The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-12-25
The New England anniversary.

The New EnktouO Anniversary
Last Saturday was the two hundred and
thirty.sixth anniversary Of the larding Ofthe
Pilgrim Fathers Of New England, and last
Sunday was the anniversary Of the first Sab
bath spent by them in the New World. In
Boston aud other towns Of Massachusetts,
il has become customary to celebrate the
ann;versa,y of the sailing Of the MTyiow'
er, instead OF its landing. Still, We regard
The latter as the more appropriate. 1t calls
to mind the dangers which surrounded those
bold and hardy men, and the exposures and
hardships they were willing to suffer "for
conscience sake" The MayfOwer was ves-
sci Of tbuut one hundred and forty tons bur.
then, and the whole run Der of souls on
board was one hundred and one. Their land.
ing was in the winter season. They were
without shelter from the fury of the storm,
and without abundant food to appease their
hunger. Half of the number were sick, and
many dying. Brave little band! They pre-
ferred the tempcsts Of the Ocean and the
gloom of New England forest in winter 10
the prosecutions which they endured in the
Mother Country.
There is something sublime and heroic in
/ the conduct of these lonely adventurers, and
when we reflect, that from this little bnnd
have sprang the institutions Of New Eng
| land, her neble universities--her school
houses and churches, and that from New
England have gone forth to every part OF The
world, the spirit Of enterprise and energy,
which characterized the old Puritan fathers
themselves, we can but be grateful that the
Mayfiower landed on our shores.
In speaking of the Puritan fathers, we
would not attribute 10 them oil the energy
| and intelligence in the country as some per-
sons are wont to do. We honor New Eng
lend for what she hns done and what she is
We hold in reverential regard the memory
of our fathers. But while we, their children,
should emulate their sterling virtues, their
unbending integrity, their sell, sacrificing
zeal, we should also be willing to render un'
to the other early colonies the need Of praise
which isjastly their due, While we rcmem'
Der that New England had her Adams, her
Otis, ker Quincys, we should also remem.
Der that Virginia had her Henry, her Wash
inSton, her Jefferson; that Pennsylvania had
her Penn and her and franklin, that Carroll
ma had her Marion.
We are indebted to New England for the
liberties which We to-day enjoy, but we are
also indebted to the Middle and Southern
portions of the Confedcracy for thl sume
blessing.
Let us not say, then, when we pronounce
culosiums upon New England, that her Peo.
pie have done everything and others noth-
ing. They were all brothers then, let them
continue to be brethren STILL From Maine
to Georgia the soil is sanctifed and hallow
ed by the deeds OF patriots. In "tbe days
that tried mems SOULS" they fought shoul'
der to shoulder. Their blood dy ed the same
streams, their ashes mingled in the sum'
grave. Let not their sons forfeit the rich in
heritGnce bequeathed them, by wranglin.
over the places where their ashes slumber
All honor to New England! Sacred bt
her battle grounds. Sacred the memory o
those who established liberty on her shores
and whose bones moulder at Boston, Con
cord, Lexington and Bunker Hill!
All honor to Pennsylvania, within who's
metropolis the Declaration of American In
dependence was signed--the home of th
Philosopher, the Sage and Statesman!
All honor to Virginia, the birth place o
the Father OF his Country, whose heroisn
led our armies, and whose wisdom governe
our National Councils!
All honor to Carolina, whose children
poured out their blood like water in defeDc
OF our independence! Each State was sta
each soldier was a hero. 'Nerveless b
the hand that would strike blow at the eX
istance of the Union which they formed, an
palsied be the tongue which would bias
pheme the names OF the fathers!