peope-al its Just powers
derived from the consent of the governed. Here
titles Of nobility awarded but all stand upon the sam
level preferment is the reward of merit. He who ha
not foot of land he call his own, is eligible to
high office, he who counts his millions. And tn
aborer who gains livelihood by days works wieds tn
same power at the ballot box, the weatTiest capitals
of the commercial cities Here is allowed freedom
thought speech and of the the three
Of power which If brought TO bear in the proper channe
will tell in eternity upon the des;inIes of mankind
Where these the necessary result is thorough invest
5 gaticn, and wherever this Is, there is liberty.
90 liberty, thou pow'r suprefiey bright,
Perpetual pleasures in tty presence reign,
Aud smiling plenty leads thy wanton train |"
And is there other peculiar excellence embodied
our Constitution Does not the Constitution guarant
10 freedom of conscience' Aye, here is lberi
enjoyed by u.s. aught Of which few other people know.
Go ask the Pilgrim Fathers what mPeIled them to leaV
their comfortable homes and the Tesides of their you
beyond the Atlantic waves brave the dangers Of
pesiuous FIR a habitation in inhospabe wilde
Their response will be- religious oppression dro'
Us from our ancient homes and the loved Of oil
childhood, and where else could we find refuge but
g the wds Of Columbial The proud Britain may boast
hfa oofC0 vet vrh he