Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-26
HON. GEORGE NJ. DALLAS.

stood in 1851 year before the contest of 1852. -
------sos~-------
HON. GEORGE NJ. DALLAS.
1t is grateful contrast Of editorial duty to
turn from comment upon most revolving scene,
to pay earnest tribute to the good, great, and
patriotic, wherever they may be found.
| In our last issue, our readers are aware, we
felt it to be our duty to animadvert in very harsh
but well-merited terms, upon the outrage com
mitted upon the person and property of the Hon.
MIR. Wheeler. our present minister to Nicaragua,
| while passing through the city of Philadelphia
with his slaves. We feel the Indignation exhibit
ted in that article not in the least abated, and we
have nothing 10 retract which was contained in
| it. But it is fresh feeling we have in reading
the brief but admirable address of Pennsylvania 5
| first and most renowned statesman on the fourth
of the present month. Absence from the city, and
a confinement incident to severe illness in our
family, prevented our accompanying the pubca-
| ton of Mr.. Dallas's address with any comment
Indeed we had not the pleasure of seeing il until
within the last two days. We deem this apology
necessary to our readers well as to the distin-
| gushed gentleman who is the subject of this ar
ticle, whose personal as well as political friend
ship we are happy in enjoying, because we are
well convinced that the men who arc to save the
| Union of these States, by wrestling power, in
| State and National Councils, from the yandal
| hands of fanatic and wicked men, are Just such
men as George NJ. Dallas. Thank God we
| have few Of them in the northern States and
we hope, even though against hope, there may
be yet enough to ''save the State" SO long as
we have this nucleus, around which the yet IN
corrupted may form, and the unwary and deluded
rally again, the fortunes and fate of our country
are not hopeless.
The address of Mr.. Dallas, though but few
paragraphs, is replete with eminent wisdom and
true patriotism. 1t does not take as by SURPRISE
for we have long known him to be one who dares
g do all that doth become a man, !" and in whose
brave nature the fear of consequences has no
ignoble Judgment. We republish his address
entire, and feel confident it will be no cause of
reproach from our readers that it should occupy
place in the Sentinel second time. 1t is worthy
Of all praise, and will amply repay perusal
We have italicized the concluding paragraph
| What noble Invocation TO the old keystone
State How sublime the sentiment, that ''what-
ever may be the cherries fate of the bgoted pro-
prescription, designating, and disrupted portions
Of violated compact, she, Pennsylvania will
seek her prosperity in alliance ,cih these only
who remain true to the past, under the old
matchless and mastery Constitution, and with
the star-spangled banner floating over her, an I'M
sullied emblem Of unbroken faith and interrupted
honor
We see the Keystone al Harrisburg and the
| Harrisburg Democrat have both placed the name
Of Mr.. Dallas at the head of their columns for
the Presidency in 1856, policy when begun too
early, we incline 10 think, oftentimes more hatter
ing TO the candidate than effective of its pur
poses.
Mn. DALLAS said That having been kindly in
| vited, he would venture to express few thoughts
suggested by the occasion.
Our object, in celebrating this day, should be,
not merely 10 recall the names and eulogize the
| exploits Of those who gave il universally Of in
terest and Immortality Of renown, but at the same
time, under the Inspirations Of the theme TO Law
upon the altar Of our beloved country some votiye
sentiment applicable TO her existing condition, and
harmonizing with the lessons and aims Of her
founders
The people Of America, over their vast domain.
in all their countless cities, towns, villages, ham,
lets, and settlements, are, at this moment, spon-
taneously and simultaneously, rendering grateful
homage to the faith and the Fathers OF '76
What millions Of voices, the heights Of our
mountains, in the depths Of our valleys, on the
boundless expanse of our waters amid the shades
of unnumbered forests or the sunshine Of endless
praires, are repeating, with never dying svmpa-
thy, the solemn and sublime truths Of the Decla-
| ration Of Independence Nay, this political hal
lelujah rises in every land il belts the earth not
| with an idle drum beat, but with an anthem Of
national exultation; for, into what unknown cor
/ hoe tba riatn ofh III r.I
| ed TO penetrated And where, and when can he
| found unmndful TO hail and glorify the Fourth of
| July.
II is in contemplating this exact, unexaggcr.
atcd, vet vivid, picture Of worldwide choir, that
! we ire made 10 feel and realise the value Of our
| immense inheritance Of freedom. Nor does il fail
to strengthen our firm purpose TO maintain that
| inheritanc unmpaired, within the great bulwark
specially devised by its venerated authors for its
| preservation Need tell you what the bulwark
is; What that only unfailing and infallible cita-
del Of security is; II Is the Constitutional Union
Of the sovereign States. That is the panoply I'M
der whose shelter the infant offspring Of our reyo-
lutonary fathers has maturcd into herculean
strength. That is the sacred conservatory within
which the fruits of Liberty, Order, Progress,
| Nalor, and Law, have terminated, bloomed, and
4 ripcned
| And you, Pennsylvanians, in whose midst still
stands the hallowed edifce, whence came both the
| oracle Of Independence and the organic frame Of
/ our Government--you, the central, sustaining
| power Of the great arch, are you not, hereto
fore, heart, soul, and hand devoted as well TO the
| principles Of the Revolution as to the sanctuary
reared for their perpetual protecton' Yes,
know you are; and, therefore, il is that remind
you that you possess quicnt latent but resistess
force which, justly and appropriately exerted
may 90 far TO arrest the ruthless assaults Of "a
natic and fantastic ethics, may awe back the ar
gressor, and teach him, however reluctant 10 /
learn, the wisdom Of loyalty to our common an |
cestry, loyalty TO our common covenants, and |
loyalty TO the peace, honor and happiness Of our
common country. II is the proud mission Of our I