The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-07-06
Ottaha fret Graber
LOCAL. MATTERS
The Fourth in Ottawa.

the day would prove a failure. In this,
however, we were happily disappointed.
The day proving highly favorable, by the
time to organize the procession, the city
was full of people, SO that about La Sale
street and the Court House square there
was decided jam. The procession was
organized according to programme at ten
o'clock, and although made up Of fewer
elements than usual on such occasions,
made an imposing appearance,-the chief
attraction being the new military company
OF Zouaves, Capt. Moore, in their recherche
uniform. Undine Fire company, in their
gay uniform and out in full strength, also
made a noble appearance, while not less
attractive and novel, were the boy military
companies in neat uniforms
The company marched to beautiful
walnut grove, little west of the south
end of the Illinois river bridge, where
stand had been, erected for the speaker,
officers, &c, and seats for the people. The
exercises here consisted Of
Prayer-By Rev. P. F. CLEVELAND.
Reading Of Declaration Of Independcnce.-
By Ed. c. HESsHAw, Esq
Oration-By Hon. BURTON c. Cook.
Benediction-By CLEVELAND.
The exercises were also varied and ell
livened by the singing of the "Star Span
gled Banner "Our Native Land" and
- Ny Country, tbs of thee" by Messrs
Gooding, Written, Morgan and Titus as
quartette, as also music by Hunts excel
lent Brass Baud
The grafton Of Mr.. Cook was evidently
prepared with great care, and was beyond
dispute production of uncommon ability.
We must say, however, in all candor, that
we were unable to appreciate the logic of
it. The skeleton of it was about this
That hitherto the custom had been in
this country to meet on the 4th of July
for self.laudation-to glorify our country,
its institutions, unparalleled progress, &c.
To-day, however, that fond dream was
past, and we had met to deplore its caiami
ties Mr. G. addressed himself to the in
quiry, what had brought our country to
this condition, and as a preliminary, pro-
ceeded to ascertain what was the founda-
ton idea upon which this government rest
ed, deducing, after lengthy investigation,
occupying two-thirds of his speech, that
the foundation idea was the simple self
evident enunciation of the Declaration
read in your hearing" that all men are
born free and equal and by this decla-
ration he proved also, by elaborate quota
tons from the Fathers, that they meant
the black man as we'll as the white and
having established this point, he arrived
at the answer to the inquiry with which
he started out, that the cause Of our pres
ent calamities, was our departure, in the
the idea upon which the fathers had
based it. Mr.. c. then proceeded to score
the secessionists, showing how they had
habitually condemned this idea, and step
by step, with the bssest means and for the
basest purposes, had finally brought our
country to its present condition, winding
up with fervid exhortation to pun down
the rebellion at all hazards, and bring
back the government to the principles of
the fathers.
Our difficulty with this logic is here If
Gas we are not disposed to deny,) our
fathers meant to found this government
on the great idea claimed; and if, az Mr..
c. claims we have departed from that idea,
and our first duty is to return to it, is not
this, then, the inevitable inference, that
the present war is to be waged until the
great idea is wrought out practically, that
in this nation all men are free and equal
black as well as white that, in short,
this war is to free the slave? or, at least
to put the institution where our fathers
supposed they had left it, in the course OF
rapid and certain ultimate extinction? II
such arc the objects of this war, the adj
ministration has certainly been singularly
reticent in proclaiming it, and, for our
part, we as certainly entertain but dim
We may, however, be doing Mr. c. injus
tice in these remarks on his speech, which
we heard but imperfectly, and which we
hope to have the opportunity to peruse a
leisure, by his permitting its publication
to which our columns are cheerfully open
What else occurred in Ottawa ON the
4th is briefly told The firemans tourne
ment proved failure on account of the
non-appearance of the Niagara, whose
company we learn with regret, Is dissolved
Undine, however, appeared on the ground
and did some remarkably good throw
ing"
In the evening, there was quite an ex
hibition Of fireworks mot down in thu
bills) in the Court House yard, which at
tracted a large crowd followed, abou
nine o'clock by the Out-and-Outers, will
torches. OF course, this queer compan.
presented, as usual, wildly grotesque ap
( pearance, which was greatly enhanced b.
the torches. They marched through thu
principal streets, followed by crowd who
seemed infinitely to enjoy the sport, unit
late hour in the night.
SCIENTIFIC AMERIcAN-Some two or thre
weeks ago, in perusing a number of tn
Scientific Americon we were so struck wit
the excellence and great value of tn
matter that filled its columns, that we e.
TEEN it a real service to our readers t
call their especial attention to this mos
able and useful publication. Our reader
will be interested to learn that a me-
volume commenced with the first week i