Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-06-17

.A 4sCgYq 80 An OrasiOn, n y
delivered before he WashinotoN a ssoc;atioa of
Lancaster, on Ats,AtA of My 1913
by JAMES BUCHANAN, ~.

I, lancaster, on tas'Afa y Jstslss
e. BY JANIS BUCHANAN, ~
Thnty-nine years ago, upon this day, We we're
declared an independent people. At that time the
Continental Congress burst asundef the chains
which bound them to Great Britain, and resolved
to be free, or perish In tie attempt. Upon that
day they presented to the world spectacle of Wis
dom and hrmness which has never been ercelled.
To make proper estinlAte Of their conduct, we
must take into view the then situation Of this coun.
try, compared with that Of our enemy. On the one
side, the armies Of Great Britain were numerous
and veteran; they were led by commanders who
had acquired military reputation IN every cline
they were supported and furnished with every i'm.
piement Of war by nation whose wealth has, upon
different occasions purchased the services Of al the
crowned heads In Europe. On he other side, our
armies were small and ,unacquainted With military
discipline; our officers were destitute. Of experi-
ence, and We were 30 miserably poor that our
brave soldiers were not more dian half clothed,
and their winter marches over the fpsty ground
which they were defending, could be tracked by
the blood that flowed from their naked feet
But even these were not the only disadvantages
under which We labored- Whilst ohf enemy inva.
ded ms from without, the torch OF dIscord and of
treason was lighted up within, When Independ.
ence was declared, the mother country had 4 pow
erful party throughout all the middle States, and
many adhercnts To every other part or the Union.
HI BEconEs vxRr PArRIorIcALLr IHcLISED
Dreadful, therefore, was the responsibility Of
that Congress. Had not svictosya crowned their
banners, their names would Asye been cursed by
the people Of this country ~ the promoters of
destructive civil war while their blood would have
flowed on the scaffold as sacsi6cs to appease the
spirit Of British vengeance. In thb awful situa-
ton, whilst the dark cloud of destrnction appeared
ready to burst upon them. ehey declared TO the
world our Independence. III Tlsy thaught that
y. n |" One day, one hour, Of trtuous liberty
ag Was worth whole etarnity Of bondage"
Z Everlasting honor to their nsmssi The graft
tude Of free people will forever hallow their
memory. M WI 9aiIAefE!1sS fo afagdS
Its not my intention. at this timc, 70 give you
narrative Of those glorious events Of the Revou-
tonary war, which led to the rscognision of our
Independence by Great Britain and By the world.
They have been the subject of - many orations,
and ct such general interest that they are familiar
to every mind. The present otation shall contain
short historical sketch Of the most prominent
actions Of the party now In power in this country
and their consequences and also inquty concern
ing the course which sound policy dictates that
the government of the United States should pur-
sue in future. The importance of those subjects,
although not strictly connected with the eelebra-
ton Of this day, will, / trust, be their apology to
every mind. 4.,o ygA2 e3lSsf4 tgtg
ssy he TOUCHES THE DnMocRAcY LIaHTLY.
4
States opposed 10 the adoption of the Federal Con-
stitu;ion. The individuals of which it was com
posed were called anti-F edsraists, and were the
founders Of The Democratic party They gloried
in setting themselves in array against present
admirable form Of government. The authors Of
this opposition were chiefly demnsogues, who
might have risen 10 the head Of "a State faction,
but who felt conscious that their talent would be
eclpsed when the luminaries OF the United States
would be collected around the General Govern
ment. To crafty their ambition they wished that
this country should continu ue divided into num-
Der of petty State sovereignties, without any eff
eient government for their control yss
This they desired although they hsdithe exam
Pile of ancient Greece before their eyes, and well
knew the cashing interests of the States and their
mutual jealousies kept alive by alliances with DIFF
ferent foreign nations, would have made this
country perpetual theatre of contention and civil
war, until it had fed for refuge into the arms of
despotism. They produced ruin to the State gov.
ernment and to the liberties Of the people, from
the powers Of the Federal Government 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 their de-
structon. Notwithstanding their desperate efforts
the constitution was adopted, and Washington was
elected President. - 3St s.'ssD 49,
1t might have been supposed that tiiese action
dom and virtue. This was not the case. The op-
position which they had givento the Federal Gov
crnuent was now transferred 10 its administration.
AT first, indeed, the voice Of oAhhmny dared only
to whisper agsinst Washington and hls measures,
but ere long II was heard IN thunder. e
When the French revolution commenced, 1t
was hailed by the people Of this country, gene
rally, as the dawn Of rational liberty m Europe.
But when, in its progress, It had become the de-
struction Of religion and morality ty-when thou
sands Of citizens were daily sentenced 20 death
and butchered without trial and without crime
when all the horrors Of anarchy were poured out
upon that devoted country at home-And when,
Attila like IL had become the 'scourgc OF God to
foreign nations the Washing tonisn party began
to entertain fears Of It's result and thought II
cessary TO stem the torrent Of French influence,
which Was rapidly ioverfowng our country. To
this duty they were inperiously called, ~ it was
not only in theory one Of the avowed objects Of
that government TO spread revolutionary princi-
pies over the whole world, but they had actually
attempted TO sow the seeds Of rebellion through
ont The United States. SaifSslso hgt4
lHr ACCUSES rHx DrxocRAcr on LIsrLLiso WASH.
-sNAA INGroN ,s{.sr
True to their original principles and their first
love, the Democratic party Of that day became
more the friends of the French - they became
more the enemies Of social order. When the
proclamation of neutrality was Issued by Washing
ton--that proc othmation which now almost uni
yersally admitted to have been the salvation of
our country prociamatioh which impartially
placed England and France On the same footing
and laid open the commerce Of the world to Amer
ica they were enraged that We had not entered
into an ALLIANCES With the French Republic, and
waged war, under their banners, against the hui
man race But, when the treaty Of peace with
England commonly called jays treaty was rati-
fed by Washington, torrents Of personal abuse
~ fha ~ uarty
his head Fop aes Z. atsel4l A-a
n r,,,, ,,,o,,,, cbareed tho Father of bis Country