American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-07-15
NEW SERIES---VOL 6. NO. IL

few years later, the Pilgrim Fathers, n
band OF Heroes united in hand, united in heart
and united in theit devotion to religion and
posterily, compelled by religious testrct.
tlons. and driven by persecution, leave the
hearth stone OF their infancy; the graves and
alters OF their fathers, to seek home in the
uncultvated wilds of America, where they
might educate their childfen, rear their al
tiers and worship their God unmolested. They
launched their boat upon the trackleSs deep;
they crossed the unfathomed waters of the flood
and landed upon the desert coast Of the new
world; their proud hearts swelling with the
cherished thought, that in her unsullied tenn
pies, no prosecutions ragged, no faggotS famed,
no racks drank the blood Of those who dared
to assert the liberty Of conscience, who dared
to kneel at the shrine Of the eternal God in
purely, sincerity and truth. They built their
hcmes, they lived, and loved, and worShpped;
framed constitution for their government The
first OF a series of compacts, by means ofwhich
the whole dark pile of political mockeries has
been leveled with the earth. The first Of
series OF compacts, whose mighty truths have
penetrated Europe TO its centre, crushing the
massive pillars OF the feudal system into dust;
and by means Of which, tyrantS have been
taughtto respect humanity; the ietters OF des.
potiSm ungrappled from the souls OF men; and
liberty brought again into life. May the memory
ofthat patriot band sink deep into the heart of
every American, nor age, nor time, dim the
lustre Of their virtues.
From this hour the tide OF emigration to A.
merica flowed rapid and strong. Towns and
cities, gardens and plantations, cottages and
palaces assume the place ofc abins AMI forests
and desert wastes. The valleys teemed with
vegetation, the rich harvests glittered in the
sun. The Red-man fled before the onward
march Of civilization, whose sunlight to him
was darkness, whose touch pollution, whose
embrace sure death. But not unaveBged did
he leave his cabin i hunting ground. His knife
had drank the blood of thousands SShis tomaha wk
had sent as many more reeking to the grave
His torch had brought cities to the dust, and
laid provinces in ruin, and although few
more years, will sweep the last vestige Of this
unfortunate people from our midst-iheir
deeds Of blood, have reared for them monu-
ment that will never pass awAy-but we hast
en- on.
The wilds of America have become an Eden
glowing with beauty and vegetation. The forests
have been felled and martS of commerce and
civilization have usurped their place. Temp
les OF learning have been constructed hal Is
of art have been reared. Towns and cities have
grown into colonies and states. The march
ofa pure religion, a quickened science, true
u
ity has been onward and upward. The seeds
OF liberty, truth, justice and virtue, plant
ed by our Pilgrim Fathers at Plymouth Rock,
are bearing their fruit, growing with our
growth, and Strengthening with our strength. In
short we had become mighty people, rich in
all that constitutes a nations greatness, save
liberty. We were still goaded by oppression,
still lashed by tyrants, still subject to mon
arch'S will, our vitality was still leached out
to support in ease and luxury, a few titled
drones, who had no interest in common with
ours; we were still taxed without being repre-
sented, still overrun by rapacious hrelings,
still deprived of the benefits of trial by jury,
still crippled in trade, still transported for pre-
tended offences.
A brighter day is ushered in; the oppression
Of the mother country has become inSupporta
BILE, our fathers grasp their arms and rush to the
struggle for liberty .or death. The Revolution
with all its terror breaks upon the scene. The
morning ofthe 18th of April dawnS, the thund
ers OF Lexington, usher in the first struggle for
human rights. Oar fathers, thank God, are found
equal to thetask. They strike, they bleed, they
conquer; the insurgent foe is driven from the
feld-the British Lion humbled in the dust.
We pause, fellow citizens, to contemplate
the greatest political event ever chronicled by
time. The blood Of Lexington and Sunker
its effect. fixed determination to resist the op-
preston Of George, and cast off his yoke, was
written in every heart. Our fathers left the,r
fresides for the battle field, gave up the sickle
for the sword. The eloquence of Patrick
Henry, and bis thousand eagle associates had
its effect the pen of Paine, with all its bitter
ness, done its work-a determination to resist
oppression became a resolution to be free
moved by the fearless Lee, the colonial con
gress then in session, composed of Heroes,
Statesmen, Patriots, such as the Roman SEN
ate or GrecianAreopagus never knew, declared
that America is,$ ofright,ougbt to be free and
independent. The instrument publishing this
event TO the world, you have just heard read, lei
it be remembered and cherished, side by side,
withthe constitution Of our States, by every low
er of his country. The trainers of this Palladium
Of our Liberties, now sleep beneath the sol
their valor won. Their memories are engrav.
ed upon Our hearts and written in our souls
There may they glow untaTnished till the end
of time.
But, fellow citizens, the end is not yet &C
complished, the SIMPLE declaration has beer
made, the simple determination taken, the
tyrant mother still holds us writhing in hel
grasp; blood and death and misery is the
price that must purchase our release. Oul
fathers nerve themselves to the task-eight
years they struggle and are victorious.
cannot here forbear, fellow citizens, drop
ing tear, though it be silent and unseen, Il
the memory Of those patriot foreigners whC
assisted US in our struggles. La Fayelte, Kos
iusco, Pulaski and others, brave men who lef
| the land OF their birth, the home of their nata
hours; generously sacrificing their fortune $
nobly hazzarding their lives to assist our faith
ers in this, their struggle, for human rights
Side by side, with our Washington, they stoot
and bled and battled. Their mortal lineament
now sleep in death. Let "Peace to their ash
esq burst from the heart ofevery American.
The peace of Paris heralds forth to humani
ty the advent OF a better day. The gla
tidings are hailed with enthusiastic Joy b
the oppressed ot every land. The star o
liberty quickened in its glow, shooting t
the zenith Of all that was glorious and great
The blood and misery Of the past were burie
up IN the glory Of the present. The tide Q
| human progress again swept rapid and strong
The fame OF our heroes went abroad-the re
nowR our statesmen and the glory of ou
philosophers dazzled the world. Eighty wear
have well nigh passed, uninterrupted in peac
and prosperity, save by the wars of ~ an
'46, in each Of which new pearls have beef
added to the diadem OF our glory, and new lau
relS 10 the fame OF our heroes. In the Isl
the British Loin was forced covering secon
time, to lick the dust and Britton herself com
PEELED to acknowledge the superiority Of ou
arms. The war Of 'l2 has its New Orlean