The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-07-15
SALTWATER. July !. 1854.

+. G. PUGsLEY,
WM. Cow.
SALTWATER. July !, 1854.
To S. J. r. MCMILLAN, f. G. PuGs,EY, and WM
Cow:
GENTLEMEN.-In obedience to your request,
place at your disposal copy of the Grafton
delivered to the citizens of St. Croix Valley
July 4th, 1854.
In so doing, l have no apologies to make
you know the necessary duties and cares of a
minister's life.
Hoping that the publication may be an hum
bic means of strengthening the principles Of
true Democracy and pure Republicanism,
Iremain, Gentlemen,
Yours fraternaly,
Ii. NJ. NICHOLS.
Grafton.
FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS:
Called by a generous expression of your good
will to occupy the position this day assigned
me- you will pardon me if in discharging its du-
ties depart somewhat from the usual custom
on such occasions, of appearing with an extern
pore Grafton.
Fearful lest the wonder of the rustic inhabit-
ants of Auburn concerning their schoOlmaster,
might prove vcXatious reality to me- that one
small head might not contain all my thoughts,
have for your sake, as well as my own, trans
ferred to paper what l thought my head al
though of medium size, might treacherously let
slip in the hour of need.
And if in this matter break somewhat away
from the customs of Independence Day, it may
be but the forerunner of still greater liberties
may take on this liberty day.
My patriotism is not of the nature that cffcr-
vesces more on the fourth Of July than during
all the other days of the year. My words in
the main to-day will be but sober and common
place truths, and yet uttered on this occasion.
and under the sacred influences that surround
us here, they may thrill our hearts, like words
of common greeting on some joyous festal
hour.
There is halowcd inspiration in the thou
sand thrOnging memories that rush in upon the
soul to-day. We feel the close connecting link
that binds us to l77G. And while the spell is
on us we roll back the curtain of the past, and
become participators in those stirring scenes,
when pulsng through the hearts of trecmcn
went up the cry of" Liberty or Death!''
Successfully have we been permitted, for Sc
venty-eight years past. to mark the tally of the
world mutations Within this time. nations
that stood in pride and garnercd strength, have
i0ilCA iHto tuc ODIN lOu tll:tt 50 long HIS
covered the streets and palaces of IIerculaneum
and Pompeii, and while our countrv's history
has been for all this time an onward march of
progress and success, on either hand have we
behed the wrecks Of Kingdoms and the frag-
ments of old thrones
On this eventiul. memorable JOYOUS day. the
position we occupy in the drama of the world
is that of the cynosure of all eyes, with mourn
full voices from the past, singing requiem songs
within our ears, and gibbering ghosts from the
grave yards of ancient kingdoms stalking be-
fore us.
The smell of the battle afar off, from the
field of distant Europe, has come up within our
nostrls. and the roar of the surf that breaks
among the Carpathian and Bulgarian rocks,
has reached across the Atlantic sea.
! Rejoicing. then, to-day in the anniversary OF
our own nativity, and feeling these mighty
thrObs that binG us to the heart of the world
have chosen for my theme on this occasion
THE MISSION OF DEMOCRACY.
In all my sympathics and feelings an ardent
Republican, having imbibcd the sentiments of
Liberty and Republican Democracy from my
mothers breast. and having been nurscd up in
to manhood by the pure breczes that kissed the
Holyoke and the Tom Of my own New England,
| am happy today, my fellow-citizens, that
here fifteen hundred miles from the mountains
and the streams of my native State, on the
banks of the Santa CroiX, in this garden of the
West, grow and flourish the same genial truths
and noble principles that first grew up on our
New England hills. and along her rocky coast.
Here, beside the Still waters and the pleasant
streams of our western home, we gather not as
serfs or slaves but noble company of Demo-
cratic Sovcrcigns. The Democracy of our
country are its Sovcreigns, and the Sovereigns
OF these United States the People.
And now. Sovereign People, the mission of
Democracy in our western world is not yet ac-
complishcd. A work still lies before us which,
in comparison with what has been effected i'm
the sevcnty-cight years past, is but as the end
to the beginning.
A rapid survey of The past will give us bet
ter understanding OF our present position, and
show us somewhat the work vet before us
You will regard it as pardonable in son of
New England ifhe lead you back to Plymouth's
sacred rock, as the pedestal of our present
greatness. lie claims an especial privilege OF
Boosting little in this line, as a lineal de-
scendant Of the Roundheads--; Puritan of the
Purltans. The only difficulty in my case how
ever, is, | have lost my pedigree and cannot
just now tell how the line runs. l have heard
my friends say also, that there was a direct line
OF genealogy between our family and old Noah.
but owing to a failure of my ancestors. some
where back, in not preserving the record, l
cannot tell how it is now. nor how near the re-
lationshipi is. But one thing is certain. was
born in New England, and have heard of Ply
mouth Rock and take it, that is about as
good ground as boosters generally get to stand
upon. Indeed. as boasting is not excluded on
indcdcndencc Day. if my modesty did not for.
bid 1T, might say that l have read in some
old history, that some three hundred years
since person bearing my family name was
private keeper and guardian of his Majcsty's
fOX-hOunds in England and if that ,loes NOT
prove me OF royal blood, l have still one more
hope left me: The people in this country are
the sovereigns, and by the Grace of God. 1 am
one OF the people, and if we, the sovereigns are
not the royalty, where will you find it? So,
having proved my right to boast, let us return
to Plymouth Rock.
There where the Maynowcr furled her latter
ea san, that band of stern souled men and
Snong,m,nded women first stepping their feet
upon mat rocky shore. with baptism of tears
anu rejoicing hope, consccratcd the soil to free
dom and to God; There, with the woods for
their temple aisle, Dccembcr's bowling brcezes
for their organ peal, and the cold snow for thcir
kncelins-stool, amid the everlasting roar oftbe