Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-07-07

defeats hurls at u.s. IF we would do this, the gre at
principles of our government, unassailed andsunas
sailable by the crouching sycophants of crowned
heads-wouldg go forth " conquering and to conquer
until the whole world would taste of their sweetness
and shout an eternal anthem in their praise. If.
then, he could succeed in recalling to the minds of
his hearers some of the Leading events which char
acterized the American revoluton and in stimulat-
ing in them an ardent desire to perpetuate and
transmit to posterity the blessings which sprung
from that revolutions he would have done all that he
expected or wished to do
Mr.. Puttick proceeded to review the history of
the events which led to the settlement of the Pn-
ritans the soil of North America, which he traced
in mastery manner-commencing with the Re-
formation of the sixteenth century. The vestal
lire OF liberty was nearly extinct in Europe when
that Reformation burst upon the world. The revo-
luton in opinion and in thought famed the feeble
spark, and kept alive in a sect its expiring flames.
During the imperious reign of Elizabeth the Puri-
tans nourished in their bosoms the spirit of religious
liberty. The naughty house of the Tudors i'll rel
ished the growing spirit whose tendency 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 fed their country, home,
friends and kindred, and after lingering for while
in Holland sought the hospitable shores of the New
World, where they might worship God according
to the dictates of their own consciences. This,
said Mr.. Puttick 'was not the fight of guilt but of
virtue. 1t was an humble and peaceable religion
flying from causeless oppression. twas conscience
Stuarts." He detailed the history of the difficulties
and daugers-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 our coun-
try's early history. He depicted in glowing
coors the struggles and of our early faith
ers down through the bloody Revolution to its IL
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
impolcy as 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 own government.
We now too proud even if we felt disposition
to display such spirit From our high position we
award praise where it is deserving. and censure
where censure is needed. But we must torbear
though we sorely tempted to follow the speaker
We will hasten to the conclusion.
Mr.. Puttick said he should be guilty of an unpar-
donable omission did he forget to notice the part
heroic State acted in the struggle for indie
pendence. More than year before the National
Declaration of. Independence, the freedom-lovng
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-cheeked nlaidens, with the
noblcness of soul which characterZcs the daughters
of Carolina at the present day, vowed to surrender
neither heart nor hand to any other than he who
would manfuy defend their country against the ag-
gressions of unprincipled tyrants And, when in
April 1875, the Continental Congress assembled,
North Carolina, with the fearlessness which had
characterized the citizens of Mecklenburg twelve
months before. instructed her delegates, ito shout
out, without fear, Independence Mr.. Puttick was
aware that an attempt was made by distinguished
statesman to traduce the character OF North Carolina
and to deprive her of the need of praise to which
she is justly entitled truth, though may be cloud
t. A. &c, md Nra1I1-
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 doubt,
the genuineness of the Mecklenburg Declaration OF
Indepence and to North Carolina, this day, belongs
the honor of being the first State in the Union to
raise her in defense of liberty.
"AlI hail to thee, thou good old State,
Who raised the flag of liberty
In this our native land.
All hail to thee, thy noble sons
Were first to spurn the yoke;
The tyrant's letters from their hands,
At Mecklenburg, they broke.
On perirs brink to pause o~0
Nor waited for a sister State
To lead in freedoms cause
Our lives our fortunes" was the cry
Our honor and our all
We lay upon our country's shrine
From every heart the shout went forth
No longer shall we lie
obedient at the tyrant's feet,
Well conquer or We'll de-
Mr. Puttick concluded as follows, repeatedly in
terrupted by loud APPLAUSE
And now, fellow citizens however pleasing the
picture may be that fancy sketches of orr country
and however pleased the patriot may be in looking
through the nternnable vista of futurty, to catch
glimpse of the unequalled greatness at which she
may arrive and when his heart beats with increas-
ed emotion the prospects spread before him, and
at one view as it were, he takes in all the beauties
and benefits of the land of his birth, he must not
forget that the ocean is made up of thousand
times ten thousand rivulets and that if these are
stopped at the fountain heads the vast will be
dried up and what was before a source of happi-
ness prosperity and pleasure will become vast
desert spreading destruction and death throughout
the world. So, il we do not keep the fountains OF
civil liberty free and pure, our government must
sink down into despotsm that will destroy all the
prospects and hopes of the patriot and statesman,
and involve in unutterabe and inextricable slavery
and degradation the whole people of the country.
The elements of discord and disatection which have
been sown broadcast the land must be eradi-
Gated or this revered parent of ours, scarcely ar
rived at her zenith of glory, will be hacked and
gashed to pieces by the undersappers of sectional
strife. Already storm is brewing, to the burst
ing of which all true lovers of the Union look with
fear and trembling. The North and the South are
becoming more and more esiranged each year; and
every week we hear the believing thunders OF dis
content issuing from section or the other. w no
can tell the day when the North and South, forget
full of the perils and hardshps which our fathers OF
yore underwent shall be arraycd in deadly hostility
against each other and divide cur now proud Re-
public into Insignificant States? Many storms the