Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-07-14
MISCELLANY.
ORATION HON. EDWARD
EVE RETT.

EF Il II T. TT.
Hon. Edward Everett, delivered ith Of Ju-
ly Grafton a, Dorchester, Mass, his native town
on Wednesday of last week. We make no
apology for laying before our readers all that is
of general interest in the address we should
rather feel called upon to apologize for its omis-
sion if we neglected its publication. Aher a
peculiarly appropriate introductory Mr.. Ever
erert spoke as follows -
II is the Seventy-Ninih Anniversary Of tho
Declaration of American Independence of the
United States. Our minds naturally go back
10 the foundations Of the ancient Commonwealth
of which we are citizens, laid as they were
within our limits. We dwell with pleasure
and pride on the growth of our native town
under the ,icissitudes of colonial fortune, from
its feeble beginnings TO the dimensions of
large and nourishing municipality and we
mediate with just interest upon those eventful
scenes at the commencement Of the Revolution
AIRY War of which our heights were the thea
tire, and which exeried an undoubted influence
upon the Continental Congress at Philadelphia
in fastening the Great Declaration.
Thus the appropriate topics of the day cor
rl.esssPond, with the three great divisions, which
ophy. We have: First-'rhe foundation of
State,-lhe measures and agencies by which,
under Providence, new people is called into
the family nj naiiono nanifestly tlIe most
important event, humanity speaking, that can
occur in the history Of our race. Second-We
have the Institutions and events which make
up the political life of community the or
ganization and action, by which the diviney
appointed ordinance Of Civil Government is ad-
ministered, so as best to promote the welfare
and progress Of people. Thrd-We have
one of those gieat movements called revolutions
by which people for urgent causes introduce
organic changes in the framework Of their
Government, and materially renovate or wholly
reconstruct the fabric of their political rea-
tions.
In reference to each of these three great
branches of political philosophy, the. e.bistory Of
our ancient town and the occasion which calls
us together furnish us with the most striking
illustrations and instructive lessons. The
foundation Of new State in quarter Of the
globe unknown, is an event without parallel
in the domain Of authentic history. The time
and the manner in which the earliest predeces-
sors Of the present inhabitants of Europe be-
came established there, are but imperfecily
known while the first settlement of Asia and
Africa is lost in those unfathomable depths Of
antiquity, whinh the deep sea-lne of research
has never sounded. Il is only after comparing
the authentic pages of our early history with
the clouds of insipid fable that hang over the
origin Of Athens, and Rome, and Great Brit
ain-fables which neither PLuTARcH, nor LIvY,
nor MILTON has been able 10 raise into dignity
and interest--that we perceive the real gran
deur of the work of which the foundations
were laid two centuries and a quarter ago on
Dorchester plain.
So with respect to the second branch Of po-
liical philosophy, the organization and admin.
istration of States, ] am disposed to affirm that
there are secrets Of practical wisdom and pru-
eence-elements of growth and prosperity il
our municipal system--which deserve 10 be
thoughtfully explored. Our towns Of course
are but units in the great sum which make ~
The State. They possess none Of the highei
powers Of government. Not by their hands j,
welded the mace of legislation, or the scale:
Of justice, the purse or the sword of the Com
mOnwealth. But whenever the prosperity o
New-England and the younger States modelled
on its type is traced TO its ultimate causes, i
will be found to good degree in this munici
pal system In the pages of these ancien
voumes-these old town records which lav,
in few cases been better preserved than il
Dorchester-there will be found lessons Of ex
perience, Of blessed common sense shaping it
sdlf to the exigency of uncommon times, o
patient and hopeful submission to present evil
in the hope of brighter day of fortitude an'
courage in a humble sphere, of proyideni car
for the rising generation and posterity, Of un
wearied diligence for the promotion of relig
ion, morals and education, which in their join
ellct have given us this goodly heritage
Lastly, Of those great movements BY whic
organic changes are wrought in eslabIishe
Governments and new order il the poltica
world brought in, il must be admitted that III
event which we commemorate to-day, in tn
character of the parties, san infant confederu
cy of republics just starting out of state
colonial pupiage on the one hand, and one
the oldest monaIchies in Europe on the other
the long and silent preparation and the gradul
approach tho soundness Of the principle
which mpel!ed the movement, acknowledged q
It was by the most illusirous statesmen Of III