Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-07-09
AN GRAFTON.
DELIVERED BEFORE THE MUNICIPAL AUTHoRf-
TIES OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. -
ON THE-\
FOURTH OF JULY, 1850.
-BY-
EDWARD EVERETT.
EDWARD EVERETT.

Philadelphia formally renowned their allegiance 70 the
British Crown and declared their Independence. we
are assembled Citizens to commemorate the An
nversary OF that great day. and the uterance oil that
momentous declaration. The hand that penned It's
mighty sentences and the tongue which, with an eo-
quence that swept all before it. sustained it on the oor
of Congress ceased from among the living at the end
of half century, the same day. almost at the same
hour thirtyiour years ago. The last survivor Oh the
sgners closed his venerable SIX years later ana
Of the generation sufficiently advanced in life TO take
mart In public affairs the fourth of july l776, not one
probaby survives to hail this eghyourth anniversary
They are gone but their work remains. 1t has grown
in interest with the lapse Of years beginning already to
add to its intrinsic importance those titles TO respect
which time confes great events and memorable eras
as il hangs its ivy and plants its NOSES on the solid sruc-
lures of the past and have together 70 bear our
testimony to the Day, the Deed and the Men, We have
shut up offices warehouses, our workshops, we
have escaped from the of business may not add
from the dssensons of party from all that occupies and
all that divides u.s. TO celebrate, to join in celebrating,
the Birthday Of the Nation with heart and with one
voice. We have come for this year 1850, 70 do our
mart in fulfilling the remarkable prediction OF that noble
son of Massachusetts, John Adams,-who, in the Ian
guage of Mr. jefferson, "the Colossus OF lndepen-
denee,-the pillar of its support on the floor Con.
Although the declaration was not adopted by Congress
till the lth of July (which has accordingly become the
day of the Anniversary the Resolution which It was
i
day accordingly, John Adams, in letter to his wife,
SAYS Yesterday the greatest question was decided
that was ever debated in America and greater perhaps
never was nor will be decided among men. resolu-
ton was passed without dissenting colony that these
United States are and Of right ought 70 be free and in
dependent States" Unable TO restrain the funess Of
bis emotions in another letter TO his wife, but OF the
same date naturally assuming that the day on which the
resolution passed would be the day hereafter com
memoated he bursts out in this all but inspired strain
4. l.. Nka1 1nf- IulE hA a.
most memorable epoch in the History Of America.
am apt 10 believe that it will be celebrated oy succeed
ing generations the great Anniversary Festival 1t
ought to be commemoraed the day of deiveance by
solemn acts of devotion God Almighty. IL ought TO
be sOemnized with pOmp and parade with shows, games,
sports guns bells bonhres aud Examinations, from one
end of this continent to the other from this time forward
| foreyermOreW
"You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but
| am not. | am well aware OF the toll and blood and
treasure that it will cost TO maintain this Declaration and
support and defend these States Yet through all the
gloom can the rays of ravishing light and glory
can see that the end is than worth all the means;
that poserity will triumph in that days transaction,
even al hough should rue (which trust III God We
| shall not"
The time which has elapsed since the great event took
place is so considerabe-the national experience which
has since accrued varied and sgnihcanthec changes
| in our cond ion at home and our relations abroad
are so vast make natural aud highly appropri-
subject oil INQUIRY on VI
ary how far the hopeful augues, with which our indie
pendence declared, have been fulfilled Has the
gloom which, in the language OF Adams shrouded the
4th of July l776 given way on the 4th oil july 1860
40 those rays OF light and glory which he predicted -
Has be end as he fondly believed il would do, prov
ed thus far be worth all the means| Most signal
/ w. as far as he individually concerned. He lived
himself enjoy than Roman triumph, in the re-
suit of that days transaction TO sign with his brother
envoys the treaty VI peace, by which Great Britain ac-
/ -. I'll, nT antl q.
TO stand before the British throne the first representa-
tive OF the newly constituted Republics and after hav-
| ing filed its second office in connection with him. who,
whether in peace in war; could never MI any place
but the FIRST in office in the hearts OF his couutrymen
he lived to succeed the great Chief and closed his
honored career the elective Chief Magistrate OF these
United States independence he had done so much
10 establish with the additional felicity at the last oil
| seeing his sou elevated to The same station
But the life OF an individual is but span in the life Of
Nation; the fortunes of individuals for good or for
evil are but as dust in the balance, compared with the
growth and prosperity the decline and fall OF that
| greatest of human Personalities, Commonwealth. IL
is therefore, more momenious enquiry, whether the
great design of Providence, with reference to our below
ed country of which the indications in the re-
cent discovery OF the Continent the Of its
Element by the civilized OF the earth, the Colonial
struggles the establishment OF Independence the forma-
ton OF constitution OF republican government and Its
administration in peace and war for seventy yearsl
design of Providence in course OF steady and pro-
pressve fulflment- marked only by the fluctuations,
ever visible in the march Of human Affairs aud authori'
zing well grounded hope OF further development, IN
harmony with these suspicious begnniL gsor whether
there is reason the other hand TO fear that our short
lived prosperity is already las misgivngs at home and
dsparagement abroad have sometimes Whspered) on the
wane-that We have reached, that We have passed the
meridian have now TO look forward to an evening
Of degeneracy and the closing in OF rayess and hope
less night Of political decline.
You are Justly shocked felOw.citzens, at the bare
statement OF the l-omened Alternative and yet the en-
quiry seems forced upon US by opinions that have re-
Gently been advanced in high places abroad. In de-
bate In the House Of Lords on the 10Th OF April, on
question relative the extension OF the elective fran
chise in EngAud-the principle which certainly lies at
| the basis OF popular government-the example OF the
United States instead OF being held up for imitation IN
this respect has generally been the case, with refer
ence to popular reforms referred 10 as showing not
the advantages but the evils OF an enlarged suffrage
was emphsticay asserted or plainly in mated by the
person who took the lead in the debate, Earl Gray
whose family traditions might be eKpecedto be strongly
on the side Of popular right; that IN the United States
since the Revolutionary period and by the undue extern
sion OF the right Of suffrage, our elections have become
a mockery our legislatures venal, our courts tainted
with marty spirit our laws "cOb-webs" which the rich
aud poor alike break through and the country and the
government in all its branches, given over 10 corrup
ton, violence, and general disregard OF public mo
rality.
Ifthese opinions are well founded then certainly we
labor under great deuson in celebrating the National
Anniversary Instead Of joyous chimes aud merry pea
responding to the triumphant sGlyos which ushered 10
the day. the 18th Of july ought rather to be commemora
ted by funeral bells and minute guns and dead march
es aud We instead Of assembling in this estll hall 10
congratulate each other its happy reurn should have
been better found in sackcoth and ashes III the house
of pentence aud prayer.
believe that shall not wander from the line of re-
mark appropriate 10 the OCCASION il invite you to join
me in hasty inquiry, whether these charges and inuma
tons are well founded; whether have thus degenera
ted from the standard ofthe Revolutionary age whether
the sautay checks of system have been swept away
aud our experiment OF elective self government has CON
seqaenuy become failure; whether, in word, the
al design Of Providence in the discovery, settlement
political independence and national growth OF the Uni
ted States has been premauey arrested by cur peryer
sty; or whether tue contrary that design is not
with those vici.sudes and drawbacks and human mfr
mites of character, and uncertainties OF fortune
which beset alike the individual aud the societies o.
men in the old world and the new,-in train of salts
factory, hopeful nay, triumphant and glorious fulfill
ment.
And in the first place will gay that, in my judgement
great deicacy ought TO be observed aud much caution
practised in these dsparagng commentaries the Con
| sttution laws and administration of friendly States
aud especially the part Of British aud American States
men in their comments the systems OF their two couu
tries between which there is a intimate connec
zion Of national sympathy than between any two other ma
tons must say that as matter OF Taste and expeden
cy these specific arragnments Of foreign friendly coun
try had better be left the public press Without wishing
TO put any limit free discussion to prescribe any
expression Of the patriotic competency with which th'
citizens of country ere apt to assert the superior
ity OF their own systems those OF all others appear
to that pungent criticisms on the constitutions an!
laws Of foreign states supported by direct personal al
Ius;ons IN those called 10 administer them are nearly