Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-07-29

recouned the alternate defeats and triumphs OF
those times, which tested with severest scrutiny
the sincerity of patriotism. There" would he
say, "our little army of heroes advanced. Before
us were the boastful legions Of European vaour
and the aliars of religion, the flTesides oil our
children, and the graves of our fathers behind
Between these planted our standard. The
banner was unfurled-he drums were beat, and
onward we marched resolving 10 die, or 10 be free.
At our head rode majesucally the noble Washing
ton above us, smiled propltous heaven; within
us, hearts beat high at the sound of our political
and religious rights, and at the bayonets point we
received those who had ploughed the oceans
waves, to enslave the tatered sons of freedom
True, we left many of our brethren TO welter in
their blood along the field bot at the sound of that
voice, which seemed inspired by heaven for the
sole purpose Of leading on 10 victory, again we
marched and sought anew to battle the monsters
who butchered our wives and children. and polu-
ted our sanctuaries Of worship" Such is the sto
ry to which you may have listened. Ii was little
wonder then, that the daughters of America
strewed the road with flowers, on which their con-
queror passed, aid chanted with their maiden
voices, the song of his worth The sound was
then echoing from north to south, and from east 10
west, CORVALLIS is taken! Cornwallis is taken!"
but all knew that it was Washington who took
him. and, the saviour of his country well deserved
the songs and floral wreaths of those virgins, whom
he had saved from the brutality of foreigners and
the tomahawks of savages.
AS evidence that the Almighty protector Of the
oppressed had raised him up for the Office which
he filed and qualified him for it, one circumstance
deserves to be noticed, which will never lose its
interest while memory retains her powers, or in
tegrity its influence. The finances were embar-
rassed; the revenues of the scattered settlements
could not meet the claims of the treasury, and the
halfstarved troops disappointed of their pay.
A spirit of revolt instantly spread through the
ranks; British bribes were scattered with an un-
sparlng hand, and there was not wanting those
who famed the flame that was making its baneful
way to the very pillars of freedom Had he who
passed the Rubicon been there, 0 what would we
have to think of to day for it would have been as
easy then for Washington to become master of
America, as Caesar did Of Rome. Thank heaven,
nobler spirit was there. With righteous ndig-
nation, he rebuked the fiend that had breathed in
fidelity; calmed the passions OF thousands in a
short but graphic speech; opened to view the gulf
eager, in its vortex, to destroy all that years
of bloody toll had gained and, appealing to that
God whom he worshipped for the justness of his
intentions, again revived the dropping spirits whom
hunger and nakedness had driven almost to de-
spair; caused them to pant anew for glorious bat
tie, and to wreath for their own brows garlands of
victory! That was the hour Of this country's re-
demption. Then, the eagle of freedom. and the
angel of religion, were stretching their wings for
flight; but turning again towards the little band
whom God had set them to watch, they saw man
at their head whose words ran with electrical ra-
pidity through their ranks; up rose forest of
spears gttering IN the sunbeams in token Of their
renewed courage, and through the distant valHes
again resounded that inspiring motto, '' The God
of our Fathers.' and Liberty or Death"
Such were the times, the events and the char
acters whom we are on this day To commemorate,
and if there is spark of christian patriotism with
in our breasts, we cannot let this day pass with
out grateful acknowledg gemen;s TO Almighty God
without shedding tear over the graves of depart
ed sages, soldiers, patriots and statesmen. The
grave has closed over them forever but they should
live in our fondest affections Time may scatter
his moss upon their tombs, but the evergreens of
fame shall obscure it. Their glory, and especial
ly that of Washington, is CO extensive with the
earth, and shall be commensurate with time.
(TO be contiaued) 80. 81.