The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-07-14
GRAFTON:
AT THE COURTHOUSE, BLOOMSBURY,
JULY FOURTH, l849,
By Reuben W. Weaver.

By Reuben ". Weaver
lTTI2EEs:
This day it is Just seventy-three year:
nee new nation sprang into free existence
pom seemingly barren strip Of sea-coast in
ie untitled wilderness of America. We are
ct here TO commemorate the returning an.
Iyersay of that day.
Unteltered by auhqualed hercses in relg-
IN and government, the adventurous emi-
ants had been thrown into circumstances
Privaton and peril which forced them to
ly upon their own energies, and TO govern
emselyes. They were here untrammelcd
/ the moth-eaten customs and laws of a
mi-barharous teudalism; and blind Con.
rvatisrl had not yet reared its altars nor
buldedits idols for their supersliious rev.
ence, AL aided here in forming a govern
pnt, All its free institutions were hence of
pharaer to protect all who were industri-
U.s. frugl and yiruOus. The necessities of
te entrants made Legislators of them,
nile tIloppressioa they had escaped and
te wan which their little communities felt,
bught TIM the true principles upon which
o base cir laws. 1t is invariably true that
the emlnts 10 new country, ii left free to
act wi'establish better laws than those
which behave escaped. Even in our own
republic Nsee this exemplifed in the i'm
proved coitutions of our western States,
so far super 10 those mouldering relics of
the past 10 llch the conservatism of our
older States tenaciously clings Thus,
Texas ana Nonsin have perhaps the best
state constitute in the Union
The cmigraIsto America were those,
who, amid the 6ness of despotism, stood
highest upon tlmount of Progress, and
caught. the first IS Of the bright sunlight of
Reform. The rit Of that age was for free.
don of tloughud mind and speech. Des-
potlan j poIiB, as superstition before it in
religDnhad iPlantcd into Time the seed
OF itsVn ef!ual Reformation, aud the
Amean Revution brought forth the first
fruit the ne cause, as fit offering upon
the Or of Freedom From that day until |
this, ,1gress las battled with Conservatism,
and, ,ialteriIg and unfaling has won its
wayh by inch into every nook Of the hab-
itabarth. The death.knell of the antiqu-
atecesies in government has been rung
in tar of the despots, and is now echoed
tTortion 10 nation.
the land Of eloquence and song, looks
to ghter day, when her patriotic tIibunes
shaain shake the Roman forum with the
thus Of their eloquence. The Pope has
protreacherous TO the cause OF the people,
anttill an exile from the Vatican. Ger.
m%ill and must be again one natOn.-
Au will be astate of Hungary, of France
or ermany The indomitable Magyars
ardined 10 map out Europe anew and
me not expect that on that day large
spthe new map shall be marked "Po-
lar Perhaps, even now as we are met
hee tramping Of the war steed may re-
solbout the citadel of Warsaw to fright
thtsian despot from his lair. Even Ire.
lanll smile again, while her children,
aihuy days OF suffering, shall find their
brgain; and they shall then take their
haom the willows and attune them 10 a
sol testivity and JOY.
political reformation may costhfe and
ue; and the loss will be minuteIy and
OFFS told by tyranny. But who counts
thtms of despotism ! Who tells the
an and agony Of those whose hveshave
blasted away by the expressions and
pttions Of tyranny, as the successive
wrops can waste away rock : Who
cthe cost of monarchy TO the world
Votes its teuors and is wrongss Let
tIerings Of India rise in Judgment a.
CHE rapacity of monarchy, and let the
% debts OF its kingly wars be its curse
heap up the bones Of the famished
en- of Ireland, as its monument of in.
and then let 1t inscribe on this mauso.
Its Bartholomew massacres, and the
RS of its high.priest Windishgrats for
taph Vengeance is the Lords, but
hre the instruments of heaven, and out.
: humanity cannot and will not always
. The day OF reribution is coming,
, hen the clear sunlight and pure air of !
nal freedom will follow the tempest Of |
a luton