The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1854-08-04
SPEECH OF HON. JAMES 1. ORR
AT THE DEMOCRATIC CELEBRA-
TON IN INDEPENDENCE SQUARE,
July 4, 1854.
"a S0uTh CAROLiNI

.Nr. President and FeIiow- Citi@eas of PHI
hieiOhia:-The day We celebrate is conSecrated
IN the affections OF the American people, and
this mornings dawn was usherrd in by the BOOM
as Of thousand cannons. Who cantell but
The melting rays of to-day's sun are. typical Of
tie icryrnt patriotism which glows IN the a
nrscan heart, 10 the remotrst borders OF this
great coniederacy, one unbroken stream Of
grateful graduation pours out from this same
american heart to the same Supreme Ruler OF
The inverse. who heard the prayers OF our
tl,hyrs, and who has preserved TO their posterl-
iy the rich legacy left by the Revolution.
Iii'. lay brings so much OF gladness to our
cmn,rymrn everywhere, need il excite surprise
lalt lis return is enthusiastically hailed by the
vast c1ncourse Of PhiladelphianS who throng this
square, II there be any one portion above an
other of our countrymen who should hallow,
revere, and celebrate the natal day OF our lIbrr-
ties, i, IS the people of. PhIIadrlphia. Cheers.
We are standing now within the shadow oi In
crprndrnce Hall. The same walls without that
no~ echo my voice, seventy-eight years ago
echoed within the patriotic words OF Jefferson,
and Franklin, and Hancock, and their noble as
sacates. Your fathers then stood where you
arr now Standing, when they mutually pledged
10 each other their fortunes and their sacred
aoaoTs to support the declaration which has been
read in Your hearing. Welcome then, one and
all, 10 this political Mecca. Cheers.
Time torbids that ! should recount the causes,
or dwell upon the history Of the revoluton.--
1t would be the repetition Of can oft told tale
suffice it here to say, that the soul swelS with adj
m'Fatlon when contemplating the darlBg-the
lofty courage of those brave and gallant men,
who hazarGed all that is dear in this life, save
honor, in subscribing in yonder ball that declara-
ton which rrevocably made them traitors to
George the Third, or free, independent AmerI-
can citizens. 1t was here they passed the Ru-
Ucon to encounter the most powerful nation on
Earth in the field of battle-powerful IN her
Wealth-powerful in her credt-powertul IN
her numbers and available resources-and above
all, powtul in two hundred years prestige oi
iHvlncbity against every foe, in every land
and upon every sea. They We're bound to old
England bv ties numerous and strong, OF atiec-
lion and interest il was the birthplace anc
home of their fathers; many of the giltterine
stars their ancestors wore Were won doing bat
tiennder old Engand's flag.
Here was every consideration TO influence
Their fear and their affections; but swith firm
reliance in Diriae Proridence," confident II
the justice of their cause, and the expressions o
ine eXactlons of the mother country pressing
heavily upon their proud spirits, they resolved
10 make the land the ''cenadfy ot Freemen'
rather than continue it the eshome of slaves"
Loud applause. They redeemed their every
pledge to the cause of freedom. and we are now
'oe recipients Of the priceless boon. Let Penn
EiVanianS be ever vigilaht and watchiul in pre-
serving that whose purchase cost so much 0
'ouIatlon and danger, so much of blood AM
treasure. You are the custodans now OF tina
great citadel of Liberty (ponting TO Indepen
aence Hall.l All its triulnphs, its memories
Us portraits, its history, gratitude for the past
'aanks for the present, and hopes for the future
|HaoFt you 10 preserve and perpetuate that YES
'iI iIame which was kindlpd in 1916. Let
h'i 90 out here, you would escape the execra
"ohs OF postnrity for nidelhy in guarding you