Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-04-28
6istorifal.
CONQUEST OF ILLINOIS.
An Address Delivered in Belleyille (Illinoisl on
the Fourth of July, 1s40, by John II Peck.


cal faction-hushed be the voice of parti-
zan clamor-subdued be every envious
feeling-bu-ied be all political animosi.
ties on this the day that commentaries
our nations birth for. in the language of
Holy writ, Brethren, ye have been call
ed unto LIBERTY only use not liberty
for an occasion to the flesh, but by love
serve one another '-tial 3.
For one day let the tomahawk of parti-
zan warfare be buried-the angry com
motion of party strife cease. while as cit
izens, as countrymen, as friends. as broth
ers, we meet around one common nation
al altar, and offer the sacrifice of Joy,
thanksgiving, and praise to the Giver of
every good gift for the personal, social, re-
ligious, civil and national blessings we
possess, and which have been secured to
US by the sufferings. sacrifices, chivalry
and patriotism of our fathers.
"Firm let US united be,
Rallying round our liberty"
The resolution of the Committee of
Arrangements, composed of citizens of
each political party, and from each nation
from which we sprang to carefully abstain
from drinking political tOasts, or entering
into political discussions on the ground"
meets my entire appreciation. On other
days, frank and manly political discuss
ions, conducted with a courteous regard
to personal feeling. having in view impor-
tant principles and measures, and tend
ing TO enlighten the people in the nature
and probable consequences of those meas
ures, and to bring before them the opin-
ions of the several candidates are desir-
able and proper But thiS day should be
consecrated to higher and holier purposes.
In the adoption of that DECLARATION
which has just been read, our forefathers
were united These principles were sent
forth as the % United Declaration of the
PEOPLE of the Thirteen Colonies speak
ing by their respective representatives in
Congress assembled Union aud nation
al cooperation were the basis on which
they stood. Union was the ligament that
bound them together during the Revolu-
tionary contest Their cause was one
their purposes, hopes and effort were one
and '-e pLurIbltS aG1stlnt" is still the motto
on our national standard.
Let us, their descendants, on this day,
show that we retain the spirit and princi-
plies of our fathers. Rally, then. around
the national standard In fraternal concert.
Native Americans-naturali citizens
descendants of France-Germans from
"Fader land" men of all classes that
compose our population-those born on
the soil, those who have made this the
country of their adoption forget nation
al peculiarities- unite on the sa-
cred platform of human freedom and un-
81, liz - Of oil h. EGI1yI fLoco
truths to be self eUideat that aH men are
created egalaG that they are e1ad0aced by
Their Creator acith certain unallena6Le
rights; that among these are life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness that to
secure these rights, governments acere laSta-
t1tted among men, deriUing their Just 7201o-
erS from Tie consent of the gOUerneE' -
unite in honor of this DECLARATloN.--
This was the first public and solemn proc
lamation, sent forth to the world by a ma
ton of the capability of man for self gov
ernment Here was laid the cornerstone
of legitimate civil polity. The announce
ment of these truths demolish, as with
single blow. the lawfulness of all govern
ments on earth. which had been founded
by conquest and sustained by force Here
lies the basis of our Union, as states and
People Here was the spontaneous move
ment of thirteen English colonies-all
subject to the King of Great Britain,
bound to him by that involuntary allegi-
ance which then constituted the relation
ship of the governed to arbitrary power
The people of these colonies announced
as their object the resistance of tyranny
and oppression, and the establishment of
a government founded upon the WILL of
the people.
These objects were not gained without
great sacrifices, and a protracted war with
one of the most powerful nations on
earth
At that period, with the exception of a
few feeble settlements in Kentucky, then
a colony of Virginia this Declaration"
was made by the people of the Atlantic
borders of our country. Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan and the whole region northwest.
belonged to Canada. The southern and
western portions of our country belonged
to Spain. Neither had any part in the
Declaration of Independence
The French originally and justly claim
ed the valleys of the Ohio, Wabash and
Mississippi, Michigan, the Northwest, the
Lakes and the Canadas, by right of dis
covery and settlement. Between 1873
and 1857, this valley was visited at vari
Gus periods-frst by Joliet and Mar
quette, then By Lasalle and his compan-
ions, for purposes of discovery, trade and
settlement During that period Detroit
Chicago, Peoria, Cahokia, and Kaskaskia
had their origin in the trading posts of
these early adventurers The Mississip-
pi was navigated. the coast alongthe Gulf
Of Mexico explored to the mouth of the
Colorado of Texas Greenbay, Wiscon-
sin, the Upper Mississippi, and the Falls
of St Anthony were all visited by the en-
terprising French A line of trading
posts was established along the northern
lakes, from Ontario to Michigan AT the
commencement of the eighteenth century,
these explorers penetrated the Wabash
Valley, by way of Maumee of the lakes
Vincennes, as a trading post, was estab-