Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-07-10


A,nerican Colo6iss. acting by their delegates to
the Congress at philadelphia. formally rsnounesd
their allegiance. TO the British Crown, aud de-
eIarsd thoir Independence. We are assembled.
Fellow.Citizena " e0mmsmorste tbs Anniversary
Of that great day. and the utterance Of that mo-
montous declaration. The hand that pennsd its
mighty sentences, aud the tongue which, with IN
eloquenos that swept all bef,rs it. sustained It on
the floor af the Congress, ceased from smong the
living at the end of half osntury. Oh the same
day. almost at the same hoar. ,hirty.iour years
ago. The last survivor of tho signers elnsed bis
venerable career nx years later; aud Of the gen.
Grafton sufeenty advanced in lie to take part in
public affairs the fourth Of Jaly, l776. not ono
prubably survives to hail this eight y-fourth ami
ver-ary. They are gone. but their work remains
1t has grow in interest with the lapse Of years.
beginning already to add to ito intrinsic impnr.
tancc those titles VI respect which time confers
great events and msmorsble oras, as it hangs it's
ivy and plants its mosses on the solid structures
of the past and we have come together to bear our
testimony tn tho Day, tho Deed and tho Men,
We have shut up our of6oss oar warehouses, our
workshops. We have e.oapsd from the cares Of
business. may not add from the discussions oi
party, from all that occupies. and oil that divides
ia, to celebrate. to join in celebrating. the Birth.
day If the Nation, with one heart and with ono
voice. We have oame for this year 1860. TO do
our part in fulfilling the remarkable prediction Of
who. in the language Of Mr.. Jefferson. was ''the
Colossu. Of Independence tho pillar Of support
on the hoUr o Congress"
Although the declaration was not adopted by
Congress ill the 4,h Of July (which has accor.
dinghy becoIne tho day of the ~Aaniversary.) the
Resolution. On which 1t was founded, passed on
the 2d instant.s On the following day according.
ly. John Adams, in y letter to his wife snys =
Yesterday the greatest question WINS decided
that was ever debated in America. and greater
perhaps never was nor will DO decided among
men. A resolution was past without one dssen.
ting colony, that these United States are aud Of
right ought to be free and Independent Siates."-
Unable 70 restrain the fulnesa Of his emotions. in
another letter to his wife. but Of the same date,
naturally assuming that the day on which the res.
oluton was passed would be the day hereafter
comnemorated. he burts out Ia this all sbut in
spire,l stain .
Tho day is passed the ID of July, l770, will
be the most memorable epoch in the History of
America. I am apt 10 believe that it will be col
ebratsd by ssrceedins generations =" the great
Anniversary Festvel. II ought TO bc commemo-
rated as the day Of del vcrancs Iy solemn acts of
devotion n God Almighty. Il ought to be SOL
emnised with pomp and parade, with shows. games,
sports, guns. belia, b"nfrcs, and Examinations,
from ono end Of this continent to tho other from
tha time forward forevsrmore %
"Y0u will think me transported with enthu-
VI. i
and blood and treasure that it will cost to main
tain this Declaration and support and defend
these States. Yet through oil the gl,,om, can
see the rays Of ravi-hng light and gl"ry. I can
see that the end il more than worth al the means;
that prosperity viii triumph in that day = ,ransac
ton, even although we shouldrus it--when trust
in God We shall not"
The time which has elapsed since the ETss.
event took place is considerable, the national
experience which has since accrued Ia varied and
signihcant, the changes In our condition at home
and our relations abroad are % vast, a. TO mako
it natural and highly appropriate subject Of in.
quiry, On the recurrence Of tile Anniversary, how
far the hopeful auguries, with which onr Indspan-
dence was declared have been fsiAiied. Has "the
the 4th Of Sely $780, given place ito those rays OF
light ahd glory" which be predicted! IIss ''the
end" as he fondy believed it woald do. proved
thus far to be more than worth oil the means"
Most signalty, M far as be individually was
cornsJ. He lived hlmssf 10 enjoy more than =
Roman triumph, in the result Of that days ,rar-
saction; 70 sign with his brother envoys the trea
" u peace by which Great Britain scknowlejg-
cd the Independence Of her ancisnt Coloniss; to
stand bsfLrsthe British throne. the fr.t reprssen.
tative Of the ncwiy constitstsd Republic; and af-
ter having Hlled It's sscond ofies in connection
with him, WIN, whether In psaos or in war, could
never fil any place but the hrst.--in office as in
the hearts cf his countrymsu, ,bs lived to succeed
to the crest Chief and closed his honorsd career.
as the elective Chief Magistrate Of those United
States, whose Independents he had done 40 much
IN establish with the raDs additional felicity at
tho hast If sseing his son elevated 70 the same
sation. 'a
But the life cf On individual 10 but span in
the life Of Nation the fostunss Of individaals,
for good Or Tor evil are but as dust in the balance
compared with the growth and prosperity or the
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