Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-06-27
AN ORATION,
DELIVERED oEFoRx TIE VA sdrseTos Association oF.
cAsTEs, or The 4TE or JULK, 1915.
BY JAMES BUCHANAN ESQ.

.
pie At that time the Continental Con-
,gress burst asunder the chains which bound
] them to Great Britain, and resolved to 30
free, or perish in the attempt Upon that
/ day they presented to the world specta.
Gle Of wisdom and frmuess which has nes-
/ er been excelled a
To make . proper estimate Of their con-
/ duct, We must take into view the then stu
alton Of this country, compared with that
of our enemy. On the oneside, the armies
of Great Baitain were numerous and veto
ran; they we're led BY commanderswhoh had
acquired military reputation in every cline;
they were supported and furnished with
every implement Of war BY a nation whose
wealth has, upon different occasions, pif-
chased the service of all the crowned heads
/ in Europe On the other side, cur
armies were 50 small and unacquainted
with military discipline; our officers vera
destitute Of experience, and were 50 miser-
ably 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 tho
blood that flowed from their naked feet.
But even these were not the only disad-
vantages under which we labofed. Whilst
our enemy invaded US without, the torch Of
discord and of treason was lighted up with
in. When Independence was declared, tho
mother country had powerful party throug-
hout all the middle States, and many adhe-
rents in every other part Of the Union.
he BECOMES VERY PATRIor1cALLY INCLINED
Dreadful, therefore, was the responsible
ty of that Congress. Had not victory
crowned their banners, their names would
have been crushed by the people of this
country as tie promoters Of destructive
civil war, while their blood would have
flowed on the scafold as a sacrifice to ap-
pease the spirit of British vengeance. In
this awful situation, whilst the dark cloud
of destruction appeared ready to burstupon
them they declared to the world our 1nde-
pendence. They thought that
~One day. one hour Of virtuous liberty, 1
I Was worth whole eternity of bondage -,
Ever lasting honor to their namesi--
The gratitude of free people will forever
lldltOW bA4Jn lllIluOl y
1t is not my intention, at this time to
give you a narrative of those glorious events
Of the Revolutionary War, which led to the
recognition of our Independence by Great
Britain and by the world. They have
been the subject Of so many oratiens, and
such general interest, that they are familiar
Ito every mind. The present soration shall
contain a short historical sketch Of the
most prominent actions Of the party DOW
in power in this country, and their eonse-
quences; and also enquiry concerning the
course which sound policy dictates that the
government of the United States should
4 pursue in future. The Importance of those
subjects, although not strictly connected
with the celebration of this day, viii, /
trust be their apology to every mind.
HE TOUCHES THE DEMOCRACY LIGHTLY.
! There gas a powerfM FACTION IN
the United States opposed to the adoption
lof the Federal Constitution, The individ-
uals of which It was composed were called
lanti-federalists, and acere the founders of
the Democratic party. They gloried in
setting themselves in array against our pres
ent admirable form of government. The
authors gf tbs opposition soers chiefly
| IDEMAG0GUES, who might have raised
to the head of a state faction, but who felt
conscious that their talent would be eclips-
ed, when the luminaries of the United
States would be collected around the Gen
eral Government To crafty their ambi-
ton they wished that this country should
continue divided into a number Of petty
state sovereignties without any efficient
government for their control
This they desired although they had the
example of ancient Greece before their eyes,
and well knew the clashing interests of the
States and their mutual jealousies kept alive
by alliances with different foreign nations,
would have made this country a perpetual
theatre of contention and civil war, until it
had fled for refuge into the arms of despot-
ism. They produced ruin to the State Gov
ernment and to the liberties of the peo-
pie, from the powers of the federal govern
ment. By these means they succeeded IN
alarming the fears Of many good men, and
Inducing them to believe, that government,
which IS now the palladium of their safety,
would be the instrument of Distinction
Notwithstanding their desperate effort the
constitution was adopted, and Washington
was elected President.
1t might have been supposed that those
dictionaries would have been awed into
silence by his wisdom and virtue. This
was not the case. The opposition which
they had given to the federal government
was now transferred 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, in its progress It had
become the destruction of religion and NOR
ality-when thousands of citizens were dai-
lly sentenced to death and butchered with
out trial and without rime-when all the
horror of anarchy were poured out upon
that devoted country at home-and when
Attila-hke it had become the scourge Of
God to foreign nations; the Washingtonian
party began to entertain fears of its result
and thought it necessary to stem the torrent