The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-28

Just ana Eisquent Eaioglum the Union.
The seyentyfith anniversary Of the battle OF Bunker
Hlthat glorious and opeaing event OF the American
revolutontha great transaction which prepared the way
for the high destiny of confedeacywas celebrated
on the nth inst MIR. Edward Everett addressed his
fellows citizens this interesting occasion Il would
give us great pleasure lay the whole citation before our
readers but circumscrbed in every way at the
present moment, we find only for the follow
ing extracts
When | consider, fellow.citzens, that but seven
years have elapsed since you were addressed on the sum
nit OF Bunker Hill, occasion OF the compeuon Oh the
monument by the great master of American eoquence,
and that many present must freshly ecoliect hat match
less strain 10 which they listened. from the same
sss he he TAI fhave undertaken What can attempt to
saw 10 YOU on this great theme which those
sad s ~ sdasa leaves % p
conhne myself to q simple narrative OF the events Of
the day. they have been 50 frequently rehearsed by wr
tiers and speakers OF great ability that should deem il
vain to seek for additional facts or to give to those al
ready known an air of novelty. Every Published ac-
from authentic has been carefully compared
the recolectons OF the surviving witnesses in 1875
diligently taken down at that time and many letters
written shortly after the BATTLE by those who bore part
in it. have at different periods been brought to light Seye
raj SUCH OF great interest," contained in the valuable
work OF Mr. rockingham OF this place. lately published
Among these is one OF extreme interest from Colonel
Prescott himself written but few weeks after the battle,
to John Adams, then member OF the Continental Con-
gress at Philadelphia But even this account Of the bat.
tie OF Bunker HILL from the pen OF Prescott, throws no
clusivey what No man doubted that the modesty Of this
sterling patriot was not less remarkable than his herosm
As far as the narrative OF events is concerned, the
battle OF Bunker Hill must be committed to the
classical historians OF the country to take its fitting place
OF The brightest pages of annals. To the Wig
and brilliant pen OF Bancroft which has already
recorded the settlement and colonization OF the United
States, and to the and philosophical research OF
Sparks, to which indebted for the lives OF Wash
ington and Frankn and the standard editions OF their
works. safely leave the great event OF this day
to find its permanent record in those histories of the
oution which they permit to expect from them There
is another American historian whose name rises spon-
taneously to my lips stand at the foot OF Bunker
4 Hill. Had he not achieved the highest reputation for
HIMSELF and reflected the greatest honor upon his country
by his admirable works subjects OF more remote and
foreign interest, could almost wish that he, too
had selected topic which would have given de-
scrpdon OF the battle Of Bunker Hill from the pen OF
Prescott, that the courage and conduct which the
Of America reposed this day Of her great peril
might be illustrated BY historian OF kindred blood.
But neither the remedy Of political grievances nor the
assertion of national independence, the establish
meat OF republican government, was the fuflment Of the
destiny OF the American revolution higher object,
still less premedaied than separation from the mother
country, but resulting from deeper and involving
more important interests remained to be accomplished
Before the revolution the colonies formed group OF
publics mutually independent bound to each other by
constitutional ties, often acting together by the force OF
circumstances, but without any general principle OF po
itical cohesion Numerous points oil similarity IN con-
diton existed, and allegiance 10 the Crown
and subecuon to Parliament gave show OF unity to
the colonies whole. But when this bond OF con-
nexion severed by the Declaration OF Independence
the thirteen colonies stood before the world, with strong
vocation indeed, TO union but, far constitutional
obligations were concerned, IN the attitude OF thirteen IN
dependent States
Here was the truly critical point in our history-the
point from which the path OF progress like that which
lay before the young Hercules) branched of IN two
fald han
prosperity and power and the other to dscord civil
war, and despotism. The happy fortune of the infant
republics decided their choice In the commencement OF
the parliamentary contest, far back 1865, when
nothing was thought OF but earnest denial OF the right
10 America, the obvious dictate OF prudence 10
unite in concerted appeal 10 the justice OF Parliament
As the struggle advanced, common interest and com
mon danger produced a common feeling throughout the
continent and led to the formation OF committees OF
respondence The Congress which met at Philadelphia
in i774 was the spontaneous imbodinen OF that ness
BILE public sentiment which demanded confederacy Ii
was union unconsciousy formed II sprang from the
historical conditions OF the past and the lmperous ne.
eessltes OF the present was the law OF our political
existence Subsequent compacts statutes might regu
late and define, but some sort OF confederation was
1 constitutional necessity.
| Am asked tnhy it was SO: What created this ne
cessiiyl will not rest in lower though these
are obvious enough The necessity Of union was es-
abshed BY the same law OF our nature or rather OF the
Author OF our nature, which sets the solitary IN families,
and has melted families into clans and clans into States
which binds the particles OF matter iogeher which sus-
rose leaf Our feeble powers OF analysis cannot IN either
fully unfold the principles by which operates, and
in everything that involves the agency OF moral beings
their choice becomes portion OF the law. But that the
group OF colonies planted side by side the shores OF
the American continent speaking the same language sub
ec the government belonging TO the same national
stock, and reared in the circumstances OF national
fortune should in asserting, by JOINT act their independ.
ence OF the mother country enter into constitutional
union with each other al the least as certain as that
they destined 10 Of prosperity Such a
union the obvious condition OF mutually beneficial
intercourse OF domestic harmony, and respectable posi-
ton before the world Or II anarchy, civil war; and the
ultimate extinction OF free government, were TO be their
towards lis accomplishment Union the first condi-
ton OF in the revolutionary struggle i was the
United States that declared their inaependence-the
United States whose Independence was acknowledged BY
the treaty OF 1888 After unsatisfactory experiment
of the old confederation, IL was the people OF the United
States by whom for the purpose OF forming more per-
feet union" the present constitution was adopted.
II would be Improbable consumption Of time 10 at
tempt to point out the innumerabe ways 10 which the
Union has auspicously influenced the desinies OF the
country There however, view OF thus subject OF
so much importance that cannot forbear 10 present II
more particularly 10 your consideration Among The
great ideas OF the ace, authorized IN reckoning
growing seRment in favor OF peace An impression y
unquesionaby gaining strength in the world, that pubic
war less reproachiu to our Chns.an clyllzauon
than the private OF the fendal chiefs IN TIE mede
ages The hope OF adjusting national controversies oy
some system of friendly afbltrstona hope when pnan
thropc minds have disrustfuly cherished IN olner
periods-has Of late been openly avowed BY men o.
more practical CLASSIFY men conversant win me pocJ
~. E...E "a.