Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1853-07-14

serranc a the 9Th a Shannoadale. nd haze he .s<.,
this week q presenting 10 oar readers al The pressing
solicitation 81 the Conmittee uf Arranrrment no less
than sAsse gsseray who had pleasure q being pres
eni appropriate Remarks BY wheh the reRdnr Of
nv peflasatoa Of indepsndeace prsfared h Joax
n GlssoS. Esq. also The chasie, eloquent AID beau
tiirl erAiioa pf TnonAs Il. TuwNEa. Esq.
REMARKS OF JOHN !. GIBsoN, Ed.
Ny ccuSTnyxxS AgD LArTzs: The Declaration Of
he independence Of the United States Of America.
which am about 10 read, was published ana aeclar-
| ed this day seventy-seyen years ago.
Itwas on the fourth Of July, l77e, that our rsyo-
lutiQnary orethers, IN general Congress assembled,
With hopeful and brave hearts ard with dEtermi-
nation chat would have accomplished any undertake
ing Of human projection, undertook the revolution
that was based upon the principles and wrongs set
forth in this declaration, and the fruits Of whose glo
rious and happy termination, we their posiersy now
enjoy. ts
II is IN conmenoration of the 4th of July, 6, and
from devotion to the political principles oh that
day proclaimed to the world through this ppcara-
ton that we hare this daymet together to perform
the usual and proper ceremonies Of the occasion.
Buthow wide the difference between the circuu-
st.aocs If those who first made, published aud de-
clared this Declaration and those with whichre arc
surrounded III its re-afirmanec
Danger to life, liberty and properly hung over
item whereas all is peace all is quiet and an is
safety with u.s. In them IT was an act Of revolution
against one Of the greatest powers Of the earth ard
they may be seen through seven years war. with
sword in hand, maintaining upon the batdt -fcld,
amidst blood and carnage and against great odds,
tleIaeclaratioh they dared to make.
III usit buta formality, re-lssertion without de-
NAL merry meeting, undsturbed BY the grim Wis
ageIof war or even by the rnmor Of war.
The causes Which led to the separation of tile Co
lonies from tha mother country are fully set FORTH in
the Declaration which have the honor now toread.
ADDRESS OF THOMAS H. TowNER. LII.
Ma. PREsiDEHT, LAplEs AND GRNTLEMEN
tits highly commendable feeling which urges
men in theinnaiional capacity 10 preserve id per-
pelual and grateful memory those events in their
history which, 10 view OF their importance toulan-
kind mark the periods of their occurrence as i'm
porlant cpoehs in the worlds annals. In all ages
among all nations, whether civilized or otherwise,
this feeling has ever exhibited ITSELF and will do
So SO long as humanity shall retain lhe noble sri-
bules OF gratitude and love, with which The God Of
mankind has clothed his creatures Roman cili.
zensiever held in grateful remembrance the deeds
which adorned the pages Of their counrys history,
and greeted with the pageantry of a triumph her
illustrious plains VINO had performed them. De-
scenaipg in lhe tide Of time, with what feelings Of
gratitude does every son OF cid England greet the
annual return Of that day on which Nesua upon
the ocean wrested The sceplte OF supremacy from
her most powerful rival and gained for his country
the nIont title OF Mistress OF the Seas" OF the
dawn Of the anniversary Of Waterloo, when The 4
giqGiops aeh jsYemepls OF w ellington tAe
Inc highest position among the Powersot the Earth,
and filled tAe nations heart 10 OVERLOOKING wltho
Tor him " 10 had led her armies TO victory. As
cending Fl DIM The temporal 70 the spiritual werld,s
from earth 10 heaven, With what feelings Of holy
gratitude dies the Christian hail, with "HosaEuas
to God on high, the anniversary Of thatday which
gave birth 10 the Infant Saviour Of mankind
Such is the feeling which has bsen instrumental
in calliDg us together TO day Affecting Of gratitude
for The services Of our Revolutionary fathers; of
gratitude in that We are in the daily enjoyment oil
privileges purchased with their blood such as are
vouGhssfed other OF the nations OF the eaeth.
On this day, from The AFoosook TO The Rio Grande,
from h Atlantic IL the golden sands ofthe Patifc,
this feeling of gratitude will be eyiuced, as old
John Adams in the spirit Of prophecy, predictsdft
would be, by The firing Of cannon, ringing bells,
BIZ bonGres and Nominations The na.ipn's
heart today win beat with quick and generous
lhroas a nations gratitude. 80 mote il be. just
seventYseyen years ago this day. ranspired in The
Civ Of Philadelphia, aneYent, which, wheiheT we
view il as regards It's effect al the time in the birth
Of great nation or the consequences which must
resuirfrom ii ia all time to We must consider
al the most important in the history OF the human
race ca that day, we are told, nation was born;
true enough nation was born, and like intOlthe /
infant Hercules, nation great and powerful az its
BIRTH But important as was this iaetlt was bY
no means the great event of that day, for the teach
ings OF history Indicate that nations flourish ftr
season. then pass away they may spring into Xxx 4
istepce to-dav 10 tADrr0w they are only Known in
history. Athens, classic Athens, the home Of HE
rature and OF the fine arts, now only exis.s IN Fhe
nast ard he ruins Of her former spleRdor; her
Partaenop and her Acrpolis seem to have with
stood the raYages ot time oul5 10 uphold the DUR
tain IN The mast and preserve from oblivion abe
greatness oil her former days. Babylon, Tyre, Sir
don. rich cities Of the East where are they now !
The Uncovered ruins point oui their sites and the
sounds 81 reYelry which once Tesounded 10 heir
regal palaces have died away, and now the Kissing
sernebt preeis The traveller, as he wanders among
their fallen walls. The same Author who portray
elm glowing coors the rise of ihe Roman Empire,
concludes his work with the sad tale 81 heT declihe
ara fan Troy played her part on the stage'oi PC
ton, bur she too passed away, and the simple words
Tui9,M F+i. constitute the only eptaph which
marks tae tomb Of her buried yreatness Fl
Therefore I repeat il, the birth nj this nation was
Nj ,hs treat event which distinguishes this day
but it was the birth Of principle, me formal no
muigation Of taei which, though This nation IKE
its predecessors, may pass awaY VIII sun ivefl9
cheer on ia their march 70 greatness other naiiqns
which ,sii rise above lheis ruins The capari'yof
man fo- self-goye.Ameni vas the great princifs
which stirred up Gits utmost deplhs me sea q
Revolution and the declaration Of whica conStI1
tuted The great event OF the dayIwhlch We nov r.
oard As our polilicat Sabbath. Although il was fs-
garded as an experiment. il was factihen a. y =
now; ani.the lapse OF three ioufths 81 a eentnfy
has male ii fixed iae.. Itwas 10 the AmeEi1
can people to give utierance 70 md 70 pronuigste
10 lie world this principIe, whirh had always bn
existence in the bosom OF man. but which was fe.
pressed By the incubus Of DesRoiism IN me 0a
World and ony needed The proper occasion q puts.
forih not like the Tepressed hreS oil me siumoeiihg
vulcan, 10 Destroy bal 10 give rev life snd fresh
vigpr 10 aan; 10 Teach him thai a. ne God who
made him Impressed bis image upon ms nioxt 81
he gave him mind capable Of 1ree inougni, and
lungs capable Of free uiierance, ana hat the divine
rieht OF II Inxs TO rule was ficiica
s,,s,;soe syee,aeIe, Inc signing Of that
N, ~ 4 ihls and The arlist and The poet
have well selected their saolec9 VINO pays $500 81
that scene with which % exhIe'F lnsIt talent III
with me to Independence Hall lnere aIe asse ei
bed the chosen REPRESENTATIVES 81 ne irrese co.'s
;eS i, |, p,u me co1dion nf sfsifs ard
10 discuss tbe propFieiy OF severng NE ooads wnif
united them % ihe Mother Conauy ne mig n'isfI
nation 4 the earth. There, nj NE chaif q us
Preside1fs = John Hancock, who seems 70 isei tas
responsibility OF bis position, PuI aPpfcsebes W
duties Win that in6<xbiily OF purpose WHICH Prg-
.rIs heirs 4, one conscious df the recffude 81
his ine1iions and ihe approval 81 his heart snsIs
& Richard Henri lee. Of Virginia. whom Wit
has bzpsizsd a tbe Cicero 81 Aherics. whose eio-
qunnce be described IS
ful-his polished periods rolling along Eitnont 81
-.