The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1853-12-25

HE Star spahglel Banner II ha
for The ta9t BALI century, been u stand
ing point IL start from. ia Fourth @
July orations' anil oiler pattotit
speeches Oh other occasions is soinn
times very beautifully interviewer IN 6
legislative speech, and is occasionally
| f9nnl Useful ii Il Congressional ora
tioa. This Is all very well, and is a
good a subject to make the ''poetrj
part oft cf IS anything else bu
What are the substantial historical
faets in reference 10 The "Tilgriu
FatIers''-the Rocks at Plymouth. anc
other kindred subjects Z The liev
THHobonF CtApp, Il bold anl tigcr-
Gus wliief-anl eloquent orator, and
All independent christian theoogian,
has contributed some facts for the win
dieatiun Of Tie "truth Of history" from
which We take the following extract
'Tle fathers Of New England have
been enloet,ized by ctr most eloquent
orators and cleraymen. We should
BE thankful that what was admirable
in their character hds been rescued
from oblivion, and enbalmed III it,
eia5nre SO just end beautiful that it can
never die. Let their memories fresh
Gil with tears Of gratitude and tevet-
enoe. grow, and flourish, and spread
through every succeeding age. Dn5
| eaniet subscribe 10 The position that
they are vastly superior, in al respects
10 any Of their defendants. | think
that better men than they were. now
living upon The very soil where sleep
tllei. ashes
1T is necessary, though painful to
advert to this subject, to correct The
judgements Of those who think HAT we
are Oh the road to ruin, because we do
not follow in all particulars The Gus
toms Of our fathers. and The 'goo1 old
times II is well That we have rcpu
dihthd rnme Of these customs |
could I'll d volume with instances Of
error and isnoranee, folly aud super
sIjtion prevailing then, upon which tho
hand Of tune, in It's sublime march
through Two centuries, has stt The seal
Of utter ieprobation. The are gone
never TO return. For example,, we
are told III The most authentic records
Of that day, thai at tie funeral o. a
lady IN Boston, Of the highest stnpding,
tie widow Of u distinguished clergy
man, iisty-one gallons and hall Of
the best wine were consumed by The
moutuere. The fact is mentioned hy
The historian iioidently, not as being
anything disrepaable From The
same authorities we learn thut the
practice Of drinking rum and wine at
funerals WINS quite universal, and on
the occasion Of buryibg raupers, the
expenses OF the entertainments were
betrayed by the public treasury
eBeai with me moment longer.
while | mention q few faus illustrative
Of another feature In the character oil
these remarkable people. The mutt
al hatred and and prosecutions Of re-
liaious denominations il the most mel
anoholly page in the history Of our
world. In about eleven years utter
the landing Of the first colonies at Ply
mouth, d man who bad become obpox-
ious 10 The ruling powers, was fined
forty pounds, whipped on the naked
back, had, both Of hia cars cut off and
then banisded from their settlements
for saying he did not like the manage
ment of The church where he lived I
Unfortunate offender What right
had he to criticize sacred things ! Yos,
the magistrates in that lime could In
0ict the seyerest punishment upon
those who ventured to speak against
the performances Of the pulpit.--How
safely can this be done now, amongst
us +, They could whip The most respoc.
table woman through the streets for
fidelity to their coneirnce, they could
Ine man heavily, pull down his honse
and drive him into the wilderness, for
refreshments TO poor stuff.
erer in Jail they could beat. imprison
and destroy mon for hnntisints one nn.