Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-07-20
Original.
ADDRESS

Ile E0uftu Ot Sui1s ~ hh~ AANS ~-NA'
can, This day suggests pleasing thoughts. Il
calls up cherished and sacred emotions. No
day in the annual circuit of the year has such
halowed associations. The sth of January re-
calls scenes Of interest Ii is the anniversary
of that day on which Jackson and Packen'
ham met. and when American prowess triumph
ed over BRUSH valOr, The a2d of February
on its annual return is greeted with enthusiasm
II is the anniversary Of the birthday oil hlm
who was afterwards styled the ''Fa'her oil his
country" But neither these days, nor any O.
,her of the 365, possess, in the estimation oi
the true.hearted son of Columbia, such interest
as the 4,h of July. 1t is the anniversary OF that
day that gave birth 10 mighty nation. What
the Hegira was to the Mahomeden--what the
14th Of Abb was to the Jew-the 4th of July
is to the American--a day to be remembered
the occasion Of nations rejoicing. 1t is the
poltical Sabbath Of this nation; consecrased IN
the recollection Of grateful Peope-a day on
which all hearts should be directed in holy gra-
,itude to tha, Being who guided the star OF our
destiny and gave us place among the NATIONS
of the earth. To commemorate important ma
,ional transactions is time-honored custom
Il is custom sanctioned Sy Scripture & by uni
yersa use. The rude pile of stones erected on
the bank of the Jordan by the band OF Joshua,
taught the nquiring Jewish youth to remember
the deliverance God had vouchedsafe to the ma
tion. The annual return of the feast OF Penti-
cost recalled the terrific appearances on the
SUNNI. of Sinai, when the law was given. In
all nations, the rudest and most barbarous, as
we'll as The most civilized-parlcular days are
observed in commemoration of important ma
tional events.
In compliance with this custom we meet to-
day. We meet in rational and Christian man
ner to refresh our memories in reference TO the
men and scenes af revolutionary times.
The scenes of l776 were the legitimate issue
of great principles that were in existence long
before that period. The germ ofthe American
Revolution must be sought for at period more
remote than that which this day commence
rates. The great principles which were inVoIv-
ed in the revolutionary struggle were early IN
their origin. They had their birth amid the
thrses and moral convulsions Of the 10Th cen
tury. Protestansm and the principles oil clvl
and religious liberty have always been hana'
maids 10 each other. These principles arr
- found embodied in the writings Of the Reform
n ers. Zwingle taught them among the hills ant
dales of Switzerland Calvin taught them Of
in ,heshores of Lake Leman A disciple ofCal
ID vim transplanted them to Scotland-and as tn
: Reformation deepened and widened in its cours
N these principles gained power. cit was this sp
er II, of freedom-this sacred attachment TO libel
nd al principles, that actuated the Purltans. Lea'
ING the hoary dynasties of the old world the
brought with them that love for freedom oil cor
ed science and for rational liberty, which event.
S. allv gave birth to she far.lamed events that tn
as day commentaries. And standing as we
~ to-day, at this point in our country's his'or.
or and looking back over "the days that are past
we may well exclaim, what hath God wrought
in This day our nation is 72 years old. but i
or; tie more than three score and ten years ha'
y passed away since the period of our BIRTH "
,ot have but just taken our place in the family
re- nations. and vet to what a vigorous manho
lis, have we Arrived How different the UNI
gus States Of ts49 from the United States oil III
The child has become man. The origin
..;..ua, States are more than double in nui
'~t ha, and sextupled in population. Thirty ir'
tle sovereipu, and independent States comP0
tile oux rstiou's diadem. The strip of terrific
ing along the Atlantic seaboard has spread It's
~. ovar the continent. Our domain has becoi
cen ample. Turn to map of our country ana
yer it's vast extent, sweeping as it does thtou
!, "a deg. of Longitude and 20 deg. of latitude
III III Il extends from the chain of Lakes onthe No
to the Gulf of Mexico on the South. It's wa
9TH ed on the East by the waves OF the Altar
and on the West by the mighty Pacific. Bu
quo, is not for extent of territory alone that this Il
- which we fondly call our OWNS to be admin
heir Our vast sea-coast. our magnihceht iaAeS'
who majestic rivers, our agricultural, mineral,
very manufacturing resources, the character OF
-, government, our facilities for intellectual,
the raj. and religious improvemens-are so m
like items, to be taken into account In compu'
our nations greatness. How proper on an
1neu casou like this to trace national blessing
r;ns God. Ask the skeptical philosopher whe
these blessings are derived? He seeks to
spi. coun. for them by the richness Of our soil