The weekly Placer herald., 1853-07-16
Grafton delivered at the 4fh Of
July Celebration at Secret Dig
gingS by l.. Stout, ESQ.

gingS by l.. Stout, Esq.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen!
About three-fOurths of century ago
that sacred Declaration to which we have
just listened, was published to the world
by sma hand 0f noble men, upon the
Eastern portion of this continent. tic III
tains principles never advocated in like
manner before. To be sure, men deeply
devoted to the hest interests Of mankind
had lived and labored faithful ly for the
advancement of Truth and Justice; hut
their ideas Of mans rights and high des-
tiny were of much less liberal charnc-
ter than those contained in this document;
and such as they were they had long since
been smOthered bv the no werful hand of
they once radiated had been extingui-he.i
by the mantle Of superstition and isnor-
ance.
In contemplating the perfection Of this
Declaration it is proper to inquire in the
first place what led to it's publication!
This question, in n measure at least,
may he answered hy almost a ! who can
read the English language and live in n
country where works Of such nature as
our revolutionary history are pub ished !;
for such have read more or less of the
wrongs the feeble colonies of North
America, once suffered at the hands Of
powerful nation of the % d world. Some
nlny say others had suffered as much or
even more. and why were the discovery
and asserting of such great truths reserv-
ed for these mens will attemp, in a
few words to answer this question A
few centuries ago the persecution Of be-
levers in religion differing from that Of
those in power, had become so prevalent
that many Of the prosecuted determined
to leave the country of their nativity,
with all the endearments Of friends and
advantages Of cultivated fields, and cross
the then almost unkn0wn seas TO settle in
n wilderness which they barely knew ex
lsted, without any knowledge Of its re-
sources, climate or inhabitants, that they
might enjoy what was more dear to them
than all else beside. the worship Of their
Maker in the manner their consciences
dictated, They arrived on the coast of
North America at an unfavOrable season
nf the year with nought save their free
dom to make them happy, and but title
to shield them from the inclemehcy Of the
weather Many of their number perished
from exposure and suffering, hut the few
" no survived were soon joined by others,
and they continued to labor agains. the
disadvantages peculiar to the settlrhent
of n new country and the do prndatinns of
unfriendly Indians. 1t is not necessary tn
go into the particulars of their history for
Hll know much of that They increased
in wea tn and numbers unit! their pros
perity attracted the attention of those
from whose oppression they had fled =
Their oppressors saw that in all probabi,
ify wealthy community would soon he
the result of the frehe efforts Of these
Individuals; and, thinking no doubt, that
here would he favorable opportunity to
extend their despotic sway, and thus rem
der their power more permanent, they at
an early day sent over men to rule and
watch over this new community. So ia
vorab were the prospects Of this young
colony that she became n SOURCE Of much
jealousy among the different nations Of
Europe They found, however, much
more difficulty in carrying out their de-
signs than they had anticipated; for the
exposure Of body 10 which those persons
had been subjected was not more benefi-
cial to their physical powers, than had
bpen their freedom Of thought and action
IN FPnucTiIIS tutIT IicVS W. HIH" "S"
moral destiny more comprehensive and
enlarged. It requires hnt mn'nent'> re-
ffectinn to see the beneficial results arising
from their new situation. TO he sure,
they had formed liberal idea of mans
capahiity to decide upon the manner he
would worship his Creator, and the right
every man should possess to regulate his
own moral actions; for knowledge of
these things was what first induced them
to leave their country. But surrounded
as they had been from their youth up by
those possessing illibernl sentiments, and
being taught that the church in power
ought to maintain her power even ny FGr
AMI bioodshed we're it necessary, it is not
TRANCE that these people should have en-
tertained some erroneous IDEAS of the
rights of man and the moral government
of God. As they saw what were the in
tentions of their former rulers, which ot
course could be easily fathomed by an in
telIgent mind, their mob bo<omS Swelled
with Indignation, and they did not hes'-
tate mt an early day to declare their reso-
luton 10 resist every act of tyranny
They, however, bore with much-nof tg-
norqpt Of their rights-but Influenced hy
that regard which it is nat4ral for all t"
cherish toward their ancestors, however
great may he their failines. Their for
bearanre had no other effect than to in
crease the exacfions of their prosecutors,