The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-16

council Df FhHddelphld
SYDERaAM, (near phadelphia,) Feb Is, 1853
DEAR SIR Getting home recently from months alb
sence ia Washington regent of the Smithsonian In
stution | found my table the report sou were 30
good as to send me. Of the proceedings Of convention
composed OF delegates from nine OF the original thirteen
United States held in Independence Hall in July last for
the purpose OF considering the proprey OF erecting one o.
more monuments in Independence Square. in eommemo-
ration OF the Declaration OF Independence and IN honor
OF those who signed il the convention having assembled
under preamble and resolutions OF both branches OF The
city councils, adopted in September 1851 on the original
motion oil MIR Waterman oil the select council
much indebted 10 you Tor this publication, ana peg
leave 10 make you my best Acknowledgements Tor y.
IL one OF no ordinary character have read me whole
with The deepest Interest," might almost say wth emo
ton II reviyes and exalts all The feelings OF patriot
ism under The precious memory OF days when that sa-
cred flame was at It's height among our oeiahers AS
ye the proceedings which the publication records are
known 10 comparatively few. Could they be brought
home the millions Of land believe that the Juds
menls OF all would sanction Them and all hearts ihIoD
under the noble plan which, with so much unanImiy'
they recommend. Every page burns with love OF couh'
try enlightened and ardent 1t brings back the VISION
of the old Congress Of 10, when proclaming, IN ihat
hall, The great deed OF independence, with the iumna-
tons, bonfres, and shouts that followed; WITHIN me
proper sphere Of this convention we behold he same ace
volion public ends and disregard OF local ends,
that stamped the deliberations Of that august Congress
when acting within the boundess sphere o. ~ dunes "
America aud 10 the world Nowhere thai can reinem-
Der should be able find in the same compass 50
many stirring recoections OF the revolutions po'ntedy
and beautifully recalled The convention has taken The
first step, and Impressive step under Inc eloquent
preamble and resolutions OF our city councils towards
highly eudeaIng national obec-an object as broad IN
conception as the execution could not al 10 draw TO II
self all admiration and honor Would that delegates
from all the old thirteen States had attended; though the
proceedings show nothing OF adverse feeling On The iar
4 OF the absent States.
! Adverse feeling how could that exist in such a
cause-hou be possible presents one OF those rare
occasions when Inc calmest decisions OF the judgment
outrun the impulses of the heart. II monument 10 The
Declaration OF ndependencels due 10 our ius'fons an
nltr,iaI
ing time which IS TO participate IN IT'S influences; ne
obligation TO rear encompasses IA the more under me
abundance and richness Of the fruits pepetuaiy flowing
from that stupendous deed Not that II first taught man
kind the truths oil civil political, and religious t6eEly
Locke Milton, Sidney, Aristotle Plato and Thousand
others in time past had written OF them like angels and
suffered in agony and blood for their sakes Their eter
nal foundations in the nature OF man. 50, the tend
ency 70 rum thin into extremes when they come TO be
acted upon in framing governments, IS also 70 be found
in his eBg Datule Hence the NUMEROUS tahuIe5 IN
such attempts from the beginning Of time. But tue Decla
ration of Independence established these Truths triumph
anty in the New World 1t gave them IN charge 10 a
people made great in virtue al them-a people destined
to rule this continent with or without tic Monroe
declaration.
Some consider the latter declaration open TO different
constructions, and, at all events he's become dspulable
with portions Of public. All will admit thai d,sap
pears before the inteligbilty scope grandeur and Ger
lain duration Of the principles IN The Declaration Of hide
pehdenee Their mmulable truihs, enforced upon e.
gan,c scale by the united Efforts Of apeope trained 10
appreciate apply, and extend Them 10 last forever IN
this hemisphere at least For ourselves lhey nave Sc
cured aggregate OF prosperity altogether ranscendant
and remarked BY OF the eloquent speakers IN
this conventions they have brought into the world at large
"a new vital and quckenng spIf, by Their prodgious
success here That success for the whole family oil
man. Ii stands ont IN colossal majesty All may see II
The has long lighted up from The Atlantic
side OF contBen and lis western rays as theg adiate
the Pacific, where the waters so recently flowed IN
solitude almost total are now enclcling our achieve
ments riches, dominion, our principles H. there
fore in the annals Of the human race, any assembage OF
meme earned enduring monument 10 tDeir memo
es it is We band oil american oaiios VINO declared IN
dependence It's bodness struck with astonshmsnt upon
contemporary nations and IFS consequences have doomed
larger aud larger with every generation since
! rejoice that the opinion found u'eraace 10 the con.
venton that il the Union is TO pass away, which Heaven
forbid the monument ought TO be reared his IS The
just, the ennoblng view OF the subject The trophy IL
due TO the past 10y titles the very highest, which can
never 10 have their force Then let us raise IT. Let
us not stop nor linger under the prompugs OF duty so
| high. Let us act upon il whilst we msy over the fu-
ture have no power The present now, rs The tnosl
precious part Of time Let US rear up monument 10 the
great work which the Declaration OF Independence, out
Of which the Union sprung its FIRST and greatest or
spring. has already sanchfed Upon earth The Union, II
falling to pieces TO morrow would leave az andyas
sion without parallel The people bound together by II
have made strides such as no other people ever made IN
benefcent pursuits and cvilizpg empoyments and con.
quests, well the obstacles and wldg OF Nature,
as in arms. The historian would pause ~ amaze
ment at lis brief but brilliant career He would gather
ges, 10 portraying It's astounding results Though The
Union may end, the great Anglo Saxon race with Wash
ngion al us head which made the plunge into independ
ence, while other races these shores were subms-
sive langud, incapable OF selfgoyenmeni will not
end II ia here for all time. 1t will go on multiplying
and 10 multiply Is spirit hrst ascendant on these
Shores subduing everything in its way, would sill pfa.
dominate still keep up lis supremacy Keep up s con-
qusng language lis whole progressive genius and eso-
ute Indomable enterprise, upon The ocean and terrific
rally The same spirit would keep alive under whatever
political forms might succeed TO The downfall OF thus
Union, though cannot write the word without fresh
invocation against such woe, the principles OF repre-.
ton put lis SEAL and would cherish with them equal
rights and equal laws These the buwarks OF that
public liberty and triumphant, industry which have gwen
TO the Union lis power and fenown
Then LET monument be reared TO the Declaration OF
Independence, the great parent OF the Unon and TO us
immortal authors Already # IS completely earned I'm
mortality is upon its inception and its consequences
The latter blaze up before both hemsrheres and are I'M
peshable. Let the monument answer TO the vastness
OF the commemoraion Let genius and art lavish their
resources in giving Il sodity beauty, perfection That
or nothing Let i fully rival II possible surpass, Greek
and Roman fame in their palmiest days.
In rendering my hearty thanks for ihs valuable docu-
meni, have been venurng upon remarks certainly not
needed after the better seen IN the document It.e
bat have not felt myself able 10 fepress them. ! do
not speak OF the qualification TO Phiade phians from be-
holding matchess memorial IN their own city This
is bat an incident local and small one, alongside OF the
intrinsic nationality and grandeur OF the plan. Proud,
indeed have TO be Of our ancient cityproud OF
TIA evolutionary dstncton-proud OF ITS active de-
voon to the cause OF the revolution in the very darkest
and pefous timesproud OF its present SIZE and
glowing prospects Of further and solid advancement
These make IL fl place for such national monument.
Over the venerable Hall o Independence is s, 10 he