The Placer herald., 1857-07-11
AUBURN, July 7th, 1851.

AUBURN, July 7th, 1851.
Gentlemen:-Your polite note Of the 9th
inst, is before me; in answer, have to say,
that if in your judgment, my remarks made
upon the occasion you refer to, are worthy
of being more widely spread before the pub
lie, I have no objection to furnishing you
written copy Of the same.
It will not be expected that should excel
upon subject that has been dwelt upon by
persons of more eloquence and learning, than
can pretend to.
The annexed pages will be found to con-
tain my address, very near ger Jatim as de-
livered by me.
am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES ANDERSON.
MEssRs. CHAMBERLAIN, FA1RoHILDs, WALKUP
KING, Cox and WYMAN.
Ladies and Gentlemen: With the present
feeting hour the sun has risen, and is now
shining in his glory. upon the 8lst anniver-
sary of our country's existence as a separate
and independent nation. Eighty-one years
ago, when the event we now celebrate, trans
pired, statesman, who seems to have been
possessed of little short of prophetic vision,
declared that this anniversary would be cele-
brated by future generations, in public pro-
cessions, bonfires, the firing of cannon, and
other demonstrations Of joy. To-day, as it
has been on every like anniversary within
our lives, the prophecy is verified--in every
city, village, and hamlet throughout this
Union everywhere among our countrymen,
within our ample borders-goes forth the
shout Of freemen. Nay, three hours before
we saw the light of the sun, that glorious
orb was looking down upon the Haunting
banner and turbulent jubilee of cannon, in
honor of this occasion. In every sea, from
the Arctic to the Antartic, in every foreign
port known to commerce, the ensign of our
country is now floating in honor of the day.
Way-worn travellers, in tar-off and strange
lands will meet in bands, and with enlight-
ened liberal minded strangers, consecrate
the day by orsons to home, and the names
of Washington and liberty.
On this day, thousands of tongues more
eloquent than mine will ever become, are
like mine engaged in the services of the day.
To-day, twenty millions of free men meet in
memory of the eventful past, and to renew
their vows upon the altar of American
Liberty.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the occasion is
worthy of this respect. Be it oui endeavor,
to be worthy the great ancestry whose me-
mory it calls up, and the sacred political
When the great Napoleon led his thirsting,
wearied soldiers out upon the burning sands
of Egypt, to fight the battle of the Pyramids,
he reused the sinking spirits of his men, and
nerved their hearts with fire, by saying to
them, as he pointed to those massive mys-
taries of the Observation-Disclosures from the
SUBMITS Of yonder pyramids, forty ages look
down upon you." With how much more
appropriateness, and seeming truth, might 1
now say to you upon this occasion, here now
as we are assembled, "Men of America, the
spirits of the sages and heroes of the eventful
l77e, now look down upon you, from their
shadowy homes, and to every conscience
here, make mute questions of our doings"
Who among us all can say upon his soul
this thing Is not trues
I presume it is not expected Of me to 60
into detailed history of the events that
marked the age Of our revolutionary strug-
gle, indeed were l to do so, should but
trouble you with that which is to every
schoolboy "a thrice told tale" You have
lust heard read the Declaration Of Indepen-
dence, and it light not be out of place, were
| at this time to refer to some of the Incl
dents connected with that important docu
ment The political causes that justify that
solemn appeal to arms, and to the sense of
justice Of the civilized world, were eminently
those of principle. The quarrel originated
in the attempt on the part of the parent
government, to tax the people of Massaehu-
setts, without being represented in the law
making power, the people resisted it, as an
encroachment upon their rights, as English
subjects. Gradually the citizens Of the other
colonies endorsed the position of Massachu-
setts, and Joined in first petitions to the
Throne, and then demanded that this vioat-
ed right be respected. In their position they
were indorsed by some Of the most talented
and distinguished men Of Great Britain
Lord Chatham, in one of his mastery efforts
in the Parliament of Great Britain, declared
that the people Of the Colonies we're asking
but the birthright Of every Englishmsn; that
it was not favor to be petitioned for, but
should be demanded as right, and he then
warned the Ministry that if they persisted
in this injustice towards the people, the
Grown would loose its brightest jewel-the
American Colonies.