White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-08-23
The Tenney on the Fourth of July.

There is but one Tenney, and his nam,
is Edwin H. Who has not heard of hi
famous speech and letter ? Here is an
other letter from the same classic pen.-
Tenney was invited to deliver a Fourtl
Of July grafton, and this is his letter:
Messrs. Clark, Rice, Fsllors and others,
Committee &.
GENTLEMEN Your invitation for me
to address you on the Fourth of July is
before me. would comply with your
request very willingly, and thus unite
with you in celebrating this anniversary
Of orr Independence, but my engage.
ments will deny me the privilege. /
would do so the more cheerfIlly because
it is the S4th anniversary of American
Independence, and | fear the last oppor-
tunity VIC shall ever have Of converting
as States for a national jubilee. ] pred
icate my fears upon the fact that fanati-
cism- and treason, sedition and negropho.
bia have become chronic and preiomi-
nant in several of our States, and that
absence of harmony among ourselves be-
speaks for conservatism in the Presiden-
tial struggle anything but victory. And
must it be acknowledged, in view like
this, that the aggressive malevolence and
ascendancy of the wrongs incident to such
result, and the notifying restraints of
defeat, can bring nothing for its atten-
dants but dissolution and anarchy L?
But sick as is the scene, / feel, though
that day may be our last, that we cannot
rally too fervently our respect aud patri-
otism for the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, which this birthday of our coun-
try commentaries, and for the heroes
who signed, executed, and delivered it by
their valor, and prayers, and blood; that
though twelve times the seven years they
were acquiring it has Just gone, that with
it has not gone one jOt or title of my
respect for their legacy, which next to the
legacy of my Redeemer, 1 regard as the
richest and safest, ever inherited by man;
that though we have Heroes and Gaia
lines who are trying to jerk out the raf-
tiers from this citadel Of our hope, that
it still stands, shedding prosperity and
happiness from its refulgent dome our
mercy seat in the tempest, and safe port
for the political mariner on the pilgrim
age of time. Let MS have faith, that
there is enough of the good old stuff left
in Tennessee, if we will but muster it,
to rout the hyenas of fanatacism whose
terrible howl makes MS all turn pale,
enough to sober the intoxicated sentiment,
enough to cauterize the bleeding feelings,
and to sew up the assures of national
gloom, and enough to fatten our bird till
she flies high and beautiful.
Let us have faith, that the partially OF
Being who was more popular than
Washington in the fainting scenes Of the
Revolution, will buoy US in the coming
night with the cheerful hope, that morn-
ing will overtake us, with a sky all
bright, and with our volcanoes all Sleep
ing-faith, that the great l AM of 76
will cool the red elements of fanaticism
and treason, in the great large reservoir
of patriotism and love, and thus render
them subservient in perpetuating the
peace and coalition of our Union, hoping
that the future of our country may be
like the old days Of Melchisedec, which
Paul tells us, in the 18th of Hebrews, have
no ending of life. thank you for the
honor you have done me in selecting for
your orator a citizen so humble as my
self, and / am,
Sincerely yours.
EDwIN Fl. TEENEY.
Nashville, June LIST, 1860.