The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-07-06
GEN. FOOTE'S GRAFTON.

Which tH0bt WING
whom. under Heaven, indebted for the priceless
blessings Of civil and religious liberty Almost two
thirds Of century have now passed away since the
adoption and signature Of thai solemn declaration which
announced 10 the civilized nations Of the earth, that the
British colonies in America free. sovereign, and in
dependent States and the particular day in the calendar
upon which this important declaration made has
since been set apart day oil peculiar sacredness
whose annual recurrence has uniformly called forth, In
all countries under the SUM- where he principles Of re-
publican freedom are held IN respect those sentiments OF
gfa'uaion and rejoicing, and profound tnankfulness
which am sure now animate The hearts OF those by
whomi am surrounded i would be agreai error. in
my judgment, suppose that the sage and phosophc
statesmen who were assembled in Independence
Hail. upon the 4lh day Of July, 1776. were in.
aScsd . nds1ks ne hsh ae q Sse " which has
merely to relieve the colonies which they represented
from the burden OF illegal taxation. The sgners Of the
Declaration have themselves formally pronounced he
shed should not be changed for light and transient
causes I; and in assuming Tor those whom they repre-
scented that equal station among the powers OF the
earth 10 which the laws OF Nature and OF Natures God
entitled them" they conceived that decent respect Tor
the opinions Of mankind required Of them TO make
known = the which" controlled their action Il
grievance either menaced merely. which they
bad 10 apprehend future experienced BY
the colonies; II feeling OF mere local jealousy,
about the separation Of The colonies from the parent
country, but long train al abuses, pursuing nva
ably the same object, evincing" AZ they thought,
design to reduce them under absolute desp0tism, which
stimulated them TO that noble assertion both OF the rght
and duty Of those subjected 10 injustice to throw of
the government" which had become tyrannically
Tor their future security" The solemn recital OF
those wrongs and usurpat0ns, which is TO be found
n that sacred instrument which has this moment
been read in our hearing, must ever be regarded by
all unprejudiced minds more than usiiyiag the men
OF the revolution III Ees0ng TO the God OF Battles Tor
deliverance from hraldom for ind in this black
aogue OF grievances almost every enormity that mas ever
yet disgraced the annals OF tyranny, among which are
the following The refusal On the part OF The British
and necessary the public good rhe obstruction OF
the laws Of administration" so important to the nhabi
lants Of newly settled region 8 The interruption Of
laws Tor establishing Judiciary powers 4 The erection Of
multitude Of Offices" by self assumed pswer and
'sendng into the colonies swarmeof new officers 70 ha
ass the people and eat out their substance" The keep
ing up OF standing armies in time OF peace without the
consent Of the colonial legislatures O. The attempt to
render the military independent Of and superior TO- The
civil power The overthrow Of the right Of trial by
Jury 8. The abdcaion OF all government in the colo.
nes by declaring them out OF bis projections and actual
ly wag,ng war against them. These together with the
In0et od0us and annoying restraints upon ade the most
selfish and libera interference with The domestic indus
try Of the colonies, and the imposition Of unconsltu.
foefashers should forever terminate their allegiance
The BRITISH Crown and secede from their connexon with
the British people, holding them, they held the rest
OF mankind, enemies in WARM peace, friends"
Ii will be expected that shall descant at present
upon tine incidents which marked the progress Of
outonary struggle, as they doubtless already familiar
20 Ill whom now aldTess et may u De more or leSS
profitable to notice for momen, few Of those in
cplsnt movements IN the colonies, which, looking at first
TO nothing beyond securing the repeal Of British enact
nents deemed unjust. in regularly parliamentary
node were faed soon 10 eventuate in the
VI solid conederave organization OF sufficient poten
~ to break to pieces the solid fabric Of British power,
and forever 10 from the British empire the fairest
colonial domain which king or poentaie has ever
yet been known 10 WELD the sceptre OF authority 1.
Among the colonial movements alluded To we find legisa
tive resolutions against acts OF Parliament regarded
in their character felt be oppressive
IN their operation. O. Articles Of agreement called
associations BY which those Who subscribed them were
O0und not TO purchase the manufactures Of Eng
land, except IN cases OF the most urgent necessity
Efforts 10 bring about concert OF action bel. Viz
GINA and the colonies OF the North 4. Plan Of gen.
rral Congress Thus lar did the people OF the colonies
proceed without any apparent desire to dissolve that
union which had 90 long subsisted between themselves
and the parent State; nor can be asserted that any ex
seclaon was generally entertained that such event
would finally lake place, before the first actual collision
Of arms between the regular soldiers OF Britain and
The neghborhood OF Boston, upon the i7h day Of June
1875. That this was the condition OF the public mind 10
America up 10 the period specified is alike a,iesled BY
authentic eslsa.vs acts and BY The well known decs-
hcpale in the OF revolutionary strife which wefe
fact. almost a. hand In the address of the hrri
striking language vas held aYos hsse been toid that
We are sediious impatient OF government and DESTROYS
Of Independence Be assured that these not iAc,s
nut calumnies" General Washington himself, though
endowed with sagaciy as to the future which few
nave ever evinced was far from looking with confidence
10 the commencement OF civil war, though he seems
TO have doubtsd that II blood should be she'd
IN such contest Of opinion then in progress ii
would be wholly impossible 10 prevent the colonies from
asserting and achieving thsir Independence Whist al.
tending ~ member Of Congress from Virginia, he re-.
sponded to letter which he had received from British
officer Al Boston, between whom and himself relations Of
safticeiar friendship existed, in part follows AL
though you taught 10 believe that the people OF Mas
sachusefts are rebeIious, setting up for Independence
and what not, give leave, my good friend, tell
You that you are Enthusiastically abused This ad-
vance with adegec Of confidence and boldness which may
claim your belief, having better opportunities OF knowing
the sentiments Of the people you among from the
the administration, than you have IRON those whose bust
II 10 not to dscose uths but to facts in
order 70 justify themselves much possible, TO the
world Tor their conduct may be, indeed most safe
asserted that. had the British government even at that
late period, consented TO do justice the colonies, and
efraned thereafter from unjust and insulting legislation
the great event OF American Independence might have
been postponed at least for another generation But Brit
ain was memorable Profoundly blind TO all the conse
character OF portion Of her own peopIe-not supposng
4 possible that less than three millions Of cooniss
would venture to engage in war with OF The most
powerful nations OF Europeand never doubling that ii
even the spirit OF rebellion should display itself few
quarters North and South, II would be easy task 10
epess il at once and bring the offenders TO JUSTICE she
pesevered Ia her course OF unjust aggression, and ut
maely ordered the enhancement Of hostiIities Ihs
rss beors he scorid-u perpetual iesoa to tyrsnne
dsornf rights Thrice fortunate for colonial
ancestors that there was among them At this critical pe
Rod such parsonage George Washington, IN whose
lusroua character were blended all the great qualities