Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-07-20
From the N. Y. Independent
The Nation I'm Council.
BY HORACE GREELEY.

''''--''
The 4lh Of July, 1776, will long be hal.
lowed as precious aud memorable epoch
in the history Of the Race. The thrilling
eloqnence born of the intense patriotism of
John Adams, the phloSophic insight and
glowing dicton of ThomlS Jefferson where
by the struggle of our fathers was lifted
from the low level Of petty s9uabbIe a
bout taxation into a graud assertion Of the
inalienaJle Rights Of Man, eau never be
too wildly reproduced nor too gratefully
remembered. The birthday Of the Nation
of the Great Republic Of the New World
will long be celebrated by millions as
only transccnded in Importance aud inter
est by the birthday Of Him who brought
| life and immortality to light ; and he who
has not celebrated in some far.off city of
the Old World, with handful of A meri-
caus aud a very few sympathizing guests,
surrounded by sympath ziug but ll-informed
servants and pcered in upon from time to
time by the suspicious, perpIexed janizaries
of despUtism, can hardly have realized the
the fullest intensity Of patriotic inspiration.
In our home celebrations of this great
American anniversary, there is apt to be
"
ter ; the enthusiasm seems too effcrvescent
aud universal but in modest dining room
Of Lyons, of Rome, or of Florence-the
despotS Florence which we all hope is but
q memory the fervor of the American
heart does not exhae in persistent cheers,
but remains compressed, intense, and glow
ing, until midnight strikes the hour of part,
ing aud the little band separate, probably
to meet no more this side Of the grave
Nowhere on American soil, save within
the region dominated and deSolated by the
pro slavery rebellion, ,-noN here in foreign
cimeS where dozen Americans could be
assembled, was the 4th Of July 1861, an
anniversary of ordinary interest The ma.
tional peril had inevitably fired the nation
al heart aud thousands who in previous
years had regarded Independence Day,
with apathy if not Indifference, were glad
to greet their neighGors once more beneath
the folds of the starry flag which had sud
denly acquired new meaning and new sa-
credness in their eyes, and TO renew once
more their VOWS of devotion 10 law guard
ed Liberty and dear native land. There
has been no such general and enthusiastic
celebration Of the Glorious Fourth since
its liftieth recurrence in 1926, when sever
al Of the Signers Of the Declaration were
! still living 10 hallow the obServanceS by
their presence and their hearty cooperation,
aud when every platform, at least in the
Eastern States, was graccd by the presence
of q goodly number Of the heroes who
had fought for Freedom under Washington
and shared the eXultalion which thrilled
the patriot breast when Yorktown was sur
rendered and Independence secured. When
the shades of evening closed the festivities
of that day, none knew that Adams and
Jefferson by a ProVidential dispensaton
which History " i'll he inclined to discredit,
had since morning been together summon
ed to follow Washington and Greene, Han
cock and Patrick Henry, into the majestic
realzations of the life beyond the tomb.
But the focus of the grand celebra-
tion of the eighty fifth anniversary Of our
National birthday was doubtless the city
of Washington, within and around the Ma
tional Capitol. There new Congress,
pursuant TO the summons of the President,
assembled in Extraordinary Session to con-
slider the state of the Nati.n and to pro
vide the ways and means for resistance and
crushing out armed treason. While the
Houses we're organizing and preparing for
this grave eXigency, grand parade o.
more than twenty regiments of Citizen Sol
dery-nol half Of those which the Empire
States alone had already sent forward t
the seat of war-was proceeding in tht
streets Of the Federal city, passing in re
view before the President, his Cabinet, tn
I ~ md bn
eminent civilians aud soldiers. On ever
side, confidence, stern resolve, and fxe
purpose to vindicate the authority of Ii
government and maintain the integrity
the nation, beamed from every eye al
nerved every loyal breast.
, The organization Of the House, in whit
! difficulty and delay had been sagely appr
| hended, was never before effected so speed
/, ly nor so harmoniously. No caucus ha
Y been held; no Executive or other constraIr
i had been exerted or attempted ever
s member voted his individual choice yt
o Speaker aud Clerk were each chosen o
d the first ballot. And the selection thu
d made was unusually significant and happ!
le Galusha A. Grow, the Speaker thongh Q
ID has already served ten years III the hous'
ir is still in the early vigor OF manhoo(
m Elected originally as democrat, he VIZ
:. then in principle republican, as he h'
Y. been in name ever since the republican pa
h. ty was formally embodied. Not mere
I'd With regard to slavery-exlension and i
d concomitants, but in his conspicuous al
,e untiring championship of free grants
g limited tracts Of Public Lands to Actu
ID Settlers, does he stand fully abreast Of I
y the most advanced aud humane impulses
s, the great party charged with the respon
IS bllty of plotting the ship of state throu
the breakers that now roar around aud
ID fore her The worthy successor of DaV
T. Wilmot, the republican who has been Ion
le est consecutively Member of the Honi
Id his choice as speaker is one eminenIiy
le 10 be made
,ls Emerson E,heridge was no less hap