The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-07-25

csway0 Village Celebration, 9Th q July, 1851.
Hr. Prcsjdmt-Ladjs8 and Geat5smm-Frce-
men Of Punsglgaa;a:
It is with feelings OF no ordinary character
that stand here toaddreas you upon tie pres
cnt occasion-and when I remember to whom
am to speak, and the theme which IS to en-
gage my attention, when | recoIlect that am
to address American Freemcn, sons and grand
sons OF Revolutionary sirCs when I recall
the fact that the blood which courses III yOur
veins received its tinge Of patriotic fire from
those noble ancestors whose heroic deeds we
have come here this day to commemorate, I
am admonisbed Of my own insu.hciency, both
for the theme and the occasion, and might
well shrink from the task allotted me, and
leave it for more able hands to perform But
again, when I remember that this is no time
for loyal hearts TO turn their backs to the call
Of their country, y neither it be in the tented
field or in the real line Of battle, whether ii
be in the councils Of the Nation or the more
humble gatherings beside rural homes and
amid rural scenes, am cOntented to act the
part allotted me, and shall ever remember
with gratitude the honor conferred.
We propose to speak ofour country-of ou1
as it was, Of our country rs it is, and of our
country as we hope it viii be in the future.
Listen to my words, and if by what you hear
one more noble aspiration swells il your bo-
som, one more prayer escapes your lips for the
welfare Of your country, shall be amply re-
compcnsed for the effort I have made.
1t has been of en- remarked that the great
est undertakings which have ultimately been
successful, have generally commenced under
inauspicious circumstances. So it was in the
early beginning Of American Liberty.
Here the speaker took a cursory view oI
our country's history and progress from the
landing Of The Pilgrims down to the close OF
The Revolution, which want Of room compels
us TO exclude. IN continuance Of this part OF
the subject, he says
Those living lines Of light that shoot over
the pages OF our Nations history, proceeding
from Concord and Ticondoroga, Bunker Hill
and Long Island, Monmouth and Trenton.
Princeton and Brandywine, these shall not be
dimmed even by the mcEowing hand of time.
When we remember what our fathers suffered
in this cause, the trials they bore, the nains
they endured when we rccollcct the scenes
at Valley Forge, where, during that long and
dreary winter, our noble army suffered hard
ships to which we are strangers When we
see them, half-stayed, half-clothed, gathered
shiTering around their camp~fires, leaving the
blood IL the tracks Of their sh0eless feet, saw
when we remember these ought we not to
honor, yea, Yeneratc their names. ana strive
by every means IA our power to pcrpetuate
that Liberty which was won al so dear price ?
God helping US, We viii perpetuate 1t. ana we
believe there are yet unborn millions who shall
rise up from this free land. and bless the
names Of those venerable sires who have be-
queatAod to US this valuable heirloom. Eighty
five years has this country enjoyed the bless
ings which the possession Of this HERITAGE
youchsafrd to them, and these oigltv-fve
years have been years Of prosperity. such MS
the annals Of time afford us no other record
From three millions Of people, at the COM
menccment of the Revolution, we have sDrunr
to q population Of over thirty millions. From
q few feeble colonies bordering on the Allan
tic shores, the tide Of life and civilization has
rolled over the plains of the West through the
passes Of the Rocky Mountains and is now
beating up and down the shores Of the Pacific
and its returning waves, viii, ere long. sweep
the whole area Of our domain, save only the
rocky sides and snow cGprQd peaks Of our
mountain ranges. Need | say that wealth,
genius and enterprise have kept pace in this
onward movement? need not, for ali know
that these are ever the accompanimcnts of
prosperity Ike ours. What nation IS there
that occupies as proud q position among the
nations Of the earth IS ours.2 No matter if a
cloud slightly tinges our fair fame it shall
soon be swep. away, and we shall emerge the
brighter for its passage. Bat more OF this
anon. say we occupy position which many
nations of the earth envy, and which none can
surpass Ler Us look for q few moments at
some Of the clements Of our prosperity. First
and foremost of all, we must pay tribute to
the genius Of Liberty, as the primary and
principal cause OF our success as nation
but aside from this, and in connection with
it, there are other causes which We may DO