The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-07-07
GRAFTON,
Delivered at Lawrsnes, Kansas Territory.
July 9Th, 1855.
pv nr CHARLES R0RIHS0y.


This day. the 18th Anniversary Of the
Declaration of American independence,
finds us in new and strange country,
aud surrounded by circumstances inter-
esting and peculiar.
While the echoes of the booming can
non are reverberating among our native
hills, and the merry peals of the church
going bells are announcing to the world
the rejoicings of a great and prosperous
people, that their days of weakness, suf-
fering, and thraldom are past, We arc
here in a remote wilderness to found q
new State, and to plant anew the instiiu-
tions of our patriotic ancestors. 1t is a
day to us OF peculiar significance. While
We would pay tribute of respect to tha
period which. in the annals of this ma
ton, viii ever be regarded asmostsacred
while with one accord and one voice
we worship in the Temple of Liber-
ty, uncontaminated by party distinctions
or sectional animosities, and unite in Tie
endeaYor TO raise some fitting mementc
of nations gratitude for the deciara-
tons of that day, the most glorious in
the history of mighty people, we sho'd
also gather lessons of instruction from
the past by which to be guided in the
erection of new State in the heart oi
this great republic.
But little more than two and a hall
centuries since, the first successful settle
ment by the English was made in the
United States. Several attempts had been
made to establish colonies during twenty
years; but it was not till the commence
ment of the 18th century permanent
settlement was effected. This was in
Virginia, where they said, "the soil is
the most plentiful, sweet, fruitful and
wholesome of all the world"
About ten years later second settle
ment was made in Massachusetts,, on a
sterile soil, and in climate forbidding
but it was composed of men of sterner
material than was the soil or climate
In these two colonies were to be found
the germ of this at present great and
prosperous nation. The first sought in
the new world gold and afiuence, and
were the fayorites of the Crown while
the second fled from persecution to seek
home in the wilderness, where they
might obey the dictates of theirown con.
sciences, and establish their own institu
tions without molestation.
Virginia, the oldest State in the Union
was settled, history informs US. at the
expense of the Crown of England, nur
tured as an only child, and was dandlet
in the lap of complaisance. Her religion
was congenial to the mother country, ant
she drew her nourishment from the breas
of parental kindness she had all th'
assurance and importance of the child o
rich and indulgent father she sent he
youth to England for their education
where they were wellinstructed and made
sensible of the royal fayorilism in theil
behalf.
Virginia was the great mother an(
leader in the south /; she was proud of hel
ascendancy in the affections of the court
and took to herself peculiar complaeency
in regard to her religion. In return fol
her affections for the Crown and Churcl
she obtained extensive credit in til,
mother country, imported largely th'
luxuries of Europe, and assumed styl'
of living, and grandeur of department
far beyond any sister colony.
But while our southern friends lived ii
ease and splendor, eating the luxuries 0
Europe, and wearing foreign fabrics, ant
their sons were drinking at the full foun
tains of science in England, Massachu
sets and the more northern colonies
were oppressed in various ways, ant
measures adopted unworthy of the Brit
ish Crown. With rugged soiland rig
orous climate, the people were thrown
upon their own resources and obliged tC
make their own comforts and fortunes
Famine, war aad disease, as well as the
Crown of England, in turn. assailed them
The cup of trial and suffering was drain.
ed to the dregs, and for one hundred
and fifty years they struggled on patient
ly, perseyeringly and hopefully against
their enemies, and misfortune of every
kind. In the meantime new colonies
were established, and large accession:
made to the old, till protection agains
tyranny seemed practicable. The colo,
nies both south and north made com
mon cause against indignities andout
rage heaped upon part of the country
and united in a general convention o
representatives from the different colo
nies to devise ways and means for tn
common safety. The result of their de
hberations was the Declaration of Inde
pendence, to the reading of which w
have this day listened. The truths o
that ever memorable document were a
old as the christian religion, but thei
adoption as the rule of faith and practie'
by a vigorous and growing nation, mark
ed an era in the history of the world un
precedented. A belief in the equality o
man and the sacredness of life and liber
ty therein expressed can only be cherish
ed By those who believe that all the ma
tions that dwell upon the face of all the
earth are made ofone blood. The estab.
lishment of these principles cost our
ancestors struggle with the mother
country of seven years duration. No
sacrifice was counted too dear to secure
TO the people of these, United States the
right to govern themselves, to choose
their own rulers, make their own laws
and worship God in their own way.
Peace at length was proclaimed thro'-
out the land, and close in her footsteps
came prosperity which haseontinued with
but little interruption till the present
time. Our growth as nation in popu
lation, wealth, power and intelligence. is
unprecedented in the history of tht
world.
The colonies of Virginia and Massa
chusetts which in 1909 aid go respect
lively numbered about one hundred souls
each formed the neucleus around wMcl
gathered in 1888 thirteen States, ant
three millions of people. From tina
time to the present our growth as ma
ton has been unchecked, and instead o
thirteen we now numberthirty- -one State:
and instead OF three millions we hay,