The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-07-04

To-DAY.-Seventy- nine years ago our fore
fathers signed in the old statehouse, at Phila
delphia, the declaration of American indepen
dence. The boldest, truest and most patriot
men the sun ever dawned upon, in solemn con
gress proclaimed to the world that the thrice
American colonies belonging to the BIRTHS
crown were thenceforth and forever free an
independent States, and pledged their lives
their fortunes, and their sacred honor, to main
tain their own and their country's freedom
against the despots fall the world. The des
TIMES ofunborn millions of people depended up
on the wisdom and firmness of this congress
and the germ of the most powerful and glorl
Gus republic ever known, lay hidden in tn
events of July 4th, 1776. Wisdom guided thel
actions, and patriotism embodened them to tn
unanimous declaration of the rights of an lnJur
ed people. With determination to MAINTAIN
ipsacred, and to sacrifice their ALI its defence
they affixed their names to the declaration 0
American independence, and throughout all TIN
misfortunes of seven years war their faith Il
liberty remained unbroken, their trust IN Gof
mistaken, and their courage in every circum
stance unfaltering, and equal to every emer
gency. To-day, we rejoice in the patriotism
of our sires, and enjoy the blessings they be-
queathed to US. The past seems but yester
day to free people, as they commemorate the
birthday of their nationality. With hearts full
of emotion, they contemplate the scene witness
ed in Independence hall seventy mine years
ago. Then, thirteen colonies trembled as they
looked forward to the deadly struggle through
which they must pass to support the declara-
ton of their independence. From Massachu-
sets to Georgia, the people nerved themselves
for the contest for liberty. To-day they, to-
gether with ten-fold their area of territory, con-
stitute independent States, shielded by gov
eminent powerful enough to protect them
against all the mercenary soldiery of Europe.
Upon the soil where old oceans surge beat on
its northern limits in 76, they still roll and the
soil is free. liberty has travelled southwark
beyond Georgia, and now gambols on the coast
of the Pacific ocean. Southern breezes wait
it over sunny plains and green hills, in States
and territories far beyond the southern line of
the Union in the days of '76. Our eagle, with
one sweep of its majestic wings, covers the land
from the frozen regions of the north to the tro-
pics. Laying its proud form in the waves of
the Atlantic, it scars away until its wings are
tipped in the waters of the Pacific, and all over
the Union, north and south, east and west,
millions of freeborn Americans rejoice to-day,
because of the liberty to think, to speak, and
o act, guaranteed to them by this document,
porn amid the throes of the revolution. Not
9nly in the Union, not only in America, but all
,ver the world, on ocean, sea, lake and river,
N the mountain tops and low in the valleys,
mid the burning sands of the desert, or on the
erdant plains wherever enterprise may strive,
here are Americans whose hearts turn home
yard, whose thoughts are Of liberty, and whose
,reatful prisons ascend to heaven to-day in uni
on with millions of their countrymen. Where
yer our flag waves, there the declaration of
American independence and the day we cele
rate, are the theme for graduation and the
me of rejoicing.
The Union has ridden in safety through ma
Y dangers. Tossed at times amid dissension
nd confusion, brought about by ambitious Of
ceseekers and Inscriptions fanatics, into
hat threatened disunion, the dangers to which
has been submitted, only made the people
lore firmly rally around it. Threatened by
oreign powers at times it has met the issue
nd been victorious; and now has nothing to
ear, either from the factious influences of dem
gogues who live within its limits, or the jea-
ous rivalry of its enemies abroad.
Our country first, our glory and our pride,
Land of our hopes-land where our fathers died
When in the right we'll keep thy honor bright,
When in the wrong, We'll die to set it right.
On Boru S1DEs.-The Columbus Sentinel
nd Times, (the leading democratic paper of
ieorgia, } says that, ''the Washington Union
as achieved the great feat Of sitting on both
l3es of the fence in its editorials upon the trou-
les in Kansas. In one issue it sustains gov
rnor Reeder, and in the next apologies for
he Missourians. That passage of scripture to
e found in Kings, xviii, ch., 17-4O ", is
articularly recommended to the study of the
ditor. IfReeder is right, the Missourians are
7rong, and vice versa; and if the Missourians
re right, then the Union is guilty of treason to
he best interest Of the south in attempting to
'hitewash a traitor, and a hypocrite." The
'iercites are becoming aware of what kind of
lateral their party is composed of.
Mormonlsm appears to be spreading in Tex
S. The State Gazette says that, 'the coun-
es of Leon and Madison are still the scene Of
lormon excitement, and we are sorry to saw,
lat the mormon preachers are not without t
1ccess. We learn that several men and wo- /
len have joined the new church, and that they
re fully impressed with the belief that the
strong in the faith" can cure diseases, heal
id II