Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1856-07-05
An Grafton,
Delirersd before the Washington .4ssociatiom o,
Lon"c1 sr on the 4M cf Jnly, 1915.
BY James Buchanan ESQ.

BY James Buchanan Esq.
Thirtv-nine years ago, upon this day, we
were declared an independent people. At
that time the Continental Congress burst
asumder the chains which bound them to
| Great Britain, and resolved to be free, or
perish i'll the attempt. Upon that day they
presented to the world spectacle OF wisdom
/ and tlr;nness which has never been exceltcd.
10 make a proper estimate OF their conduct
We must Ike into view the then situation OF
this country, compared with that of our enc
nay. o.; the one side, the armies of Great
Britain We're numerous and veteran they
We're lie! by commanders who had required
military reputation III every cline they
We're 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
unacquainted with military dI>cipI!ne; our
officers were destitute of experience: and We
were so mlserabiy poor that our brave sol
diers Were not more than halt clothed, and
their winter marches over the frosty ground
which they Were defending. could be tTackei
b. the blood that flowed tIu.n their naked
feet.
But even these were not the only disadvar-
tayes under which we labored. Whilst our
enemy invaded us from without, the torch Of
discord and OF treason was lighted up within.
When Independence was declared the moth
er country had powerful party throughout
all the middle States. and many atlerents in
every other part o! the Union.
he BECOMES VERY PArRIoT1CALLY INCLINED.
Dreadful, therefore. was the responsibility
of that Congress. Had not victory crowned
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 scat
fold as sacrifice to appease the spirit Of
British vengeance. In this awful situation.
whilst the dark cloud of destruction appeared
ready to burst upon them, they declared to
the world our Independence. They though.
that
One day. one hour or virtuou= liberty,
Was worth a whole eternity Of bondage
Everlasting honor to their names! The
gratitude of free people will forever hallow
their memory.
1t is not my intention, at this time, to give
you a narrative CT 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 orations. ard of such
general interest that they are familiar to every
mind. The present Grafton shall contain a
short historical sketch of the most prominent
actions OF the party now in power in this
country, and their consequences: and also
inquiry concerning the course which sound
policy dictates that the government of the
United States should pursue in future. The
importance OF those Subjects although not
strictly connected with the celebration OF this
day. will. trust be their apology to every
mind.
HE ToTcNES THE DEMOCRACY LIGHTLY.
There ras pouerfM FACTION in the
United States opposed to The adoption Of the Fed
eydi Constitution The individuals OF which
it was composed were called ami -tederallsts.
and uere tie founders Of the Democratic party.
They glorird III setting themselves in array
against our present admirable form of govern
nlent The authors Of this opposicion trere
chiefly DEMAGOGUES, who might have
risen to the head of a State faction, but who
felt conscious that their talent would be
eciipsed. when the luminaries of the United
States would be collected around the gener-
al Government. 10 crafty their ambition
thev wished that this country should continue
divided into a number of petty State sover |
e ignties without any efficient government tor
their Control.
This they desired. although they had the
example of ancient Greece before their eyes. |
and we'll knew the clashing interests of the |
States and their mutual jeaIous.es, kept alive
bv alliancies with different foreign nations,
would have made this country a perpetual
theater of contention and civil war, until it
had fed for refuge into the arms of despotism.
They produced ruin to the State Government |
and m h6 hor ,,t tba he
powers of the federal government. BY these
means they succeeded in alarming the fears
of mony good men, and inducing them to be-
lieve that government, which is now the pal
ladium Of their safety, would be the instru-
ment of their destruction. Notwithstanding
their desperate efforts, the constitution was
adopted, and Washington was elected Presi
dent
1t might have been supposed that these fac
tionaries 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 trans
ferred to its administration, At first, indeed,
the voice of calumny dared only to whisper
against Washington and his measures, but ere
ons 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 ofre]igon and morali-
,y-when thousands of citizens Were daily
to death and butchered without
rial and without crime-when all the hor-
,ors OF anarchy were poured out upon that
devoted country at homeland when Attilla-
ike it had become the scourge of God to
oreign nations; the Washingtonian party be-
,an to entertain fears of its result. and thought
t necessary to stem the torrent of French in
iuence, which was rapidly overllowing our
country. To this duty they wef imperious-
y called, as it was not only in theory one OF
he avowed objects of that government to