The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-07-01

VI ldAtS aie iouI anu udll per Ceut. vi
the amount of our property; it's fact
that it's difficult to get scrip paid; there's
no disputinS the existence of the Maine
Liquor Law; and we do occasionally have
a mob; but these are errors not arising
from the principles of our government
but from circumstances, and they will final
I ly obvlate and correct themselves. Upof
the whole, l believe that a man has quite
as much chance for life of happiness il
born under the glorious stars and stripes
as if he happened to be born anywhere
else, and perhaps little more. We elect
our own rulers, and make our own laws
and if they don't turn out well, it's very
easy at the next election to make others il
their place. Every body has chance fol
distinction in this country; nothing is
wanting but natural ability to attain it.
and Mrs. LAvINY Pixies baby, now lying
with cotton flannel shirt on, in cham
pagne basket, iu Portland, o. T., has just
as good a chance of being President OF
of France, now sucking his royal thumbs
in his silver cradle at Paris, has of being
an emperor do not wish to llatter this
audience; do not intend to be thought
particularly complimentary; but l do as
sure you, that there is not a man present
who, if he had votes enough, might not
be elected President of the United States.
And this important fact is the result not
so much of any, particular merit or virtue
on your part, s,of the nature Of our go-
rious, liberal, republican Institutions.
"In this great and desirable country,
any man may become rich. provided he will
make money; any man may be well edu-
Gated, if he will learn, and has money to
pay for his board and schooling; and any
man may become great, and of weight in
the community. if he will take care of his
health, and eat sufficiently of boiled salmon
and potatoes.
+ Moreover, I assert it unblushingly,
| any man in this country may marry any
woman he pleases the only difficulty be-
ing for him to-. find any woman that he
does please.
| s.Fellow-c citizens and brother soldiers
1t is the Fourth of July; 1t is Independence
Day-a day dear to every freeman, an an
! nivcrsary which it is good to celebrate, as
lit will be celebrated till time shall cease,
and the Union shall perish with it.
Every child in these United States
knows the origin of this glorious day.
Small sums of money, varying from twelve
and "a half cents to q dollar and q half.
according to the financial prosperity OF
their parents, have been annually given
them to expend on this occasion, which
ndelby impress the fact upon their mem
ories, and lead them to look forward with
pleasure TO its return. One of my earliest
and most cherished recollections is of my
exploits on the first Fourth of July that
| can remember, when, with patriotic fer
vor, purchased leaden cannon, which,
exploding prematurely, burned off my hail
and eyebrows, and put an end to the ex-
istcnce of favorite cat of my aunt's that
peacefully reclined, watching my opera.
tions 1t is considered by many duty
| to become intoxicated on the Fourth o.
July. remember hearing adistinguishet
Senator express his opinion, "that any
man who did not get drunk on the Fourtl
of July was damned rascal" Withou
fully coinciding in this novel hypothesis,
can truly say, that consider 1.-THE duty o
every freeman to enjoy himself to the full
limits of his capacity on this glorious oc
Y casion, and if there are, as dare say
there are, individuals to whom getting
drunk is the acme of human felicity, why
if they do allow themselves to be carried
away on this day, there is surely more ex
cuse for them than there would be on any
less joyous occasion. An anecdote tha
went the round of the papers few years
since is amusing and interesting, as show
ling the independent feeling engendered il
) the minds of all classes by the arrival o
the glorious Fourth.
"a parsimonious merchant who, I re
tgret to say, fourished in Boston, keptM
-tconntipg room open on Independence Day
where~he sat with his clerk, boy of tel
or twelve years of age, busy over his ac
I counts, while the noise and uproar of tn
celebration were Sresounding without
;. Looking up from his unemployment. he pei
ceived the unfortunate youth, perched upo
J his high stool, engaged ihpieking his nos'
9 practice that the merchant had frequent
: ly reprobated, and taken him to task fol
".WILLIAM,' he exclaimed. why wi
!, you persist in that dirty practice I al
u astonished at your 7o.,7, q
9 az don tcare, e,'whimpered the unhapp
: boy, Its Independence Day, and it
: my own nose, and Il pick thunder OF
: Iof it" rass 90 'anga e83 ~ Eaa
III "An excellent custom prevails in man
al cities of the United States to celebrat
n the close of this day With grand exh
# bitiun of e-works. This is not only
" beautiful and exciting spectacle, but,
q the thinking mind, presents refined plea
\ ure in the analogy that is suggested, ft
i he May think to himself that, as the ds
= ends, so will end the lives of the enemi,
'e1 of freedom and the incendiary abolitionist
e who threaten with parricidal efforts tt
II union of these States They will ba e.