The Trinity journal., 1857-01-24
Paragraphs pilfered from Fourth Of July Grafton.
BY JOHN PHOENIX.

Fourth Of July Grafton delivered at Fort
Vancouver, W. T., on the Fourth of July,
1856, by John Phoenix, e. s. d., sergeant
major eighty-third regiment Oregon Terrific
ry Light Mules from which we make the fol-
lowing extracts
BROTHER SOLDIERS AND FELLOW CITIZENS
1t is the Fourth of duly This morning, at
half past two O'clock every inbabitant of
this great, free and enlightened republic, a.
mounting in number to several millions, was
awakened from sound sleep by discharge
of cannon, the explosion of fire-crackers, and
the continued and reiterated shouts Of little
BOYS, and children of larger growth. From
that time until four O'Clock sleep has been rem
dered impossible, and every inhabitant of
this republic has had an opportunity to re-
feet with gratitude and thankfulness on the
wisdom of our progenitors, and the great
ness of our institutions until at that hour
the bells of every church, meeting house,
factory steamboat and boarding house thro'
out the land, beginning to pour forth a merry
peal, joining us in the glad anthem of our
nations independence every citizen has got
up, put on his pantaloons, taken cocktail,
aud commenced the celebration Of the day
in good earnest.
Throughout our whole vast extent of coun-
try from Hancock Barracks, Houlton, Maine,
where they pry the sun up in the morning,
to Fort Yuma, on the Colorado river where
the thermometer stands at 2l2 deg. in the
shade, and the hens lay hard-boled eggs,
this day will be day of hilarity, of frolick-
ing and rejoicing.
Professions will be formed, churches will
be througed, orations will be delivered, Una
ny Of them, possibly, of a superior charac-
ter to this of mine, the gallant militia, that
right arm of our national defences, will per-
wade the streets in astounding uniforms,
whereof it may be said that Solomon in all
his glory Was not arrayed like one of these
Small boys will fire pistols, and burn their
fingers, large boys will fire cannons and
blow off their arms men will guzzle inebri-
ating liquors, and become much intoxicated
thereby and mighty shout will coup from
the land, which, if the wind happens to be
in the right direction, will cause the Empe-
ror Alexander to tremble in his boots, and
the young Napoleon to howl in his silver era
die. For on this day the great American
eagle flaps her wings and scars aloft until
it makes Your eyes sore to look at her, and
looking down upon her myriads Of free and
enlightened people, with flaming eyes she
screams, e PiuriJms Un@m,' which may be
freely interpreted, Amt sone ? and myr-
lads of freemen answer back with a Joyous
shout, You are punkins = On this glori-
GUS day, JOY, good-feelng and good nature
animate every breast babies cease to cry,
ladies cease to scold, all is amiability and
i hesitate not to say, that were the COM
mandng-general of the division on this day,
to ask the Governor of Oregon for chew
of tobacco, he would hand over the whole
plug without moments delay or hesitation.
And what is the cause of this general rejoic-
ing, this universal hlarity, this amable state
OF feeling this love and veneraton for this
particular day of all daysjn the year-a day
when the native American forgets all preju-
dices, and though loving his country better
than anght else, feels well-disposed toward
everything beside-a day that our German
population respect, and speak of as more
better as good'-a day which Pat, who be-
Iieves one man is as good as another and
mighty sight better, reyerences as he does
st. Patrick's in the morning. "a day when
aught unpleasant is forgotten, and mirth,
and jolity, and fire-crackers abound. ! will
endeayor to inform you. Many years before
Vancouver was ever born or thought of,
when the present magnificent city of Port
land was but wild forest of fir timber, and
the waters of these mighty rivers now daily
plowed by the splendid steamer Eagle,
were navgated by the Indian chief, Multi
nomah, in his dug-out, provsioned with
salmon and whortleberres, there dwclt in
the far-olf city of Genoa, worthy merchant
named Daniel Lumbus, who prosecuted his
business as q dealer in velvets, under the
name of Daniel Lumbus 4 Co.
This merchant, at a somewhat advanced
age, was blest with son Of great promise,
whom, out Of compliment to his partners, he
named Christopher Co Lumbus. From his
earliest infancy this youth showed an ardent
desire for a naratime life ; and old Lumbus
gratfed his inclinatons by sending him to
sea-
In those days popular opinion turned to
the belief that this world on which we live
was a large square table, or plane surface,
supported on columns of rocks, which eX-
tended all the way down. Columbus, how
ever, dissented from this opinion and be-
lieving the earth to be globe or ball, de-
cidcd in his own mind, that it might be fea-
sible to start in a given direction and sail
clear round it, returning to the point Of
departure. Having communicated these
views to Isabella, the Queen of Arragon,
that lady, who was somewhat Of an enthu-
siast, and had strong conviction that Co
lnmbus was one Of them' sold her hoop
earrings and other jewelry and fitted out
three top-Sail schoonerS Of which she gave
him the command.
With these vessels, Christopher sailed in
1892, and after the most unheard-of trials
and difficulties encounterlng many head
winds, and much opposition from his crew,
finally discovered the West India Islands,
whence heimmediatcly returned with a cargo
If rnp, ond eurar 1'hic oytro ordinary die