Weekly Trinity journal., 1863-07-11
Grafton of John Murphy Esq''
,,,,,vrorn At wEAvERvuLE, JULY A, 1868

/ l1all
that il was with no chimerica hope of an idle fancy that
but few days ago accepted OF the prouu poS''''"
ooo,r, ,o.dav by vainy imagining myself capable of
shonjpc nv rude and unpolished thoughts IN manner
worthy Of the glorious occasion which has called together
the vast collection Of American freemen and laaes Whom
have now the honor of addressing felt too sehsloy
bo,vever the bioh and indeed unmered honor your worthy
and notriotc committee paid in selecting me from tue
array of learning and eoquence Of wisdom and experience
that our county and town affords to decline the compl'
ment They thought doubt, and correctly 100, that
required not the poetic decorations or ingenious uaeE
the orator to re affirm the lofty doctrine Whlch t"' us
trous council of imperishabe memory promusaeu III 'e
grand fat of American Freedom that hundeeu 'or'n io
the halls Of Independence that caused the 'espoc thrones
of the Old World to rock with with fear for ther SAFETY
beneath the swelling Of the new and just ooctrho
that sacred instrument contained which declared tha
all men are created equal No wonder that lhe annual
return Of the birthday Of American independence shou
summon together this vast number OF fair women ana
brave men smiling faces glowing with patriotism, and
acuated by the impulses of common gratitude Let US
therefore rejoice and bless day let be happy and
thankful that the bright of the Fourth of July l76
broke to rend asun Ter the chains forged by George H.
that bound the colonies of British North America Cold
and unparoc indeed be the heart that docs not feel
and silent the tongue that could not speak on an occasion
so pregnant with civil and religious blessings. All, my
friends who can think who speak such occasion
without being filled with the deepest emotions Of reverence
and gratitude when recolect that to-day eshty seven
years ago that noble galaxy Of unsullied IS ITS pro-
claimed man to be capable of sergovernmoP What
noble proclamation what worthy annunciltion. Not
indeed was given in the crmped parcan style that the
patriots the ancient republics of Rome and Greece gave
it, No hut il the broadest paines and most comprehon-
ye manner rearing the proud arch of equal freedom that
extended to the extrcmities of her horizon.
And now, my friends, let US for momont very briefly
review the train of which rapidly followed
the signing Of the Declaration of Independence nation
Of rreemen were, by magic sprung into existence and
whatever may have been the fears Of the patriot hereto
fore they were now dspeel those lowering clouds that
seemed to thcn and hover around the sky of washing
ton were broken revealing Albright armament 1t inspired
and marshaled the yeomau solliery Of the land with
Washington at their head INTO veterans enlisted the
sympathes and the support of the patriots of the Old
World in the New it made the heart Of every patriot
shield and the hand Of every liberal fortress But my
friends all not yet accomplished Oh nol War stern
cruel and unreenting war, upon us, and that too with
the most powerful of European nations for our foe with
officers highly educated in the arts and science of war to
lead and command veterans of hundred victorious battle
fields with navy that proudly swept every and
dedanty proclaimed herscmsess of every She had
contend with all this and only this but she had
still worse and more unmauy enemy to contend against
for then unfortunately, there were there shamey
now upas scorpion traitors the land who proved upon
the vals of the infant republic with the devourng rapac
ty Of the vulture. But Notwithstanding all the combna
tons Of sword and intrigue Of navy and wealth. the Spar
tans of 76 commanded by the glorious Washington, and
led by his gallant chiefs, Warren, Parker Putnam Mont
revolutionary heroes of both rank and file after many
weary years Of the most unparalleled privatous suffering
and fatigue, attesng their devotion the great cause with
the sacrifice of their gallant lives pouring their gen
crous blood like water those memorable and his
toric batleields from the frozen plains Of Quebec
Bunker Hill, Trenton, Yorktown, Camden Saratoga and
Valley Forge, and at length demonstrated beyond the per-
adventure of doubt the civilized world and their
naughty foe the correctness of the problem sstc by the
iustrlous GtySix the Fourth july l576 when they
declared man to be capable Of self,government
The first great drama being row ended With the laures
Of victory pcrchrg the banners Of Freedom, Young
America emerges from this struggle like the pheuix from
her ashes, all the colossal proportions and magnG-
cence and beauty oE republican simplicity. Peace
cared the sword sheathed the young republic takes her
among the nations Of the earth She is recognized
by the great powers of Europe her warriors become
statesmen they proudly exchange the unknd implement
of war for the pen and the forum they form code by
which to be governed, which fr magnanhnty of spirit
beauty and simplicity of style and grandness Of purpose
was never equaled by the combined wisdom Of man.
and except that eternal code which was written by the
inspired few for the spiritual government of fallen man
The portals of the United States are thrown wide open
She unfods her arms and like tender mother invites the
downtrodden and oppressed children the whole Caucas
sian to and rest their weary heads beneath the
ample protecting folds of the Stars and Srpes The
oppressed and ownrodden pilgrim accepts the offer and
mgrates hither from the countries of Europe mvras
They received brothers and treated as peers The
great car Of human civilization and political freedom
marches with rapid strides The population increases
with unparalleled rapdity aud it increases in number il
increases in wealth happiness and in national prosperity
by their untlrlng industry and republican zeal These
great missionaries Of human progress explore lakes and
rivers, navigate streams, penetrate and subdues the
mighty oak of the majestic forests and those ma
Jesc streams "htre heretofore Hoaed naught but the puny
canoe, piled by the tiny of the cnefvate red man
proudly rides our richly aden noble merchantman man
ned ny gallant crews and gandly floats the wondrous
steamship the great invention of republican genius and
in those rude forests of primitive winess where the
roaming bear and the uututored man held undsputed
sway, sprang up as by magic populous cit les busy with
me hum oi industry smiling under the protecting power
OF their new form OF government Vast domains of terri.
tory Is acquired by purchase and honorable warfare
are dug railroads built the barren of the wilder
ness are converted into fertile fields factories and work
shops erected and in everycy and every town within
the length and breadth of happy land might be seen
the tall spires Of religion and education piercin tbe
our sail whitening every sea- flag proudly floating in
he bree2t OF every ocean, loved and honorel at home
feared and respected abroad and in little over three
quarters Of century increased from the paucity of lit
tie over two millions to nearly thirty Of the eest hap
pest noblcst ana most hourshng people that ever the
bengnant rays Of the sun of heaven shed its brilliant us
on Fortunate, fortunate people with Constitution for
the great Ouwark and palladium of freedom before
which improvement vanished with laws made for the pro-
lection ofs without the distinction of any All is peace
all is beauty, all is prosperity.
Time rolls on with increasing national grandeur But
] o eVi ham
the lowering clouds OF traitor revolution is thickenng
lst ana hoVerng around the sky of franklin And for
what Because my Friends and no other reason than
that one OF the hardy and intellectual sons of the
West is elected TO the Chief Magstracy of the land who
honestly espOusei the of constitutional
freedom, with no ntonon nay indeed without desire
to Interfere with that peculiar institution Slavery wharc
II legally ana constitutiopaly existed. Oh shame shame
rce shae on the generate Of patriotic sirrs who
uhproVoked ana without cause with the yengapcc of dn
sroying angels, plunged this icwcled nation into hsun
haowed, ravaglng abyss Of civil war What difference
What contrast in the pursued bv the natrio c
20 TO hat by the traitors of 63 The former noby baed
or reedon and to unsheathe the iron band of desnots
mat bound them without beng tainted with the stain "r