Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-03-09

FELLOW CITIZENS w hen, yesterday, your
committee communicated to me the resolu.
tion offered by my friend MIR. Bruner, and
adopted in the meeting held on Wednesday
evening, to arrange for this. day; l was both
tlattered una surprised by The compliment
tor it s, indeed, u compliment to be selected
by my fellow citizens to make the address
upon such an occasioD-the Inauguration Of
our National flag, in commemoratlon of the
birth of WAsHISGTOS. You will believe me,
however, for the claims which | put into
sincerity and good faith, when protest, that,
so far us the selection OF your orator may
have been intended as personal mplmeut
TO myself / should have preferred, greatly to
receive the compliment, and dispense with
making the address. realized fully the
difficulties TO be cOntended with. The short.
ness of the notice rendering it impossible for
me to DO justice to the occasion, and other
considerations, purely personal to myself,
almost Influenced me to decline the honor
intended for me. But then | remembered
that wac a citizen Of the United States, of
the State OF Penusylvaniu, OF the borough OF
Sunbu:y. That the individual citizen owed
duty to society, his country, his State and
town, paramount to oil other duties, save only
those higher obligations by which man is
That selfish considerations should not prevail
with him against the performance of this duty,
and ! determined. at whatever sacrifice of
personal comfort aud feelings, to do my duty,
10 matter what views others might take.
Fellow ctiZens-The volume OF the past,
through the medium Of history, presents TO
oar view catalogue OF great names. Some
are clustered into consultations, and some
shine forth alone with moro conspicuous lus.
ire, like solitary star amid the obscurity OF
midnight. But, one buzes among them ALL
like fall moon amidst a galaxy Of stars, by
the pre.eminence Of his superior light casting
all teebler radiance into shade. And whose ID
this? Whose is it Let u nation answaf
and let each patriots heart give back its own
response. Whose is it2 Let silence for
moment bold you in suspense, while memory
touches with gentle hand the chords of feel.
ing, and fame and gratitude, with all their
tongues, pronounce the name of WASHING.
TON essentially an American-the unmixed
creation OF his own continent; uniting in his
single, great and useful life, the attributes Of
patriot, hero, statesman. 1t is not my pur-
/ pose to pronounce an eulogy on WASHING.
| TON this would, indeed, be supererrogation
| Why, could not write the story Of bis fame
and greatness on "tablatures less broad than
the surface of the earth ITSELF" and have it
read where it is not already known and ap.
pTeclated. 1t has been born everywhere, as
upon the wings Of the wind, it has filed the
earth, and the circumference of the globe is
the ouly measure Of his fame. The first,
! greatest, best oil beings, only human, seemed
IN his pure, exalted, unsefsh self-devoting,
| loving lite, so far above mankIud as to appear
more than human. lie stands alone unap
! preached, Hnrlyaled-a solitary instance, such
as the world never saw before and probably
never again will. The full moon amid the
stars. The father Of q Great Empire Of free
men who, when hs work was finished, laid
calmly down to his rest with no other reward
than sell'approving conscience, the appro.
baton oi bis coCnlrymen, and the admiration
| OF mankind.
The schoolboY reverences the name OF
WASHINGTON, as the name Of @ father, and the
old man, waiting day by day to close his eyes
forever on the sun, besses God for Washing.
ton; the statesman quotes him as o model foI
imitation, and an example for emulation. All
classes OF men reverence his memory and
love it. The humblest lsboIer, contented in
the bosom of a salubrious nature, looks up
from his toll, and is proud of his own Wash
ingtOn who with his right haud, guided by
heart and head devoted indlssoluably
through life aud for DEATH to truth and duty
laid deep beneath the grove OF things" the
foundation of our mighty empire. Let as al
hope with faith, and devoutedly pray that il
may hpe and groc, and strengthen, through
the convulsions Of oil time. Let every A me
rlcan man feel this prayer, and continue tC
ntteT 1t, till time has chilled the heart til
lie and its objects perish till the whole mai
siumoers, and all is torpid with the decay o
the affections. THE greatest glory of o free
born people is to transmit that freedom L
their children" Freedom is the brilian
gift OF heaven, it's reasons self, the kin @
deity"
| have said it was not my purpose to eulo
gize Washington, but, surely, it would be
grateful aud not inappropriate task, on thi
anniversary Of his birt celebrated wit
demonstrations Of rejoicing; commemorate
as q national jubilee to review with reye,
ence the virtues which justify our admiratio
and love, and shed their lustre over his meu
Ory. But l may not pause to do this nov
We are assembled to day to commemorat
this august birth, by the inauguration of o
American Gag, and am reminded that. Will
with true devoted hearts you are doing thi
= the institutions OF our beloved country al
} imperlled and elsewhere in this land, rel
dsred free by the prowess of WAsHISGro
| ha ma nf k h.a A,