The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-07-24
Fourtb OF JUIIy Celebration at Por-
tase bY the Quitman Guards.

tiou was held for Lieut.. Colonel, after Whch
the company proceeded to the grove in the rear
Of Samuel ]. Renshaws Hotel, (Portage,) when
the meeting was organized-Captain X. 3
Alexander in the Chair, assisted by Lieut.. VIM.
c. Barbour as Vice President, and Sergeant X.
T Dunlop and John w Wolf as Secretaries.-
The Declaration of Independence was read by
Lieut.. Jas J. Dunlop, followed by three cheers
and the discharge of musketry. The audience
was then addressed by A. C. Mulin, Esq, IN
the following eloquent and patriotic manner:
FRIENDS AND FELLow-CITIZENs: We have
met for the purpose Of celebrating day which
marks one of the greatest epochs that has ever
occurred In American history-a day that VIII
be kept alive in the bosoms and be commemo-
rated, by unborn millions yet to come Yes, the
Fourth of July will be treasured IN the hearts
of generations yet in the womb Of futurity, as
a sacred remembrance of by-gone days-when
our forefathers, inspired by desire for liberty,
and worn out by arbitrary and unjust taxation,
inflicted by tyrannical monarchy, determined
to throw off the CALLING yoke, and to rend
asunder the shackles which bound her to it.
They had long been held in thraldom, and now,
being wrought to evaporation by repeated in
suits and oppression, they determined, come
what may, to arrogate TO themselves the right
Of self-government-the right of legislating and
Of making their own laws. England, although
their mother country, had now become to them
an abomination-a despised and hated 0ppres-
sor and, can it be wondered at, that their affec-
tons were alienated from her, and that obedi-
ence to her will was disannulled-abroga
She called them her children, but could children
have any affection for such an unnatural mother?
No; and n withdrawal from her jurisdiction was
the only safe alternative which they had left.
But was II safe for them to withdraw and
assert their ependence-they, who were but
handful to the mighty legiOns which could be
mustered against them to compel them to return
u their allegiance? No. but still they did it
Death or Liberty" was their watchword-
chains and slavery had terrors for them be-
yond what they had already endured, and the
glorious declaration Of independence was signed.
Yes, fellow-citizens, the 4th of July, 1875,
was the day on which loyalty to kings, and ac-
quiesence to the will of princes met a common
grave-the day on which allegiance to England
and obeisance to her will was humbled into
oblivion from which the voices of millions of
American freemen declare they shall never
arise
Is there heart in all this assembly-is there
aheart to be found throughout the entire length
and breadth of this glorious confederacy, which
is not inspired with the same feeling which
then burned within the hearts of our ancestors?
In looking around us, and surveying the glory,
;he majesty, and the efficiency Of our institu-
tons, does it not send a thrill of pleasure
through the soul when we reflect that the first
step toward our present prosperity, was the act
Of our forefathers in setting their names TO a
#cf paper.
say, in looking at these, need we ask our
selves the question
'sIs there a man with soul SO dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
E.Death or liberty"
No! there is not an American heart whose
pulsations do not accord with this feeling, and
whose vibrations do not echo forth this senti
ment
Shall we the children Of such noble sires,
tbe offspring of such illustrious progenitors,
endorse any other sentiment? Forbid it, mighty
Heavenl Let kingdoms and crowns crumble
into dust-let principalities and powers sink
INTO nothingness-let monarchical and despoti-
cal governments be prostrated-let earthquakes
rend-let nations and empires and thrones and
domlnions be convulsed and dashed into atoms,
out still let our adherence to this glorious SEN
ument be preserved.
But, If there is in this, our beloved land
the land of the free and the home of the
'raVe'-a single heart recreant enough to
s"erye from its duty, its valor, its patriotism,
'e' us possessor but remember the names of
emerson, Franklin, Rush, Harrison, and the
o'nef brave spirits who pledged their lives,
'nelr fortunes, and their sacred honors'' for the
cause OF hberty-the liberty which we now
nave and enjoy. I say, let him but remember
~ese Names and his soul will at once be on fire
dormant love of country will be aroused, and
us patnousm'-gpa patriotism he have-will burst
,H ana burn with pure and holy flame
VI let hlm revert to the battles Of Bunker
u'ii' OF Yorktown, or Of Saratoga-let him, in
gtnauon' see the struggles of those engaged
ueSe sanguinary and bloody conficts-let
'urn 10 their brave leadeIs-let him ponder
PVH tne names of Washington, of Montgom-
=" VI warren, and other brave men who have
iustre upon American arms by their
~su'y rrowess in the hour Of danger l say