The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-04
oar Natal Day.

drawn by the hand OF Jefferson, adopted by the
fathers OF the republic The painters pencil has pre-
served to US the imposing witnessed in lndepend
ence Hall on the Fourth Day of July, 1876 but no
painter. however skfu his hand may be, portray
the moral grandeur of the attitude of the colonies
picture the mighty consequences of the American evou
lion.
When the magnet had realized the dream of the
Genoese navigator required to forete that the
New World would pass under the domiliol OF
race But nothing the far reaching eye of prophecy
could have oreseen all that country has witnessed
Not only has the Indian been dspossesednot only has
the rugged earth been famed and the forest converted into
fruitful felds--but the light of shines forth
from among the hunting grounds Of the savage Prin
cipes connected with the happiness and involving the
destiny OF man have been boldly asserted and successfully
maintained and the stately fabric of free govern
ment and the cheering spectacle of aproperous and pow
eful people, vndcae before the world the eminent su
pr emacy of republican institutions
When the fathers OF the republic, seventy five years
ago. pledged their lives their fortunes, and their sacred
honor TO maintain The Declaration. there but three
millions of inhabitants scattered along eastern
board. The foe they encountered the most power
full nation of the earth. But the coonsls animated
by spirit which could not be overcome. Neither
mers heat nor winters cold nor nakedness famine,
could tame the love of freedom which burned in the
bosoms of those noble Their virtue, and courage,
and constancy directed by the matchless saga
city of the peerless Washington. umphed after long and
arduous contest the pned legons and bound
less of England Our freedom was in
dependence established-The Declaration made good
The thirteen colonies became confederation of thirteen
Independent States Still they were weak and feeble
objects OF derson rather than respect AT length
perfect union formed and then the States of Amer
lea entered on career OF prosperity which finds no
parallel in the history of the world The thirteen colo
MES are now thry-one States; the three millions of
scattered coonists are more than eny millions OF free
men. Steadily has the mighty wave OF population ad
vanced Extending from the st. Lawrnce 10 the Gulf
of Mexico, il has gone westward prostrang the forest,
and leaving in its track cultivated fields thriving villages,
busy cities and Christian people. The Alleghanies
have been surmounted-,he valley of the Mississippi has
been passed The Rocky Mountains failed to check
the tide which has rolled to the shores of the
Pacific and there established mighty State, ready 10
grasp from the urLest West the of the furhes
East.
| To-day the people of America will assemble to COM
memorate the deeds of their fathers. In every city
and in every village they will assemble to do honor TO
the Fourth of July In their meetings they will present
a spectacle which the in his course can look
upon in no other land. They will keep armed sen
nels at the gate for foe harm them They will
set no watch upon their tongues, for tyrant op-
press them. Around them there is peace and security
grds them about Wherever the eye is turned it sees the
evidences of prosperiiywoud 10 God we could say Of
conten,men, and of aternal feelings also But, alas
dangerous and designing have shut their eyes the
past and forgotten the lessons taught by the revolution
They have from their hearts the counsels of him
who guided fathers in the time of trial. and placed
them safely in the road TO greatness Fac,onis,s have
knded the fires Of sectional strife reckless OF the
quences which may follow On every battlefield Of the
revolution there mounds which appeal to us more
eoqueny than any human tongue; Tor underneath are
the Wondering bones of OF the South and of of
the North, who persisted side by side in the holy
cause, their blood mnglng their dust mngng
But that appeal has fallen which refuse hear il,
and on hearts which will not heed it. Misguided men,
dead every patriotic impulse, and mindful only OF per
sonal aggrandzement have attempted 10 depart from the
safe example of fathers and TO turn the government
from its legitimate Wrong met by resent
ment and the clouds OF sectional strife appalled,
The boldes hearts The tempest arrested but still
il has not passed away 1t bovers yet the horizon,
casting gloomy shadow the national rejoicing
II anything may restore the people those kindly
tments which alone preserve the Union erected by
our fathers, il is the memories connected with this day
We they may not be wholly barren OF results We
trust that every American citizen will ponder the his
tory of the past, and gather from the pleasing task
stern resolve 10 stand by the constitution the rights Of
the States, and the integrity OF the Union, and to cherish
his heart those enlarged, LIBERAL and patriotic feelings
which gave birth to the constitution and which
alone the rights of the States and preserve the
integrity Of the Union. The eyes of the world fixed
upon US The despo,s of Europe in the prosperity
of the American conederacy their greatest enemy for
the oppressed Of Europe in happiness the
greatest incentive TO initiate our example. Any sec
,ona strife would destroy great mission. Any in
sane attempt on the institutions of the South, any
i-considered action to prevent anticipated wrong, 10
treason not only to ourselves but 10 the world. The
first decisive step, the first gun fired, would not only
blight and withcr all the fair things around us, but,
would paralyze the progress of civilization OF freedom
and of Christianity II would be the announcement OF
the triumph Of tyranny in the Old Word-tbe beginning
of saturnalia in the New World from which the heart
sinks back sickened The man who has seen
bloodshed, who has witnessed the deadly work
of the bayopet who has marked the havoc OF ar