New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-07-13

The American Revolutionary cHAs. U. LEWIS.
Ladies and Gentlemen: l beg to be favored with
your attention few moments, while deliver my ad'
dress on subject upon which we look with adnlra-
ton. We have just celebrated the day which gave
birth to our independence, and trust that a rapid
glance at the leading features of our Revolution will
not be unacceptable to this audience.
The American Revolution will form an important
mart in the annals of history-a war, the offspring
Of fraud and tyranny-a war that drenched the soil
of our country with bood-a war that fell heavily
upon the colonies robbed them Of their best and
noblest sons and put to the severest test the Skill
the bravery and patience of the people.
The measures pursued by Great Britain towards
her American colonies: the monopoizaton OF their
commerce, the imposition OF taxes, the closing of their
ports and the quartering OF standing armies in their
midst-outraged their sense OF justice and reused
their slumberng vengeance. She knew not the free.
dom Of the spirit which had been born and matured
| in the wilds of America; she knew not the wound
she had inflicted on that spirit, until it was too late
retrace her steps for she had spilled blood-blood
in the village, the city, the town-blood in the
farm, blood upon the hearthrug. She cherished the
fatal thought that the American army was rabble
drifted together by passion and momentary excite.
ment and easily dispersed by the presence OF large
military force. But she found out her mistake at the
battle Of Bunker HILL which filed her with surprise
and astonishment
The colonies were used to the dangers and the
hardshps Of war many Of them were veterans O
the French and Indian war, and were not men tt
stand tamely by and let tyIant put his chains OF
their necks. Others were men who had never lef
their quiet pursuits to take up arms, but their heart
beat high with patriotism, and they willingly lait
down their lives to free their country from tyrant'
grasp. Such were the men, and such was the spiri
Of re.
Their forefathers had fled to the wilds of Americ,
from party faction and religious persecution, to fine
an asylum where they could breathe the air of bert.
and worship their own COP in their own way. The,
encountered hardships they knew not of; suffering
from the cold winter blast, and from the merciles
depredations of the inhuman savages. Yet with al
these dangers they assumed thriving aspect and biz
fair to equal Great Britain in commerce and wealth
But this state of public happiness was not long nnot
served by the mother country, who began to think
proper time to make her tyranncal spring on tn
colonies. After much delay it came at last with tn
fury of a ,whirlwind sweeping everything in it
course, in moment Of de!enceless confidence.
A few determined men seized the helm OF state i
this awful crisis, to conduct it safely through tn
bursting storm, AS mariner tells by small spec
in the heavens and a ull in the wind the coming of
storm so the statesmen Of America discovered by tn
; movements of Great Britain that she was about
clench the chains of her despotism by the force
arms. .....
, The rubicon was passed! At Lexington was she
the first blood in the holy cause. The news sprea
like wiIdlire over the country thousands heard Il
call thousands see the plains of Lexington drenche
. with blood, seeming to cry out, " revenge us and
y fend our country's rights"
l. The plowsbare is left beneath the sod, fields
promise are deserted old and young rush together
the Of action, there to endure suierngs viii
T. defending their homes, there to cope with the we
ID disciplined troops of Great Britain. Nobly did the
do their duty in freeing the land OF their birth fro
in the hands of despos. Not satisfied with the succe
of the British troops the English Ministry pourt
into the country mercenary forces, hired from Il
N petty princes of Europe. Even then, not statistic
with the ravages of these troops we find them in Il
~ midst Of the Indians, melting them to rebellion.
it strange they burned to reyengethe wrongs of the
y mothers wives, children and country2 No! su
IS jected to the harsh tyranny Of the English, the
a thought death preferable to slavery At one tin
II. gloom spread her dark mantle the country an
the seeds of independence seemed destined to pers
before the warmth Of freedom had caused tito sprou
% When Washington crossed the frozen Delaware at Il
ai dead of night and attacked the Hessans in the mid
of their Christmas reveries the star of liberty bur
forth in twofold hriancy, never to he dimmed agai
re After struggle of eight long years the colonies
IS, tabshed their independence. Under the guidance
rs, Washington We see them forming government, 9
couraging arts, sciences and emigration, repairing
injuries done to their commerce. building vessels
ur export the surplus Of their produce and establish
ng peace with the world. Just emerged from pl
~ traeted war; with the minds of the people unsettle
ng had anything hut patriotism actHated the leaders
c. the country, they might have usurped the Fedel
Est Constitution aud have established monarchy. B
tx no purer motives filed their bosoms-the welfare
ed their country, and not personal ambition was TIT
aim Let Us follow the noble example OF our ReYo