Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-07-19
Grafton by A. L. Litten.

FELLOW CITIZENS AND SOLDIERS We have
Just heard read the Declaration of lndepen.
dence made by our fathers Of '76 That was
fear'ul'yet glorious day. 1t was the crown
ing act Of mighty struggle between the fear
of defeat and death, and determination to be
free at all hazards and at any price. 1t was
unsheathing the sword and throwing away the
scabbard. 1t was mailing the colors to the
masthead with the motto conquer or die
England was then in the very zenith Of her
power. Her conquering feet rode the ocean
in triumph without rival. Her treasury was
full to overlooking. Her empire was wide as
the world; for on her dominions the sun never
set When she spoke the nations heard in ST.
lence and submission. 1t was against this
mighty power that our fathers hurled the
truths of this Declaration and the word Of de-
fance. This was done as from the prompt
ings of the divinity within. 1t was done in
the full confidence of righteousness and truth,
and reliance in the God of armies, and Of
tl0 Bible who has declared that of one blood
he had made all nations of men to dwell on
the face Of the earth. That all men are equal
That none were born to command ard others
born to obey. This doctrine of equality fell
like the bursting of bomb she'll in theCabiGets
of Europe. 1t was the subterranean rum
blings Of that earthquake, which in its explo.
sion would bury all living dynasties and de-
molish every throne. 1t was the bursting Of
that bubble with which regal spleudor had
dazzled the eyes Of eyes until the people
had become almost wiully blind and obedent.
This was doctrine which could not be tOler-
ated for moment 1t was announced as re-
belion-as treason against God and man. Like
burning torch in the midst of powder
magazine the whole power Of the British En-
pire was Immediately put in requisition to tread
it out from the earth. An army exceeding in
numbers that which she now has in the Crimea'
and with which she expects to conquer the
Emperor Of all the Russians was sent to our
coasts with the torch and the knife to cut the
throats, and burn the dwellings of her own
children. But all this would not avail. The
spark Of liberty and equality had ignited in
the hearts of thousands of heroes. And the
inspiration spread from heart to heart, and
grew warmer at each pulsation until like the
bright, spreading rays of morning light it
beamed upon every mountains brow and pen
etrated every valley in the wide range Of this
new world 1t was a principle of our nature
when once promulged in the free atmosphere
of this beautiful hemisphere, it was no more
in the power Of Britain to arrest, than it was
for her to chain the lightnings or bind the
winds with cords.
And what was done ? Immediately the
Lion roared as for his prey. Our ports were
blockaded. Our cities were sacked ard burn
ed. Our commerce was cut off by an immense
hostile navy that watched our coasts. Our
citizens were given up 10 the merciless toma
hawk and Scalping knife Of the savage Of the
forest, and rich inward offered him for the
white mans scalp, including those of women
and even the children of day. Such was
the savage ferOcity with which this war was
carried on thai its very baseness defeated the
object Of its projectors. For it revealed the
unalterable determination of the mother coun
try to Oppress us, and thus united all noble
hearts and true friends of liberty in the pater
nal bonds of an undyiug brotherhood. Itpre'