Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-07-07
Country COLLECTORS for the WING Ia
VIRGINIA.
The Anniversary

The celebration Of the National Anniversary
last Saturday was characterized by the usual spi
rit, aud presented n no less animated scene than
il usually exhibited on the recurrence of the Ma
iional Birthday.
At sunrise detachment of the Artillery fired
the morning salute; and at an early hour the
several Military Companies of the city with the
exception Of Capt. SCOTS Greys, which, in CON-
pany with the Fredericksburg Guards, made an
excursion to Norfok,) assembled in front of the
City Hall-thc Light Infantry Blues under the
command of Lieut.. Tompkins, Capt. q. W..
Munford being absent from the city-tho Artille-
". Capt. EIlis-the Guard, Capt. Nicholas-the
Dragons, Captain Gwynn-the Chesterfield
Troop, Capt. Weseger-the Henrico Troop,
Capt. McRae--and the Public Guard, Captain
Dmmock--and escorted the Orator of the Day
and the Reader of the Declaration of Indepeu-
dence TO the African Church, which was soon
densely crowded.
The services at the church were introduced BY
the flvorite national anthem, HAL Columbia"
from the excellent band Of music attached TO the
Blues. A feryent and peculiarly appropriate
prayer having been then offered up to the Throne
Of Grace by the Rev. RoBr. RILAND, (the pas
tor Of the Church, OLIVER p. BALDWIN. Esq.
rose. and. after brief but glowing introduction.
an Thoughts that breathed and words that
burned" read the Declaration, in which the griey.
ances OF the Colonies graphically pour
trayed, and the resolution TO throw off the yoke
Of the opprcssor is SO fearessly asserted, under
circumstances well calculated to appal the stout
hearts even of the band of intrepid patriots who
signed it with "a halter about their necks." JNo.
RANDOLPH TUCKER, Esq. was the Orator of the
Day. He enchained the attention of the audience
than one hour; and we regard it as high
tribute to the talents of the speaker that he
cecded in so doing, in despite Of the absence OF
the clap-trGps for which rourth Of July Ora.
tons are proverbial. In Mr.. fuckers Grafton
there was a vgor Of thought terseness Of eI.
precision, and felicity Of illustration, with coca.
sional bursts Of eloquence, that indicate a well
trained a. well Us richly furnished mind. We
We're particularly struck with his highly phioso.
phlcal remarks upon the Unity of Potrer. which
he 20 lecitousIy illustrated by reference to the
opposite results of the American and French
Revolutions and to the immediate causes Of
those results. Occasionally, the Orator trod per
maps upon the verge of forbidden ground although
disclIiming all partizan designs--a disclaimer the
sincerity of which one doubted, and which was
attested indeed by the pretty equal bearing of hi.
animadversions upon each Of the two great par.
ties.
After the close of the Grafton, the Military re.
paired to the Square, which thronged with
ladies and gentlemen, where, after being re.
viewed by Gov. Smith, the midday salute was
fired, after which the Companies repaired to their
several dining. places-the Blues to Buchanan
Spring; the Artillery to the Island near Mayo's
Bridge; the Guard to Clarks Spring; and the
three corps Of Cavalry to Chesterfield, the Hen.
rico and Richmond companies being the invited
guests of the Chesterfield Troop. Soon after
they left the Square, heavy SD over Of rain fell,
dispensing the immense crowd, many of whom,
however, were compelle to bide its Peltings
In the evening the several companies returned
TO the Square, and closed the day by the usual
salute.