Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-26
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v lesson OF arms was unknown to them. The people
4 were mainly farmers in the North, planters in the
South. There were merchants and artisans in the ci-
ties, mariners and fishermen Oh the ea-board and
far in the interiors hardy OF proneers-inured to
the perls OF border life, hall husbandman and halt
hunter. Soldiers, properly called, there were no
where; but every where familiar with the use of
arms La time OF war large provincial forces were le-
Veo winch often rendered the essential services;
and the rangers especially who were recruited for the
most part on the frontier, proved themselves at all times
the terror OF the Canadian and savage foe In this
/, way " was that among population essentially I'M
warke, to which the usual temptations of the m litarv
career were almost wholly unknown, there had been
formed school of skful and intrepid officers and no
small amount OF military experience had been accunu-
lated on the part OF the people
Still, however it is marked character of the reyou-
tlonary contest, that its military leaders, a Glass;
were strangers to military ambition They were most
ly like the citizen soldiers of ancient Rome her un-
corrupted days; and like them in than one instance
they lett the plough and the other pursuits of civil lie
for the field. One chief ground on which the Amer
lean revolution will command the sympathy of ages
is the unsupported disinterestedoess of its military lea
ders and the patriotic spirit OF its armies, Marathon
itself sheds glory the dshonored end of Militia
des and Themsoces. Ii the patriots of rs could have
been pausbly suspected Of selfish motives; if it could
have been insinuaed W tn any show Of reason that
IVA asa nm, was ambitious OF commanding an army,
the Jetersons were actuaed by craving FOR the hon
| ors and emoluments TO be expected under the new
government, hesitate not say that the faint OF sell
hshness would have poisoned the revolution 1t would
have stripped 1t not merely OF its moral grandeur and
beauty but of its political power. But Dr. Johnson's
notion, that might be the purpose of the Congress at
Philadelphia to encrele with dadem the brows of
Mr.. Crushing" scarcely moves a smile Such sug-
geslion as that Warren, and Putnam, and Presco
were carried to the summit o. yonder hill by the hope
OF mnary advancement or the prospect of the spoils
OF profitable war, would be regarded less as caumny
than as an absurdy: No would stoop to refute it.
| 1t would make as deep an impression on their nura
fame as the breath OF summer evening makes upon the
eternal granite which commentaries their patriotism
What does history record more beautiful than the
lf-denia OF Warren, waving the command of the
day, which belonged his rank ,-renouncng the ho-
nor OF leading its heroic MISUNDERSTANDING no thing
bat Its terrors and its fate What sublime than
Washingons resignation of the dictatorship (for such
was0 which he had acquired alike in the affections of
the army and the peope7 The man who can read the
closing scene at Annapolis without tears does de-
serve his freedom The difhdence with which Wash
ington accepted that commission, which drawn up
this very day seventyve years ago, and the heartfelt
Joy with which he laid it down,-wl endear him to
millions who do give their hearts to mere military
lame. They have established standard of character
tor the patriotic American chieain They will be re-
membered when Trenton and Yorktown are forgotten
mat sword, sheathed when 1t might have been ex-
changed for scepre, will yet, unseen but victorious
hight the battles OF nations struggling for freedom in
other regions and other ages Yes character like this
| Is dspensation OF public virtue. Already canonzed
in christendom the name of Washington is penetrating
the remotest East. 1t affecting the public mind in re-
glons the least susceptible OF foreign Impressions
have within few days seen an extract from work on
the geography and history OF foreign countries written
by the Lieutenant Governor OF the province OF Fokien
in China in which the warmest and most discriminating
praise is bestowed on Washington
In erecting the Bunker Hill monument we have en-
tertalned no Tears that the final result which it is con-
secrated would disappoint the hopes of the world On
the contrary, we look back over the period which
has elapsed since that eventfu day. find in almost
every year and in almost every country some new
proof that the American revolution may be regarded
| as the commencement of new and better order of
things; some development and illustration of the
magnitude and frutfulness ofthe cause TO which the
men OF the 18th OF June devoted themselves The sue
ces oftha entitled in all respects be regarded
as mighty step forward in the march of humanity;
an alimportan portion Of that great plan which regu-
lates the fortunes OF our race.
Tounfod this plan in all its parts is beyond our pow
er-the traces OF its existence often wholly escape our
shorslghted discernment; nor probable that IN any
part we sound the depths offs wisdom or benevoence
We cannot, however, doubt that from the time of the
discovery OF America, the transmission this
OF the culture OF the old world with all that had effect
ed IN the discovery otruth. the establishment OF right
and the extension OF liberty-under the most favorable
auspices Tor need ID reformation and further progress
was the most important object in this great providepal
plan.
Itwoud require space greatly beyond the limits of
the present OCCASION aud involve reference some OF
the most perpexng questions Of civil poty, 10 sketch
even the outlines Of the history Of the measures under
! taken 10 accomplish this end 1t attempted by
Spain and Portugal on the one hand, by England and
to very limited degree, by Holland and Sweden on
the other. The Catholic powers of Latin origin
pied the Southern continent, Mexi and Florida The
Protestants OF the Anglo Saxon States took possession
OF the North. The former established vast govern
mental monopoly, aiming chiefly at the exclusive pos
session OF the precious metals by the latter the work
was left 10 private adventure, eebIy projected by the
State, and far New England is concerned prompt-
ed and cheered by glowing zeal tor religious liberty.
France placed one foot at the mouth OF the Mssissp-
p and the other on the gulf OF ST Lawrence, with
chain OF posts through the INTERIOR and seemed en-
der 1t doubtful tor two centuries to whom North Aeri-
ca would belong in what proportions it should Re
divided between the great schools of European civil
Ezaton. But England had planted belt OF brave and
resoute coonists along the Atlantic coast ; rays OF
royal favor beamed upon the hardy germ it grew up
unprotected, despsed, scarcely heard of in the great
world OF European politics. I'LL it overshadowed the
land As we look back by the lights of experience on
the events of early history, the occupation of the
interior OF our continent by France to have served
no other purpose than bind together the English CO.
ones in their infancy and youth by sense Of common
danger and the principle OF repulsion to foreign ma
tlonality. know not that history affords a more
memorable lesson than is contained in the fact that
when England conquered the French colonies Amer
lea, she did but exchange them for her own. This re-
suit, oretod by Montcam on the Plains of Abraham,
received its memorable confirmation on the summit of
Bunker Hill, when Putnam and Prescott, and Pomroy,
and Grdley, and Stark-veterans of the seven years.
war, showed themselves the apt pupils OF the great
school OF Anglo-Saxon courage and discipline. The
men who led by spirit Of loyalty alone, had followed
the British banner to Martnco and Cuba TO Louisbugh
and lluebec,-whose blood had stirred at the blast of
the British trumpet by the lonely OF Ontario
and the silent banks OF the ST. Lawrence not like
ly to quail, when they struck for the liberties of their
country, in the bosom of home; at this grand altar,
which rose up at the very heart OF New England in the
presence of the anxious thousands of kindred specla
tors, who looked on from every emnen ce in the gh
borhood. The battery on Copps Hill did not terrlfy
them planted the graves of four generations
OF indomitable and patriotic ancestry. AS General
Gage stood upon the summit OF that hill the morning
OF the 7th surveying the redoubt through his glass; he
pointed to Prescott, who to encourage his men,
moving about on the top of the glacls under the fire
OF the ships OF war and the batteries and he inquired OF
Col Willard, one OF 8 council who stood near him,
who it was Willard replied that it his broherin
law, Col: Prescott. "Wll he ight?" asked The Cover
Vas said lard stn no lostI of hio
blood; but | cannot answer for his men" The men,
however, in the course OF the day, answered for them
selves.
And who will deny that the cause in which they per-
lied and Of them sacrificed their ives-the great
cause OF the American Revolution, worthy OF its
cost,C"the most important event. perhaps" says Lord