The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-07-09

A large crowd of people in the old
fashioned spirit of patriotism were assem-
bled for The appropriate celebration of
our Nations Birthday at the pleasant
and thriving village of Oswayo.
In the order of exercises procession
was formed at | o'clock P. NJ. and under
the conduct of the Marshals OF the day
were conducted to beautiful grove near
the church. The President of the day,
George Estes, Esq, announced in sue
cession the order of exercises.
1. Prayer, by Rev. j. Fl. Rogers.
2. Reading of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, by DIR. II. II. Munson.
3zsQration, by Rev. Mr.. Drake, late
returnedsC haplain from the army
The orator in happy and felicitous style
referred to the early settlement Of the
country-the "May Flower" specially
guarded by Divine Providence as it was
waited over the Atlantic in 1920, with
its precious cargo, destined to plant the
seed of true liberty and christianity in
the virgin soil of the New World, and
thus establishing the germ of mighty
Empire, which under Providence was to
be the light Of the world. Tracing for
ward the rapid and unparalleled growth of
our country up to the present time.
The orator, in his strong faith, then
drew the inference that the same Divine
Providence would take care of its own,
and that Notwithstanding our beloved
country was now darkened by the clouds
of civil war, that above the storm-cloud
was the serene blue of the heavens, and
that the storm would at length pass away,
giving place to clear sky and auspicious
peace. the integrity of the country re-
naming entire.
The orator was listened to with marked
attention and at times highly applauded
The oratiion having been concluded,
the President of the day announced that
after the refreshments prepared at the
hotels in the place had been partaken of
the people would again assemble at the
grove at 3 o'clock p. NJ. to listen to the
reading of "Toasts' and such accompa-
nyingremarks as might be made appli-
cable to the peculiar crisis of the country.
On repairing to the hotels the merits
of an excellent dinner was enjoyed at the
house of Q. II. Perry, and also at the
house of p 2 Story.
After dinner the procession was re-
formed and again marched to the grove
Speech making again being or seeming
to be In order, L. +. Maynard, Esq, was
called upon, who responded to the call in
some remarks deemed appropriate to the
peculiar condition Of the country, now in
a state Of civil war The real cause of
the war was prominently brought forward
and exposed. The Arch Traitor Of the
Country, the great and always enemy of
the Republic, Slavery, received some
telling and deadly blows. 1t was. said
the speaker, IA qualification to all patriot
hearts to know, that as one of the first
fruits of the war our National Capitol,
Washington, was trod by the footsteps of
Freemen alone-that the fearful incubus
of Slavery which bad so long rested with
it's dark wings over the heart of the
Nation, over the citadel Of our liberty,
had been removed by an act of Congress,
moved and Influenced to that righteous
conclusion by the stirring events and
logic of war This was progress, for
which God be thanked Another great
fruit Of the war was the act Of Congress,
declaring "Freedom as the law and rule
in all our National Territories now formed
or hereafter to be formed" )" and in con-
nection with this the speaker suggested
that if Congress would further declare by
act That all the seeded States now con-
federated and in armed rebellion against
the United States Government, had by
their treason justly forfeited their State
Governments respectively, and should
hereafter be treated, governed and held
as simply Territories, until such times as
the people, by making manifest their
true loyalty and fealty to the United
States Government, might safely be per-
mitted the organization of new State
Governments for admission again into the
Family of the Union," such an act of
Congress would meet the exigency of the
times, and the vindictiveness of the trea-
son we have to conquer. And once the
rebellious States are declared to be in the
condition of Territorie ies-then the great
law Of Freedom in the Territories declares
the emancipation of every Slave, thus
cutting at a blow the Gordian knot of our
difficulties. It was further suggested
that we could have no reasonable hope of
nylastlng peace concluded upon any other
basis than Freedom, absolute Freedom,
that public sentiment must ultimately
ripen to the conclusion, that to have a
nn,uapant neaoa Slavery the great foe