Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-07-12
THE CELEBRATION.

have never attended an anniversary of the Fourth
at which there was SO little disorder and drunk
enness, 50 little forgetfulness of the true pur-
poses of the day. Everything, indeed, seemed
to conspire to render it unusually pleasant, and
the arrangements were carried out in much
better manner than was expected. The exer-
cises, the music, the soldiery, the dinner, and
the fire works were all excellent, and, what We
deem to be the best of all, there were no acct
dents. That, however, which added the most
to the interest of the day, and which probably
was as attractive as anything, was an irregular
and unusual band of fantasies, decorated with
the most diverse, but splendid dresses, yclept
the =" Montpelier Regulators" 1t would con-
sumo more space than we can afford, were we to
mention, as in justice the subject demands, all
those qualities which gave interest, as well as
sublmity to the scene. Though the company
had evidently seen service, yet their eagerness
to engage seemed noways diminished. Smoke,
or burnt cork added terror to the natural fierce
ness of every countenance, and every nose glow
ed with the concentrated ardor of armies. Nor
did beauty disdain her presence but we are
compelled to remark that it was fictitious
character, expressly manufactured for the occa-
sion. So well, indeed, was the part carried out
that probably ninc-t enths of the spectators be-
lieved there was more truth than poetry in the
representation. Yet splendid and imposing as
was the cavalcade it could not probably have
effected passage through our streets, had il
not been for the efficient services of the large
patent :" breech loading and breech-fring can
non," which we notice is discharged by firing o
a pistol at the printing. So effective did it ap
pear to be, that, we understand, the exclusive
right was Immediately secured for the purposes
Of the ensuing campaign by the Editors of thu
Vermont Patriot. This company was the fea
turc of the Celebration.
The exercises OF the Church were of higl
order, well attended, and universally applaud
ed. The orator, Mr.. C. W. Willard, delivered
a fine grafton, an extract from which, by hi'
kindness, we are enabled to present to our read
ers. Speaking of the necessity of patriot,
remembrance commemorative of the deeds of the
past to national prosperity, Mr.. Willard sud =
Monuments from which tho centuries look
down upon the generations at their base-tomb,
where rcpose the ashes of the heroes of other days
grey old castles that have resounded with the
festivals of beauty, wit and grace long since
passed away-halls where the eloquence of de-
parted statesmen stirred hearts that for centu
ries have been among the places of the dead ole
literature-moss and ivy crowned ruins, even
bind the ages with links of iron to the memo
ries of the buried years; check the headlone
career of the nations subdue and control thu
vain thought of the present; and make IL vain
rash, and giddy people, sadder wiser, steadiel
and better men. And each nation has its owl
past which it never forgets till its decline anc
fall. The living nations of to-day are proude
Of their history, and-of their great departed
statesmen, and of their renown and achieve
ments, than Of their living men. The English
man who stands in Westminster Abbey, tina
metropolis where repose.in all the solemn POM
and magnifcence with (which proud and CRATE
full people can surround their memorable dead
the ashes of her illustrious heroes and states
men, would be false to every emotion of his
heart would he moi" venerate, and build altar
there wsuld he not give way to the food o
precious memories of his Country's greatness
and pray and fight that her name might be i'm
mortal And the nations that day are mourn
ing in exile, Or in slavery became too enervat'
to feel a thrill of patriotism, before they wer'
crushed out, Or driven from their places by bet
ter men. Did Spartan mothers now give birth
| to men, were not the Greeks of this generation
servile in spirit more than enslaved, the echoe,
Of her old war-cres which yet lnger among
her mountains, the sparks of the fire of her lib
erty that still slumber among the tombs Of hel
immortal dead, the lustre of her glory which
yet remains around her crumbling ruins, the
splendor of her name that makes her land for
all time the Mecca Of the pilgrim, orator, poet
and philosopher, would,stir the blood and move
the arms, and thrill the souls of her degenerate
sons, till Greece should once more be free.
And shall we ever beindiferent to the mem
cries and associations of our early national ex.
istence! Every battle field of the Revolution
is metropolis where reposes the dust Of those
who died-nobly, fearlessly, prayerfully, hope
fully died-that we might live free men. Oul
Cemeteries hold the ashes of those who gave the
strength and vigor of their intelects-intelect,
of which the nation has now too few illustra.
tions-to the cause of constitutional freedom
devised and brought to perfection u system o.
government, the best the world has ever seen
balancing every power-.stretching its Egis over
every part-laying broad and deep the founda
ton OF that superstructure Of our liberties
which before our eyes rises in such fair anl
Respondent proportions, our boast and the ad
miration and envy of the world. The remem
brance of the achievements of our ancestors il
associated with thousand consecrated spots
1t is in the soil it is in the air on our noun
tains it runs down with our rivers to the sea
it flashes in the waves of the ocean as the
break on our shores it is in the corner stone
and the cap-stone of our monuments ; it is hon
ored and preserved in the most consu mate eo
qucnce of this age and of all ages it lives j
our poetry and our songs; and is welded to Oh
solemnities and sanctities of our churches an
our religion. 1t is only as our national advance
ment goes hand in hand with these hallowe
memories--next in our hearts to our love 70
the beautiful asseeiatioR-ef orr christian fait
that we shall remain, as we are now, to al
coming time, The hope Of the world.
Below will be found the regular toasts of tn
occasion. 1t may be well to remark, en- passanl
that, with the exception of the fifth, all wer
"done up so brown " that they proved highl
satisfactory intellectual entertainment and foun
a cordial response in all hearts, without furthe
qualification or explanation. But when I'll
fifth wos anpounced soma oyer-zaolo ps fr;an,
of President Pierce, either fearing the compl
ment might be taken as rather equivocal ON
or that some of the audience might be infecle
with the odd notion that it were " better to |
right than to be President eysn,' called Go
Bakers Aid " to the rescue The Colonel ga,
the assembly the benefit of a weeks cogitatiol
albeit on loaded stomach, he alledged-i
glorifcation Of the President and in CLOSING tt