The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-06-21
])olitilol.
AN GRAFTON
BY JAMES BUCHANAN, ESQ.,,

Of Lancaster, on The 4th Of july. 1915.
Thirty-nine years ago, upon this day, we
were declared an independent people. At
that time the Continental Congress burst
asunder the chains which bound them to
Great Britain, and resolved to be free, or
perish in the attempt. Upon that day they
presented TO the world spectacle Of wisdom
and iilmncss which has never been eXcvllcd
To make proper estimate of their con-
duct, we must take into view the then situa-
ton of this country, compared with that Of
our enemy. On the one side, the armies of
Great Britain were numerous and veteran
they were led by commanders who had
acquired military reputation in every cline;
they were supported and furnished with every
implement Of war by nation whose wealth
has, upon different occasions, purchased the
services of all the crowned heads in Europe
On the other side, our armies were small and
unacquant with military discipline; our
officers were destitute of experience, and we
we've SO miselably poor that our brave soldiers
were not more than half clothed, and their
winter marches over the frosty ground which
they were defending, could be tracked by the
blood that flowed from their naked feet.
But even these were not the only dsad-
vantages under which we laborcd. Wills t
our enemy invaded us from without, the
torch Of discord and of treason was lighted
up within. When independence was declared
the mother country had powerful party
throughout all the middle states, and many
adhcrcnts in every other party of the Union.
HE BECOMES VERY PATRIoTICALLY INCLINED.
Dreadful, therefore was the responsibility
of that Congress. Had not victory carried
their banners, their names would have been
cursed by the people Of this country as the
promoters Of a destructive civil war, while
their blood would have flowed on the scafud
as sacrifice to appease the spirit of British
vengeance. In this awful situation, whilst
the dark cloud of destruction appeared ready
to burst upon thcm they declared to the
world our Independence. They thought that
'onc day. one hour of virtuous liberty.
Was worth whole eternity Of bondage
Everlasting honor to their namcsl The
gratitude ola free people will forever hallow
their memory.
1t is not my intention, at this time, to give
you narrative of those glorious events OF the
revolutionary war, which led to the rccog-
milton Of our Independence by Great Britain
and by the world. They have been the sub
jecl OF so many orations, and Of 50 much
general interest, that they arc familiar TO
every mind. The present Grafton shall con-
tain short historical sketch of the most
prominent action Of the party now in power
in th'S country, and their consequences: and
also enquiry concerning the course which
sound policy dictates, that the Government
Of The United States should pursue III future
The Importance OF those subjects, although
not strictly connected with the celeb alton of
this day, will, trust, be their apology to
every mind.
HE TOUCHES TIE DEMOCRACY LIGHTLY.
There w0S powcrfM FACTION in the
United States opposed 10 the adopton of Tie
fcderM Consultation. The individuals of
which it which composed were called anti
fe.irralists. and werc The Founders Of tie DAM
ocfatic purity. They gloried in setting them
solves III array against our present admirable
form of government. The uuthors of tins
opposition were chiefy DEMAGOGUES, who
might have risen to the head Ola state faction,
but who felt conscious that their talents
would he cclpscl, when the lumnarics of
the United States SHOULD he collected around
the General Government. 10 crafty their
ambition, they wished that this country
should continue divided into number of
petty state sovcrcigntics without any efficient
government for their control.
This they desired, although they had the
example of ancient Greece before their ewes,
and well knew the cashng interests of the
States and their mutual .jealousics kept alive
by alliances with different foreign nations,
would have made this country a perpetual
theatre of contention and civil war, until it
it had fed for refuge into the arms of dcs.
potIsm. They therefore sounded the alarm
throughout the Union against the federal
Constitution. They produced ruin to the
State Government and to the liberties of the
people, from the powers given to the Federal
Government BY these means they sue
cccded in alarming the fears of many good
mon, and inducing them to believe that gov
ernmcnt, which is now the palladium of their
safety, would be the instrument of their de-
Str,iction. Notwithstanding their desperate
efforts the constitution was adopted, and
Washington was elected President.
1t might have been supposed that these
dictionaries would have been awtd into silence
by his wisdom and virtue. This was not the
case. The opposition which they mad given
to the Fedrlal Government, was now trans
ferrcd to Its administration. At FIRST indeed
the voice of calumny dared only to whisper
against Washington and his measures, but
ere long it was heard in thunder.
When the French revolution commenced it
was hailed by The people of this country
generally, as the dawn of rational liberty in
Europe. But when, i'll its progress, it had
become the destruction Of religion and NOR
ality-whcn thousands Of citizens were daily
sentenced to death and butchtrcd without
trial and without crnc-Whcn all the hor-
rors of anarchy were poured out upon that
devoted country at home-and when Attila,
like, it had become the scourge of God to
foreign nations; the Washingtonian party be-
gan to entertain fears Of its result, and
thought it necessary to stem the torrent OF
French influence, which was rapidly over
flowing our country To this duty they
were iinpcriOusly called as it was not only
in theory one of the avowed objects of that
Government to spread revolutionary princi-
pies over the whole world, but they had ac-
tnal!y attempted to SOW the seeds Of rebellion
throughout the United States.
HE ACCUSES THE DEMOCRACY OF LIBELLTNG
WASHINGTON.
True to their original principles and their
first love, The Democratic party Of that day be-
came more The t,acnds Of the French AS THEY
BECAME MORE THE ENEMIES OF So
GAL ORDER When the proclamation OF
neutrality wns sSnnl Inv Wa sh;,pt On h., +