Oroville daily Butte record., 1857-02-02
Fourth Of July Grafton.
by JOHN PHOENIX.

Ola Iodrtn VI ohlJ oIo'.o"
at Fort Vancouver, w. t.. on the 4th
Of July, 1856, BY ohn PhUnix, i. $. d.
sergeant-major eighty-third regiment
Oregon Territory Light Mnles," from
which we make the following extracts
Brother soldier and fellow citizens:
It is the fourth of July. This MORN
ing, at half past two o'clo,k, every in-
habitant Of this great, free, and en-
lightcned republic, amounting in num-
Der to several millions, was awakened
from sound sleep by discharge of
cannon, the explosion Of fre-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 rendered
impossible, and every iDhabitant Of
this republic has had an opportunity to
reflect with gratitude and thanklulness
on the wisdom Of our progenltors, and
the greatness Of our institutions ; until
that hour the bells of every church.
mceting-hou,e. factory, steamboat, and
boarding-house throughout the land
beginning to pour forth merry peal,
joining us in the glad anthem OF our
nations independence, every citizen
has got up, put on his pantaloons, tax
en- a cocktail, and commenced the cel>
ebration of the day in good earnest.
Throughout our whole vast extent
of country, from Hancock barracks,
Houlton, Maine, where they pry the
sun up in the morning, to Fort Yura
on the Colorado river, where the ther-
momctcr stands 2l2o in the shade, and
the hens lay hard boiled eggs, this day
will be day of hilarity, Of frolcklng
and rejoicing.
Professions will be formed, church
es will be throngcd, orations will be
delivered, (many Of them possibly, of a
superior character to this Of mine, the
gallant militia, that right ann OF our
national defences, will pervade the
streets in astounding uniforms, where
of 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 inebrlating liquors, and be-
come much intoxicated thereby f.; and
mighty shout will 20 up from the
lard, which, if the wind happens to be
in the right direction, wlll-cause the
Emperor Alexander to trcmbc in his
boots, and the young Napoleon to howl
in bis silver cradle. For on this day
the great American eagle flaps her
wings and soais alott, until it makes
your eyes sore to look at her, and look
ing down upon her myIiad@ Of free and
enlightened people, with flaming eyes
she screams, "E PlurjJus Uaum,"
which may be freely interpreted, 'Aint
| somc;' and myriads Of frcemen an
swer back with a joyous shout, you
are punkins!' On thia glorious day,
JOY, od-fceling and good.nature oni>
mate every breast; babies cease to cry,
ladies cease to scold, all is amiabilty
and | hesitate not to say, that were
the commanding-gencral Of the division
on this day, to ask the Governor Of
Oregon for a 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 hilarlty, this amiable
state of feeling, this love and venera-
ton for this particular day Of all days
in the year-a day when the native
Ameican forgcts all prejudiccs, and,
though loving his country better than
aught else, feels well-disposed towards
everything boside--a day that our Ger
man population respect, and speak OF
as more better as good, a day which
Pat, who believes one man as good as
another, and mighty sight better, re-
verences as he does 'St. Patrick's in
the morning. day when aught un-
pleasant is forgotten, and mlrth, and
jollity, and ire>crackers abound |
will endeavor to inform you. Many
years before Vancouver was ever born
or thought of, when the present mag
nificent city of Portland was but Wild
forest OF flr timber, and the waters Of
these mighty rivers aow daily plowed
hV the snlpndid steamer tEnoIa ,rara