The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-08-12

i CONSCIOUS ana unconscIouS preparation-upon
the llluStR lous theatre OF vast continent, hid
E den toEthousands OF years from the rest of man
ailsld, "a group of feeble colonial dependencies
w one authentics and solemn act proclaimed
Themselves to the world an independent con-
fedefacy of sovereign States
repeat, sir, that on the Fourth OF july.
eighty-lwo years ago, deed, which not France
nor England, nor Rome nor Greece, can match
in all their annals, was done at Philadelphia, in
Independence Hall. Let Philadelphia guard thai
Hall as lite apple o! her eye. Let time respect
and violence spare it. Let every stone and
every brick and every plank and every bolt,
from the foundation to the pinnacle, be sacred.
Let the rains OF heaven fall gently on the roof
and the winds OF winter beat gently at the door.
Let 1t stand to the end OF time, second only to
Mount Vernon, as the sanctuary of American
patriotism. Let generation on generation OF
those who taste the blessing o. the great decla-
ration pay their homage al tie shrine. and deem
1t no irreveEence, as they kneel in gratitude 10
lhe Providence which guided and inspired the
men who assembled therein, to call ITS walls sal
vation and its gate praise
Yes, sir, the men by whom the deed was
performed, and TO go no furher..than the Com
mlttee who drafted he Declaration, (tor time
would fail me to run down the long and honor
ed roll of the entire body,) what names, what
memories Thomas Jefferson, John Adams.
Benjamin franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert r.
Livingston Virginia, Massachusetts,, Cnnnectl-
cut, New York, Pennsylvania. Three of them
natives Of Massachusetts,, two Of them Presi-
dents Of the United States. Franklin, the most
ildstrlous philosopher and skIllful uegot,ator
of the last century Sherman, who raised him-
self from the humblsst walks of manual labor 10
be the guide OF Senates Livingston, the head of
the tribunals OF his great S,ate-ioint negotia-
tor of the treaty which added halt the North
American Continent under the name Of Louisi-
ana, to the Union the confidential friend and
partner OF Fulton in the creation of steam
haslsSsa!io9anl;' -------. OF the
:he stupendous magnitude ofthe poIlGtent fGssifii
then inqugurated. Oh, that with compre-
hensive grasp OF the impending future, we could
De
hold in the kindling promise Of the dawn, the
brightness OF the coming glories. The merdi-
an splendors OF that coming day | attempt not
TO sketch but let us endeavor at least to form
some conception of the country, 10 which this
mornings sun proclaimed patriotic holiday
50 vast, 50 widely, though 50 recently settled
East, West, North and South-the differences OF
local pnsiton-maritir1e and inland, aIuvial
plains, hills proPPed with eternal buttresses of
iron and granite, central pIarie with its mex
haustible depths of vegetable mould, lakes that
rival oceans, rivers that stretch from the polar
circle to the tropics, every growth that clothes
the soll every metal concealed in its bosom
the endless variety Of occupation and pursuit
clustering round so many centres of local power
ret osnized and organized bv the curious adjust
ments ofour political system-but throughout
this vast extent and above the attractions and
repulsions, the atfinities and antagonisns of the
land, this mornings sun proclaimed holiday
OF peace and love. And as the local memories
Of this day revive throughout the Union, let the
all-absorbng interest Of the great Declaration
mould them into patriotic unity so that all
cherished traditions of every part of the coun-
try may be woven and twisted into a bright
cord Of mutual good will, TO which every hon.
ored name, and every sacred spot, and every
memorable deed shall add its golden and silver
thread and jamestown, and Plymouth, and
Bunker Hill, and Kings Mountain, and Warren
and Washington, with all the other precious
memories Of ancient and modern times, and all |
of either sex who have meeky suffered or
braveiy dared, in whatever part OF our Com
mon Country, shall this day be gratefully en-
shfned in the American heart of hearts.
Sir, | have lately seen much Of this noble
country, and ] have learned, as | have seen il
more, to love il better; the enterprlsing. inge
nious and indomitabIe North the substantial |
and magnificent Central States, the great bal
ance-wheel of the system; the youthful, rap
idly expanding and almost boundless West
the ardent, genial and hospitabe South have
traversed them all. | leave to others, at home
or abroad, to vihy them in whoie or part.
shall not follow the example. They have
all their faults, ior they are inhabited not by
angels but by human beings but II would be
well, 10 the language oi President Kirkland, |
for those swho rebuke their brethren Tor the |
faults of men, not 10 display, themselves, the |
passions of demons" For myself, have found
lin every part of the country generous traits o!
character. vast and we'll understood capacities |
OF progress, and hopeful auguries of good and |
taken IN the aggregate, they are the abode OF a
population as intelligent, as prosperous, as
moral and as religious as any TO BE- found on
The globe There is one little corner OF each
| should like to annihilae: if ! could w:eid
magiciap's wand, / would sink j, to thu crntre.
Its name is Bnncombe: not lhe respectable
county of that name in North Carolina.
against which | have nothing 10 say, bat a
pestiIen,, little, political electionsrring Bun
cornbe in svely State and every district, which
is the prolific source OF mos, of cur troubles.
II W. cnl,id rat Id s.r nf Rnncnnhs and II