The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-08
+. p. BLAIR,
John G. RlXES.


F.P. BLAIR,
JOHN c. RlVES.
Washington City, July 4, 1916.
This address was received with hearty and unani-
nous applause by the meeting,
| The band played national air
JoHE T.. NoRRIs, esq, was then introduced TO
the meeting by the chairman OF the committee Of
arrangements, who, on behalf of the Democratic
Association of Washington city, pronounced the
following response TO the communication OF Messrs
Blair IL Rives:
Mr.. Grammar AND FELLow-cIrIzEEs We are
met together on an occasion Of thrilling interest TO
every American one that cannot fail 10 inspire our
bosoms with emotions Of the most elevated char
acter. This is the anniversary of our nation birth
day-of the day which were displayed to the
world courage, wisdom, and daring sacrifice, su-
peror to the boosted examples Of other lands, which
history delights 10 eulogize, and which gave promise
TO oppressed humanity Of future deliyerance from
political thraldom.
| To-day, seventy years ago, the reyered authors
OF our independent national being despite the fearful
menaces OF relentless tyranny and with all the hOr-
Of dreadful retributon ia Of failure fully
before them, Indignantly threw off the dominion of
monarchy, and asserted for the first time that man
was constituted by his Creator with powers and
faculties capable ofgOvcrnng hlmself-a proposition
that was novel, and found but little favor pou-
icai axiom in the iron ages Of despotism, though
fondy cherished, and taught by mOTallsls. They
| boldly promulgated the proposition, and then de-
monstrated liz by the production of the
most extraordinary and ndubitabe proofs. To the
steady patience and untllnchlRg hdeIlty Of the
mighty spirits who put into motion the elements Of
the revolution and controlled and guided them to its
consummation, the world is indebted for the only
pure representative government whose existence is
recorded An the examples Of republics furnished
| by antiquity and the boosted models Of modern
times on the continent Of Europe were mere mock
eries-abortIve and ellsryescent attempts Of man
To establish the fact Of the ofness of his destiny
and his capabIlIty of sef-rule 1t was reserved
| in the order and by the design Of Providence,
for the Of seventy-six by collecting and
condensing into few grand conceptions and truths
the scattered fragments Of the collected wisdom OF
the past, To lay the foundations OF human liberty
and good government 80 deep and solid that they
could not be shaken by the enginery OfdespOuc pow
ler, the earthquake thrOes of political faction, nor
even by the maddened and MISC udcd efforts of par
tsan eXperimentors. The spirit that they breathcd
into the Institutions which they originated impaired
such vigor and vitality to preserve them rom
destruction in every crisis through which our coun-
try has passed. and will doubt not, under the gui-
dance OF that Almighty Being who has 30 kindly
lnerposed in their protection keep them unaltered
and unlmpaircd until they shall have fully reached
their happy destiny in GROWING unborn millions
with the blessings Of peace, political and religious
liberty, and the fruits Of their own industry.
race. There was moral grandeur blended with
the various traits Of their character, the
temptation of which eXcites unmCasured admiration
in the patriots bosom. Indeed that mans heart
must be frlgid iceberg that mediate
with indifference on the deeds and events of those
times, or the characters Of the illusrIous agents
who wrought the achievements we now celebrate.
As Americans, enjoying TO the full measure Of de-
sire freedoms boon, we cannot recall to our minds
the recollection OF the courage, suilerngs, and sac
rces Of the heroes and sages Of the revolution, and
the splendid results that followed, without experien-
cling our sentiments of admiration rising with such
increased strength to oveTwhelm our souls. See
ing nothing in their advance but darkness toll, suf-
fering and sacrifice, they embarked on an untried
ocean with the glorious Declaration Of Independence
for their chart, and the eternal principles Of conscious
recttude for their compass and though exposed
to personal ruin and lgnomlny if they should chance
to be captured in their voyage and TO the rgors OF
severer bondage unsuccessful finally pursued 10y
merclless despotlc power, with naught but the
star Of hope to cheer them in the midst Of all
these discouragemens, placing their reliance upon
higher power, they pledged their lives, their for
tunes, and their sacred honor for the faithful per
, formance Of duty, and triumphantly gained the Sc
rene shores of liberty which they have bequeathed
to us and to our their best, their choicest
legacy.
This day has been selected by the Washington
Democratic Association for the dedication of Jack
son Hall; and surely, the communication Just
read declares, no day could lie more appropriate
Designed as a place to ncuICate and maintain IT
their purity the principles asserted and established
by the revolutionary worthless, which ex
pounded by the immortal man whose own hand in
=, dited the Declaration of Independence, and were
illustrated in the long and arduous career of Jack
son. it well deserves to be dedicated the 4th day
of July, and under the auspices of the name of ont
Of Americas most honorcd sons.
Jackson was the great political refDrmer Of hi,
,haa ,f IA1, ii
instructive and sworn antagonist Of arlstoCracy. lie
was the true friend OF the Masses and he shaped hit
policy as to confer the distribution of the bless
ngs of government on the greatest number. No
!, only in his administration Of the government, die
he endeavor TO preserve it from the encroachmenl
Of federalism, and save It's constitution from abus
and violation, but he regarded with sacred rever
ance the will Of the people, while he jealousl,
guarded their interests. When that will was con
= sntutonally expressed he showed no defiance of it
lie esteemed and honored the masses-hc mel
who labor and toll; and such was the eXaednes
! and magnanimity ofhis mind, that even while exer
csing the office Of chief magistrate Of the nation, thu
- appeal of the humblcst and obscurest citizen wa
- never made to him in vain, but listened to witt
great attention and kindness, and the cause ofgrlev
ancc, if practicable, speedily removed. III
was not theoretical republican only-he was
y practical also. His course and conduct dis
played degree of sincerity and frank zeal for tn
y popular veal that seized upon the understanding
|, and hearts of the people with such force, that in
:, stead of being diminished, it was increased by tn
= event of his dissolution; for he still lives in the al
econs of all true Americans, not only the va
. liant and successful Chielain who led ftecdom's son
to victory at the lannon's mouth, but as the grea
political reformer, the statesman whose sagacity
g council and energy in action irresistible to hi
=, antagonists, and threw u moral grandeur about hi
character that even forbade scratiny into his cor
y duct. As statesman, the Democratic Assocatio
'e Of Washington have dedicated their hall under tn
u auspices Of his name; and while stimulated by tn
- spirit of enlarged policy and honest aim that actua
10 ted him, and guided by the principles which he i
, lustrated we may confde in our and feel jus
T. Ily proud of our Jefferson was the hmou
~ expounder of the democratic creed. In his first il
augural he has presented full and clear an expo
u siuon of the principles Of the republican form
=, government, as to show concIusveIy that his zct
-, for it founded on extensive and accurate know
- edge But owing to the corrup'ions that had er
trcnched themselves in the machinery of the go,
- eminent during the administration, 1t not in tn
=, power Of him wholly to eXtrpae them, and estat
b,si tbn