, 1853-07-30

Delirped Immediately after hearing The De
laration Of Independence read:

Delireyed Immediately after hearing the Dee
laration If Independence read;
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN We have
listened 10 eloquent words; it is the voice ol
'76-the voice of men who though dead,
vet speak 10 US. That nobld document was
introduced to the world in the hour OF our
nations greatest perplexity,-of her deep
est gloom. Containing nothing but noble
sentiments and eternal truths, yet its pro-
duction was, at the time, an act Of high
treason, and the halter was the promised meed
of the patriotism which dictated IT. When
therefore, the noble band Of patriots whose
names are here appended, in full conviction
of the immutability of these sentiments
pledged to each other their property, their
lives, and their sacred honor" for their
maintenance, they did not use words with
out meaning. The struggle for freedom
was yet undecided, and they might exPiate
a crime of pure patriotism upon the gallows.
But, thank God, victory turned on the side
Of LIBERTY, and our country was FREE
The great principles uttered by these patri-
OTIS in our country's desperate hour, were
maintained and we, their descendants, reap
the rich harvest they sowed.
Surrounded with peace and plenty, and in
the full enjoyment of those great naliena-
bic rights for which our fathers bled, we as
semble to-day to celebrate this the nth an.
niversary of our nations birth. It is we'll
for US so 10 do. II does not become great
and free people to be unmindful of the toll
and blood poured out to purchase for them
The fair inheritance of freedom. In some
suitable and appropriate way should we ex-
press our joy and gratitude that our own
souls may receive the fire from the same al
tar Of patriotism.
Love Of country is a virtue which we
should cultivate in our own souls, and insli
into the minds of the youth Of our land
No people ever had reason 10 love their
country more than ourselves, or to shed their
blood if called to il in her defence.
Deeply impressed with these sentiments,
bear with me for a few moments while |
dwell upon the theme,-OUR Country
Vast in TeTfiiOry,-Rich in Fertility,-Ex-
cellent in Beauty-and Glorious in her Free,
Civil and Religious Institutions.
Our territory isvast. When those noble
men gave utterance to the self-evideni truths
TO which we have Just listened, our terrific
Ty was small, composed Of only thirteen
States, restricted 10 the borders Of The Al
antic. Now our giant Republic extends
from the Gulf Of Mexico to the Gulf Of the
ST. Lawrencs-from the Atlantic 10 the Pa
Cifc,-embracing the largest portion Of an
entire Continent. With one hand we reach
over the waves of the Atlantic 10 the Euro
pean shores, and with the other reach across
the Pacific and grasp the shores Of Eastern
Asia. Fhus we stand to-day, in proud i'm
mensity, the occupants Of nearly whole
continent, world within ourselves.
And this immense territory is the iairest
and the richest on which the sun ever shone.
OF its twenty-five or tweniy-six millions oi
inhabitants, twenty millions probably cult
vate the soil-an occupation the most hon
Orable in itself, as well as the inexhaustible
source of public wealth and private happi-
ness, and the most faithful preserver Of those
noble and generous sentiments rehearsed in
our ears this morning. And no where in
our country does the husbandman labor in
vain. The iatness of the soil yields rich
reward. Probably no part of the world is,
to the same extent, as fertile as the Omitted
States Of America. Scarcely does any land
furnish its inhabitants comfort or luxury that
oSEs does not yield for us. Our valleys
wave with wheat, our fields are white with
harvest, and the very mountains to THEN
highest cliffs feed Our focks. Till God shall
become angry and forbid the showers to en-.
sich our fields, We never need be dependan
for bread or closhing spon any other nation
What one region of our country does mol
produce grows abundantly in some othey.
Nor Is our land essbeautiful than fertile
Our vast domain presents that rich variety
Of scenery which can please the eve and
charm the heart. No American need feal
the comparison Of his country in point o
beauty with any region of the globe. OdI
extensive plains, encircled with towering
bills, walered with meandering streams, and
opening upon the traveller as he reaches tn,
sniuouce, afoEd prospects the most en-.
shqndag. ii any doubt whether our land
$ beautiful, let him ask the traveller who ha,
.ec,ch 4 hps feet .n Arabian desert, it "a.