The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-07-07

all ages. For that Parchment will be the
Textbook of Freedom--the Bible of the
Rights of Man .foreyerl
Sign-for that Declaration will 90 forth
to American hearts forever, and speak to
those hearts like the voice of Godl And
its work will not be done, until Throughout.
this wide continent not an single inch of
ground owns the sway of a British King.
Nay, do notstart and whisper with sur.
prisel tits truth your own hearts wit
ness it-God proclaims it--this continent
is the property efa free people, and their
property alone. God, | say, proclaims i'll
Look at tbi7 strange history Of band of
exiles and outcasts suddenly transformed
into PEopLE-look at this wonderful ex-
odus Of the oppressed of the Old World
into the New, where they came, weak in
arms, but mighty in God-like faith-nay,
look at the history Of your Bunker Hill
your Lexington--where band of plain
farmers Knocked and trampled down the
panoply of British arms, and then tell me,
if you can, that God has not given Ameri-
ca to the free! tin
1t is not given to our poor human intel.
ect to climb the skys, to pierce the coun-
sells of the Almighty One. But me-thinks
| stand among the awful clouds which veil
the brightness of Jehovah's throne. Me-
thinks | see the Recording Angel-pale as
an angel is pale, weeping as an angel can
weep-come trembling up to that Throne,
and speak his dread message:
Father! The Old World is baptised in
blood! Fatherl it is drenched with the
blood Of millions, butchered in war, in per-
secution, in slow and grinding oppression!
Father-look, with one glance of thine
Eternal Eye, look over Europe, Asia, Afri-
ca, and dbehold evermore, that terrible sight
man trodden down beneath the oppressor's
feet-nations lost in blood-murder and
superstition walking hand in hand over the
graves Of their victims, and not single
voice to whisper Hope to man!
He stands there, the Angel, his hand
trembling with the black record5of human
guilt But hark! The voice Of Jehovah
speaks out from the awful cloud-Let there
belight again. Let there be New World.
Tell my people-the poor--the down trod-
den millions, to 60 out from the Old World.
Tell them to 60 out from wrong, oppres-
sion and blood-tell them to 60 out from
the the % World-to build up my altar in
As God lives, my friends, believe that
to be his voice! Yes, were my soul trem-
bling on the wings of Eternity, were this
land freezing in death, were the voice
choaking with the last struggle, | would
still with the last wave of that hand, with
the last gasp of that voice, implore you to
remember the truth-God has giren Amer
ica 10 the fret Yes, as sank down into
the gloomy shadows of the grave, with my
last gasp, would beg you to sign that
Parchment in the name of the One who
amade the Saviour, who redeemed you in
the name OF the millions whose very breath
is. now hushed, in intense expectation, as
they look up to you for the awful words
"YOU ARE FREE!" 'l
gO;rmany years have gone since that
hourg--the Speaker, his brethern, all, have
crunibled into dust, but it would require an
angels pen to picture the migic of that
Speakers look, the deep, terrible, empha-
sis of his voice, the prophet.llke beckoning
Of his hand, the magnetic flame which,
shooting from his eyes, soon fired every
heart throughout the hall! l-e
= He fell exhausted in his seat, but the
work was done. A wild murmur thrills
through the hail. Sign! Hah! There
is no doubt now. Look? How they rush
forward-stout-hearted John Hancock has
scarcely time to sign his bold name, before
the pen is grasped by another-another
and anotherl Look how their names
blaze on the Observation-Disclosures and Lee
and Jefferson and Carol, and now Roger
Sherman, the Shoemaker. ,a f
: And here comes good old Stephen Hop
kins-yes, trembling with palsy, he totters
forward--quivering from head to foot, with
his shaking hand he siezes the pen, he
scratches has patriot name.
Then comes Benjamin Franklin, the
Printer, and now the tall man in the red
cloak advances, the man who made the
fiery speech a moment ago-with the same
hand that waved in such fiery scorn, he
writes his name-PArRIcK HENRY! y
And now the parchment is signed; and
now let word go forth to thepeople in the
streets-to the homes of America--to the
camp of Mister Washington--and the
palace of George the Idiot king-let word
60 out to all the earth-r- s
And, ,.old man in the steeple, now bare
your arm, and grasp the iron tongue. and
let the bell speak out the great truth:
Fify-six Traders aud Farmers and Me-
chanics have this day shook the shackels
Of the World ~ III a.
Harkl harlS to the toll Of that bell! I.
1sthere not music; in the sound, that re-
minds you Of those awful toneswhich broke
from angel lips,when the news of the child
Jesus burst on the Shepherds Of Bethle-