The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-28

comes with It's haloWed fcmemofances oi the good
deeds Of by-eone generations; and the heart warns,
and the soul quirkens, as memory rpiotures the
past, and traces from the landing of the pilgrims
at Plymouth the steady and rapid progress of the
COLONIES, the States, and the Union. From that
little band, numbering one HUNDRED and --sepa-
rated on one side, from civilization by the Atlantic
ocean and the other by interm,nable forests,
where the voice of the white man had never sound
ed-we have come TO be great nation Of nations.
When we reflect upon the changes that have taken
place since that period (l620) on this continent,
are lost IN wonder and amszement A new world
has been peopled Civilization, science, art, have
taken the place of the forest and the savage
few days since, the good people of old Ply
mouth were visited, for the first time, with that
wonderful locomotive, the steam etgne-the old
colony railroad having been completed, and opened
To the public. This engine bore the name of the
Maydower On the arrival ofthe at that place,
several passengers from Boston enquired for "Pi
grim rock" and hsstened to look upon that famous
memento of the landing of the pilgrims, from the
Mayaower. Pilgrim rock and the steam engine
Mayfower! Could the pilgrims have looked upon
the latter as their descendants Looked upon the
former, who could have described the astonishment
that would have been predicted their counte-
nances! Aud how would they have listened to the
story of their new friends which might have run
thus: This curious and powerful machine, moved
by the power OF steam-ihe elastic Griform fluid
generated by heating water to the boiling point
u
city, with over one hundred thousand inhabitants,
some forty miles distant, in less than two hours
But this Is but small task compared with what II
can do. IL can move at the rate of one mile in a
minute, with ease and safety. Iron roads, called
railroads ola similar construction 10 this over which
we have just passed. verge FROM and connect to-
gether, other and large cities; spreading out in vari-
Gus directions, they connect the shore with the
interior, States with States, and thus bind together
by rapid communication, more than quarter of
hundred of independent governments. which, united
for general purposes and specified objects, under q
general constitution, called the UNITED STATES
OF NoRrH Misunderstanding population of
twenty millions of souls "a free and independent
people governed by laws of their own making,
themselves the sorereign' But no less The water
than the land has civilization achieved its tr
umphs. The steamship walks up and down our
rivers and strides the ocean, with the regularity of
the sun; il crosses the Atlantic in treire aaySthe
same ocean on which the Mayfower was tossed,
with intense anxiety and uncertainty, one bundled
and seren dags, before a foot was set upon ply
mouth rock"
But these railroad passengers might have told a
longer tale. They might have spoken Of the revo
luton Of re; Of our WAsBNGToS, who led our
armies to victory, and the first President over
the first great and truly republican government
formed on the face of the earth; of our Franklin,
who played with the iightnngs of heaven, and con-
Quoted them harmlessly at his feet; of orators
scholars, poets, statesmen, historians and phosoph
ers; and of that recent application of electricity
the communication of intelligence between distant
points, with the rapidity 81 lightning But the time
would have been insufficient for them TO tell Car
ver Bradford, Standsh, and their associates all that
had happened since the establishment Of their little
republic of "New Plymouth" in the New World;
nor have i, who have been inconsideratey drawn
into this train Of thought, time talents to do JUS
tice to the theme.
At the commencement of this letter, the thought
ttar arh MAJ. and
ursly led me to reflect upon the many causes which
not only the people of Massachusetts, but of the
whole Union, have, for sincere and hearty thanks
givings. And why should we not have general
day--a day set apart by Congress--on which the |
President Of the United States should call upon the
States, and all the people Of the States to render |
thanks TO Almighty God for the numbetless bless |
ings we enjoy as as nation Would it look too |
much like consolidation? am no ceniralist con-
soiidaiionist. advocate strict constitution Of the
federal constitution, and 60 for State rights far
any one will go. throw out this hint because il |
has come up while writing. Let ii pass for what it
is worth. ! recollect, however, precedent The
surrender Of Corvallis at the close of the revolu
tionsry struggle, was considered of much impor- |
tance--believing that il would be followed by a
speedy close of the war; and the recognition of our
"a day of public Thanksgiving
was recommended by Congress- and observed through
out the United Siaes." At this day, when we have
been so long preserved an independent and free
people; having so long enjoyed the blessings Of lib.
erty and good government; after having passed
through second war for Independence" and bav-
ing trumphanty advanced IN civilization and power
in spite Of domestic factions and foreign nvasions;
resting in prosperity and security in profound peace.
- how much cause have we, as people, for deep, |
heartfelt ihankfunessi
At no period during the existence Of our nation
have we been in more aourishing condition than
at the present The cry of ''ruin," which has been
so often rung by the opponents Of democracy, has
ceased to echo over mountain and plain. Labor is
rearing liberal reward; capital receives rich Gin
some cases too rch) dividends the agricultural, man.
ufacturaI and commercial interests thriving; the
sea is studded with richly freighed vessels; the
earth is covered with full granares; the hum Of cum
ming machinery rises from numberless waterfalls;
and the old forests and the sotudes of the prairies
are turned into cities, il by enchantment And
the best feature in this general show Of prosperity
is the fact that there is nothing fictitious false in
it. but that it is rsaI that it is not caused by the
unnatural expansions Of mammoth national bank;
tbai is not an artificial and hot-bed production but
Ia natural Development Of the inexhaustible re-
sources Of this great country, the genius OF our DEM
ocratc institutions, and the energy, enterprise, skill
and spirit of free people.
How much cause have we, then, as nation, to be
thankful And if we were really and truly so,
would not those sectional feelings and personal and
party animosities and chickering's, melt away as the
winter snowa before the summers sun. And az
our New England festival of Thanksgiving brings
home TO the family mansion the lost and the wan
dering, many who have been separated by the force
Of circumstances and by alienated feelings; and, as
the errors and mistakes of the past forgotten and
forgiven around the social hearth and the festive
board, and the union of kindred spirits renewed for
the present. and prayed foy for the future-even no,
lie, there be one day of national and universal thanks
the North and the South, the Eastand
the West, feeling that they have common origin,
a common country, and common destiny, annual |
ly assemble as kindred of blood around the al
tar of their country, and forgetting the discussions
of the past rcsolya for all time to come, to live and
to act as one great family for the maintenance OF
LIBERTY and the perpetuity Of our glorious USIoN.
! am truly yours, MARKER
FALL AND WINTER GOODS.
VILLLaM T. JENNINGS & CO.,
DRAPERs AND TAILoRs