Greenbrier weekly era. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1854-1861, 1858-07-17

seemed to be dropping and their hearts
sinking within them, undor tho weight
Of accumulated trials and occasional de-
fcat-the man who had no ambition boz
yond his country's good. and who, unlike
IN Alexander, oru Napoleon-after he
had led his people into victory and
glorious independence, exhibited to tho
astopisLuotLt of On adinirius world, thar
he had no selfish views to gratify-ho
earthly honors to desiro--that ms God
was SttN the Lord.
I think, then, my friends, it would bo
n needless task for me to attempt to pot..-
tray scenes and events, which tho oAcrS
recurrence of this day, is calculated to
bring up, SO vividIy, to tho minds Of US
all-sceucs and events, the history Of
Which will live in the heart Of every truo
-Amcrican, aud will DO. guartlad aud
cherished there, IA one of the dearest
and most highly priced relies Of tho past,
wl,ilo tho pulsa'ions Of that henrt con
tinucs to denote that the stream of lifo
is still coursius through his veins.
.LnTirs nnG Gentlemen Wo b1re
assembled here to day, in this beautiful
and health. giving Valley of Old Fir-
ginia, nnd surrounded by new ard cIc-
CANT testimonials Of the public spirit of
some Of tho Citizeus of that noble State.
to unite our voices with those Of our
couutrymcu throughout tho world in Of
frring up our thanks to tho great ArEhi.
tee, Of the Universe, for tho many fayoEs
and blessings, which he has poured out
upon our beloved country, for his deliv.
GRANGE of our fore e-fathers in tho days Of
their trinls-for the wisdom and iHspt-
ration which he bestowed upon those
who after they had delivered their coun.
try from tho shackles of tyrauy, and
their countrymen from the yoke of the
opprcSsor, wtre enabled to give them n
government and Constitution, unequal.
cd in the annals Of history, for its wis. s.
dom and adaptation to the wants Of n
people. A government, which, after
withstanding, for long period, the at.
tacks of tho rest Of the world-uHiteI
together in tho PRONUNCIATION Of tl!e
false. the ,lcspotic and tue unm anil Y jiLmt
"ihat man is incap able Of Self .4sovora,
ment"-has succeeded in cxeSiipr a pow
crlul and a benign inli.a4nce npon The
whole human rafs6. When VIC no8:tGltr
our eyes towaEsHs the nations of Ola In
rope, wha. il The view which presents
itself to w there ? -
Enigzant, after 4 long md friitless
llrcffort to bring these rsbellious colonies
again under hor subiugation and her
misrutc, not only gave it up in sicsI cir,
but has changed her home as we'll ssher
colonial policy. Her rulers havo bean
brought to listen to the demands Of her
people. From time to limo, their claims
have been presented and accorded, un
Ill thcre has brcomc but little difference
between her government aud our owu,
save in name.
| France. lovely. gay, fascinating, "La
| Bcffe ffa',Cci--she. too, has had and
still has the germ Of liberty warm in her
heart CIT has siio entcavofed to thro "
of the shackles of Ionarchioal tyruny,
hut it has SO far been tho inscrutable
will Of divine providence, TINT she should
not be successful. Perhaps her people
havo never been sufficiently united, to
/ hiring about so glorious an end OF per-
haps she is not, nor has not been suili
! ciensly prepared for government like
! our own, differing rs it docs froh, the
systems under which their fathers, and
their fore.fathers had lived. They arc a
rrond, as we'll as r. petite md intelligent
; people. The arts aud sciences bad been
developed, and had their existence n,
mong them long before our Constitution
| WAS written, and it may be that their
pride Us people, who had contributed
so much to the civilization and improve
ment Of man, has had something to do
with their hesitation to adopt system
promul gated by so young-and in their
view.-so inexperienced people. Still tho
germ Of liberty is there. And although
tho present government Of Franco may
fully meet her present wants, tha. seed
will spriug up, mud bud, and blossom
and bring forth its fruit, and that rru
will be rs grateful and pleasant, "as the
spring that gushcd forth from the rock
in tho wilderness, or tho dew that de.
sccnded upon tho mountains Of Zion u
Aud poor Old .Ircta'til She, like us,
has suffered from the old policy of I'm.
gland. She, too, has sought n separation
from tho British Government and. sho.
too, like us, has long sinca duolared 10
tho world "tho causes which impeIlod
her to the separation - but her day Of
deliverance is at hand /; her condition is
rapidly improving, and publio opinion
will Gro loug achieve for her bloosllcss
victory,lIer harp will thou bo tnken from
tho walls Of Tara, mud she will onec more
boldly contest hor claim to ba--"tirst
flower Of tho earth, uud frst gem Of the
sea-"
The influence I hayo spoken Of, has
found its way to tho heart of rvcry ciri.
lizcd man. This influence has caused ty-
rants 10 lremblo in every quarter Of tho
globo It has enabled man to stand up
and ,lomund OH acknowledgment Of his
rights, at thu hands Of his opprcssor,
and to proclaim aloud tho doctrine 4:
"lhut all mcn nro oroa.ed equal, aud that
tioy aro endowed by their creator with
ccrtai In inolionablo rights, among whiol,
nto life, liberty, aud tho pursuit Of hap.
piness." ..
As woll might dospotism sock to hush
tho thundcr's roar, or cause yon sum.
mcr sun 10 cease to burst In upon tho
earth its vital principles Of light and
heat, ns 10 destroy this Influence for
good. II will stride Onward und onward,
till il finds its pathway through the
SHOWS Of Russia, mud tho icy regions OF
The Nortl.rhc song Of liberty will spring
forth from thejunglcs Of India, and it will
cheer tho heart OF tho wandcrer through
tho hot ond burning sands Of Arabia,
ill man, in tho image Of bis creator, IN.
'e''iscus man. 's"uds forth redromcd'