The Placer herald., 1862-07-12
Fourth of July at Dutch Flat.


Fourth of July at Dutch Flat
EDS HERALD The anniversary of our country's
independence was celebrated in good style by the
various orders of this place and the citizens gen.
orally at the Grove near the suburbs of the town.
The preparations for the occasion were in excel
lent taste. Both sides Of the main street were
studded with evergreen trees. drawn from the
mountains, and every window and door garland
ed with boue and vines. presenting gay, pic
turesque and beautiful scene. The streets were
swept clean, and the procession, with music and
banners, made fine display. The number of
persons in attendance was variously estimated
at from eight hundred to one thousand.
After the playing of national airs by the band
and the singing of patriotic songs by the children
of Mr. and Mrs. McDonald's school, and the re-
cital of poem by Mr.. Hart the Declaration of
independence was read by Postmaster Plummer
with an intonation and cadence of voice never
before surpassed. The Hon. William D. Harri-
man then delivered an grafton of about an hours
length brief outline of which now propose to
give you.
He commenced by piou.ly invoking the out
pourings of divine wrath upon the heads OF = the
traitors of the South" and ended by hurting
anathemas against the institution Of African
slavery The nneninr clause in the Declaration
of Independence, declaring that all men are
created free and equal" he said, embl aced all
races the African as we'll rs the white race In
uttering this he treated with the utmost disres-
pect the characters of Washington, jefferson, Mad
ison Jefferson Adams Hancock and others. for
ut that period they all held slaves afterwards
held them. and nearly all transmitted them to
their posterily. If such had been the meaning
and intention of the writers and supporters OF
that instrument. greater inconsistency and
crime cannot we'll be imagined than they were
guilty Of From the fact that they did not eman-
cipate their slaves that in the Constitution OF
the United States slavery was distinctly recog-
nized, and that they made no effort in the Legis-
atures Of their several States to open the door
to their freedom. they left enduring proof to
the world that by the phrase "all men," they
meant the white or Caucasian race.
lie said that all our national troubles had
grown out of the false theory that sovereignty
resided in the respective States. The clauses in
the Dcclartion of Independence, which give it all
its spirit and significance, and which are in these
words" all people have right to alter or abol
sh their forms of government whenever they
fail to answer the purposes for which they were
instituted that all governments derive their
Just powers from the sent of the governed"-
and these colonies are, and of right ought to be,
free and independent States" "-were meaning
less phrases. He made onslaught upon the
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutons-s,d they
{" contained absurd political dogmas, recognized
the Sovereignty Of the States, nnd the right Of
cession." but failed to tell his audience who the
authors Of these resolutions were. One of them
wrote the Declaration of Independence, and the
other, by common consent, was styled the Father
of the Constitution" How very modest in our
youthful Senator! lie assumes to be more faith
full interpreter of the Constitution than those who
| framed it, Whoever dreamed that the lustre
which encrces the names of Thomas Jefferson
and James Madison with halo of glory, would
in the nineteenth century be dmmed by the cor
ruscations from the resplendent genius of the
Black Republican Senator from Placer county, the
Hon. WILLIAM D. HARTMAN, standing Fourth of
July orator for the Black Republicans and Abo-
litionists of Dutch Flat? If the trainers of the
Constitution did not know what powers were del.
egated to the Federal Government and what
were withheld, / should be very 10th to take Mr.
Harriman's Interpretation.
The Honorable gentleman made moving op-
peal to the "Genius Of Emancipation" ia a strain
of such fervid eloquence as to leave no doubt on
the minds Of any that he was an Abolitionist Of
the rankest die.
The Presideat Of the day, Southern ma n
proposed three cheers for the Union, which were
given with hearty good will, but not soul
present but believed be acted counter to bis feel
ings.
Amid the booming of the new cannon, christ.
eGed Abe Lincoln" which was echoed aud re.
echoed by the surrounding hills, the procession
moved back to town, After a samptous and el.
egant dinner by the propretors Of the Dutch Flat
Hotei-and as the Heightened shadows of the
forest pines proclaimed the close of day, the
more youthful part o. the audience repaired to