The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-03-03
LITERARY ARTICLE.
PoR THE WESTERN DEMOCRAT.


ton ?" asked one of them. We had, you
are to know. fallen in upon little party
who, at the close of long days Juggling
az the Court House. were discussing such
matters I'm one of the rooms at the village
hotel. cultivating literature. not precisely
like good Sir Christopher. ION little oat
meal" but reolined upon our Immediate
hosts bed and - otherwise distributed
about in the ordinary way, and partially
invisible behind cloud ofthick smoke that
wreathed upward and around from half
dozen clay pipes, like so many rival loco
motives.
This august tribunal had just disposed of
Banks ill-natured criticism upon Davis
Petersburg address in manner not very
complimentary to the good taste OF the
''South Side Democrat or Virginians gen
orally, and laughing cordially at Baldwin's
bon mot npon the members per nOctetn' III
connection with the proposal to raise the
per diem of the Assembly lately in session.
from one corner came the query with which
we begun this article.
"Why," said one not altogether I'M
known at the bar and elsewhere among the
fiowery paths of literary recreation, "to
tell the truth. 1t took me by surprise; had
never read the Wood Notes and did not
know the "Standard" had it in him." An
other, evidently good mathematician and
reasoner. and good fellow withal, obserT-
ed, sententiously, "There are, sir, in my
opinion, now days, three things which it
takes a man of genius to do well, snd they
nre LIST, To lecture upon Education. I'd, To
charge the grand jury, and Sd To oritdte
on the 4th July" What ny friend pro-
ceeded further to say ! did not learn, for
becoming alarmed at the prospect of dis
sertation / left him, AID remembering my
promise, and the fact that the Grafton was
at that particular moment in my carpet bag
awaiting trial and Judgment with other
''cases," | determined upon this communi-
cation.
1t is difficult matter nowadays to
write a good address of this character; the
subject has become not only threadbare,
but positively worn OUT and so familiar the
tropes and figures, and the inevitable "eagle
and star spangled banner" the one waving
and the other ascending in one and re
spectable progression, that without actually
Insulting one half of the audience by al
luding to forbidden topics. orfs can hardly
avoid being tame and wearisOme. In the
case =of an Editor, too, TO whom mighty
voice is constantly calling .'write, write ~
the task is one of no ordinary difficulty.
We were prepared, then. by, these con-
allowance of our critical discrimination
but if we have any serious complaint about
this essay it is that after a careful perusal,
we find it altogether unculled for and un-
necessary. Barring slight transposition
of words and some polishing in the third
section of the exordium, there are few pas
sages in any English prose writer with
whom we are acquainted, of more stately
and perfect descriptive beauty. The limits
of this paper will not permit very extend
ded notice, but we take leave to insert this
section:
What, o spectacle is before us The
Republic now stretches from north to
south through twenty four degrees of lati-
tude, and stands, east and west, with a vast
breadth across the continent. Its hand is
upon both oceans. Its area. thus bounded,
is capable of sustaining in comfort and
abundance four hundred millions of human
beings; its revenues are ample, and its re-
sources almost inexhaustible; its flag, IA
he lirrbf &c :,
everywhere respected; and its form of gov
eminent is the result of such principles,
and so wisely adjusted, as to give promise,
If we are only true TO ourselves, of indefi-
mite expansion and duration. On this hles-
sed morning, from fonr millions of dwell
ings-from the uttermost headlands of Maine,
TO where the sun gilded with his rising
beams the banks of the Rio del Norte and
the golden shores of California, acclama-
tions and offerings of gratitude have as
cended, mingling with the roar of artillery,
the sound of many waters, the hoarse notes
of the drum, and the many-voiced instru-
ments of martial music. These acclama-
tons and offerings are the same in all these
regions. They thrill the air beside the
great lakes, and near the boundaries of the
two great oceans, and along the courses of
the Saint Lawrence, the Mississippi and
Tue lie HtdTu aHlQ the
peaks of the Allegheny and the Rocky
Mountains, as the eagle, proud emblem of
all these liberties, sweeps by with his wing
of lightning and his eye of fire. They are
uttered above the battle fields of Licking
ton, and Brandywine, and Guilford Court
house, and Eutaw, where the fame of our
forefathers was made immortal by almost
superhuman courage, and by baptisms of
blood gushing like water, in defence of their
rights and ours. And far out upon the
sea, where our ships cleave the blue waters,
or where they repose in strength near the
shore, our brave seamen partake of this
spirit and are with US in heart in this DELE
bration. as the morning gun speaks out, and
the wondrous flag of "Many in One" is run
up before the gaze of all peoples, and kim
dreds, and tongues. Thanks be to God
for this day, and for the deed which, eighty
years ago, it Witnessed"
The orator passes in rapid review the
history OF. the Federal Union, and especially
of slavery. The southern view of this great
question was never stated with more power
~ e., nd ;,c