Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-07-17
Judge 3. TucKER.
aSSWER.l


yonr no.e is iust handed me, Young gentlemen,
and though i, is not usual 10 infct on the Puoiie
y dinner speech, vet cheegtuIiy comply WIN
vour request. In spite oi myself, iouhd II iiii'
nossible so far 10 forget The late relation between
MS as 10 refrain from using The occasion lot me
purpose OF imposing on you. MINDS some VI 'he
truths il had been my duty 70 incnIcae. an
no, sorry, therefore, tina, you have aiioIuso me
an opportunity OF giving wider Circulation "
thoughts with which every Vifsinlan Should OF
familiar Ii | have succeeded IN giving .hei'
their proper place and due weight IN your mines,
| shall not have lived in vain II Inc sons OF
Virginia should be stimulated 10 The erection Of
such monnmen, as have proposed, mat mo-
nument will hc, 10 me TOO, mausolelm psooue'
,han the Pyramii: Of Cheops.
Your friend, most sincerely,
B. TUCKER.
To Messfs LEWIS, THOMPSON, &c.
VIM s. MARY College, July !, ioic.
GRAFTON.
Il would i'll become me. in addressing myself
10 The task have assumed, 10 permit myself 10
forge, that il is 4 tas. appropriate 10 youm-
Youth is The season OF enjoyment and oil hope
revellins n the present, All looking on that nf'sh'
present as but The dim ioreshadowing OF some
better bliss 10 come lie VINO would give a VOICE
10 the feelings OF that Joyous season. ana expect.
awaken an echo in the hearts Of ycnthiai he'i
crs, what qualities must ne bring 10 ND 'atn
what sni.it! what energy wha, buoyancy VIVA
oIeei And Age "ali weak and wiihereu OF IA
forest"-d;m-sioh,cd and blear-eyed-his lahc1
aded-his heart saddened by aliicloh anu sie n
ened by isappoinment-and to,terihs uo~u I a.,
IN The ,o,nh where iile-w,h all lis Joys ana sol
rows. lis hopes and iears-wiil soon ee qucn.n -:
,oreyer-what right can he have 70 h,"g'e u
Ia, rll
raven note with the spflns-lioe ca'o' ""o'e '''S
thrills through every hea'' .:.,,s,,,,
AT another time, and uhaei o''iei ~ uui.'a -
ces might be warranted in supposios mai In
ss,so,;on ot myself Tor This TASK was indicallv
NJ wish To hear my thoughts on some one oi III
,o,;cs with which Won know me 10 be most lam
liar Ru, there is no room ior this Interpretation
vonr choice. You have had enough OF lectures
and a grave discourse on any subject would oe
mnch out OF place as il | should at this momei
offend your stated palales by the offer OF roun
of substantial beet, instead OF the glass OF los
wine in which now pledge You.
In this dilemma should abandon my nnoe
taking in despair did not the day llseil anoIu
,heme and pre,cxt Tor using il. From The eit
ouent ma uer Jus, read | draw a text, which, thong
consisting OF bat single word, gives scope ic
reflections infinitely various and INFINITELY lmpo
liant. ,, -,
That word is Iadependcncc-and though but
s;nole word, vel are the ideas i, suggests So di
rinct. that were disposed TO treat my text alter u
manner OF holy men, might distribute mem III
der three heads. | might use ii as an occasion
speak OF the independence OF The unileo o'a'e
the independence Of Virginia; or your own pc
sonal independence.
Shall speak Of the first of these2 To VIII
purpose should do 50, as oil tact 10 be prove
and established2 The sun in the heavens IS n
more palpahe To the eye tnan is the unquesiiont
and understandable independence OF The Unite
States 10 every man in christendom. LII the a
chives o; every civilized >Iate Inc TACT IS recofa'
and consecraIed by solemn treaty. Throughout u
Union itself thousands of voices have this did
for The seventeen time, proclaimed II 10 'ens
thousands OF hearers and, IN every nation VI u
globe. wherever two or three OF our country" i'
are met together, that eloquent deciaraion'
which you have Just listened, mas oee" iedo
the hearing OF mullilndes.
Shall speak OF the Independence OF the Unil'
STATES as right 10 be guarded with seepiess
GLANCE. and defended, as OF old, al tue hazard
az life and Fortune and sacred Honorf, The S.
of Heaven is not more sieadiast in the hrmame
than is the independence of this great contedeI
ted empire The time will come when Inc sol
earth shall melt and the heavens themselves she
fee away, and there shall be no place for lher
TAsn, (but not till ihen,) will the independen
proclaimed on this day seventy years cease 10 e
isl. Whatever else OF good or evil may oet'
us-whalever clouds may shadow-whatev
eclipse may darken the independence of The Tn
ted States must stand unassailed, and unassail
BILE.
Shall speak Of il AS blessing TO be cnerls
ed7 The light OF Heaven is not more preco
70 the eye OF man Than is The Independent
of the United States TO every nhabant OF Il
Union. Strange prodgies hare sometimes ha
pened Animals, formed 10 Craze and che
the cud, are said 10 have turned again
,he ronrse Of nature and become carniyorou
and the time is to come when the Lion shall e
straw like the Ok: but in all this there is no pc
version OF use and appetite 50 monstrous as wou
be seen, if the American peopie-any portion
,hem~any single individual, however o!herwi
base and corrupt should desire to Isn9 10 ind
pendence, and return AGAIN 1o 70 n nower WI
speak of such lhings2 49,;
But, gentlemen, among the truths win whl
tina, almost inspired instrument apounas, Tue Is