Greenbrier weekly era. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1854-1861, 1858-07-17
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Delivered by JonN J. KELLY, Exp,
Of SavnnaA, Gcorgi", at tic lVhttc
tSHioh"r Springs, on the Fourth
{5th) of J"iy, 1858. Published by
request o5 gentlemen who attended
the anniversary, schich gaze occts-
sion .foy its e3eiirery.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN 1t is
with untrigncd regret, [must say, that
I stand before you, some what in the po
silion Of an apolosist. Called upon but
t.o or three days since, to the perfor.
nance Of tho pie asinS and interesting du-
ty Of addressing you upon this occa-
sion, you will of coursp be aware. that
have not had time sufficient, even if l
had the ability, to prepare q" elaborate
address, or one that would be fully mp
propriate to tho day we have assembled
hcrr to celebrate. am constrained,
therefore, to throw m.yself upon YOUR
ki.i indn) ge.ec, during ,he few minuse:
/; Which may have the pleasure to oc}eu
ny, in addressing you. II there eyer
could be subject upon which could
wish to address my fellow conntrymon,
tho interesting document 10 which we
have just hal the pleasure of listening.
would fern the theme.oT ,my discourse.
Ii there ever c.sWI:. be au OCCASION, upon
which could regret the absence, or the
wurt Of The power of oratorY, to give
adequate expression to tho feelings
which spring up,spontaueously upon the
recurrence Of this day. this, believe me,
wouIl be that occasion.
The morning sun has once moro ush :
cred in day that should be dear to
tho heart Of every Ame,ican-not only
throughout the length and breadth Of
our couUtry--hut wherever his lot ma y
he cast, throughout the habitablc gloho
Alethinks can, upon this day, feel tue
throbbing Of each patriotic heart. whici,
Luows n uoblo and manly pride, a 3
lhe sentiment comes gushing frcm its
ipmost rccessca--[ a,a an American
Nor can this feeling be confined cxciu.
sively to those OF MS who lay claim to
this land rs our birth place. Our coun-
try has been, since the foundation of this
government, refuge for tho oppressed
of all nations-a home for the victims
Of inhuman tyrany in every cline,
and methiuks, also, without too great a
stretch Of tho imagination, I can hear,
mingled with our prayers ami oar aspi.
rations. the grateful acknowledgement
Of him, who comes 10 us from afnr-of
him who has made our government his
government, our country his country,
aud our people his people, rs ho outhusi.
aslically cxclaims Yes, thank God, !,
I too am an AmericaDl The Stars nnL
Stripes have become the cmblcms of his
regenernt aud as hcgnzes upon that
flag. which led our fore. fathers on to
victory, or formed their winding sheet
iu death, c feeling Of patriotic cnthusi.
asm finds itf way into his heart, and b o
rxcluims with us in tho language Of tho
Poet:
"l'lag OF Tho Free, hearts only Ionic,
BY nngcl hands to ralor given,
Thy stars have lit tho welkin dome,
And all thy hucs wcrc burn in heaven.
Then wide unfnrl that l}anncr sheet,
Where stands the foc, or Tails before us,
With frccdum's suil beneath owr feet,
Ami freedoms Bn,lncr maring u'cr u.s."
Iii not my intention, nor do believe
II is your wish, for uIe 10 enter at length
into the past history Of these States and
Territories. The want Of time to prcpnro
such IN address, would preclude the
possibility Of my doing 30, and tho no.
ccssity is still less apparent, when ro.
fleet, that fhat history, has been writ.
tcu upon tho hearts Of tho childreu Of
this country in characters Which can
never DO ellaccd. 1Aat history as taught
US IN our earliest CHILDHOOD, and Il was
impressed upon our hearts aud our me.
morics cocval with tho Material kiss.
Year after yctr, upon lilo recurrence
of ibis dny-tbo birthday Of nations
ftcedom-hayo wo heard from tho lips
of cloquencc, the story Of our country +
wrongs her struggles and her final in.
dependence. Tho patient endurance Of
tho heroes Of 10, during tho terrible
days that tried mems souls, nnd their
soIi'.sacriicing devotion to tho ouuse
which thov Ind cspouscd, nnd which
lies deep within their hcorts-,hc stor,
Of q WAsntSurON-,ho manwho,by his
devotion 10 his country, Lis wisdom, hi'