Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-07-10
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL
7T1 M7YGToN, n. C., MONDAY, JULY 6, 1857.
To-Morrow, July Fourth, 1857.

To-Norrow, July Fourth, 1857.
yUo know how much TO value friends when called
,nop to part with them. We know what estimate to
pace upon blessings when threatened with their Loss
Time which the wayward votary Of pleasure makes
it his business to kill, becomes more precious than
apv earthly thing when the sands in the hour-gass
of life can apparently be counted. We cling to old
associations and Institutions with more regretful feel
inc rs hangers threaten their permanence, and our
judgments assure us that the time may come, and,
if the same tide continues to set must come, when
we will be called upon 10 resign them with all their
cherished memories. With what longing, ling
erng look, the great. hearted, sober-headed of
the revolution, took leave of the old land of their
fathers cast off the political ties and associations Of
life. time-the ideas of loyalty with which nearly
all had grown up-the old "reminiscences of glory
connected with the meteor flag" OF Britain, that
had been theirs too is told in every page of hiso.
nv prior TO the Declaration of independence. That
instrument itself, teens with evidences of the same
feeling When, one year before the men of Meek
lenburg sent on their Declaration to the Continental
Congress, it was deemed premature by that grave
and thoughtful body. All things had 10 be tried be-
fere hcpe could be abandoned, and the irreVocable
step taken. And when the time DID come, when that
step was taken, who can say that, IN The lnmost
hearts of the noble band of sgners, many a pulse
did not throb painfully many tender cord strain
to it's almost tension scarcely less with sense of deep
responsibility for the FUTURE then with sad and pleas
ing memories of the past.
few brief years more-a point in the life
of a great nation, will complete the cycle of century
since the proclamation of independence, from the
steps of the old State House in Philadelphia. Even
then some few survivors of the early struggle may
still linger upon the confines OF existence, venerable
but feeble relics of past age and time, talking as
old age will talk, of the deeds of their youth, as
things of yesterday, while the great movements of
later years will be 10 them a distant murmur, watt
cd onward by the winds and passing away UNDECIDED.
1876 is but nineteen years removed from US. A
narrow gap, but which may be sufficiently deep
to swallow up much of what now appears permanent.
Who, in truth, is bold enough 10 span that gap with
the fraiI bridge of speculation The ranting dema-
gogue may pile up tropes and figures, and begue his
hearers with vague talk OF the American Eagle and
the Glorious Union. The patriotic orator, full of the
iDspiraton of the day, and warmed by its associa-
tions, may hopefully deem that the great work done
by the men of the last century-the mighty fabric Of
constitutional liberty erected by their wisdom and
their sacrifices, is beyond the reach OF sacrilegous
hands but the thoughtful observer must reluctantly
acknowledge to his own heart, that 50 surely as to-
morrow's sun will rise, 60 surely will the present
tendency OF things, if perseVored in, eventuate in a
dissolution OF the Union, perversion OF its pow
ers and capacities from thor original and constltu
tional obectsa perverson to which dissolution is TO
be preferred ten times over
Up to the final moment, the men of 76 chung with
regretfuI feelings TO the past. They disked to take
the last irrevocable step-to make breach that no
time could close-a gulf into which must be throwl
all former associations. Yet when the time had
come, they took the step-they made the breach
they opened the gulf and cast into all fond memo
RIGS OF the political past.
With how much fuller warrant and better cause
should the of this day cling to their past past
which has already assumed its high place in the fixed
records of history, while its kindly presence even
now fingers among us in the persons of of its
venerable actors. Its sun is nearly set, but its
parting rays yet lend golden lining 10 the dark
clouds that sadden our national sky, and brighten
with their parting radiance the bow of promise that
still spans the horizon of the future That future is
are the cords that bind the different sections of the
Union, but like vast cables chafng on the rugged
rock they are parting, strand by strand, slowly it
may be-none the less surely. When the last tie
shall have given way, the different sections must drift
assunder, and the only hope will be that they may
do so without dashng against each other in stern COLI
sion 10 mutual ruin 1t is still time to Hrrest the
progress of events TO this fatal consummation. With
this progress unaresed it must soon be too lae Our
national anniversaries should no longer be ere ho.
days They longer mark alone the return of day of
national rejoicing The orator cannot content himself
simply with gIorying ovet the great event in honor
of which the day is ceIebraed;-he is forced 10 add
the ominous congralulation that once again
meet around altar to rejoice over the pros.
periy of common country, and the more ominous
question will obtrude itself on the mind-How long
will this be SO? Hope alone remains in place of the
proud security of former days. Well might all men
IN all parts Of this vast country reechO the prayer
of Governor Wise. "May God revive our Reyolu-
tionary feellrgs' And especially should this asp-
ration dwell with the people of the South The
of the Revolution were patient long suffering,
clngng fondy to the associations of the past cher.
ishng hope even when hope appeared to have de-
parted; but when the time had finally arrived in
which decisive action or ignominous submission were
the only alternatives there then no falieriDg
their ranks no reliance upon empty worls-no look
ing back They had counted the COST and they stood
the hazard of the die
But we grow sombre-perhaps we feel so. Let
US rejoice that we still celebrate the =" glorious
Fourth" and enjoy one day free from the toll and
mol, the tear and wear and worriment of fe Let
US think only Of what is bright; the reverse comes