Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-07-14
WASHINGTON CITY. July 4.


You kindly invite me to be present at your sp-
proachinq national anniversary. can scarcely
Imagine greater pleasure than to unite with you II
celebrating the glorious event Of our national lnde-
pendence in city founded by and IN state, pear
ING the name Of William Penn, and whose inhabI-
tents to the present day distinguished for that
strict and impartial justice which the example
Of his whole life was well calculated to inspire
How delightful it would be to assemble in such
G IT, and among such people, and to stand oeneeth
the shadow Of mat ancient temple from whose LOFTY
dome first rang forth the joyous peals OF national
independence!
Whilst these propitious circumstances will greatly
enhance the pleasure and interest Of the occasion,
the great event Of instrumentation will stand out
IN It's own intrinsic grandeur and Importance lou
assemble to pay homage to no prince whose reign
was distinguished only by its crueltes and opPres-
sions-of no warrior, whose march through the
world nav be traced by the blood Of his victims;
YOU meet for far nober purpose than these-to
celebrate the birthday Of nation treedom-the day
when America proudly rose from the despotism that
had bowed her, and stood forth firm and erect
among the nations Of the earth. History has
furnished DO spectacle more sublime and no event
more important in its influence on the destinies Of
mankind. 1t deserves, therefore, to be commemo-
rated in every town and village and neighbOrhOOj in
this vast republic by boures festivals patriotic
addresses-in churches and groves, the land and
on the sea, and by every people who love rational
liberty all over the earth.
Three quarters of q century have now confirmed
the grand system Of popular government, Inaugural
ted by the blood and suferngs Of our revolutionary
fathers Instead of thirteen, We have now become
a confeieracy of more than thirty States; and may,
in due time, if we are true to ourselves and the
Union, become one Of fifty, or even one hundred
States all revolving in perfect harmony around the
Constitution as their common centre. In such q
system rightly administered, It can make 10 differ
ence where the centre OF power may be located.
The seeptre may depart, as it has done, from the
South to the North it may pass, as 1t will do, to
the West. Still Irepeat, 1t can make no difference
80 long as we give 10 the Constitution strict ana
fair construction, and award 20 each State Its Just
and equal rights under that sacred instrument No
matter who may be President, or whether he may
come from the North, the South or the West-no
matter who may be his great minister OF state, or
whence the numerical majority Of the two Houses
Of Congress may reside, long as the constitutional
equality Of the States and the just rights Of indiN
viduals under it shall be recognized, this glorious
Union will be preserved In all this broad land
there is not one right-minded individual who is q
dIsuniOnist per Ii is only when all hope Is lost
that these rights of States and Of individuals can
be preserved, that the idea Of dismemberment has
ever arisen anywhere or with anybody. II my
humble cOunsels were worth anything, would ex-
hort my coUntrymen everywhere, in public and In
private, IN the lecture room, in the forum, but es
pecally in the halls Of legislation, TO cherish and
Inculcate the most profound reverence for the Con
SuJuOD, anu lot lhaJ equalty OF rights, StaLe anu
individual, on which IL founded, and for which
il was ordained and established. Equality the
greatest word Of our language Equality! the great
est word Of the Constitution. Give us that, and
this Union can and will because it ought to- endure
forever.
It'll wrapt in flames the realms Of ether glow,
And Heavens last thunder shakes the world below.
Pardon. 1 pray you, these hasty reflections, dash
ed on the paper during the last moments that my
letter could reach you and believe me only absent
from your meeting from sense Of official duty.
AARON V. BROWN.