The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-07-06

emphatic HuHHtT, pTcIdCeu t1e Tehu1lS u
the Declaration Of Independence in clio
ouent, glowing and patriotic language
which was received with vOcifrrous cheer
ing. If our memory serves us, he spok,
substantially as follows:
Since that period when the great sou
If Nature proclaimed to a Universe that q
World was completed, that platform wa,
finished upon which man might enter
and, with all the active powers nf his 50
cial nature. inniliate, establish and con
duct society, with its ten thousand cndcar.
mentS-Aincr that moment when voice
commanded Him I" preside nS the Lord a
Creation to bring from chaos and dark
ness the light OF civilization. and, by thu
magic Of his genius, IL FURNISH Stil
brighter those gorgeous materials which
n Divine Wisdom had supplied; to spread
by q immense powers of his mind, that
intelligence, the lahy'inthS of whose paths
man is still busy in developing, adjoining
aad harmonizing, in one grand network
of beauty, the prOccc Is Of his skill Will
tho wisdom Of his Creator; since tina,
period there are but few events recorded
upon the scroll of the historian presenting
more kublimity, br athinS n more pure
! and exalted patriotism, denoting a more
ardent zeal in the principles OF Justice,
and n more sclf.abidinS faith in the cause
Of right, thNn that contained in the set
timents Of this Declaration of Indepcnd.
cncc," herA'ded TO tho world, by the colo.
MES of America, eishty-tive years ago.
| From amid the gloom OF our colonial
histvry-from amid the deepest depth OF
outrage and INSPIRATIONS stern necessity
! demanded the creation of this instrument,
which, while it proclaimed to the nations
Of the earth the history Of our wrongs
severed tho lnhS which bound colonies to
the throne Of England. and declared the
American people free, Independent and
sovereign nation.
The human mind, vast as it is in con.
ceptionS Of suhlimity. fails to pres mt an
other scene equal to it in grandeur and
hvrniSm.
the authors and supporters Of this De.
c!aration were no wax dolls, in tinsrled
clothing they were men many Of whom
| imbbrd the elements Of liberty whilu at
the handle Of tho pillow, at the loom, the
anvil, the work. bench, and other branches
Of industry: which. while they moulded
and strengthened the physical nerves for
the har,lShipS Of tedious war-save an
additional impulse to the soul for all the
attributes Of Freedom.
Well did they consider that every con
quest Of value was at the price Of popu.
Tar eammotion nhd-heroic bioutl. 'Fhrv
acted upon :he broad grounds that M IN
| must dare il they would win that the nj.
mosph.re VIC breathe would Stagnate if il
were not for tcmpcSts and the ocean itself
be "me put,id if not FIR agitation. They
struck fIr freedom, an,l not for plumber.
They testified devotion to their country
in every act, by courling rather than
stunning the dangers Of war. The age
Of these illuStrinuS heroes is halIowe,l
with associations Of the most brilliant in
trlccta II seemed as If the Great Power
above had lnoScncd chord in the human
mind and hado it rom at will over the
firliS Of science, knowledge anil litcra-
tnrc lit emblem OF tho draining Of a
rattan that has since pro. cd the morning
! star of light and hope to all cntir1 world.
Time, Tith re1orsclcSs tread, has long
Nincu netei out the measure OF their
wears Death. insatiate Dtath, has claim
cd his natural 'iucs; the cold, polished
malbo alone marks the spot where, in
peace rcp0>e, the ashes of the sacred dta,l,
hut we have this day btf,re us the living
words OF our forciatherS. wrnnS from them
nv the hand of tyranny, and the glorious
fabric If our national greatness, ~ found
cd by them. Surely, upon such dav as
this, clustering with associations Of our
Nations birth, We can all unite. as if with
hut ore heart, throbing with bnt one emo.
ton, and that emotion breathing but one
sentiments and that sentiment -orRwnoLE
COUNTRY.
During the reading Of the Declaration,
an alarm Of fire was heard, AMI for few
minutes great confusion prevailed, which
threatened serious consequences. The
franc building adjoining the theatre had
caught fire. and as the theatre was dense
ly packed with men. women and children,
furious rush was made for the doors. -
Promptly tho tircmcn repaired TO their
machines, and almost instantly were at
work. How they all escaped from the
theatre uninjured, considering the press.
ure and excitement and confusion, is a
mystery, 1t was fortunate that both en-.
ginrS and men were on the ground, else
the fire might have been disastrous and
many persons seriouSiyinjurcd. 1t was
extingui>hcd in n few minutes, and the
Grcmcn and others in a short time return.
I'd to the theatre, and when they had all
been seated and quiet restored, Mayor
Wade, with impertnrbable GOODNESS, finish.
cd reading the the Declaration that chart
of American liberty commencing at the
very sentence where he had stopped when
interrupted by the alarm Of fire.
Music by the band followed and then
James NJ. Reynolds, ESQ. in a clear, firm
tone, which was distinctly heard in every
part Of the theatre, delivered the Grafton.
1t was frequently applauiei and listened
to with breathlcsS attention. Although
the heat was intense and the seats uncon.
Portable, yet not n person moved while
the orator spoke. We publish the ora.
tion in full in another part of the DEMO.
Graf Vehement cheering greeted tho
orator at its conclusion. When it subsi.
ded, tho Coloma band played a national
air, and then, at the suggestion Of Mayor
Wade, collection was taken IN f,r Mr.
Wallace, the young man who had breh
seriously injured while firing national
salute, in the earlier part Of the day
The ceremonies at the theatre were closed
by hencdiction from Rev. Mr.. Pierce.
During the marching Of the procession
and until the accident occurred, Salutcs
were fired frcm the cannon on top Of Pros
pert Hill.
After leaving the theatre, the Fire DE-.