Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-07-21

though strangers 10 America and her citizens,
felt an interest in her cause and sympathy
for her wrongs, that caused them to take up
arms in her behalf, and die bravely fighting
the battles of freedom All of the Colonies
participated in the strife, and all lost more or
less of their bes. blood During its existence,
nothing met the eye but the horror stricken
Vestlges OF obstructive war. Poverty. misery,
distress and destruction storked like an invis-
IDLE demon over this liberty loving land of
Columbia, while, save the dying groans of
the butchered soldier, no sound met the ear
but the lamenting shrieks of the widowed
mothers, or the piercing cries of her orphan
infants. 1t certainly, then, becomes US to re-
fer to these startling facts of living history,
and to do so is certainly solemn But when
we reflect that these scenes of misery and suf-
fering were endured in a noble cause, and
that our torefathers, although they died by
tyrant's hands, died brave as men should in
arms for liberty, renders it in no degree ne
cessary that we should mourn for them then
let US shed no tears of sorrow over their graves,
for, although they be gone to Heaven, as we
hope and believe, to meet their merited re-
ward, their memory still lives, and shall ever
be preserved among the best treasures Of the
nation they died to free We will not longer
| indulge these solemn reflections, but examine
the catalogue of names that stand foremost in
the cause of liberty.
The great Washington led the van II
would, indeed, be superAuous, nay, preposter-
Gus, to endeavor to say justice of this pecu-
liarly great and good man, to discharge which
task would belabor the pen of the brightest
genius or fater the tongue of the mightiest
giant of eloquence. Yet we believe it very
unjust, on such an occasion as this, to men,
ton the name of him who was called Father
of his country, and whose praises we learn to
lisp from infancy, without noticing some
cherished marks of sacred memory.
The language of the renowned Phillips,
(though European,) seems happily 10 meet
our opinions of him: GA conqueror, he was
untaintel by any crime of blood' GA Revo-
lutionist, he was free from any stain of trea-
SON" {" Liberty unsheathed his sword, ne
cessity stained it, and victory returned it,
Caesar was mercifuI, Scipio was continent,
Hannibal was patient but ii was reserved for
Washington to blend them all in one, and like
the lovely chief dauure of the Grecian art
st, to exhibit in one glow of associated beau
ty, the pride Of every model, and the perfec-
ton of every MASTER
The great name next to Washington in our
hearts must be that of Lafayette II has been
said, and truly, that among all who have la
bored in the cause of man, none have acted a
! part than him, who left a brilliant destiny in
Europe, and came to espouse the cause of
these States. And the gloomy state of Amer
lean affairs at that time, are sufficient eviden-
ces of his noble disinterestedness. So gloomy
were our prospects at that time, that our com
missioners endeavored to dissuade him from so
laudable, yet so dangerous, an enterprise
His answer on that occasion is sufficient in
dex to his character. Hitherto, said he, have
but admired your cause now go to serve it.
He purchased a vessel on his own account,
embarked, and after a successful passage,
reached our shores, and presenting himself to
Congress, begged that he might be allowed to
pay his own expenses and fight the battles
of freedom in our " naked and barefooted re-
giments." Thus giving the world precedent
to Whic her annals can never afford par
allel
Many others there were, whose names are
entitled to our most heartfelt gratitude, Whose
deeds and character, while they fill the bright
est pages of history, must be stamped in IN
delible letters on the heart of every freeman.
We must also remember in these pleasing
reflections, that the great Being who presides
over the destinies of the world, was also in
the strife, and on our side. Often, no doubt
in the hours of midnight, might have been
heard from the American camp, the fervent
prayer, ascending to Him. the fountain oil
all blessings ,"-that he would aid and protect
the country, guard the cause, and prosper the
arms of Liberty; and that these prayers were
heard, and that the success of our cause is, in
a great degree, dependent upon divine aid and
mercy, needs no labored effort to establish
Ii then behooves US on these interesting occa
sions, while we laud admire, and dwell r
praises to the heroic, vrtuous, and magnani.
nous conduct of our ancestors, who partici
pated in the strife, with due degree Of devo
ton TO return thanks to Him, the giver OF this
as we'll as all other earthly blessings.
These, then, fellow citizens, are what We
consider to be some of the reflections inciden
10 the proper feelings of every American
on each annual return of this goriou:
anniversary. But when we consider tina
: we have been for the space of seventy
!, years in possession of a land of liberty
and that we have been blessed with re-
publican Government, which we have di
5 rected and supported for near three score ant
ten years 1t may be a question of interes
, and pleasure, whether or not we have so drec
ted and controlled them as to render them con
ducive TO our own perpetual happiness ant
| prosperity, and that other nations may be be
neftted and prospered by our example. LIE
t US not overload ourselves with praises ant
congratulations; but surely we feel that WI