Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-07-08
JoirMaI attn &tatEainat,
GRAFTON
DELIVERED by
EDWARD G. BRADFORD, ESQ,
AT THE
Central Presbyterian Church,
WILMINGTON. DEL.
JULY 4th, 1862.
ladies and Gentlemen

Ladies and Gentlemen:
The peril in which
the nation is involved gives a special in
terest, to the celebration of the Deelara-
ton of Independence at this time On the
fourth of July one year ago we were, and
to-day we are, engaged in a stern conflict
to preserve the institutions and liberties
founded by our fathers, and we are devel-
oping the great fact of our worthiness or
unworthiness to enjoy the results of their
labors, and of onr ability or inability to
perfect the work on this continent so well
begun by themselves.
This day has hitherto been, in a great
degree, set apart by our people for their
self -glorifcation, devoted TO selfcompla-
cency; it has been passed in recital of the
heroic events of the Revolution, the paint
ing of the persons and lives of its chief
actors; the laudation of their motives /;
and procaiming in short, every event
which, while it shed a lustre on our fathers,
names, was more particularly gratifying
as throwing a reflected light on ourselves
Now, while it is very well for nation
as an individual to have good opinion
of itself and within moderate limits and
on the right times and occasions TO culti-
vate and manifest the same, yet you will
excuse me ii l do not think this the pro-
per time or occasion for any such demon
strations. While we are thankful for the
past, that past which is "secure,' what
ever God in his wisdom shall reserve for
the future, let us make this anniversary
suggestive of such thoughts and argu-
ments as may strengthen and inspire us in
the sacred cause Of defending our Gov
ernment, our Constitution and our Union,
from the assaults of this widespread Re
bellion.
There are two prominent ideas which
possessed our ancestors when they achiey-
ed the independence Of this country
The first was that they were laying the
foundations for the largest development OF
human Liberty, consistent with Il we'll reg
ulated society; and secondly and more spc-
officially, they supposed, as a means oi
developing to the widest extent this human
liberty, they were founding one people
one nation, one great political unity
The fundamental idea of the Revo
luton is expressed III the Declara
ton of Independence, and lies at its basis
1t is the God given right of every man tG
" life, liberty and the pursuit Of happi
ness" The signers OF that Declaration
did not intend there should be any douh
as to their meaning, for they expressed il
in language unmistakable. They did moi
say, every property holder, every one o
English origin and every one belonging
to the ruling or superior class in the State
every white person is entitled to " life
liberty and the pursuit of happiness" bu
they said call men )" and although ii ha
been made by many very wise men, since
their time, subject Of grave debat,
whether "all men were entitled to 'life
liberty and the pursuit of happiness" ant
whether "all men were created equal b,
their Maker; and whether l." all men wer
I endowed by their Creator with certain in
alienable rights" il never occurred to GU
fathers to dispute this fact. Nay, the
refused to reason on the subject, bu
proclaimed the fact as self-evident,
and in the Revolution put themselye
on the sympathies and charities o
the whole human race, as making
struggle in the interest of humanit
everywhere and in all times, and launche,
forth government framed and based OF
this as the leading and ruling thought.
Eighty-fve years elapse. A wide-sprea
conspiracy against the life Of the nation
the unity OF the government, ramiie'
throughout all the slave-holding States,
discovered eontederacy between thos
revolted States is formed government
q established. That government is openl
. distinctly, deliantly founded, on the prime
pie that "all men" are not "create
equal" and are not "endowed by the
Creator with certain inalienable rights.
And this eternal subjugation and debast
ment of portion Of the human race
3 claimed as the cornerstone of this Temp
:; = of government these traitors have reareC
The men who conspired to destroy th
nation, laid the foundations of this ne
government-an proclaimed dissatisfac
ton with the theory of equal rights G
which the old one was formed. Thes
men, and this government, thus foundet
II now continue this struggle with the fere
a ness of demons, for the ruin of the oil
founded on the principles of the Declar
ton of Independence, and the establish
IS ment of the new, founded on the essent
and leading idea that it is for the intere
:, of the State that one portion of the h
man race should be subjected to the d
minion of the other.
Now, when we contemplate these trut
, of the Declaration of Independence; wht
we consider the circumstances und
which they were promulged to the worlt
when we reflect on the brave appearan
they make on the "sacred parchment"
ea ea nations liberty, what promise they ga
an an in the early days of the Republic of hop
IS never fulfilled, but always receding al
u ultimately utterly abandoned, may n
$ the thought cross the mind, that God
Furnishing this nation for the non -perfor
ance of the great trusts of human libel
committed to them
Our ancestors, when they separat
from the mother country, supposed til
were founding a nation in the proI
sense of the word. The Colonies in q
sense were independent States when III
u II put forth the Declaration of Indept
tie dence. They controlled their own mu
.st oa cipal affairs. But in another they ne
pt were independent. In relation to I'll
mt general or common affairs, they were g
up erned by the English Grown till tine y
l775, when the Revolutionary Congr
to whom was committed the eonduc
the struggle with England, assumed W
u G ~