The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-03
THE FOURTH OF JULY.

We turn with a sense Of relief from the intense
excitement of day, passed mainly in close atten-
ton to the momentous proceedings Of the House
of Representatives, to the feelings natural to the
great national anniversary which will rise upon us
with the Of tomorrow. II the grandeur Of a
day be fdy measured by the magnitude Of the
results which have sprung from its doings, or by
the majesty of the causes in which those results
originated, then it is only sober truth to say that
the 4h of July, l776, was the grandsst secular day
in the history Of the world.
When the colonies of jamestown and Plymouth
were planted, the highest ideas and the noblest
principles of the most extraordinary age which the
human race had then SEEM were put into possession
Of a New World. For more than hundred years
before, during the whole Of the reformation,
men had been in every way learning how to found
Commonwealth on the principle Of equal rights.
New powers had risen in the world to subserve this
end. The invention Of gunpowder had tended o
make all men equal on the field Of battle The in
vention of printing had tended to make oil men
equal in the opportunities of knowledge. The
translation of the Scriptures, and their publication in
the languages ofthe common people, had tended to
of an immortal life. The doctrine Of equal rights
was henceforth to be planted upon new bases, and
if adequate platform could be found for its action
henceforth like the lever Of Archimedes, to
the world Such causes were in operation from the
day when North America was first colonized, and
after more than a century and half of growth and
development, they resulted in the great deed of the
4th of July, l776.
But OF what a new world of events was that day
the suspicious ana glorious commencement
Writing as if in prophetic vision of the national
power and prosperity which shine around us to-day
the elder Adams, seventy years ago. then in the
midst of the great achievement of which he spoke,
penned the following words They are now known
and recognised all our country as the words OF
political prophecy.
"PmLADELPHIA, July S, l776.
yesterday the greatest question was decided
which was ever debated in America; and greater,
perhaps, never will be decided among men.
resolution passed, without one dissenting
colony, THAT THESE UNITED STATES ARE, AND
or RIGHT OUGHT TO BE, FREE AND INDEPENDENT
STATES
"The day is passed. The 4th of July, 1776, will
be memorable epocha in the history of America
| apt to believe IL oiH be celebrated by sue
II Dug hit TO be commemorated the DAY OF DELIv-
FRANCE, by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty
God. Ii ought to be solemnlZed with pomp shoes
games, SPORTS guns, bells, bonres, and Examinations
FROM ONE END OF THE CONTINENT TO THE OTHER,
from this time for,oard forever You will think me
transported with enthusiasm; but am not. am
well aware of the toll and blood, and treasure that
it will cost to maintain this declaration and support
and defend these States; yet through all the gloom,
can SEQ the rays of light and glory-I can that
the end is worth more than all the means and that
posterity will triumph, although you and | NAV
rue, which hope shall not
81 am, &c,
JOHN ADAMS"
Upon any other occasion these words would have
seemed to be the language Of transported with
enthusiasm" But they were fit and natural upon
that day, and in relation to.that event. For upon
that day the fruit of centuries had ripened and was
plucked. Upon that day it was established that all
the fsedoms-of conscience and Of thought-of
speech and of ndustry-of commerce and of the
press-should dwell together in the New World
And wise statesmen even at that early day
that the dwelling place worthy Of its new in
habtants. II was the great unknown land The
eye of observation had then scanned only the out
lines of its strongest natural features-its extended
seacoast--Its noble harbors-s lofty dividing noun
tain ranges-its stupendous succession of inland
seas, and the vast and magnificent stretch Of it's
great river valley-beyond all comparison the no.
best river valley the gobeaready, in l776, rec
ognised the future home of hundred millions of
men. But all these lines and landmarks, set by the
hand of nature proclaimed that here man, gifted with
new social powers, and entering upon more auspi-
clous era, had found for his patrmony theatre ade
quate to the development of his new destiny.
1t was in view of all these thngs-in view of the
great chain Of causes which had, under Providence
created the American people Of I776 and in view of
the still grander results which future years held in
store for the posterity of that people--that the
statesmen of that era drew up the mighty manifesto
which has made the fourth of July immortal On
this very day, such has been, within the three
score years and ten DvineIy allotted to our human
life, the gigantic march of our national traditions
and liberties; on this day, the seventeen anniver-
sary of our national independence that great insru-
ment which forms the legislative record oft, will be
read and repeated amidst every possible demonstra
ton of national rejoicing from the rock ofPlymouth
to the valley of the Willamette The boundary
line which now straight across America, shows
the continent, for the first time in its history TO be
girdLed, through all the farest portions of the Tenn
psrate Zone, with the undsputed and ndisputsble
patrmony of the free. In this fact, the Declaration
of Independence seems almost to have ACQUIRED a
new significance. May it be read by every Ameri-
can citizen with the feelings and the resolves which
beht the day set apart to its commemoration
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
In Congress, July 4th, l776.
THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIRTEEN
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
When, in the course of human events, it becomes !