American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-07-15
Addrcss OF. Q. JeGries.

worthy the occasion, or the attention Of such 4
respectable assemblAge OF intelligent men |
and women. l might, indeed. with great |
deal Of propriety, stop to make you an spolo-
gy. but as seldom apologize for anything, !
shall not weary your patience, or trespass up |
on your good sense by apologizing for my ina
bllty to address you.
Neither shall | stop here 10 advise you OF
the object Of our coming togelheT-ths is
known to all, men, women and children
Perhaps some one unJclua,n,ed with the great
truths and principles upon which our govern
ment proiesses TO he fuunded-unacquain'et 'et
with the glorious deeds OF our aucestorS--the
iron viii and unbendIng energy Of those who
| fought in "the nrduous Struggle for liberty"
and the means by which we have attained our
:esent proud position, might institute an in
ouiGy os TO he meaning Of all this; but an A
mercan school boy would answer that 1t is
| TIE annual return Of the nations birth day.
and that a grateful people have assembled 10
once more listen 10 the tales OF ''the times
that tried mems souls" and the more strongly
to evince their respect for departed woTth-to
rejoice in the happy establishment of free gov
lernment-to view the wide spreading ihhu
ence OF our free institutions and the bright
glory of our national .charseter--these are
among the WORTHY objects OF our assemblage.
We have now assembled 10 commemorate
that grand and glorious epoch IN our civil his
tory which liberated us from the chains Of for
eign domination and serviiude, and gave US 0
distinct position among the nations Of the
earth Eighty two years ago, on this event
ful day, our ancestors, fred with love OF free
dom and patriotism. devoied 10 their country
and the welfare OF their fellow citizens, stood
forth in the eyes Of the astonished world and
declared themselves free and independent
Noble, yes, daring indeed must have bten that
spirit that first aroused the sleeping world
from lis Slumbers by procsmng the doctrine
Of freedom Of thought and freedom ofspeech
1t wns a still small voice at FIRST, moving along
IN silence, but it sunk deep into every heart,
and soon the great pulse Of the colonies throb-
bed back its mighty response, and hurled deh
once at the teeth ofdespots and the combined
power OF monarchies
Looking back upon the condition of the
colonies at the lime the people began 10 take
final separation from the mother country, we
behold our nation in its early infancy, her
people Impoverished and utterly destitute Of
the means Of defence. They had no power
] ful fleets, armies, magazines, or equipments TO
protect them from the .meTcileSS onslaught of
| Il e most potent monarch Of Europe. How,
! apparently unequal the contest and how
doubtful the success the American army
3 Yet, relying OIL the purity Of their cause, the
assistance OF Heaven, and the protection OF
the Almighty theyventuIed forth, and you have
the result before you.
misunderstanding you are all acquainted
with the causes which led to the Revolution,
} Il cannot rolran from giving passing notice
to that catalogue OF CRIME and opprt SSion on
the one hand, and patient iorbearance on the
other, which finally led to the bold and de-
. ciSiv. measures already referred to.
&. The policy Of Great Britain toward her A
, merlcan colonies, from their earliest settle
ment. had ever been OF the most illlberAl and
mngeneIops characte'; and | will 60 further
+ and say II was her impieIy that drove the pill
: grIms on the Plymouth rock, aid the same un
9 holy, pesecuuug spirit seemed to pursue the
descendants with relentless ann down TO The
latest moment Of its power Of action.
The colonies were looked upon as disobe
Y dent children, and with lhe view Of holding
:. them IN perpetual subsection, the cultivation
:, of intellect, and the development Of mine
', were sought TO be suppressed. The study 0
Y The sciences was in many instances, prevent
D ed-the object nfthe British government be
ing to render the American people ignorant
E the, betterto e1slave them and hold them il
perpetual bondage. AN educated people
u can never be enslaved,"
e Do nestle manufactures were forbid, obi
ging The culonists TO send the raw material Il
Eng land in exchange for fabrics at Tulnou'
cost; families in many instances not even al
: lowed TO manufacture their own clothing -
q Such was the unholy and cruel policy pursued
Q by the mother country towards her American
q colonies. ...
After the war OF 1863, when France cedet
to England her American possessions, it wa
u lOndiy hoped by the colonists that more hap
t py state of affairs would commerce. The,
. had hoped, earnestly hoped, that Great Bnr
ain, after having seen tnelr devotion TO he
interest. would pursue more liberal polio
towards them But ah, they were doomed L
disappointment
Great Britain saw with Jealous eye the grow
ing greatness Of the colonies, and Iedoube
her exertlonS TO degrade and check that growll
;. so fatal TO the government of the old world.
Had we TIE TIM. we might notice thes
facts more IN detail, but a general, hasly vley
10 must suffice. We might notice that odiou
system of taxation without representation, tn
duty imposed on sugar, coffee, &c., withou
the consent Of the cOlonists-the stamp act
:, requiring all obligations TO be executed ol
! stamped paper, for which certain duty wa
charged. We might notice that legislature
j were summoned by armed troopsi even loadet
field pieces were leveled at the doors OF the
session rooms, as II to make the fear OF nstan
death awe them into compliance. Our citizens
were fred upon by the British soldieTY IN th'
streets, and our statesmen publicly assassina
ted: and every act Of barbarlsm and Outrage
l., winch the malice Of fends could invent wa
. practiced by the emisSares Of England on ou
~ country
d is il to I've wondered atthen that such an or
ganized system of oppression should ultimate
ly induce the free born sons Of the pilgrims 1
rise and assert their rights. They fully say
o their weak aud defencelesS condition, an
n the strong and mighty arm Of the oppresSol
but they rather chose to Cll an honorable grav
IS than TO live dlshonorable life OF vaSsalage m
! slavery. They were conscious OF The jusneS
y of their cause, and the recitude OF their inst
tulions. aud relied for Succor on the stron
= ann ofthe God Of Battles,
or what courage. bravery and virtue, mus
0 that little band OF patriots been composed
Their names and deeds should be enshrine
in every American heart. Other nations ma
r, boast their Caesars, their Aleyanders, the
Cyruses, 0nd their Napoleons; but we Ca
n boast ola Washington, a Jt lfeTson, Franl
a lin, an Adams, Patrick Henry, Greene
host Of patriots and heroes, rising in cloudle
: ma jesty to adorn and beautiry our political no
, izon. But that little band Of parrots has pa
sed away. Their ashes repose in peace b,
meath the soil their valoT won--Ah.
,, GLOW sleep the brave who sink TO rest
NJ With all their country'S honors bltsti
he When spring with dewy fingers cold,
IN IN Returns to deck their hallowed mould,
al She there shall find a swe eter sod,
Than fancy's feet have ever trod."
- ! deem IL unnecessary to examine the toll
A trials aud sufferngs Of TIE American army d
'I ring the period OF the Revolution. The hist
ry is before you. You have oil heard Of Blu
ker Hill, Of the plains OF Bennington and Sr
a,ogp, OF Monmouth and Yorktown, togeth
NJ. with nAny Others. perhaps, not less brlllia
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