The republic., 1851-07-08

''0 'Sr-s'' " "'~ S"PtsOsJ w TIC 4H VI
Fellow CITIZENS; | congratulate you, / give
you joy on the return OF this anniversary nrd e
ici'a'e - -so or the moro particular purpose of
which this ever memorable day has been chosen to
witness the fulflment. Hail! All haili see be,
fore and around me a mass Of faces, glowing
with cheerfulness and patriotic pride. ! see thou
sands of eyes turned towards other eyes, all spark
ling with qualification and delight. This is the
New World This is Americal And this is Wash
ihgtonI the capital of the United Stated And
| whera else, among the nations, can the seat OF
Government be surrounded, on any day OF
any year, by those who have more reason
to rejoice in the blessings which they possess3 No
where, fellow citizens, assuredly nowhere. Letus,
them meet this rising with joy and thanks
giving!
This is that day Of the year which announced to
mankind the great fact Of American Independ-
ence. This fresh and brilliant morning blesses
| cur vision with another beholding of the Birthday
5f DIR Nation; and we see that nation, of recent
origin, now among the most considerable and pow
erful, and spreading over the continent from
to sea.
Among the first colonists from Europe to this part
of America, there some. doubtless, who con-
tempated the distant consequences of their under
taking, and who saw greatfuurity; but, in general,
their hopes were limited TO the enjoyment of a safe
asylum from tyranny, religious and civil, and to re-
spectacle subsistence, by industry and toll A thick
veil hid our times from their view Butthe progress
of ofAmerica, however slow, could not but at length
awaken genius, and attract the attention of man
| kind.
| In the early part of the next century Bishop
Berkeley, who, it will be remembered. had resided
| for some time in Newport, in Rhode leland wrote
his well known ''Verses on the Prospect of plant
| ing Arts and LEARNING in AMERIcA." The last
etanza of this little poem seems to have been pro-
duced by a high poecal inspiration;
| Westward the course Of empire takes il way;
| The four first acts already past,
| fifth shall close the drama with the day;
| Times noblest offspring ID the last
This extraordinary prophecy may bo considered
only the result Of long foresight and uncommon
sagacity; of a foresight and sagacity stimulated
nevertheless by excited feeling and high enthu-
siasm. So clear vision of what America would
| become not founded on square miles, or on ex-
isting numbers, or any vulgar laws of statistics.
1t was an intutive glance into futurity; il was a
grand conception, strong, ardent, glowing, en-
bracing all time since the creation of the world,
and all regions of which that world is composed;
and judging of the future by just analogy with
|
with which the thought is expressed, joined to the
conception ITSELF render it of the most strik-
| ing passages in our language.
| On the day of the declaration of independence
illustrious fathers performed the first in this
drama; an act in real Importance infinitely ex-
ceeding that for which the great English poet in
voked
"a muse of fire,
| kingdom for stage, princes to act,
A,,I h,E I.l,o
The Muse inspiring fathers was the Genius
of Liberty, all fire with sense of oppression and
a resolution to throw it oft the whole world was
the stage, and higher characters than princes trod
it; and instead of monarchs, countries, and ma
| tions, and the age beheld the swelling scene. How
well the characters cast and how we'll each
acted his part, and what emotions the whole per-
tormance excited, let history now and hereafter
tell.
At subsequent period. but before the decara-
ton of Independence, the Bishop of st. Azaph pub
lished Discourse in which the following remark
able passages are found;
't is difficult for to look into the destiny Of
future ages; the designs OF Providence too vast
| and complicated, and our own powers too
row to admit of much satisfaction TO curiosity.
But when we see many great and powerful causes
constantly at work, we cannot doubt of their pro-
ducing proportionable effects.
'The colonies in North America have not only
taken root and acquired strength, but seem hasten
ing 1cih an accelerated progress 10 such po,cettl
state as may introduce neD and important change
in human q fairs
descended from ancestors of the most improved
and enlightened part of the old world, they receive,
as it were by inheritance, all the improvements
and discoveries of their mother country. And it
happens, fortunately for them, to commence their
fiourishing state at time when the human under
standing has attained to the free of its powers,
and has learned to act with vigor and certainty.
They may avail themselves not only of the ex-
perience and industry, but even of the errors and
mistakes of former days. Let it be considered
for how many ages great part of the world
appears not to have thought at all; how many
more they have been busted in sforming sys.
TENS and conjectures while reason has been lost
: in labyrinth of words, and they seem to
, have suspected on what frivolous matters their
, minds were employed.
"And let it be well understood what rapid i'm
provements, what important discoveries have been
made in few years, by few countries, with our
own at their head, which have at last discovered
the right method of using their faculties.
"May we not reasonably expect that number
of provinces, possessed Of these advantages, and
quckened by mutual emulation, with only the
common progress of the human mind, should very
considerably enlarge the boundaries of science?
"The vast continent itself over which they are
gradually spreading may be considered as a trea-
sure yet untouched, of natural productions that shall
hereafter affordample matter for commerce and
temptation And five reflect what stock ofknow-
ledge may be accumulated by the constant progress
ODberVallon, lea Win Iesn
from the stores of nature, assisted sometimes by
those happy strokes of chance which mock all the
powers OF invention, and sometimes by those su-
perior characters which arise occasionally to in
struct and enghten the world, it is difficult even
to imagine to what height of improvement their
, discoveries may extend.
"And perhaps they may make considerable
Advances an the arts Of ciUit government aud ht
conduct Of life We have reason to be proud, and
even jealous, of excellent Constitution; but
those equitable principles ON which it was formed
an equal representations (the best discovery of po
, litcal wisdom,) and just and commodious dis
tribution of power which with the price o
civil wars, and the rewards of the virtues and suf
crings of our ancestors, descend to them natu-
raj inheritance, without toll or pain.
HBut must they rest here in The utmost efbr
Of human genius? Can chance and time, the uDis
dom and the experience of public men, suggest no ne,t
remedy against the ectIs which vices and am
bition are perpetually apt to cause?
MAY they not hope, without presumption, tc
preserve greater zeal for piety and public deyo
ton than VIC have done? For il hardy y
happen to them, II has to US, that when religion
is best understood and rendered most pure and
reasonable, that then should be the precise time
when many to believe and practice it, and all