Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-06-20
The FourtIp of .JuIv.

To tho Editor of tho Fremont Journal:
SIR:-I catch eager glances at the papers "a
see what steps are being taken by the intelli-
gent freemen of this great land, toward pro-
per celebration Of our own proud natal day
the glorious Fourth of July. Yet though the
| great day draws near, see no indications of q
proper and patriotic observance it. The press
mentions it not, and the people seem to have
forgotten, or care not that we have great ami
versary day,-one preeminently worthy of eel
ebTation. Wrote one of the immortal Fathers
of the Declaration of Independence, the day
after the consummation of that noble event, athe
fourth day Of July, 1776 will be memorable
epoch in the history of America. am apt to
believe that it will be celebrated By succeeding
generations as great anniversary festival. 1t
ought TO be commemorated as the day of deliu-
crdncc by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty
God. 1t ought to be solemnized with pomps,
shows, games, sports guns bells, bonfires and
illuminations from one end of the land to the
other, from this time forward, forever" 1t cost
seven years of terrible war, bringing carnage,
want, poverty, suffering and death, to make good
the Declaration. Yet was the Declaration and
the national deliverance which it announced
made certain. We all readily recount the bless
ings and great national prccminence it has Civ
| en- us as people. Then shall we forget ig-
more the day? Or rather shall we not as we at.
tain greater power, greater wisdom, more intel.
ligence, regard with increased reverence solemn.
ize with greater zeal, our Fourth Of JukyP
l But while there is this reprehensible neglect
to prepare for proper solemnization of the
nations day, the people of this State will find a
portion of their public prints conspicuously
displaying a call-for what?-not for ceebra-
tion,-but for a pdrtizdn contention, to assemble
at their Capital the Fourth Of July, there in Sc
cret conclave to devise means and instrument
talities for the acquisition of place and partizan
! emoluments Then it has come to this: That
fho oh Of oil
the one of all others we ought most to COM
memorate, must be profaned by party assemb-
| lage, prostituted to the work of demagogues and
miserable intriguers, working only for selfl--
Editors in the interest ofthis faction can devote
column after column to mere party clamor, and
political crOakings, but these engage them too
exclusively to allow even brief exhortation of
the people to proper observance of our ami
versary day But with what i'll grace would
such exhortation come from these cavorters to
party. Would that the promptings of patri-
otic yeneration could find right response in
all hearts among us, and that the sordid and
calloused bands of party might melt away for
one day, then could we all come together in a
! union of hearts and Of voices in the commem-
aration of the day when great nation became
| free.
| envy no man his love of country or devo-
ton thereto, who can forget duty so far as to
enter the convention" of any party called for
any great national day. But what shall We
think of these slaves of party who expect to GO
to Columbus next 4th of July, to confer in par.
tizan conclave in these days. In this time oi
great national trial, when the government is Sc.
verely taxed for its preservation and when, il
ever, we should seek to renew the fires of pa.
1 triotism and national love- does it not seem ma.
tional apostasy, contempt of the efforts of oul
devoted Fathers, to set apart the 4th of July for
party conventions, for mere political effect2 II
is national disgrace, a slnr, upon popular in.
stitutions. beseech the people of Ohio to re.
pudiate this partizan conduct, not because / am
in the interest of another party, but because ]
love my country, and would discountenanc,
every thing tending to destroy the love of coun.
try in all hearts. Men who would put fortl
such a call as that for a convention at Colum
bus in July are beyond the power Of reason
impervious to the melting influence of patriotic
love. They know nothing but party, want moth
ing but place; hut my faith in the virtue anC
intelligence Of the people, leads me to believ,
that this great proclamation OF the peoples and
the nations day will by all be properly dis
countenanced, and its authors Justly re6ulSed.
June ~, 1862. MARCELLUS.