The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1845-07-19
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
Notwithstanding
feel incompetent, 10 the arduous task which hat
been assigned me on this occasion, never car
refuse 10 RAISE my voice IN commemoration oil
the return OF this Unprecedented day. The
moral grandeur OF the scene presented to the
fauerlng fancy, the Eden of happiness compo.
sing our extensive domain, and the bright Wis
IONS OF anticipated liberty, which began on this
DAY sixty nine years ago. rise with the dawn oil
ihis morning in gushing profusion upon our de.
lighted memories, over shadowing the imagina.
iion with the unsuIed loneliness of the scene
aud almost hushng The tongue that would
MARBLE note IN i's praise. Yet the impressions
created by the occasion, were too august for
utierance; and though silence might pr, vail,
AS solemn az the grave, still that silence would
DC more eloquent t.aHthe concord of delightful
ard sweet sounds; Ian eloqucnce more sublime
snd commanding than the imaginative specula.
lions OF poets and orator IAN clcquence ava.
ken'ng emotions that would be arrogant for me
10 attempt TO initiate. Can there be any Amer
tcan mind, so stalled against The principles of
humanity, that can contemplate for one mo
inent the vast results and blessings Of he acts
ot tbs day sIx'y.nlneryears ago to Us and to the
world, without sensations Undesirable and
DnBttersbiee Knowing that the transactions of
that period were beyond the power OF human
agency to achieve, and that the wisdom which
guided our revolutionary sages in their bod
and daring deeds was an EN- nation direct from
the throne Of an advise and mysterious God
Yes fellow cl,izeds, the same omnipotent hand
which brought light out OF darkness, for his own
wise purposes, also made Washington the sun
OF American freedom, to shine forth and dissi.
~ a hp ulooun If pntitic p,ubt
lie smote upon the rock of ieudal oppression
and caused the rvulet Of liberty and republ
canism to gnsh forth, which has continued to
flow and extend from its thirteen colonization
head uut it has embraced within it's divine fold
twenty seven States, among which may be
found the proud and happy State in which we
Dlve And should we, fellow counrymen, on
this occasion neglect TO let our grateful thanks,
like holy incense, ascend to the throne of that
henifcent God, whose divine gudence has been
70 visible throughout the whole progress Of our
history, from the first settlement of the colonies
IN the forest wiIds of the old dominion and the
landing of our fathers upon Plymouth rock down
TO the termination of their dreadful and bloody
contest.
In maintenance of the belief that a special
,nterpos,ion of super ruling Providence pre-.
sides over the destiny of nations and DEGREES
the rise and fall of Empires and Kingdoms. you
will mark the accumulated proofs associated
with our birth and infant growth as nation,
which the history of that eventful period fur.
nIshes.
At the time when this fertile ard happy land
felt alone the impress of the savage foot, it was
discovered by the heaven directed Columbus.
Then throughout the entire sway of Europe the
rights of the people were voraciously ingulphed
by unlimited prerogative. They were subjuga.
ted to the very dust by diabolical oppression.
Their souls were enveloped in thick murky va
pours of religious superstion; and that reason
which SO preeminently distinguished the Euro
pean race was forced to leave her throne to
emaciate amid the uncultivated soil of despot.
ism, or perish by foe dal oppression. The glare
OF sectarian bigotry was welded in fearful tri-
usnph over the christian world, blasting all that
was pure or holy that its adder like poison
touched. There was no rcquium to tha pioue,
mo freedom of speech or of the press; But he
who cherished sacred devotion to the cause
Of repubicanism and attempted to waive the
banner Of freedom DER his friends End country.
men, was banished and driven from MS naive
home to fulfil, though he knew it not, the des.
tiny his Creator designed for him,-that Of
giving birth to a free and happy nation, when
man could bow under.his own vine and fig tree,
and no 6endish ecclesiastical court dare arraign
and make him afraid. See history and con-
template the aggravated expressions which
caused tho tide Of emigration from the polluted
shores Of England, and tell me il a still small
voice does not roll through the ETHEREAL frma-
men', saying to man that the Lion of the tribe
of Judah had long since predes,ined that his
people should no longer remain under the yoke
Of tyranny or the principles Of the gag; but
should be permitted to worship him after the
dictates Of their own consc,encies. Some,
however, fed not only from religious persecu-