The New York herald., 1845-07-04
I" Fourth Of July Grafton"


Last nlgnt Wlllie Sedteu III the inner CHdInDer oil
our editorial sanctum, revolving in our mind the
various topics which naturally suggested themselves
on the eve of the national anniversary the door was
softly opened, and there noiselessly entered per-
sonage of most venerable and commanding pre-
sence large blue cloak hung loosely on his
shoulders, discovering underneath military garb
like that worn by the soldiers of the Revolution
Our visitor was much above the ordinary stature
his hair was white as the driven snow, and des-
cended in thick waving curls upon his shoulders.
But this seemed the only mark which years had
placed upon the aspect of the stranger. His eye
burned with more than youthful fire. and his lofty
brow was smooth and unruffled that of sleeping
child. Over the whole face reigned serene and
majestic calm, to which intelligence of the highest
order gave solemn impressveness, that at once
subdued and awed the behoder
81 am" said the stranger, g the Spirit of Sc
venty-six' have seen by your paper of this morn
ing that can address myself to tens of thousands
throughout this land, and as none can dispute my
right to be the great spokesman of tomorrow, |
come to pronounce my Fourth OF July Grafton ~
Having listened with breathless interest to the
words of the illusrlous stranger, and thus learned
the object OF his visit, we at once summoned our
unrivaled corps" and are thus enabled to present
to our readers the following oration, precisely as it
fell from his lips.
This is the sixty-ninth birthday of American
liberty In the swift flight of time, the nation is
again summoned TO the celebration of an event
fraught with the greatest interest to the destnies OF
mankind. And this summons will be willingly
obeyed. All-the old and the young-the hoary
a,d ,L. ii,
zen and the freeman born upon the soil--the stern
Puritan of New England, and the adherent of the
ancient faith of Rome-will all unite in the OBJ
servance OF this day-a day sacred to the memory of
mighty men Of wisdom and valor, to the liberties of
America and to the God of freedom. And so all
the land, from the great cities the margin of
the ever-sounding sea, to the vast plains through
which the father Of rivers pours his broad, reslsess
flood, glad hosanna will ascend from the hearts o.
free, happy and united people. In gatherings OF
the people, now hushed into solemn stiffness as the
charter of their liberties is read, and now breaking
forth into loud but not dsorderly reoicings-in
pleasure parties river or lake, or amid the cool
shades of the spreading wood-in the crowded
theatre and fashionable resort--in thousands and
thousands of peaceful family circles where love and
affection smiled upon by the chasened beams
of the setting sun-everywhere, will the spirit of
''SEvEyTy-SIx" be present. rekindling the decaying
and adding fresh intensity TO the ardent fires of pa
triotism.
On such day the mind instinctively turns back
upon the past We at once revert to that period
when the first adventurous bands of coonists had
settled on our shores. Two hundred years ago, how
Indifferent the prospect of the future feeble band
of /. ct
of Dutchmen on the Hudson-a few Catholic settlers
in Maryland-and here and there in Virginia little
family of adventurous Spirits struggling against
savage enemy and thousand disadvantages and
prvations We follow these devoted settlers through
that long night of toll and tempest-now almost
wholly overwhelmed, and with hearts sinking with
in them-now regainng strength and confidence
but ever manifesting that heroic spirit and uncon-
querable will which yet live In their descendants.
until at last we find them grown up into three
millions of people, and preparing to throw off the
despotic rule of the most powerful nation of modern
times. In all these struggles-in all that long agony
of suffering and toll-and in that united impulse and
resolve, all the different branches of our common
ancestry discovered the same unquenchable love OF
civil and religious liberty, the same unshrinking
and practical faith in the nobility of mans nature
his capacity for self-govemment, and his ability to
achieve and maintain perfect independence.
Again we look back, and we see our forefathers
lust emerging from the SEVEN YEARS WAR They
have triumphed over the fleets and armies o.
Great Britaln-the Declaration Of Independence has
cen proclaimed to the world-the years of colonia
servitude are ended and the Sc cond era in the ma
ional existence begins. And here again we see the
,nto huflp far afere md ,T ~
same elements that effected the first settlement o
the country, and achieved, to such miraculous ex
tent, the subjugaton of the savage tribes and the
hardly less hostile wlldernesses of this western
world Men Of various cimes, and Of every reli
gious belief, united in the effort. They had but on,
! great object IN common-that was the establish
ment on the virgin soil of the new world Of sys
| tenn OF government by which equal rights and priyi
leges would be secured as the lnaienabe birth rich
of all. And they succeeded. Fair, firm, and un
shaken, as when first they placed the cope-stont
with JOY upon it, the fabric of the Revolution stands
the glory and protection Of the republic-the wonde
and admiration Of all the nations. Through the be
neficent and salutary influence OF the institution.
founded by these immortal benefactors OF their race
this republic has advanced in the brief space of tw,
generations OF men, TO an imperial greatness which
| commands the respectful attention Of the whole ci
vlized world. Twenty millions of people dwell
within our borders-our flag is seen on every sea
and our adventurous mariners every year findin
new channels for successful enterprise. We suppl
The ancient world with some Of the great staples o
commerce. New discoveries Of vast mineral wca
are continually made. Our exports amount TO up
wards OF hundred millions of dollars--sool
10 number tens Of hundreds of Millions
iuman ingenuity and energy find in all direc
IONS ample employment and full reward
All the enjoyments Of the highest state Of cvza
ION are universally difused amongst our people