The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-11-27
For tbe Literary Echo.
Liberty,

Although incompetent to do justice t,
the subject which 1 have chosen, yet m
heart thrills with unutterablc and inexpres
sible emotion while 1 contemplate thi
soul stirring theme and, indeed, who ca,
refrain from regarding with feelings of pa
triotic pride the glorious conqu,s st which
our forcfathers achieved.
Let us take retrospective glance at the
past" long time ago. when this land
as the home of liberty and freedom, was
newly discovered, little band of exles-
oppressed and prosecuted i'll their native
country intent on finding refuge from
the fury of their opprcssors, guided theil
frail barks across tn broad ocean. they
migrated hither to build for themselves =
home. After landing in safety on the
shores of America, their first emotions
were Of gratitude to that merciful Being
who had protected them on their pc. lous
voyage to the New World and looking
upon the earth on which they bad plac ID
their feet, the friendly ocean which had
borne them hithcr, and to the blue sky
above them, they lifted up their hands in
thanksgiving and supplication to God, and
resolved with his assistance to depend on
those hands, and the element, which the
God of nature hal provided, for their sub
sistcnce.
Their first aspiration, after being re-
lcas ed from the shackles Of oppression, was
that of independence - Independence of
that country which had driven them into
exile. From that period they toiled as it
were, for but one object-lberty ofthought
and action.
Others soon joined them, until their
numbers were fast multiplying, until at
last Eng land aroused hers If and enlca
vored by tightening their chains, still to
retain them as loyal subjects; to this ef-
feet they established colonies, and com.
PEELED the people to labor to support the
dignity of the crown. Their already
aroused spirit of freedom, could not tamaly
brook this AFRO Iancc of dominion, which
the b. itish still exercised over them, and
they then resolved never to r,st until they
wcrs free nor did they aband IN that re-
solutio..
Few and feeble in number. led on bv
their patriotic Commander, they went forth
fearless and unawcd, exciaimins with on
of their orators, "Thcre is just God who
will fight our battles for us" After long
and doubtful struggl, they achieved the
victory. Enjoying the happy conscious
ness that they were freed from the CALLING
chains Of oppression which had so long
festcred them, they employed themselves
an establishing a republican form of govern
ment, which should become a standard and
model for all the nations IN the face of the
ca,th. They formed a constitution which,
if firmly adhered to at the present day
would insure the blessings of liberty on us
and on our postclity.
The blessings Of freedom are now en-
joycd by all. All did L say; bet Us
pause awhile and rah ct. Alas ! there is
one dis6guring blot on the name of this
fair land Slavery. IT'S time that the
voice of indignant remonstrancc should be
efectually raised against the shareholders
hose violators of justice and right.
Africa, which was once the crad, Of sci
ence, AMI the standard of learning, now
dcbascd and degraded beneath every other
nation; like bcreaved mother, holds
out her hands in supplication, imploring
us to restore her children Yes at this /
moment thousands of the dark -browed ace
are held by those who claim the name of
men, in bondage more gallin, than that
from which our forefathcrs escap, I'd. Where
now i the patriotism of the early times ;