Western union. (City of Hannibal, Mo.) 1850-1851, 1850-10-10
From Arhur's Home Gazette,
The National
CELEBRATION IN l7S8,
In Honor OF the Adoption Of the Federal
CONSTITUTION.
ny ARTHUR J. STASsDuRY.

DYARrnuR J. srASsBuRY.
Among other early recoections which pass
like fitting spirits through my thought,
when in mediia,ive mood, is the rencm
brance of the national celebration. in l7SS. of
the adop,ion Of the Federal Constitution. Nor
10 it surprising that such memory should be
awakened by the events CT the passing hour
When listen TO the rude, unflisl, ungrateiu
tone in which too many speak Of that
cred instrument, the. charter by which, under
God, we hold whatever is precious in our po
litical condition, l. cannot but revert TO the day
when its adoption caused thrill of trium-
phant Joy throughout the length and breadth
Of this land. The mutual congratulations o
patriotic men who had feared lest the fruits q.
oil our struggles and sacrifices should Il, Es.
be lost; the reviving Of hope, the fond a'ilri
pa,ions of coming greatness, unity and strength;
the cheering tone of tho public PRESS; the en-
ultant strain - the speeches o! our orators,
and Of the resolves Of the people in their pri-
mary assemblies, all gave evidence Of univer-
sal Joy. Although but ten States had thea
adopted the Constitution, no man seriously
doubted its final ratification by the whole thlr.
teen; and, as enough had embraced II To secure
its validity and 10 set the new government in
motion, it was resolved TO give expression TO
the general feeling Of satisfaction by a grand
national nrocess,on at philadelphia. then the
s,at of government for the new born ReuuLlic.
The Fourth of July was approachiup, and its
aus,ic;ou, ye,urp was fxed unon a, emiuen,l,
appropriate for such display.
wei, remember the hustle of preparation.
The thing was gotten IN with surprising dis
match. for IN, vhoIe community went into il
with heart and soul. Happily the weather
proved mos, favorable to tho de,vn; the sky
was oloudv but w,.houi rain. and A refreshing
sou,herlv breeze continued throughout the day.
All who could reach the citycrowdeu in from ev.
ery quarter: the streets through which the pro
cession was 10 pass were tbronped bythe eNr,c
tant people; but 50 Admirable had been t.r
preliminary arrapeem, n,s, tha, the mos, prri,c,
order was preserved unbr,keu during IL. en-
tire spectacle. The streets were sw,pt and
watered, obs,rnctinr branches of trees ciopped
away, nrd the spectators we're ripidly confined
to the sidewalks. Crowded as these were, IA
general silence prevailed. The occasion had
sacredness about il which removed it entirely
from all other celebrations al the kind have
ever witnessed Stree.
There were moored in the river each "ppo-
site to one # the streets running east and vest
ten vessels intended 10 represent the ten States
which had then adopted the C"nsli'nl'on' dress
ea out IN 'he h"gS oi Az nations, "h'!e 'pl"-
size 20 MARKET street wharf, lay 'he sup ,i'hg
Sun, representing the Union, magnlileen'ly "r
namented in similar manner, In's novel and
oea4'l'ni ''gh' drew crowds l." 'he "hSr'es'
who continued gaZlng at II until Tie sIg'ial gun
announced that the grand procession was 'of'h-
ed, ana reaay'o march,
i q.