The Messenger. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1858-18??, 1859-07-07
ORIG I N A &
THE FOURTH OF JULY.

on a nation of happy people, a peo-
pie whose privilege it is to commem.
orate this the Fourth of July. as tho
eighty third year of our Indepcn-
dence. Eighty three years ago our
forefatkers were the subjerts Of ty-
ranical England. FsAn rl.s and
three years ago the chains Of slavery
were clanking around our noble an
cestors. and England was making
q gigantic effort to weld the last link
that would have bound us to the
block of bondage and servitude.
But the destiny of our nation was
otherwise. Heaven had decreed
that we should be an, independent
people. The small spark of liberty
which had long been lying dormant
within the bosoms of our forefathers
was now famed into q fame. The
vigorous arms of our countrymen,
which had hitherto been weak, we're
now nerved for the struggle for vic
tory, and warm hearts beat in unison
with those efforts. The fierce roar
of the cannon, and the clash of
arms, had already been heard Upon
the plains of Lexington, and heights
of Hunker Hill. Brave men had al
ready been slain as sacrifices upon
the altar of Liberty. A stream of
blood that was destined to wash a.
way the whitening effects of slavery,
had already commenced to flow.
Men were willing to sacrifice their
wealth, friends, yea, even their lives,
to secure to themselves and their
posterity the sweet boon Of liberty.
Let us allow our Imagination to
run back to the Fourth of July
1776, and behold the calm and Sc
rious look of those men, with. gigan-
tic inte;lects, assembled in the city
of Philadelphia, to devise and carry
into effect measures for the freedom
of this land. Great were their re-
sponsibilities, but they we're men
equal to the task. The glorious
sun never shown upon band of pa
triots more competent for the work.
Surely they were men chosen by
| God, tho great Ruler of the universe.
1t was His wisdom that dictated
their thoughts upon that memorable
occasion. The platform adopted by
that noble convention astonished the
Eastern as we'll as the Western
world, and sages wondered at the
sagacity displayed on the eve Of the
birth of our Nation.
But where are those noble souls
now? They are. gone. The clod'
of the valley have long since cover
ed them over; but are their noble
deeds forgotten2 Nay; twenty-eigh
millions Of happy citizens now hav'
the privilege Of commemorating tn,
great event of the 4th of July 1776
And the praises of those worth,
men shall continue as long as th'
/ king of day shall reign in the frma
nent. I'd rsfg
Can we not on this day, by imag
ination, see the flag of stars an
stripes, as it proudly waved owe
those fields stained by the blood Q
our countrymen? May We not be
bold those brave commanders lead
ing the veterans of the Revolution
to the scenes of action, and encoul
aging them, with all the sympath,
of worthy generals, to fight bravel
for their affairs ahd their homes
See those gallant soldiers fall, bleed
ing and dying, and hear them eS
claim in the last struggle, "Give U
victory or give us death!'' Shoul
i. not our hearts thrill with joy o
this day, for the glorious privilege
!, so dearly bought. Can we think
the eloquence of a Henry or Har
k cock, or the sagacity of a Washing
ton or Green, or the kindness of
lafayette, and many others, whic
time has borne away, without fee
ing cur souls to bound with rejoicin
to God for this our happy country
Ie On this day rejoicing is hear
from the Atlantic to the Pacifi
and words of burning eloquence ce al
being poured forth from the lips
'. the orators Of our land. The swe'
1t tones Of music are being waited u
sr on every BreezeS and the stars ar
stripes axe gracefully waving ov.
ID this delightful soii, uafurled by 81
or summers. breeze Thousands 8
ou still gazing upon that honored fl
ry with feelsags' ike unto those whi'