The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-07-11

They are 'ihe men Of progress" or as they
sometimes call themselves. in imitation OF sim
liar designations in most countries of Europe,
young America" Either from natural ar
dor OF temperament, or the fervit spirit OF
youth, or Impatience caused by constant med.
ifaiion on the abuses which accumulate in
most human concerns in the lapse OF time,
they get TO think that every thing which has
existed for considerable time is an abuse;
that consequently to change is, as matter of
course, to reform-to inDovate, Of necessity
an improvement They do not consider that
if this notion is carried too far II becomes sui
cidal; il condemns their own measures and
justices the next generation in sweeping away
their work as remorseless as they are disposed
to sweep away the work of their predecessors.
IGreat cheering.]
Now here again, sir, the error is one OF ex.
aggerafion only. Young America is very
honess fellow; be means well, but like other
young folks he is sometimes little TOO much
in hurry. Laughter and eheers.I He needs
the curb occasionally, as we old ones, per-
haps, still more frequently need the spur
tLaughter.) There is a principle Of progress
in the human mind-in all the works of mems
hands, IN all associations and communities,
from the village club to the empire that EN-.
braces quarter Of the human race, in ell poll
tcal institutions, in art, literature, and science,
and most especially in all new couAtries,
where il must. from the nature of the case, be
The leading and governing principle. tGreat
cheers.l Who can compare the modern world,
its condition, its arts, it's institutions, with the
ancient world, and doubt thist the daily news.
papers, smoking every morning from a hun.
dred presses, with strip Of hieroglyphics on
the side Of an obelisk, perplexing the world
with its dubious import, and even that found
out within the last thirty years; the ocean
steamer with the row galley, creeping tinidIy
round the shore; the railways in the United
States alone, without mentioning those of
Europe, with those famous Roman paved
roads, the Appian end Flaminian way, TO
which the orator aIluded-whieh our railways
exceed ten fold in extent, to say nothing Of
their superiority in every other respect as
means of communication; the printing press,
driven by steam, with the scribe's toilsome
pen; the electric telegraph with the mail coach,
the post horse, the pedestrian courier; and,
above all, a representative republican confede-
racy extending ever continent, with feudal
despotism building palace on the necks of a
people or a stormy Grecian democracy, sub
sisting its citizens by public largess, deeming
all labor servile, ostracising its good men, in
suiting and depressing its allies, and rending
lis own vitals within the circuit of The city
walls to which it was conhned-who, | say,
can make this com oarison, and doubt that the
principle OF Progress is as deeply seated in
our nature as the principle of conservatism,
and that true practical wisdom and high ma
tional policy reside in the due mixture and
joint action of the two? Enthusiastic ap-
plause.)
Now, sir, this was the wisdom of the men of
76. This is the lesson of the Fourth of July
this the oracle which speaks to us from the
shrines of this consecrated hall. Great cheer.
ing.l live study the writings of the men of
that day, we find that they treated the cause
OF civil liberty not only as one of justice and
right, of sentiment and feeling, but also as one
Of history and tradition, Of charters and laws.
[Cheers.l They not only looked to the fu-
lure, but they explored the past. They built
wisely and sklfully, in such sort that after
times might extend the stately front of the
temple OF freedom, aud enlarge its spacious
courts, and pile its stories arch above arch,
gallery above gallery, 10 the heavens, fgreat
cheers;l but they dug tbs foundations deep
down 10 the eternal rock = the town, the
school, the militia, the church-these were the
four corner stones on which they reared the
ediice. Enthusiastic cheers
II we look only at one par: al their work
:: We see them poring over musty parchments
by the midnight lamp citing The year books
against writs of assistance; disputing them
selves hoarse about this phrase in the charter
q
statute Of Edward the Third, we should be dis
posed TO class them with the most bigoted
conservatives that ever threw a dragchain
around the limbs of a young and ardent peo
pie. tCheers.J But, gracious heavens look
al tnem again, when the trumpet sounds the
hour OF resistance: survey the other aspect Of
their work. lGreaE cheering.1 See these un-
daunted patriots IN their obscure caucus gath
enngs, IN their rtown.neelings, in their proviyi.
niat NH iIar int hal r.. ~
breathing defiance to the British ParIiamen nj
and the British Throne; march with their ra w
militia to the conflict with the trained veterans
Of the seven years war, (cheers;l wi,ness
them, group of colonies extemporized into a
confederacy, entering with calm self posses.
sion into alliance with the oldest monarchy in
Europe; and occupying as they did narrow
belt of territory along the coast, thinly peo
pied, partially ceared-hemmed in by the ma
live savage, by the Alleghanies, by the Ohio,
and the Lakes-behold them diiating with The
grandeur of the position, radiant 10 the pro.
speciive glories of their career, [much cheer.
ing ] casting ABROAD the germs of future inde-
pendent States, destined, and at no distant day,
not merely to cover the face of the thirteen
British colonies, but TO spread over the terrific
res of France and Spain on this continent; over
Florida and Louisiana; over New Mexico and
California; beyond the Mississippi; beyond the
Rocky Mountains, 10 unite the Atlantic and
the Pacific oceans, the Arctic and the Tonid
zones, in one great net work of confederate re
publican government Contemplate this, end
you will acknowledge the men of seventy six
TO have been the boldest men of progress
that tine world has ever seen. En- ,husastc
cheers.
These are the men whom the Fourth of July
invites Va 10 respect and imilnie; the James
Otises and the Warrens, the Franklins and
the Adamses. the Patrick Henrys and the JEFF
fersons, and him whom may not name in the
plural number, brightest of the bright, and
purest Of the pure-W ashington himself.-
Rapturous cheersl But let us be sure TO
initiate them Tor TO strive 10 do sol in ell their
great principles, in both parts OF their noble
and comprehensive policy. iApplause.l Let
us reverence them as they reverenced their
predecessors-no seeking 10 build up the ia.
ture on the ruins Of all thai had gone before,
nor yet 10 bind down the living, breathing,
burning present 10 the mouldering relics OF
the dead past. lchears;l bat deducing the rule
oi bold and safe progress from the records of
wise and glorious experience. lGreat ap
piause.]
am trespassing unconEciously, cir, upon
the time of the company, f"go on, 20 on,"l
huf / srsil la A.,