Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-07-12
Q r. A T L . M
DELIVERED ny
REV. u. j. KNISELY,
IN MILLERsBURe, JULY 4TH, 1860.
Friends and Fclio,o Citizens.
IN MILLERsBURG, ]

IN MILLERSBURG JULY 4TH, 1860.
Friends and Fcliow Citizens:
will trespass upon your patience and time
with no abored apology; but simply beg indulgence
in one preliminary remark II has been no hope
of mine, that, in attempting what has been made
my duty, what may be said will derive char
ncter from the weight of my own personal merit,
or the extensiveness of my information. Cicero,
in exclaiming against Verres, goes upon the pre-
sumption that the mere fact of being Roman
citizen WAS sufficient guaranty OF respect. 30
feel peculiarly fortunate that stand before you
upon this occasion, disrobed of professional sanct
ity, not claiming your regard as teacher or
leader, but in the prouder character OF an
American Cnizen---that title, which, unsullicd by
crime and honestly worn, is ornamental TO the
humblest wearer; that character which makes
every one of us manifest our felt dignity to-day;
that name which shall confer honor and distinct
ion when kings shall mourn their fallen crowns,
empires sicken with corruption, and anarchy
brood over the ashes of thrones. Though this
be a boast, 1t is the highest respect can pay you
to-day, for it virtually acknowledges the same
honor as attaching to every one of you
1t is a peculiar qualification that we assemble
here, not as partisans. Where, as here, the PEG.
PIE are the rulers, public meetings are frequent,
aud debcratve bodies not uncommon. Each
individual asserts, in accordance with the spirit of
government under which he lives, his own
views, and contrad.cts and disputes the views OF
others. Freedom of the press and liberty of speech,
it is true, are promotive OF the right; and truth
has little to fear in coming into open conflict with
error; but because we enjoy liberty of Speech
it is not to be expected that we exhibit perfect
unanimity. The religious world has its polemics,
and the political world has its variety of measures.
The voice of forensic eloquence is seldom heard,
but in the effort to adjust long mooted dfleren-
ces. If we assemble as politicians, it is to test by
argument the soundness of measures soliciting
favor, which are the ground Of controversy
Were human nature perfect, though difference
in opinion might occasion difference in feeling,
it needs not be hostile; yet we know that in the
present attitude of human nature, where there
ought to be friendly deliberation there is angry
controversy, where there ought to be kindness
there is hostility But we meet to-day, not
with controversial spirit that would rake the dust
from our neighbours character and lay bare the
deiormity of the system he maintains; IRE meet
not as partisans but as patriots. Here there are
subjects throngng the mind upon which we all
agree; and, with common history over whose
facts to rejoice, common interest to regard,
common hopes to cherish, we are here in the first
temples" which natures unmtred priest dedicated
to the Great Spirit-here in obedience to the
voice of anterior generations to record in the sight
of God and man, that we still appreciate the prn-
ciples maintained by the pledges of such "lives
and fortunes and such sacred honor"
The glorious anniversary OF Independence, Is
like messenger from out the dust Of gathering
years, with solemn admonition to men. 1t comes
not down to us like the recoections of coronation
to deluded people, who bartered their liberty for
transient glory; it comes not down like the birth day
of tyrant upon the guilty errand Of mortalizing
human iniamy; it comes not down to tell OF the
demolition OF thrones and monarcies; but with all
the cheer Of God .send and all the gravity of a
monument, as often as the rushing year grows
warm in the ardor of his fight, it comes down to
certify of the slime that tried mems souls" Bat
tie fields and retreating foes not all the burden
of its message; but w these, it tellsofa conquest
OF right over wrong, of patriotism avaricc and
fear. The story is simple, yet, though familiar, II
has strangeness that lives I'm und, ing. 1t leads
us to that strange enactment, unparalleled i'll the
annals of human conduct, since the world Of man
kind has worn the badge of lost innocence; whici
in the very moment when people, Mrough their
representatives became revoers, had all the force
without the form and sternn.ss of laD.
Centuries had rolled away since the Rubicon
gained its sad Immortality, and holy retreats
whence issued such streams of living eloquence
as yet arouse ambitions thirst, nere polluted 10y
the foul breath of usurpaton, and freedom was
driven from her classic asylum. The world had
but one Brutus, who, to disappOnt the smiles OF
wicked vengeance, fed his own sword with the
blood of liberties ayenger 1t had seen but one
Winkelried who could ''make way for liberty and
de-" When classic republics fell, it was not be-
cause theretwas no bravery or energy, but because
there was so little moral power; and in alter ages
ifany change, the reverse. True, here and there,
n struggle to be free like bright spots in dark ret
respect. but so few, that as we look, we say with
Moore;
The harp that once thro' Tara's halls,
The Soul of music shed,
Now hangs as mute on Tara's walls
As il that soul were fed
So freedom now so seldom wakes,
The only tnrob she gives,
Is when some heart indignant breaks,
To show that still she lives.
In that hour, then, when the seed sown at Plym-
outh and jamestown had blossomed; when in this
fair land where natures majesty enhanced the sub
Unity of DAYS serene decline; here where, retreat
ing before the light of day as it fell upon eastern
corruption, the smiles of God took refuge in soli-
tude; where, grown hardy in conflict with dlcnl.
ty, fostered by adversely the sons OF Japheth par
took of the greatness surrounding them; here was
sought to be imposed monster wrong, Matched in
the courts of royalty and setting at defiance the
moral sense of man. 1t is to time like this, when
fearful experiment was tried before the eyes ol
an Unlocking world, involving no less than the
RIGHTS of MAN, that this day leads us. 1t re-af-
firms the great principle that difficulties only serve
to call forth latent powers and capabilities. Pc
titons answered by cold contempt, compelled re-
monstrances by insult reused into life these great
souls that seemed to emanate from the bosom of
divinity for such time as that; when the suffering
North, mourning over the corses of her murder
ed sons, at the reside in the field and in the mer.
ry circle of sporting yeoman, had caught the spirit
of Henry, "Gve me liberty or give me death;'
from the corners of the streets in the city, from
the auction block and from the altar of worship,
was read that prayer of the Author hero and
friend of Franklin, so America! Freedom hath
been hunted round the globe; Asia ond Atrica hare
long expelled her, Europe regards like a stranger,
and England hath gioen her parning TO depart! o
America! Receive the fugitive and prepare in time an
asylum for mankind"' In such time as this
know there Dere feD iron sOuled men who could
brave the vision of the gbbet and say "lNDEPEND
ENcE," for the genius of human liberty lngeret
not with Brutus slept not with Tell, but while the
graves of those who fell at Lexington were ye
green in memory, and the undried blood of War
rem still cried for vengeance, SO long hunted, SO
often slain, rose again like phenix trcm it's ashes
and lowering over those brave men who framed th
declaration, hallowed their names for Immortality
with her tears, and, though sad in that stormy
hour, dropped from her lips the anthem of their
praise to future ages. This glorious day ha:
brought it to us again, and every heart that feels it
responds in the proud consciousness that ingratud'
and treason can no more obscure their glory thar
wipe out the footprints of time.
And now, because of that solemn declaration
and the faithful maintenance of the principle:
therein set forth, through the pers of revolution
we find ourselves the citizens of an unexampled
republic, enjoying the very rights and privilege
it so briefly and clearly defines 1t is useless fol
us to turn aside and ask to whom belongs the hon