The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-01-12

hcer having charge of it at this time. It
IS alleged, with evident reason and truth,
; that the rooms DOW in use are too small
; Tor the purpose: that many of the books
are slowed away in boxes. and also that
the laws providing for their security and
imposing responsibilities on the Librarian.
are quite insufficient. This highly inter
esting and useful institution will doubtless
receive your special care.
1t is proper that should make known
to you the progress that has been made
on the subject of the erection of rionu-
ment at independence Hall, in Philadel-
phia, commemorative of the Declaration
of independence.
In October 1852, the councils of Phil
adelphia, by unanimous consent, passed
an ordinance indicating the necessary
ground In independence Sqnare, to this
patriotic and sacred and national purpose,
and proposing to give possession of the
premises to the representative of nine or
more Of the original States.
BY an act of the Legislature of Febru-
airy last, confirming this ordinance of the
councils, the Governor was authorized to
appoint trustee to. act in conjunction
with the trustees of the other States, in
the erection of the monument, [ accord
lngly appointed Albert G.. Waterman, Esq.
OF Philadelphia, the trustee on behalf of
Pennsylvania.
The States of New York, New Jersey,
New Hampshire and Connecticut have
adopted laws similar to that of this State,
and trustees have been appointed in each.
Under the terms Of these laws, no action
can be taken by the trustees, until at least
nine of the thirteen original States shall
have signifed their willingness to partic-
ipate in the enterprise. There are still
four States wanting, and with them the
issue must rest for the present.
l am unwilling to believe that an OBJ
ject so entirely proper to itself-so con-
genial to the feelings of the American ma
tion-so significant in its historic and
moral bearing and SO touchingly interest
ing to every American heart, can even be
long delayed, much less defeated. 1t was
the magic power of the Declaration of In
dependence which bound together thir-
teen sparcely populated, tax-ridden and
colonies, and erected them into
an independent nation. BY it was first
proclaimed to the world"the equality of
men, and their capacity for. and right of
self government. Under the auspices of
this great instrument our liberties were
achieved, and the thirteen feeble colonies,
acting on its benign principles, and gui-
ded by an over-ruling Providence, has
grown into thirty-one sovereign States
all teeming with the elements of national
wealth-all prosperous and progressive
members of one vast confedercy, whose
bound aries are marked by the Atlantic
and Pacific, and enjoying commerce CO.
extensive with the civaEed world,
Honored, feared, and patronized By all
nations; already sustaining a population
of twenty-five millions of inhabitants, re-
joicing in the blessings of civil and relig-
ious liberty, and in a high degree ofmor-
al and social happiness. And shall we not
have monument to pcrpetuate the events
from which these manifold blessings have
sprung Some imperishable memorial
Of or gratitude-an everlasting witness
of the great things done amongst and for
us-some visible sign to perpetuate the
memory of the Declaration of Independ-
ence-the Revolution the heroes who
participated in the mighty struggle, and
the constitution that crowned and defined
the privileges so nobly achieved. If
these deserve not monument, then all
al bovo hao, in
a structure commensurate with the
moral granduer of the event, its world
wide consequences, is not contemplated
but what can be and should be accomplish
ed is the erection of . structure after the
plan indicated by the committee-a beau
tiful and ever-enduring embodiment of
the nations gratitude to the authors of
the declaration; an imperishable personi-
fcation of our fidelity to its principles
and their natural offspring, the constitu-
ton and the Union.
The location of this political Mecca
will be most fortunate. Central to the
original States-eligible to the younger
members of the confcderacy, and planted
on the soil of the old keystone, who new
er has, and by the blessing of God, never
will falter in her fidelity to the national
to al its forms and conditions
AS in times past, SO will she in the fu-
ture, should the occasion unhapily arise,
frown upon the first dawn of discomfort
against the integrity of the Union, come
whence it may, or by whomsoever insti-
gated. The weight of her vast moral and
political power, l firmly believe, will be
welded to resist the tide of disscnsion
and dissolution, and to keep the political
atmosphere around the monument, when
erected, purely national.
The present is also an -auspicious for
this work of national fellowship. The
compromise measures, recently adopted,
and sanctioned by the approval of Clay..
of King, and of Webster, have quieted
the clements of national discord; and to
prolong this peace and quiet, is but ne
cessary to maintain these measures and
the requirements hfthe constitution; to dis
in future the agitatlons OF