The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-07-27
Remarks OF Gen. CaSS at Detroit ON the
FOURTH.

MY FELLow-ClTizENs III the birth dav Of
warrior or statesman, distinguished for enli-
nent services, is celebrated with demonstrations
ofpublic rejoicing, surely the birthday of a
Republic ought not 10 be forgotten. This day
sevrnty-nine years ago, a feeble confederation
Of thirteen remote and almost unknown colo
MES, shut in between the mountains and the
OCEAN, containing scarcely 100000 of people,
decreed their separation from the mighiieSt pow
er on the face Of The globe, and asserted their
right, both by deeds and words, to enter as an
independent member, into the family of nations
by deeds of patriotism and valor, whose mem
DRY will never die, and by words Of wisdom
and power, whose truth can never be gainsayed, !,
and which embodied in that renowned dec
aration ofprinciplfs and purposes you have just
heard read, aud which to-day, everywhere find
listening ears and responsive hearts throughout
the vast congregations of A mercan citizenS.-
1t is the table OF our political law, not written
upon stone, but inscribed iu characters of living
light upon the memory and the understanding of
a great people, who proclaimed it in their weak
ness, and maintain il in their strength.
And now those srventy-nine years have pass
ed aWay-years Of strange vicissitude in human
affairs, both in the old world and the new and
thls returning anniversary finds the feeble con-
federation great Republican Empire, number
ing nearly thirty millions of people, with moth
ing TO trouble them but themselves. aud with
nothing 10 fear but the Just Judgment Of God
An empire, stretching across the continent, from
the coasts that look upon Europe 10 The shores
of the ocean of the West which separates us from
the time-worn kingdoms Of China and Japan,
and extending almost from the northern tropic
to the Artc circle: and with all the elements OF
power and prosperity in full operation, such as
no nation ever possessed before, and whose mag
niGcent results. while they startle the Imagna-
ton, are far beyond the reach of human Sagaci-
tv 10 estimate And through these immense
regions free institutions rule both rulers and
people, and exert their benign influence, like
the shadow of a great rock IN a weary land
The Government is founded upon the will ofall,
administered BY the power OF all, protecting the
rights of all, while all have equal access TO It's
donors and it's rewards. Never, in the long his
tory OF man, since the dispersion of the human
family upon the plains of Shinar, never was
such a system OF self-government before commit
ted TO any people. And if we would only rea-
lize its value, and The ineStImabe privileges it
secures it we would compare our lot with that
of any other country, not in spirit of ostenta-
tious rivalry, but of truth and thankinIneSs, We
should be far better and wiser than we are.
We haue rared faf, and prosperity has made
us presumptuous. And like the Jews of old,
our predecessors in national ingratltudp, we are
forever murmurng when we should be blessing,
and complaining when we should be enjoying.
Let US survey the other nations of the earth aud
learn contentment and humility.
For two thirds Of century, this government
of freedom and law has secured 10 its people,
Individually and collectively, greater measure
of prosperity and happiness than was ever be-
fore meted out BY the political institutions to the
descendants of Adam. 1t has protected me and
mine from external aggression and internal vio-
lence and by its noble equality, joined TO the
undeServed favor Of my ffllow-citizens it has
opened to me positions of public honor and con-
idence, 10 which the circumstances OF my youth
gave me no right to look forward, and which
my brightest day-dreams, that sometimes came
10 soften the harsh realities OF frontier struggle,
never even presented to my Imagination and
what it has done for me, il has offered TO all
Well then may be proud to acknowledge the
hold it possesses upon my gratitude and affection,
and with the intensity of the feeling of attach
ment with which treasure It IN my heart. My
personal interest in il, indeed, is fast passing
away OF that ] am sufficiently warned by the
long period during which | have secured its
protection. But pray not the less earnestly for
its preservation, for when, in the providence of