Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-05-24

danger end peril stood firm by the rights
and liberties of the Colonies, we publish
the following letter from Hon. Edmund J.
McGehee, Chairman of the Committee on
the State of the Republic Of the Senate. of
Georgia. It will be perceived that the let-
ter il in part private one to A. G. Water;
man, Esq, announcing the success of the
Monument bill in the Legislature of that
State but believing the success of the en-
terprise in the other States can be materi-
ally benefited by its publication, we have
taken the liberty TO copy it. The appeal
OF MI. McGehee is of that disinterested,
natriotic character which mus! make it ir-
rresist,ble upon every son of the brave chly.
alrous South.
PERRY, GEORGIA, April 10th, 1854.
Col. a. G. Wate,man-
DEAR SIR:-Your polite communications
to me, and the notice which the gazettes OF
your city have taken Of my report, as Chair
man of the Senate Committee on the State
of the Republic, in the Georgia Legislature,
IN behalf of your cherished enterprise, inn
pose upon me the pleasant task of announ-
cling to you the adoption of the report and
resolutions by a unanimous vote. AS ma
tive Georgian, it is natural that | should feel
an abiding confidence that the spirit Of onr
people is for right action in all matters what
ever. The earliest days of her colonial his
tory exhibit, in peculiar manner, the pa
triotism of her citizens. Regarded as the
pei colony of Great Britain by her exemp-
ton from many of those heavy exactIons
imposed upon her sisters, she nobly spurn-
ed the profered boon, and enlisted in the
common cause. Strong, as was this de-
monstration in her infancy, her patriotism
has grown with her growth, and strength
ened with her strength, under the happy
results of the labors of those whose memo
ry you are so assiduously striving to per-
petuate. She has Increased from mere
handful of people to that greatness which
is expressed by the proud appellation-Em-
pire State of the South. 1t has been re-
marked by an elegant writer, that the seed
of political and religious liberty were sown
in England by Hampden and Milton, and
! although the season of our revolution did
not appear propltious for their termination,
yet the lives, the fortunes, I'D the sacred
honor of the signers of the Declaration Of
independence were dedicated to their cul-
ture. A philosopher has said that the
school of misfortune is the crucible in which
great minds are refined and little ones e.
vaporated and how beautiful is this illus
trated in the chivalrous acts Of Charles Car
rol, when, in signing the Declaration of In
dependence, supposed at the time to be his
death warrant, was reminded that there
were other persons Of the same name, when
he seized his pen, and in defiance of the
King and hls minions, appended "of Car
rolton" TO his signature.
Severe, indeed, was The conflict Of hope
and fear after the signing of the Declara-
ton, as defeats in rapid succession attended
the American arms at Long Island, Lake
Champlain, Forts Washington and Lee.
Sorey pressed BY the British, Washington
retreats through New Jersey and crosses
the Delaware, retires from his camp. pros
trates his manly form, and invokes the bles-
sings of Heaven upon his country, and i'm
plores the guidance of his God. Sleepless
anxiety attends the deliberations of Con.
gress, and here the dropping spirits of the
colonies were aroused by the announce
ment of the victories of Trenton and Prince
ton here at the reception of the tidngs
from Yorktown, the enraptured doorkeeper
shouted for joy and fell dead at his post
Sir when we approch this place, we should
remember the command to Moses as he
drew near the burning bush-"Put off thy
shoes from off thy feet, for the place where
on thou standest is holy ground" This is
the very site for such monument; it will
prove as lamp in the city of the dead, i'm
parting historical light TO generations un-
born. Demagogues may steal away the
hearts of the people i; sectional strife and
partizan warfare, embit,ered by wild spir-
it of fanaticlsm, may becloud the hopes of
Ihe perpetuity Of the Union but the asso-
Citations that clustsr around this political
Mecca, will cause US to return to the first
principles Of our government, and as each
of our deluded countrymen, approaches
this consecrated spot, he will exclain,
"Dspel this cloud, the health ofheaven restore,
Give me to see, and Ajax asks no more"
His patriotism will gush as freely for the
banks of our native Savanna, as i: will for
the Schylkill and the Delaware.
If there is not something inspiring in lie
mere mention of the names of the venera.
led dead, why did Saul seek the Counsel
Of Samuel's spirit; before the battle, of Gil
boa? We are informed by Pluf arch that
at the battle of Marathon, the p.rdor of the
Greeks was greatly aroused by cancying
that they beheld the gigantic shade of theft
ancestral Thescus completely armed, and
bearing down before I'm upon the foe.-
Napoleon, too, felt and, acknowledged this
influence at the tomb of Frederick The
Great, where he paused In solemn silence
for moment. and said, you were alive,
| should not be here"
No State feels more heavily her debt of
gratitude to the signers of the Declaration
of independence than Georgia. and thereis
not one that will more freely pay it. Give
her equality IN the Union, and her frater-
nal bonds become as hooks of steel her
sword and her purse will ever be ready to
defend and sustain her weaker sisters
Their united efforts IN common struggle,
and their participation in the honor of
common triumph are green in her memory.
Georgians revert TO those feelings OF con.
cord and brotherly love in the infancy of
our great Republic, as the best guarantees
for the preservation fthe Union. lcannot
entertain the belief that one of the "Old
Thirteen" will deny herself tie honor of