New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-01-08
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EIGHTH OF JANUARY.


One more Of the glorious "reminiscences OF the
sRennblie il now with lis-one Of the anniversa-
ries|of the great deeds done in by-gone times,
which have already begun to be crowned with
Immortality.
From the battle which first crimsoned our
soil at Lexington with pure and patriotic blood,
down to the GROWING glory which made New
Orleans synonymous with Lexington, Bunker
Hill, Saratoga and Yorktown in the roll-call Of
our young Republics honors, there is not any
remembrance more generally kept, in this sec
ton Of the land, than the one whose Observance
we now honor.
II The observance Of the Fourth Of July is
national--tut, after it, there is not day more
deserving Of commemoration than the one We
now keep--not one which reflected greater honor
on our soldiers or our citiEens-not one which,
in its immediate results, was more important,
nor one which, in it's ultimate results, was more
advantageous to the growth, the prosperity and
the permanence Of the nation. Had the land
ing, attempted to be made at this port, been
successful-had this great depot Of the West
passed into the hands Of strangers and enemies,
not only should we have lost the city and the
State, but, in addition thereto, the growth, the
richness and the Importance Of all those other
States lying above and around it.
To sum up all the benefits growing out Of the
great fight, which proved Kentucky rifemen,
Mississippi sharp shooters, Arkansas hunters,
and the brave sons Of Louisiana worthy Of the
boon whose heritage is our boast, would be to
Az
the prosperity Of our own section Of country 3
Placing their bare breasts behind the cotton
bales which nature provided as the fortifcation
Of the occasion, they met and defeated the vete-
rams Of England's sternest war, and crossed the
medal Dc the Peninsular with transatlantic
blazon which covered and concealed its pristine
glory They were inspired by no ambition for
the laurels Of War-by no desire for the trophies
of conquest. Their animating impulse and sole
object vas the maintenance Of the national
honor and the preservation Of those free institu-
tions and that liberal policy which created and
has hitherto conducted our ship Of state.
Taken thus, in ell its bearings, in the full
scope Of its significance, the battle Of New Or
leans is well worthy Of the high place it occu-
pies in our national annals, and the high hon
*ors that are paid to it. 1t reneWs, not only a
remembrance Of the defeat and furnished glory
Of the country whose proud boast it is that her
morning drum beat circles the globe and fol-
lows the morning stars in their daWning; but,
also, renews in the minds Of all, the history Of
the perils which attended our national birth.
II inspires fresh love Of country, o stronger
national devotion, purer patriotism. Itmakes
the heirs and successors Of those great deeds,
emulous Of those who performed them, and
anxious to preserve them, intact and unfair
nished.
ItWould be 9 very pleasant thing to compare
the present with the past, and place New Or
leans in s56 by the side Of the same city in
'l5; to mark down what is by the side Of what
soas, and figure out, in dollars and cents, in
honor, in influence, in wealth and prosperity,
the results of the stand made here years ago,
by our brave citizen soldiery, led by the immor-
tai Jackson; the determination Of this city
with st. Louis, Louisville, Chicago, New York.
Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Charles
ton; the kindred blood and common interests
which bind rs together--all the benefits we
have reaped and shared as q reward for the
blood and suffering out Of which they sprung.
They are known, Acknowledged and appre-
ciated, however, throughout the length and the
breadth Of the land in foreign climes and
wherever the stars and stripes of our national
bunting faunt with proud defiance. They are
in the alphabet Of our national history, and
rise responsive to the lightest call.
We here, more Immediately interested in what
was done on our very soil, keep the memory of
the Eighth Of January IS Bunker Hill is kept
in Boston, and evacuation day in New York
Let US, in recalling and again recognizing the
great achievement which has 80 marked the
present celebration, carefully consider the OBJ
jects for which the battle was fought, and re-
new our resolution to preserve intact those
honors and liberties which were won by Amer
lean Valor, to form o wreath for American glory.
Let the remembrance be prompting of patri-
otism to all, and an incentive to renewed
exertion for the perpetuity of the institutions
which it strengthened. And, in the remem-
brance and resolution, let us not forget the
memories of the brave men who came from their
homes and gave their services to the cause Of
their country contributed one laurel to the
many that are forming for her as green and
glorious chaplet as ever decorated any nation,
since nations first had an existence.
IT