The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-07-07
That parchment, with the signatures Of


| That parchment, with the signatures Of
these men, written with the pen lying on
! yonder table, willaefther make the world
4 free-or stretch these necks upon the gib.'
bet in yonder Potter's field, or nail those
heads to the doerposts of these halls!
That was the time for solemn facesand
deep silencel sdt y aoffoaea 30 es5ti.St t9e'
AT last, harkl The door opens-the
Committee appear. Who are these three
men who come walking on to John Han
cocks chair?birI sf si al i.
I That tall man i with the sharp features,
the bold brow, and sand hued hair, hold
ing the PARCHMENT in his hand, is the Vir-
ginia Farmer, THOMAS JEFFERSON That
stout built man, with resolute look and
sparkling eyel 7Thatis a Boston man,
one JOHN ADAMS. And the calm.faced
man, with hair dropping in thick curls to
his houlders--that man, ,dressedin in plain
coat, and such odious homemade blue
stockings--that is the Philadelphia Prin-
ter, one BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. So
The three advance to the table. The
Parchment is laid there. Shall it be sign.
ed or not? '' l's w alss
Then ensues high debate--then all
the faint-hearted cringe in corners-while
4 Thomas Jefferson speaks out his few bold
words, and John Adams pours out his
whole soul. Ni 3ih
Then the sof-toned voice of Charles
Carroll is heard, undulating in syllables of
deep music. az
But still there is doubt-and that pale
faced man, shrinkingin one corner, speaks
out something about axes, scaffolds, and
--GIBBET
"GIBBET!" echoes fierce, bold voice,
that startles men from their seats--and
look yonder! A tall, slender man rises,
dressed, although it is summer time, in a
faded red cloak. Look how his white
hand undulates as it is stretched slowly
out; how that dark eye burns, while his
4 words ring through the hall. a.a' "a
1 N"Gibbet! They may stretch our necks
1 on all the gibbets in the land-they may
turn every rock into scaffold--everytree
into gallows-every home into grave,
and yet the words Of that parchment can
never die!
| They may pour out blood on thous-
and scaffolds, and yet from every drop
:, that dyes the axe, or drops on the saw
1 dust of the block. new martyr to Free
dom VIII spring Inro urrrn. ,-'7
1 The British King may blot out the stars
4 of God from his sky but he cannot blot
out His words written on the parchn ent
there The work of God may perish
His Word! never!
/ These words will go forth to the world
! when our bones are. dust. Fo the slave
in bondage they will speak to'the
Mechanic in his workshop -FREEDoM---to
I the coward kings these words will speak
( but not in tones of flattery! They WI
speak like the flaming syllables of BsE
shazzar's WALL The days Of your pride
and glory are num5eredi The days Of
Judgmen. draw near!
| Yes, that parchment will speak to the
Kings in a languages sad and terrible as
tho trump of the Archangel. You have
trampled on the rights of mankind long
enough. At last the voice of human wo
has pierced the ear Of God, and called His
| judgement down! You have waded on to
thrones over seas of blood, you have tram
pied on to power over the necks of mil
lions; you have turned the poor mans
sweat and blood into robes for your deli
cate forms; into crowns for your annoint;;
ed brows. Now Kings-now purpled
hangmen Of the world-for you comes the
days of axes, and gibbets, and scaffolds;
for youthe wrath Of man; for you the light.
nings Of Godl @
Look! how the light of your palaces on
! fire flashes up into the midnight skyi
Now, purpled Hangman of the world,
turn and beg for mercyl
Where will you find it! ,.., q o,l4sls.
! Not from God, for you have blasphemed
His laws! ratt.gr ~ ra
Not from the people, for you stand bap-
tised in their blood! v. Z; ga4 s
Here you turn, and To-! gbbet! :
There, and a scaffold stares you in the
face! ,,-.s..-. .-.t ,f.id., ri
All around you-death7-but nowhere
pity! t.on !.
! Now, executioners OF, the human race,
kneel down, yes, kneel down upon the
sawdust Of the scafold; lay your perfumed
heads upon the block; bless the axe as it
falls--the axe you sharPened for the poor
mans neck! oa asi IS f.t.sgg bsa 3.
Such is the message of that Declaration
to Man, to the Kings of the world And
shall we falter now! And shall we start
! hack apnaJled when our feet press the very,
threshold Of Freedom? Do you see quail
ing faces around one.when ourwives have
been butchered. when the hearthstones of
l our land are red dowith the blood Of little
4 childrenl of.f ga, blaoa ysl8 sa
What are there shrinking hearts or fall
tering voices here, when the very dead of
our battle-ields arise, and call upon us to
lsign that Parchment or be accursed for
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