The Arkansas banner., 1848-07-11
GRAFTON.
Dsliysnd at iks, Siae Hsu5s, Little Rsek,
 July lth, lsG ''
Br LAnnEhs !. wRlFshEI, nsa.

Ladies ana GeahaMeA: tssF
 1t bas become ny duty. through ths honoF eoafsfed upSn me by she Lycsnm, to aid by an sddfsss in eommehaofGfsng Inc glorious eru ef AmsEiean Indspendence WhiIe | deem |. un- nseesaary to wessy yoa witi stersotyped spolsgie. ier ths hanner in which may perform ta.k so gratifying, a ny Aiisss te as eAst C ysas sslee- tIon. t will not be inappropriate io ssliet yoas h dslgsnes Eof any deficiencies that ysu may obssrvs.
 There exisss in every hamah bseaat ai iassiae- i've reverence for ths setsss sf sssst and BsbIs dssds, and sn iAvsiuntay dslt sto eelebsate shsir achievements. Nearly siied and h bsaasifal nc- serdznes wth ssseseass for hs great and eood. . she fead fseollsetisn q soms pieasing event, whence we nay date sar happiness and prospesisy. and Whieh. iiks hrigkt esseA spot h assmory.s wasia. formed arsAaIng place Iron long yss ofsol- soaas ssruggies, now softeaed and dsprirsd q al their fuggednesa by ths shadowy wing of lime. It was ts thaf introduced the beautiful polylhesm oi ths ancient world. made Gods of Crseian heroes, and iaught rsmaatie people 10 vorship beauty, w;sdom. snd power. in Venus. | Minerva, and . Jesa This instituted the oiympian gancs, and
 raised up tbe rune aI,srs of dtuiaieal superstition This made Palestine holy land. and ths Palmsr's sta and shell passport through the christan world mads Napoleon 'Le grand empsrsur., and Washing ton ''the Father of hls country" Itgavs strength aud duration to the Magua Charta of old England. and eonsecrated Plymouth Reek; and 1t s this that SOW causes the people of our 'model republic" to hail, with delight, the glorious anaiversary of the birth day of nation's freedom,
 seventy-two years ago, as every ehildsean tell, she is old enough tokoow the meAnine cs2he stars and stripes, which. this day. throughout our land are aang proudly forth end whisper tc each pass
 ing breeze, that kisses their giitsering folds, this is . nation of freedom.' ssventy-two years ego band of determined patriots had suffered long and patientiy. Ia their wilderness home. the indghi.es ard wrongs sf outraged society, Th+y at last threw or the galiing yoke of Esgiish oppression. and boldly proclaimed to the world. aEhst all men are created free and equal and are possessed of eer tain ina'ssnable Tshts" which neither tyranny can trampss en nor princsiy power pros,rate. Seventy two years ago the fathers oF our Independence kin dlsd apon the western shores of tho Atlantic. a baze upon the altar of Liberty. which like the yes. tai fire Of Roman idOatry. or tbe mysterious light Of the Rosiefuciaus, they meant should be perea. nial new halo burst upon the world. that has since alike finmised the rude cabin of the hardy pioneer. and the humblest hamlet of the fair land of the vinsand Troubador A shout was raised Ia the wild forests of America. that went booming across the waters, awakening sweet tones from the long silent harp of EIin. finding voice In the ominous hymn of the Mavselllaise, and reverbsrating in .t~~~~a a-a,n.. .x...,., shA ~.,.-.s1 .t5 t "A penines This bir'h day of freedom. this bursting of that and glorious and unextinguishste light, this sbout of inc infant giant of Liberty, we are here assembled to commemofsts.
 Less thsn three-fourths of century has passed, yet how much has been accomplished. Young America has long since finished her noyitiate Her proud keeis have poughed the watery paths of eve ry sea. Her stars and stripes have oated upon the breeze in every cline. and while they bear a mute reprosch to jealous and suspicious monarehs, they are hailed with delight by the oppressed on every shore as the emblem of that land. the home cfLibe,ty. Happy in governm. nt in which every freeman is his own law-giver; blessed with peo- pie composed of sH the various nations and eharac- ts of the earth, yet indIssolubiy bound together by the ties of interest. friendship and faternity; rich
 in resources. which though but half developed. are aaequsiisd by those of any other nation; America presents to the world that prodigy of modern ages. . 'smodei repubiic-" An universal admiration has been excited for people eontinsalg growing in strength and in prosperity, while fghting one haIi of the world and feeding the other.
 During the last two years our country has appear d an anomaly in the history Of nations. Brought into existence as an independent people within the mem,ry of many yet living. in knowledge. in wealth. in power, in ali The resources Of nanonsI greatness and prosperity. ws are fact exceeding
 the widest dreams of our enthusiastic forefathefs. Already are we ranked among the greatest haiious of the earth. Already have we added to that bright galaxy of heroes, orators. and sages. whom 'no country can claim, nc climate appropsiste.n In stassmsnship, in the fire arts. literature. seasace. and in mechsn;sm. ws aye now unrivalIed. Oar commerce and our navies whiten the seas with ibeir canvass; our productions are far greater than we can consume. The attention of revolutionary Eu. rope is risestsd upon people enjoying all the bss- sngs of plenty and prosperity. and from their su- perauoas abundascs, gfAiuiseusiy farnishins food to millions of iamishiDg victims of English mis- rule and opPressioB, while maintaining triumph ant army of invasion in foreign country. Twice airesssv we have eontsndec successfully with the vaunied mistress of the seas. More recently ws have proved to our increducus contemporaries that we have not degeneratsd. Years ef peace ard in' activity have produced no sspinsness. There sui! burns as brightly in the bcsans Of their sons, the same deterDiaed spirit that strengthened and ani- mated the heroes of '76. the same nnfnehing in. trepidty that once pledged honor and wealth and ifs to sappo the noble dselsfaties. which rescued our fathers from an tsnominious ssrvituds. and made us ffesmsn
 Arenssd by the insulting saanis. and threats and injustice of an iasessnt and asegsnt nsishbor. . mere hasafui of ear daun'Iess youths ksvs Psss. tssisd into the very heart. fate the mesa inprsgna blc fssfuasana of tha snsuvsx eounfrv They have