The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-01-29
EXTRACT FROM A SPEECH OF HON.
sPEiNGFiELD. MASS, JAN. 4th, 1860.

Let your imagination carry you back to the
year l776. You stand IN tho hall Of the old
Colonial Court house of Philadelphia. Tbro'
the open door you see the Continental Con-
gress assembled; the moment Of great de-
cision is drawing near Look at the earnest
faces assembled there, and consider what
you may expect of them. The philosophy
of the eighteenth century counts many Of
them among its tIuest adopts. They wei
coined heartily in their scattered towns and
that sudden progress Of humanity, end, medi-
tating then in the dreamy solitude Of virgin
nature. they had enlarged the compass Of
their thoughts, and peopled their imagina-
tions with lofty ideals. A classical education
(for most Of them are by no means illiterato
mea) has put all tho treasure OF historical
knowledge at their disposal, and enabled
them to apply the experience of past centu'
ries to the new problem they attempt to
solve. Sec others there of simple but
strong cast of mind, whom common sense
would call its iruest representatives. Wont
to grapple with the dangers and difficulties OF
an earlier settlers life, or, il inhabitants of
young uprising cities, won't to carry quick
projects into speedy execution, they have be-
come regardless Of obstacles and used to siren
uous activity. The constant necessity to help
themselves has developed their mental inde-
pendence; and Injured to political strife by
the continual defence of their colonial self
government, they have at last become famil
lar with the idea, to introduce into practical
existence the principles which their vigorous
minds have quietly built up into theory.
The first little impulses to the general up
heaving Of the popular spirit-the tea tax,
the stamp act-drop into insignlticance; they
are almost forgotten; the revolutionary spirit
has risen far above them. 1t disdains TO JUS
tify itself with petty plcadings; it spurns di
plomatc equvocation it places the claim to
independence upon the broad basis Of eternal
rights, as self evident as the sun, as broad as
tho world, as common tho cir Of heaven.
The struggle of the colonies against the usur-
ping Government of Great Britain has risen
to the proud dimensions Of a struggle Of man
for liberty and equality. Behold, ivc men
are advancing towards the table Of the Presi-
dent. First. Thomas Jefferson, whose philos
optical spirit grasps the generality OF things
and events; then Benjamin franklin, the
great apostle Of common sense, the clear wis
dom Of real life bsamng in his serene eye;
then the undauntcd John Adams and two
others. Now Jefferson reads the Declaration
of Independence, and loudly proclaims the
fundamental principle upon which 1t rests:
"All men are created free and equai! 1t is
said; history tells you what it meant. Tho
sceptre Of royalty is flung back across the o.
cean; the prerogatives Of nobility are trodden
into the dust; every man a king, every man
a baron, in seven Of the original colonies the
shackes Of the black man struck off; almost
everywhere the way prepared for gradual @
mancipation. mo recognition of the right
of property in man" says Madison. "Let
slavery be abolished by law!' says Washing
ton. Not only tho supremacy of Old Eng
land is to be shaken Oft, but now organiza
ton Of society is to be tuiit up, on the basis
of liberty and equality. That is the Declar-
alton Of independence! That is tho Amer
lean Revolution. All men free and equal!
Not even the broad desert Of the Atlantic
Ocean stops the triumphant shout. Behold,
the nations Of the Old World are rushing to
aims. Basilcs are blown into the dust as by
the trumpets Of Jericho, and, ike a pillar Of
fire by night and pillar Of cloud by day,
the great watchword of the American Rcvolu
ton shows forever the way to struggling hu.
manity.