The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1851-08-08
= Iu1lI t1V -NdtIUIlKI HlteIIIgcnCtF
A Warning Voice from Patriot of '76.

The following is the reply 10 an invitation
from the Committee of arrangements for cele-
brating the 4th of July at Tammany Hail. We
have the pleasure (says the New York Journal
OF Commerce) OF personal acquaintance with
the venerable and excellent writer Parson
GREENE, of Long Island, is one of the very
few who in this city witnessed "the birth of
these United States" He was one of those
youthful soldiers who formed the hollow
square on the ground, now The Bowling Green,
within which the Declaration of independence
was first read in l776, and the freedom and in.
dependence of the Colonies proclaimed, amidst
the shouts of the assembled troops and the
eLiberty Boys of that glorious period.
Let the warning voice of this pure patriot
penetrate the remotest confines of this Unionl
IIEaPsrEAD, JULY 8, 1851.
Coz. d. E. DELAvAN: The letter from you
and your associates, inviting me to join you
and the citizens of New York in the celebration
of the 4th of July, was handed to me last even
ing. am friend to the festival, and return
you my sincere thanks for your respectful invi-
tation. 1t would give me double pleasure, as
| was present when the Declaration was read
in the old Park, in your city, on the 4th of July,
IT'S. | saw and participated in the birthday
Of the United States. Gentlemen, must deny
myself of the great pleasure on account of age,
heat, and lame ankle, and Encouragement 1t
may, perhaps be of use for ME to saY belonged
to the Revolutionary army when The Declara-
ton of cur independence was read for the first
time on the fourth of July, 1776, in the Park,
which then lay very near the edge of the city*
| The army rejoiced; and it was loudly proclaim.
| I'd in every direction "United we stand-divi-
ded We fall" The sons of the old patriots
should never lose sight of this important sen.
timent What sort Of a man is he that dare
open his mouth or raise his finger against the
! union of these States? If such poor, crawl
ing, skulk:ng thing should be found, why let
him and his companions, if he has any, take
their property (we don't want them nor tIeirs)
and 60 to Austria or Russia where they may
wear the iron yoke to their satisfaction. If
could stand on mountain, in the centre OF tie
United States, and extend my voice from the
| Atlantic to The Pacific ocean, would cry aloud,
be careful of the Union," ado nothing to injure
the Union" for ii is the gift of the God Of the
Bible. Yes, the gift of the God of the armies
of the United States of Amer;ca-States ce-
mented with the sweat, blood. and property of
! the fathers of this nation. We live under the
enly free generous, wise, and safe Government
| that exists on the habitable earth. Suffer me
| to say was born on the llth of January, l760
| Joined the army at Roxbury, January, l774s
with brother older than myself, aided in build
1 ing the fort on Dorchester Heights, by which
! the British were driven out of Boston; marched
with the army to New York, helped to erect
the forts on Brooklyn Heights, was in the bat
! tie when the British landed al Throg's Point,
which lasted till darkness separated US. Soon
after, in the battle of the White Plains, was
one of the party sent to drive the British from
the neighborhood of Whitemarsh, where they
were robbng the people Of THEN cattle and
| their family stores. Here was severely woun-
| ded. | had also a brother wounded; he had
eleven ball holes in his outside garments. One
only injured him. ] was three years in the
| army: my brother four He was in the battle
at Monmouih was with Wayne when they
took Stony Point by storm. My father was &
volunteer for two months, when the British
took New York. fle also volunteered with
fifty-nine, and more from the county Of Wors
cester, Massachusetts, mounting their horses,
and aidedin capturing Burgoyne with his army.
| Gentlemen, you can see why am so strong.
ly attached to the Union, and why wish to leave
my posterity and my fellow-citizens in a pure
mistaken Union. That the celebration of this
day may strengthen the union of these United
States, let US unitedy and earnestly beseecli
our Father in Heaven to pour upon our nation
the spirit of peace and love.
am your felIow-citzen, friend, and servant
in the Gospel of the Divine Saviour.
ZACHARIAH GREENE.
SHOW the Bowling Green.