Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1855-07-11

prayer 10 high heaven to diuse the light of liberty
and civilization throughout the benighted nations of
the Old World, and to vouchsafe to US perpetual
enjoyment of the same.
Mr.. Puttick thought that orators upon these oc-
casions INDUCED too much in mmoderate praise of
our institutions, without considering Sufficiently the
causes which orig ginated them. Mere panegyric, he
said unsupported by substantial merit, produces an
effect directly opposte>to the one intended. He did
not say that our Institutions destitute of merit;
on the contrary he thought that they justly deserv
ed the highest euogiums that could be pronounced.
But he did deny that those unacquainted with our
history, can hear all the unmitigated plauds which
we lavish upon ourselves, without being shocked at
our discredable cgotism. If said he, we would Of.
tener relate the facts and let them speak praises
we should escape those bitter invectves and sting
ing pasquinades which England, burning with envy
and stnarting with the recollecti N of her ignobe
defeats, hurS at If we would do this, the great
PRINCIPLES of our government, unassailed and unas-
sailable by the crouching sycophants of crowned
heads-would go forth "conquering and to conquer
until the whole world would taste of their sweetness
and shout an eternal anthem in their r'aise If
then, he could succeed in recalling to the minds of
his hearers of the Leading events which char
acterized the American revolution; and in stimulat
ing in them ardent desire TO perpetuate and
transmit to posterity the blessings which sprung
from that revolution, he would have done all that he
expected or wished to dc.
Mr.. Puttick proceeded to review the history of
the events which led to the settlement of the Pu-
ritans on the soil of North America, which he traced
in mastery manner-commencing with the lie.
formation of the sixteenth century. The vestal
fire of liberty was nearly extinct i'm Europe when
that Reformation burst upon the world. The revo-
luton in opinion and in thought famed the feeble
spark and kept alive in sect its expiring flames.
During the inperious reign of Elizabeth the Puri-
ans nourShed in their bosoms the spirit of religious
liberty. TAe naughty house of the Tudors i'll rel
ished the growing spirit whose tendency was to re-
trench its arbitrary rule But persecution only add
ed fuel to the fire. In succeeding reigns the sect
increased. Finally, to escape the bitter storms
which beat upon them in England, few emigrants
under the cover of night fled their country, home,
friends and kindred. and after lingering 70" while
in Holland sough. the hospitabe shores of the New
World, where they might worship God according
to the dictates of their own consciences. ''This"
said Mr. Puttick, twas not the fight of guilt, but of
virtue. 1t was an humble and peaceable religion
flying from causeless oppression. 1twas conscience
attempting to escape from the arbitrary rule of the
Stuarts" He detailed the history of the difficulties
and dangers-the rise and progress Of that infant
colony, down to the summer of 174S, when the first
seeds of disruption were sown between England and
America.
Our space will not admit of heightened report.
The orator did great credit to himself and his sub
ject, by the knowledge he displayed of conn
try's early history. He depicted in glowing
coors the struggles and successes of our carly faith
ers down through the bloody Revolution to its fl
nal triumph. Nor was he unmindful of the claims
of those heroes who so nobly conducted that dread
campaign. He also took retrospective glance at the
impocy well as injustice which England practised
in estranging from her the early founders of our
country. Not said he, from any hatred or ill-will
to the English nation ; because manifestation OF
such disposition at this late day, would betray
want of proper respect for our own government.
We now too proud, even if we felt disposition
to display such spirit. From our high position we
award praise where is deserving. and censure
where censure is needed. But we must forbear,
though sorely tempted to follow the speaker.
We will hasten to the conclusion.
Mr.. Puttck said he should be guilty of an unpar-
donable omission did he forget to notice the part
our heroic State acted in the struggle for lnde-
| pendence More than year before the National
| Declaration of Independence, the freedom-loving
spirits of Mecklenburg, burning with the same zeal
to defend their rights that inspired their ancestors
| declared that they and Of right ought to be
| Free The voice of liberty was echoed over hill and
dale and even the rosy checked maidenS, with the
nobencSs of soul which characterzes the daughters
of Carolina at the present day, vowed to surrender
neither heart nor hand to any other than he who
would manfuiy defend their country against the ag
gressions of unprncipled tyrants Ard, when in
April 1776, the Continental Congress assembled
| North Carolina, with the fearlessness which had
characterized the citizens Of hfecklenburg twelve
months before. Instructed her i:fcsnieS S'' .'h"
out without fear, independence" MIR. Puttck was
| aware that attempt was made by a distinguished
statesman to traduce the character Of North arohna
and to deprive her of The need of praise to which
she justly entitled truth, though it may be cloud
ed for while by the mists Of ignorance and preju
dice rarely fails at last to display itself The indus
trious sons of the Old North State have succeeded
in establishing beyond the possibility of a doubt
the genuineDess of the Meckenburg Declaration o
Indepence, and to North Carolina, this day, belong
the honor of being the first State in the Union t.
raise her arm in defense of liberty
"All hail to thee, thou good old State,
The noblest of the band
Who raised the flag of liberty
In this native land.
All hail to thee, thy noble
| Were first to spurn the yoke;
The tyrant's fetters from their hands,
| AT Meckenburg they broke.
| No coward foresight they possessed
On perls brink to pause,
Nor waited for sister State
| To lead in freedoms cause.
"Our lives, our fortunes, - was the cry
"Our honor and our all
We lay upon country's shrine
Obedient to her CALL.
From every heart the shout went forth
No longer shall we lie
Obedient at the tyrant's feet,
Well conquer or We'll die"
. Mr. Puttick concluded as follows, repeatedly il
terrupted by loud APPLAUSE
And now, fellow citizens, however pleasing tt
picture may be that fancy sketches of our coun'r
and however pleased the patriot may be in ooklr
through the interminable vista of futury, to cate
- glimpse of the unequallcd greatness at which 81