The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-08

Al the laying of the Corner Stone Of the Extension Of The
Capitol, JAiU a, 1851

see thousands of eyes turned towards other eyes. all
sparkling with qualification and delight This is the New
World, this is America, and this is Washington, the capt.
tai of the United States And where else among the
tsns, can the seat OF government be surrounded any
day OF any year. by those who have more reason TO re-
loce In the blessings which they possessi Nowhere,
fellow citizens assuredly, nowhere Lei u.s. then, meet
this rising sun with Joy and thank sgvlng inns is tha
day OF the year which announced % mankind ns S,sd
fact OF American Independence ms iIesh alu
liant morning blesses vision with another pehoiuin
OF the birthday OF nation and we see uia naion VI
recent origin, now among lhe most , to a" ~
powerful, and spreading over the comment ieh sea 10
Among the first colonss from Europe to this part Of
America there were some, doubtless VINO contemplated
the distant OF their undertaking. and who
saw great fuuly; but, IN general, their hopes were
limited to the % ss sss dsss IRON ani
dustry and toll thick vel hid our times from their
view But the progress OF America, however slow could
moi but at length awaken genius, and attract the attention
of mankind In the early part OF the century, Bishop
Berkeley (wbo. it will be remembered resided more than
two years Rhode sand) wrote his well known verses
on the prospect OF planting arts and learning in America
The last of this little poem TO have been
produced by high poetcal inspiration:
"Westward the course of empire takes its way;
The four first acts already past,
A 9th shall close the drama with the day
Times noblest offspring is the last
This extraordinary prophecy may be considered only
the result OF long foresight and uncommon sagacity OF
foresight and sagaciy stimulated nevertheless by excited
feeling and high enthusiasm. So clear vision OF what
America would become was not founded on square miles
Or on existing numbers any vulgar laws Of status
tics. 1t Dtu'tlve glance into tutury; It was
grand conception strong, ardent glowing embracing all
time since The creation OF the world, ald all regions of
which that world is composed and judging OF the future
by Just analogy with the past And the nmiabe imagery
and beauty with which The thought expressed joined
the conception itself, render il OF the striking
passages language On the day of the declaration
OF independence, lustrious fathers performed the first
act in this DRAMA act in real importance infinitely
ceedng that for which the great English poet invoked
"a muse Of Are,
A kingdom for stage, princes to act,
And monatcns behold the swelling scene"
The inspiring our fathers was the genius of lib.
er,y ali on fire with the sense of oppression and reso-
luton 10 throw OF the whole world the stage, and
higher characters than princes trod il; and instead OF
swelling scene. How well the characters were cast, and
how well each acted his part, and what emotions the
whole performance excited let history aud hereafter
tell AT a subsequent PERIOD but before the declaration
OF Independence the Bishop OF ST. Asaph published a
Discourse, in which the following remarkable passages
are found:
sit is difficult for look into the destiny of future
ages the designs OF Providence TOO and compica
ted and powers narrow, admit OF much
and powerful constantly work, doubt Of
their producing propoonabe effects The colonies in
strength. but seem haFtr"'"g~ ~ aceeh lted progress to
sseh powrtI So may "a. dres neg and important
most improved enlightened part of The Old World,
they receive Were by Inheritance all the improve
ments and discoveries OF their mother conny and il hap
pens fortunately for them to commence their fosshng
cd the free OF its powers and has learned with
vieor and certainty. They may themselves only
of The psence and Industry but even OF the errors
mistakes Of former days Let be considered for how
many ages great part OF the world appears not TO have
thought all how many they have been busted in
forming systems and coneetures, while been
lost In aby nnth OF words and they never seem TO have
suspected on what frivolous matters their minds
ployed And let II be well understood what rapid improve
nsnt, what important discoveries have been made in
few by few countries with our own at their head
which have last discovered the right mehod OF using
their faculties May we not reasonably expect that mum
Dor Of Provinces possessed OF these advantages aud quick
ened by mutual emulation, with only the common progress
Of the human mind should very considerably enlarge the
boundaries OF sciencel The vast continent Itself over
which they gradually spreading may be considered as
treasure untouched OF natural productions, that shall
hereafter afford Pile for commerce and contem-
pation. And II reflect what stock of knowledge may
observation fed with fresh supplies from OF Ma
tue assisted sometimes by those happy strokes of chance
those perior characters which occasionally
suuct and enlghten the world - dfcuteven TO imagine
tend Axd perhap, they may considerable Advances
IN the Of eip government and The conduct Of life We
have proud and jealous, of an excellent
constitution but those equitable principles on when was
aa aS s % Of
power, which with us were the price OF civil wars aud the
reward Of the virtues and sucrngs OF ancestors, de-
scend them natural inheritance, without toll pain.
Bst m~st they rest here az m the utmost ort Of human &c,
~isf CS~ chance aud Time The misdopi and me rptsnce OF
public nss~ snggsa rtmedy against the sps which
vices and ambition perpeuay APT 20 cause May they
for pisy public devotion than we have done For sure
can hardly happea 10 them, as has TO US, that when
rsigion best understood and rendered most pure and
reasonable, that then should be the precise tine when
many believe and practise IT, ali la general
become most indifferent to it. May they not possibly be
successful than their mother has been In
serving that and authority which is due the
laws, those who make aud those who them
May pshod bs Inpsat.d Of procuring ctsTabis
share Of The comforts Of hs to tho ntsror, puI ranks OF
rudtbed the Uhots Tune
AVID d,sr~s 10 c0rtet the tres
tnsqAaiss of condition betueen the rch and re poor
da~g uous 10 he and k~ppinsss Of both Tney
fortunately be led by habit and choice, 10 despse
thai which is considered With the true euJoym
of wealth They may have ule relish Tor that Cesseess
hurry OF smusement- which - pursued IN this county
without pie exercise, employmenti and perhaps
alter oil loes ana capnces and setting
the resi- pey may led, BY and experiment, 10
that Old simplicity which first pointed out by Nature
and has produced those models winch SIN admire "a
arts, eto1ueUce, aud The dummy n ptn tctHts
AVID stsuot0ns bhteh 30 SfJts Hp ntessa.
rut pa,s throSgh may the gaefsattrg
III uhteh IL snesp.
f'c~ Of; npu ouiy gracious dtssDssou % f'Jyt
dsnc- out tue vfsts preparation oil causes seems i
Gate " onx tendencies o~sfas general tppO'eine.'
Fellow -c,lizens, this gracious dppeusaion Of Prov
idencs anu 'tris visible preparation oil causes" al length
brought on Inc hour ior decisive acton On The "a VI
Juy ITO, the representative, OF the Uhitrd States OF
America, III Iongrsss assembled, declared that these
Ubeo COLONIES are, and OF Opght to BE, Tree and
independent States. lhs declaialIUn, msde by most
psfioic ana esoius men, Trusting the justice oil Their
cause and the protection Heaven and vet made not
without deep socude aud anxiety, has now stood Tor
seventy hive years, and still saids Ii was scaled IN
blood. Ii has mel DANCES and overcome them, II ha,
had enemies, and u bas conquered them II has had de-
uAcot- and Il has abasted tnem all IT has had doubling
frsnds bat has cleared all doubts away and to-
day, raising lis august form higher than the Clouds twenty
millions oI people Contemplate 1t with hsllowed love,
49, l..l4. 49,