Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-07-20

Ladies and Gentlemen:
 On the 4th mnrning of July, 1776, there might have been seen in Independence Hall, an assemblage of grave, reverend, and dig nIticd patriots. On their brows deep deli beration sat-their eyes flashed with patri- otlc tire-thcir hearts heaved with patriotic emotion. Need tell you that this was the Congress of the Colonial Provinces of few meagre sparsely populated provinces, found ed by coloni,tS, who fleeing the civil and reli- giouS persecution of European despotisms. had planted the germ of a nation in the inhospitable wilds of the western world. These provinces were dependencies Of the crown of Great Britain. From a mere handful they had rapidly increased in wealth and importance without the assis- tance, or indeed, word of encouragement from the mother country; and thus unno- ticed they had gone on, expanding their territory. pertccting their laws, and rebul1- ing abuses until at length, they numbered thirteen distinct and respectable colonies.
 Instead of the tender solicitude the pa rent country should have felt for her strug- gling infant, and the pride she should have evinced for its increased prosperity; she was ever watching with eager cupiditv it's growing importance. England, proud, naughty, triumphant England, with the rest of Europe, believed in the divine right of kings. The power to trample upon the rights and " crush out" the nascent liber- ties of people beneath the weight of it's relentless despotism. In the madness of her intoxication, she dreamed that the wealth of the colonies should be drained into the lap of her tinselled mnions. and believed that every success of her laboring subjects abroad would rebound to the en- gorgement of a pampered arstocracv.
 ldle thought Petition after petition, remonstrance after remonstrance on the part oi the colonists was spurned from the throne oi the lmperious potentate. Tax upon tax, eXaction upon exaction, tribute upon tribute, was wrung from the implor- ing dependency; until at length the men and the descendants of the men, who had sought to escape the prosecutions of the old world, began to feel that the strong arm of tyranny hung over them, even more cruelty here. than in the land whence they had fled.
 Under these exciting circumstances was 1t, that the provincial congress assembled in the city of Philadelphia on the 4tb 1av ot July, l'l6. Amidst the deep agitation that pervaded that assembly, Richard Henry Lee. delegate fl lom the province of Vir ginia, arose in his place, and moved by re- solution, that we throw off the yoke of Great Britain and declare ourselves free and independent people,"
 lie saw that man had yet soul and dared be free. He believed that resistance to tyranny was duty to God-that man was never born to be the slave and tool of kings, that delegated power was for the good of all, and not the oppression of few, and in their present vassalage he fore saw nothing but a life of inglorious subu- gation for themselves and for their poste- rity, heritage of political degradation.
 It might have been supposed that at the first signal raised by these lion-hearted champions of human right, the people would unanimously have rushed to the standard, and in solid phalanx marched to do or die in the cause ofliberty. Alas! one by one the vile tories stole away to tht bannered tents of their royal oppressors; until the patriots had almost as much to fear from an insidious foe within, as an open enemy abroad. We'll might the