New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-07-12
rov.th or Ju,v Ce,cbr.t,on.
WRITTEN FOR THE GENERATION OF THE 4rH OF JUL,
FOR THE METROPOLITAN CLUB, BIZ W. A. BEECHER.

WRITTEN FOR TIE CELEBRATloN OF THE 4TH OF JULY
FOR THE METROPOLITAN CLUB, BIZ W. A. BEECHER.
Fello,c- Citixens-Ladies and Gentlemen The
citizens Of America celebrate this day, which gave
birth to their liberties, throughout the world in every
land where they may be found. The recollection of
this event, repete with consequences SO beneficial to
mankind, fills every heart with joy and fills every
tongue with praise. We celebrate not the sanguinary
exploits Of tyrant to subugate and ensave millions
Of his feowcreatures celebrate neither the birth
nor the coronation of that phantom styled king,
but the resurrection and continuance Of liberty the
emancipation Of mankind, the regeneration oil the
world these are the sources of our joy, these the
causes Of our triumph. We pay no homage az tile
tomb Of kings to sublime our feelings; we trace no
line Of illusrious ancestors 70 support OUR dignity
recur to no usages sanctioned by the authority of
the great, to protect our rejoicing. No, we love lib
erty we glory in the rights of man we glory in
independence, on whatever part of Gods Creation
human; form pines under chains-there Americans
drop their tears.
dark cloud once shaded this beautiful quarter of
the globe; CONSERVATION for while agitated the
hearts Of the inhabitants war desolated fields and
buried our wales in blood but the day.spring from
high soon opened upon its gttering portals the
brow the wreath OF victory, and stamped on Ameri-
con freedom the seal Of omnpotence. That darkness
has now passed and the true light now shines to
enliven mankind. We tread new earth in which
dwelleth righteousness, and view q new heaven
flaming with inextinguishabe stars our feet will no
more descend into the vale Of oppression our shout
ders will no more bend under the weight Of foreign
domination As cruel - It was unjust. Well may We
sc;c . r,f
day dear to every American . day to be held in
everlasting remembrance q day whose light circu-
Ates joy through the hearts Of all republicans, and
terror through the hearts Of all tyrants.
Our country stands at the present time on COM
manding ground older nations, with different sys-
TENS of government. may be somewhat slow to &c
knowledge all that justly belongs to US, but we may
feel without vanity that America is doing her part
in the great work of improving human affairs. Eel
low.citizens, there are two principles strictly and
purely American which are now likely to overrun the
civilized world indeed, they the necessary re-
suit of the progress of civilization and knowledge
These are FIRST popular governments restrained by
written constitutions and, secondly, universal edu
cation. Popular governments and general education,
acting and reacting, mutually producing and repro
ducing each other are the mighty agencies which in
changing civilized societies. Man is now found de-
handing participation in government, and he will
not be refused and he demands knowledge as neces
sary to selEgovernment, on the basis Of these two
principles liberty and knowledge-upon which our
own American system rests. Thus far, we have not
been disappointed in their results. Our existing in
stituons raised these foundations have conferred
on us almost unmixed happiness AS parents, do we
obi kokk1
As members of society, lovers of our country, is
there anything desire for it better than as ages
and centuries roll it, it may possess the same
invaluable institutions which it now enjoys? For my
part feowcitizens, can only thank the Creator of
all good for being born where was born and when
was born; for the portion Of human existence
allotted to in this goodly land, and at this inter.
esting PERIOD Our course, feow-ctizens, is onward,
straight onward and forward path is marked ont
for US, clear, plain bright distinctly Defined like the
milky way across the heavens. Therefore, let us not
turn to the right hand nor to the left if we are true
to our country, in day and generation, then those
that come after shall be true to it also. We will
elevate her to pitch Of prosperity and happiness of
honor and power, never yet reached by any nation
under the sun. ,
The solemn oath of America has assembled to
her religion and her laws, or nobly perish in their
defense, and be buried in the wrecks of her empire
To the fate of government is united the fate of
our country. The commissions that destroy the one
must desolate the other. Their destines are inter-
woven, and they must triumph or fall together.
Where is the youth in this assembly who could with
out agonized emotions, behold the invader hurting
the brand of devastation into the dwelling of his
father, or, with sacrlegious cupdity pundering the
Communion table OF his God? Who could witness,
without indignation and desperation the mother who
bore him inhumanly murdered in defense of her
infant? Who could hear, without frantic horror the
shrieks Of sister flying from pollution and eapng
from blazing roof to impale herself on the point of
halbert I" If any speak, him have I offended
No, fellow citizens, these are never to be wit
messed by American eyes. The souls of your ances.
tors still live in the bosoms of their descendants
and rather than submit this fair land of their nheri
lance to ravage and dishonor, they will form one
united buwark and oppose their breasts to the as
sailing foe; not shall survive to be enslaved
for, ere the flag of foe shall wave over our PROSTATE
republic the bones of twenty millions of Americans
shall whiten the shores Of their country; this de-
populated region shall be as desolate as its original
wilderness the revegetang forests shall cover the
ruins of our cities and the savage shall return from
the mountains and again his hut in the abode of
bis foreiathers @-.r
Fellow citizens this is independence day! The
eyes OF Europe are on us. She demands of us a
living example of freedom, that may contrast, by the
felicity of the citizens, with the eyerncreasing
tyranny which desolates her polluted shores. She in
vites us to prepare an asylum, where the unhappy
may find solaee and the prosecuted repose. 1t has