True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-07-29
ADMIRABLE ADDRESS.

The Fourth of July this year was Gel
ebrated with unusual interest in many
parts OF the country. We see however,
the exercises in different places were Of q
different character. some being highly
patriollc aud salutary in their moral and
religious tendency, while others were of a
disslpated nature, ending in rio, and blood
shed New York made it an occasion for
the prrpetratlon of The worst deeds, dpgra.
ding to that metropolis and omnous of
evil for The future. Boston made extra
ordinary preparations for commemorating
the birth day of our liberties, but the ora
tor gave grea offence by the ultra aboIi.
ton views on the slavery question, lead.
ing the city authorities to abstain from
showing him the usual courIesies of The
day. In the evening also, an accidental
expulsion connected with the fireworks,
caused the instantaneous death of four
persons, and ended the observances and
dis plays in a sudden and affecting man.
ner. ... e...
In several cities and towns Sabbath
Schools gathered, addresses were given
by clergymen and others Interested 10 the
cause, and pic.nic festivals in beauti-
ful and re'lred groves closed the interes
ting exercises. In others pastors assem-.
bled their Aocks and preached to the
people on the subject of liberty and its
blessings, thus making it not only day
for klndIing afrrsh the fires of patriotism,
but for making religious impression, d.
rec,iug 10 the source whence all our bles-
sings as a free people flow. The most.
interesting celebration which we have
noticed occurred in Providence, R. |.
where every effort was made not only
to crafty bu, to instruct the people -
Flags were displayed from flag STATS,
armorles and shipping, streets were deco
rated. and professions with music dis
played. MnItitudes gathered in the
motning at the spacious and beautiful
Central Baptist Church lately dedicated,
where the governor Mayor and other dis
lnguished men Of all professions were
present and shared in the exercises and
honors of the occasion. After PRAYER BY
the pastor. Rev. Mr.. Field, the Mayor
introduced 10 the assembly DR.. Sears,
President of Brown. University. as the or
alor OF The day. DR.. Sears proceeded to
deliver the most learned, philosophical
and instructive address. Of which we
have any knowledge, either by personal
presence or the reports Of others. In
speaking Of the day and the liberties
to which it gave hlrth, with its blessings
such as distinguished no other people in
The world he took occasion to show that
our freedom as a nation was no accident,
but lis causes lay back in the history Of
the past as far as its records carry us /;
one Of them operating al one time with
nne nation, and at another time with
another nation, and finally uniting in pro.
ducing the Declaration OF Independence
as signed BY our fathers IN Independence
Hall, and achieved gloIiously and uium.
phantly by the long years of war and
bloodshed which followed. He traced
history from Greece to Rome, from Eng.
land to America, explaining how the Ii.
centious liberty Of the fist, the rigid law
of the second, and The pure Christianity
of the third all met on the shores Of this
new world. and hera blended and became
so modified by action upon each other, as
to Finally give birth to The true idea Of
civil and religious liberty. We cast our
eye over The leading thoughts Of this ad.
dress as found in the Providence Journ |,
and became so impressed with lis master.
ly character, that we hereby subjoin Sc.
lectIons for our readers. DR.. Sears for
extensive historical knowledge, for philo.
sophical analysis, and evangelical spirit,
has no surerinr in this country. and no
man in The land was better qualified to
set forth ibis great subject before the peo-
pie IN ils true light. We have had every
where and at all times on this day such
ffOthy, bombastic, superficial speeches,
comparing we'll with FIRE crackers and
fire rockets with which The boys amuse
themselves, that i! is quite refreshing to
NEE, with one manly .digni6ed. philosoph
ical. religious address, like the one here
to which we refer. Taking this view ol
the case. we spread before our readers
the following selections assured that they
will be richly repaid for an attentive Pc
Fusal p'9"
DR.. Sears commenced his address a:
follows :-P. C. Chron.
We are assembled this day as citizens
for patriotic purpose. lis fitting tt
notice so important an event as the foun
ding of The governmen, Of great nation
to ponder those vital questions which in.
volve The future destinies OF our comm on
country, and to endeayor to inspire with
the love Of country those upon whom /.
so soon to be deyolyed The management
OF its affairs. The event which we cele.
brate is great, viewed as the achievement
OF man. We cannot contemplate It with
OFT admitting The wisdom, the courage
and endurance Of our brave ancestors -
But we SHOULD fall entirely below the dig
nifty Of the subject, Il we did no. regard
itas link in that grea, chain Of events,