The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-04-21
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Seventh of April in Marietta
M\RIETTA, Quo, April {.

The anniversary ceremonies have proved |
Of the most interesting character. AS I
year after year passes away, as the shade !
of the willows in our graveyard widens,
aud as the letters grow dim upon the mon
u!nents which commemorate the virtues of
departed heroes and patriots, public GU
rioSity is moro and more stimulated to
Inquire what were the names and charac-
ters oc those gallant men who, seventy
gears ago to day, landed at the mouth of
the beautiful Muskingum, and laid the
foundations OF a commonwealth which, in
all the clements Of physical, intellectual
and moral greatness, stands absolutely
without superior, and almost without
rival in the vast family Of American ma
tons. The Old Congregation Church
Suggestive at once of conservatism and
Antiquity, Itself history and pregnant
with prophcsy, fragrant with old fashioned
Christianity, Revolutionary patriotism,
and unsuliicd honor--waS proper thcater
for ceremonies so Interesting as those which
should ever be incident to Il celebration OF
the first settlement of Ohio. At an early
honr the venerable institution was crowd
ed with peooe who almost tramplcd each
otker under foot in the desperate strife.
to gain position adjacent to the stage
The Old and the young, men, women aad
chiilrcn, pressed forward in irregular
columns and took possession of pews
which hardly q Sabbath has found vacant
during the last thirdsof century.
-f,>. Nv 4
r. NYc, ESQ, who Introduced Mr.. Amos
Porter. the only snNsor of The ferry
seven men who on the I tn OF April, II 50,
commenced the settlement of Marietta-
) Tae aaacarancc. Of Mr.. Porter created
= marked sensation. ! know, him well,
.yct' the tears came into my eyes when
! saw him step forward ana receive the UNI
ye:rsal greetings Of the, audience lis
| hai: is white, aud his head is bowed with
, age; vet there is the same vitality which
characterized him gearS bcjorc III tie bahie
ot' BanGer HI ,AA his comrades have
, been laid beneath dhe clods of the valley;
he alone remains to tell the won1rons
tale! ..
: After the reception Of Mr.. Porter, a
: choice piece of music was rendered by the
choir, and al eloquent prayer oilered-b by
D President Andrews Of Marietta College.
t Hon Joseph Barker (the third male,
3 believe born within the present limits OF
:, Ohio.) then introduced to the audience
: Hon. Thos Ewing His address was
: very able and very eloquent; certain pas
y sares. indeed, were beautiful; his references
e TO some of the OH settlers ELECTED the
: warmest sympathics Of his hearers. 1t is
|, not doing him Injustice, however, to say
n that five -six,hs Of his address should not
l. have been devoted to the Territory Of
e Kansas. Is it possible that there is no
: place too sacred for the intrusion of this
n miserable . astraction? Are we to be fol-
: lowed as though we were the destined
y victims of the fnries, and to be denied
G even the medieval privilege of sanctuary!
II Is there no 'lodge in some vast wilder
n ness" or some "boundless contlgulty O
y shade" where we woud hear no more o
a suffering martyrs, rullians, emf
d grant aid societies and Kansas constitu-
: tions? ....- -e
IF Mr.. Ewing is intimately acquainted
x with the early history of the State, and
there arc many beautiful subjects to which
he might and ought to have alluded, bul
which, in his extravagant crusade i'll search
n of Kansas murders, riots &c, he totally
Q overlooked. l have heard many promi
l. nent Republicans express sincere regrets
n that the speaker did not conline himself to
d the subject which he was appointed to dis
a cuss. instead of launching into matter;
which are calculated in their very nature
g to offend hundreds of good citizens, and
4 mar the harmony of festival occasion
;. that should ever be considered above the
!. mere vulgar considerations of sect aud
l. party. Ten thousand copies OF Mr. Ew-
# ing's speech were ordered to be printed.
q In the afternoon several thousand per-
II sons visited Odd Fellows Hall. GOOD
d feeling was universal; every countenanee
). seemed lighted up by pleasant associations
# or cherished memories. The ladies, par
y ticuarly appeared to enjoy the occasion;
c the array of beauty and fashion was al
IF most unrivaled, and contrasted strangely
Il with the picture which had just been pre-
5 sented of savage warfare and the bowling
!, wilderness of two generations past.
h In the evening the people assembled
e again in the Congregational Church, whcr
0 ithe Hon. T. c. II. Smith read an address
o Of Governor Woodbridge. of Michigan
). prepared for the occasion, but which the
Governor, not being able to attend in per
son, forwarded to Marietta. The subjects
# we're well chosen, and handled in an abl:
It and eloquent style Several OF the oid
= pioneers were called for by the audieucc
and some of them came forward anu de
O livered short addresses of thrilling inter
e est. -.'
The pyrotechnics of the evening were
on a magnificent scale, and were highly
!. creditable to their oriSinators. The Guy
scooters furnished torch-light procession
which, though interrupted by rain, was q
> splendid affair.