Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-06-11
BY JAMES BUCHANAN. ESQ

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 rer
solved to be free or perish in the attempt Upon
that day thew presented to the world a spectacle
OF wisdom and hrmness which has never been ex
celled.
To make proper estimate uf their conduct
we must take into view the then situation of this
country, compared with that OF our enemy On
the one side, the armies of Great Britain were nu-
merous end veteran; they were led by commanders
Who had acquired military reputation in every cline
they were supported and furnished with every inn
plement 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
mPry discipline; our officers were destitute Of
experience, and we were miseraby poor that
our brave soldiers we're 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 we're not the only disadvantages
under which we labored Whilst our enemy invsd-
ed Us from without the torch of dscord and trea.
son was lighted up within. When Independence
was declared the mother country had a powerful
party throughout the middle States, and many ad.
hersnts 10 every other part Of the Union.
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 the promoters of q destructive
civil war; while their blood would have flowed on
the scatfod 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 thought that
zone day, one hour Of virtuOus liberty,
Was worth whole eternity Of bondage"
Everlasting honor TO their names The graft
tude OF free people will forever hslow their
memory.
IL is not my intention, a. this time, to give you
. narrative Of those glorious events OF the revolu-
tionary 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,
and OF such general interest," that they familiar
to every mind. The present Grafton shall contain
short historical sketch of the most prominent
action Of the party now in power in this country,
and their consequences and also enquiry concern
ing the which sound policy dictates that the
government Of the United States should pursue
IN future. The importance Of those subjects, al
though not strictly connected with the celebration
Of this day, vii, trust be their apology to every
mind
He TOUCHkS DEMOCRACY LIGHTLY.
There pas a powerful FACTION in the United
States opposed 10 The adoption Of the Federal ConSf.
tuition The individuals of which il composed
We called antFFederalsts, aud the founders of
The Democratic party. They glOried in setting
themselves in array against our present admirable
form Of government. The authors Of this opposis
fiOH Dere chiefly DEMAG0GUES, who might have
risen 20 the head of a state faction, but who feI
conscious that their talents would be eclipsed when
the uminaries Of the United States should be co.'s
lectsd around the General Government To graf.
ify their ambition, they wished that this country
should continue divided into a number of petty
state sovsreigntes without any efficient govern
ment for their control.
This they desired, although they had the exam.
pie OF ancient Greece before their eyes, and well
knew the clashing interests Of the States and their
mutual jeaouses kept alive by alliances with diff
ferenI foreign nations, would have made this couu-
try perpetual theatre of contention and civil war
until it had fed for refuge into the OF despos
tism They, therefore, sounded the alarm through.
out the Union against the Federal Constitution.
They produced ruin to the State government aud
20 the liberties OF the people, from the powers
given to the federal government By these means
they succeeded in alarming the fears OF many good
men, and inducing them TO believe that govern
ment, which is now tho palladium OF their safety,
would be the instrument OF their destruction Not.
withstanding their desperate efforts. the consti-
tuition was adopted, and Washington was elected
President.
il might have been supposed that these faction
aries would have been awed into silence by his
wisdom and vrtae This was not the case. The
opposition which they bad given 10 the federal
government was transferred 10 les admins
tration. At hrsL 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, Il Was
hailed by the people Of this country, generally as
the dawn Of rational liberty in Europe. But when
IN It's progress it had become the destruction Of
religion aud morality-when thousands OF citizens
we're daily sentenced to death and butchered with.
oat trial and without crme-When all the horrors
OF anarchy were poured out upon that devoted
country at home-aDd when Alta Ike il had DO.
come the scOurge Of God 10 foreign nations; the
WsshinRtonian party began TO entertaia fears Of
its result, and thought il necessary 20 stem the
torrent Of French influence, which was rapidly
overlooking our country. To this duty they we're
imperiously called, it not only 10 theory one
OF the sVowed Objeets OF that government to
spread Revolutionary principles over the whole
world but they had actually attempted 10 soS the
seeds Of rebellion throughout the United States.
EE ACCUSES THE DEMOCRACY or LIBELLiEG WASH"
R0roS.
True to their original principles and their Ere.