The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-07-07
The Fourth of July,

On Monday last, the nativity of American
Independence was celebrated throug ghout the
country, with pomp and joy. Each little
town seemed to vie with its neighbor in
commemorating the day-the cares of bust.
ness were laid aside, political preiudices were
forgotten, and such degree of sociability
and good feeling generated as to cheer the
heart of every true American. 1t is to be
hoped that so long as time shall exist it will
be ever thus commemorated. Those who
are familiar with so much of the history of
our country as relates to the revolutionary
struggle know that the Declaration was an
undertaking of ponderous magnitude-an
undertaking that required great courage and
great sacrifices. The work was not com.
plete even after that declaration had been
maintained by the success of our arms. The
success Of our arms established our indepen-
dence of the mother country and SO far the
undertaking was complete. The struggle
to achieve that ependence was long,
costly, and for the time being, paralyzed our
prosperity. A government was to be found.
ed, in order that our independence, triumph.
antly maintained, should yield fruit that would
prove blessing to the people whom an over
ruling Providence should place on American
soil. Then came time more than any for
mer time calculated to test the wisdom and
patriotism Of the sages of the Revolution
For Republican government there was no
model. Monarchy and despotism held su-
premacv throughout the world, and when
the great men, under whose auspices the
Revolution was brought to successful close,
determined that the government should be
inaugurated on a republican basis, monarch.
lists and their sympathizers pointed derisive-
ly to the long extinct republics of Greece
and Rome, and secuted as fallacy the most
absurd the doctrine of mans capacity for
self-government.
I The articles of Confederation were first
adopted, but were soon discovered to be in.
adequate. Then Convention was called,
wherein each State had its proper represen.
tative, to devise some form of government
that should meet the requirements of Re.
public. In that Convention, the present
Constitution Of the United States was form.
ed, and Washington, he who was ''frst in
war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of
his countrymen," presided over the delibera.
tons. The people, in spirit Of magnanim-
ity and with an unshaken confidence in his
patriotism, wisdom and integrity. selected
him as the man who should preside over and
give direction to the government when
launched forth under this constitution. 1t
is needless to advert to his administration or
to say that he had any other aspirations than
that this country should become renowned
as the greatest and most free among the ma
tions of the earth. That such, and such
alone, were his aspirations is admitted by all
who are familiar with his history. His name
is cherished with reverence by all who are
proud in being Americans, either by birth or
adoption.
In our opinion, 1t is eminently betting at
this time, to present to our readers para.
graph from the address he conceived it pro.
per to address to the American people on
Ills retiracy from the Presidency:
To the efficacy and permanency of your
Union, Government for the whole is indis.
pensable. No alliance, however strict be.
tween the parts, can be ON adequate substi-
tute they must inevitably experience the
infractions and interruptions which all ALI.
ances, in all time, have experienced. Sem
sible Of this momentous truth, you have inn
proved upon your first essay, by the adoption
of Constitution of Government better cal.
culated than your former for All intimate
Union. and for the eficacious m anag cement
of your common concerns. This Govern.
ment, the offspring of our own choice, un.
influenced and unawed, adopted upon full
investigation and mature delberetion, com.
pletely free in it's principles, in the distribu-
tion Of its powers, uniting security with en-.
ergy. and containing within itself provision
for its own amendm eDt, has a just claim to
your confidence and your support. Respect
for it's authority, compliance with Its laws,