, 1863-07-04

THR DECLARATIoN. !.

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1868.
THE DECLARATION.
THE Declaration Of Independence takes
all it's power and importance from IT'S pfo'
claiming the great truth, that Governments
derive their just powers from the consent
of the governed. 1t declares the people to
be the source Of power, thus confronting
and dctying all those systems which place
King, or an a1istocracy first; and it was
to defend and maintain this fundamental
principle Of free popular government, that
our fathers took up arms against the power
Of England, and pledgiug to each other
their lives fortunes, and sacred honofs'
carried the country t1iumphantly through
all the blood and suffering Of the keVoiu-
tiouary War. However, men may at thls
daq DENY or denounce the great principles
of freedom and human equality get forth
in that Instrument it must be admitted
that the men who gave their prayers, their
fortnnes and their lives, to maintain and
defend it, believed that they were laboring
and struggling in behalf Of popular gov
ernmcnt and human rights; and that the
cause for which they fought was the cause
Of man, wherever down-trodden or op-
pressed, the cause Of the people every
where. And however the words Of that
immortal instrument may be criticised or
refined upon; or in whatever tone of hate
or scorn its just truths may be assailed or
rejected; 1t still remains bulwarE and
beacon Light to the world; tower Of
strength, and fountain OF hope to every
people and race who rise against oppress-
ion or strike Tor freedom.
The great truths Of the Declaration are
human equality and the right Of the people
to govern themselves. Upon these as
cornerstone and foundation our govern
ucnts have been erected. We are looked
to By all the world as representing in our
republic these fundamental political ideas.
Saws Webster" Let us endeayor to COM
prehend in all its magnitude, and to teel in
I'LL its importance, the part assigned to US
in the great drama Of human affairs. We
arc placed at the head Of the system Of 1e-
preventative and popular governments. II
in our case the representative system ulti-
mate]y fail, popular governments must be
pronounced impossible. No combination
Of circumstances more favorable to the ex-
pertinent can ever he expected to occur.
The best hopes Of mankind therefore rest
with us; and if it should be proclaimed
that our example had become an argu-
ment against the experiment, the kuell of
popular liberty will be sounded through
out the earth"
The Southern Confederacy, on the other
hand, deliberately rejects the great princi-
pies Of the Declaration, pronounces them
false and absurd, and asserts the only true
basis Of Government is found in the prin-
cil'le Of human inequality, which is of d.
vine origin, and the right Of the superior
to govern the inferior race, the few the
many. Says Stephens, after stating the
truths Of the Declaration" Our new Gov
eminent isfounded upon exactly the oppo-
siteideas The assumption Of the equality
Of the races, is IN error. Slavery, subor.
dination Of the inferior to the superior
race, is the great truth upon which
the Confederacy Is founded. This stone
which was rejected by the first builders
is become the chief stone Of the corner,
in our new edifce,"
1t is then in opposition to the Declare
ton Of Independence, and to prevent til,
longer existence, OF further extension
among us Of governments founded on it
principles, that secession was begun an
rebellion has taken up arms. This war
the same in principle as the war of th
revolution; and it is the glory Of til!
struggle as it was Of that, that they VII
maintain the principles Of the Declaration
are defending the great cause Of free go
eminent and human rights. Its eminent
fit for us, On this anniversary Of that IL
mortal instrument, to feel how great NJ
solemn the responsibility is that rests up.
us; how vast and inestimably precious a
the interests and blessings and hopes of O.
own people and Of all mankind, that ha1
been placed in our hands for safe keepin
We know not whit means beyond huma
ken or thought Providence may take |
1e-estab1ish free popular governments,
overthrown and destroyed here; but SO Fl
rs man can see or judge, the fate Of Repn'
1ican government and human freedom
hanging on the issue Of this conflict. Iti
impossible that governments founded 0
these opposite ideas can dwell side By sid
together inpeace There is in their very nj
1ure i1econcilable cnmity and eternal wa
Tie conflict which is now going on wi
never permanently cease, until one or th
other Of these great principles has tr
umphed and taken possession of the Who'll
land. Unon MS is thrown the tremendou