The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-08-02

:, The menof the American revolution
are nomore. The age Of creative pow
er has passed away. The last survi
wing signer of the Declaration of indie
pendence has long since left the earth
Washington lies near his own Potomac.
surrounded by his family and his ser
wants. Adams. the colossus Of inde.
pendence, ,reposes in the modest grave.
yard of his native region. Jefferson
sleeps on the heights of his own Mon
ticelo, whence his eye overlooked his
beloved Virginia. Madison, the last
survivor Of the men who made our con-
stitntion, lives only in our hearts. But
who shall say that the heroes, in whom
the image of God shone most brightly,
do not live forever? They were filled
with the vast conceptions which called
America into being; they lived for
those conceptions; and their deeds
praise them.
We are met to commemorate the
virtues of one who shed his blood for
urindependence. took part in winning
the territory and forming the early in
stitutions Of the West, and was imbued
with all the great ideas which consti-
tute the moral force of our country
On the spot where he gave his solemn
fealty to the people-here, where he
pledged himself before the world to
freedom, TO the constitution and to the
laws-we meet to pay our tribute to
the memory Of the last great name,
which gathers round itself all the asso-
Citations that form the glory of America.
South Carolina gave a birthplace to
Andrew Jackson. On its remote from
tier, far up on the forest-clad banks of
the Catawba, in region where the
settlers were just beginning to cluster,
his eye first saw the light. There his
infancy sported in tile ancient forests,
and his mind was nursed to freedom by
their influence. He was the youngest
son of an Irish emigrant, Of Scottish
origin, who, two years after the great
war OF Frederic of Prussia, fled to
America for relief from indulgence and
oppression. His birth was in 1867, at
a time when the people of our land
were but body Of dependent colo
nists, scarcely more than two millions
in number, scattered along an immense
coast, with no army, or navy, or union;
and exposed to the attempts Of Eng
land to control America by the aid of
military force. His boyhood grew up
in the midst of the contest with Great
Britain. The first great political truth
that reached his heart, was that all men
are free and equal; the first great fact
that beamed on his understanding, was
his country's independence.
~ The strife, as it increased, came near
the shades Of his own upland residence.
As boy OF thirteen, he witnessed tie
scenes of horror that accompany civil
war; and when but year older, with
an elder brother, he shoulder ed his mus
ket, and went forth to strike blow
for his country. t l2a'.
Joyous era for America and humanl-
ty! But for him, the orphan boy, the
events were full Of agony and grief.
His father was no more. His eldest
brother fell a victim to the war of the
revolution; another (his companion in
arms) died of wounds received in their
JOINT captivity; his, mother went down
to the grave a victim to grief and eff
forts to rescue her sons; and when
peace came, he was alone in the world,
with no kindred to cherish him and lit
tie inheritance but his own untired
powers. 'aaa not "a I
eThe nation which emancipated itself
from British rule organizes itself; the
confederation gives way to the consti-