The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-14

Night hoyer'd DER ColumbiA's wide domain
the night OF trial, danger and distress:
Iafa ciouns were lowering over hill and plain,
And mist o'erhung each vaie's sweet loneliness
The morn was near, but darkness none the less
Seem'd blotting out each struggling beam of Iieht
Men hoped and fear'd, nor dared their fears con
| fess,
! And prophet there was none whose piercing sight
Could tell if day would break, or darker gloom til
night.
Twas then, that Graded mid the granite bills,
And nestled in patriots household band,
Lay one whose name the niche of glory fills,
On fame's proud summit evermore to stand
The day indeed was breaking: DER the land
The sun of freedom burst in splendor new;
And mid stern virtues rear'd, by glory fann'd,
Its strength inhaling with each breath he drew,
Firm as mountain oak the youth to manhood
grew.
And now, from height to height he strides amain
w, While luminous with truth his pathway glows;
Where others toll and strive to climb in vain,
ne stands in calm, magnificent repose.
w hen to the stars on fancy's wings he rose,
There seem'd his native element to be;
AND where the deepest undercurrent flows,
Down, down, IN thoughts unfathomable sea-
ne gatnercd gems and brought them to the sun.
Nv
The love OF country, an undying fame,
Pure and exalted in his bosom burned
Ano unto One alone-that sacred name
with higher love or deeper reverence turned
falsehood, and vice, and worldly lust he spurned-
And these alone; for man was brother, friend:
Ger human suffering his bosom yearned,
None e'er 30 low but he could Iowlier bend
None e'er so high but higher still he could ascend
"
Watcher, Defender on our wallis he stood
And scan'd each tempest cloud that rose aiar.
Our canvas spreading to each portent good,
The fayoring breeze, the light of genial star
No sophistry so fine the truth to mar
But he could ravel out each subtle thread
No plot 30 deep with human right at war
But he could trace the arrow whence it sped,
And almost wiring the secret from the silent dead
vi,
He spake, and listening Senates learned the law.
tracing each streamlet to its fountain source;
Inc nations heard his words with wondering awe
Reverberate till their rocky shores were hoarse
anon, IKE swollen waters in their course,
wave after wave his eloquen flows on
sublime, resistless in its mighty force,
Till stern hearts yield by deep conviction won,
And error melts away like frostwork in the sun.
VII.
he stands on Bunker Hill and lifts his voice,
Swaying as one the waving multitude;
Holds high the balance of firm freedoms choice.
Tears up for sacrifice the first green sod
And gathers up afresh the warm life blood
Upon Its altar laid. Heroes are there,
Inc living with the dead, where once they stood
Each breast a target for the bolts of war,
And freedoms sons will long remember every
scar.
He stands upon the far. famed Plymouth rock
And calls our fathers from their hoary graves;
Again the Mayfiower stems the tempest shock
And spirits of the pilgrims ride the waves:
AND they are free, and never will be slaves
And there they plant the tree of liberty;
And while the Atlantic round Columbia raves
He tells the Pilgrims sons how they may see
Their country honor'd, best, their cbIdren,s
children free.
But he has vanished from the walks of men.
And we shall hear his thrilling voice no more;
Nor shall we e'er 'behold his like again.
Nor list from other lips such lofty lore,
No golden circlet on his brow he bore,
Nor mailed armies waited on his nod;
But from his burning eye there dash'd a power
Electric, tho it lights not the cold sod
lnsensate where he lies; his spirit is with God.
On there Is mourning now in all our gates,
On tower and temple wave the signs of woe:
And that lone tomb in solemn silence waits
The long procession years on yeare shall show
VI pilgrims at the lowly shrine to bow.
lis meet nations tears should freely flow;
Meet that our banner in the dust should trail;
lis hitting. wheresoe'er our breezes blow,
Our flag should droop its folds, our ssars should
pale,
And mourning be for him whose loss we now
beWail. at
But while yon column meets the morning sun,
And on its summit fingers parting day,
His name Is craven on each living stone,
And flashes luminous in every ray;
And while the of Freedom bright shall play
Round Liberty's broad temple rear'd so high,
And till its walls are crumbled into clay, ~
And till its stars are botted from the sky,
His name shall live, nor even in its ruin die