Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-06-05
Che Ohio 6tatesmam
lFor tho Ohio Statesman.l
THE CONSTITUTION.

THE CONSTITUTION.
Hal-thou eternal platform Of the right
Whose planks are battle'1e1s Of old rehown,
Where justice gained bright victories over might,
And hurled deAnace at tyrant's crown.
Yes, crushed, and beat the bold oppressoT down;
And the young States, whose liberty was bought
Unconquered, and unshrinkIng from the frown
or Europe's monarchs, nobly, faithful wrought
Their rights into this pyramid Of thought,
And who will raise his eyes and look afar
Der the broad plains and rivers OF our land,
And see for every State blazing star
0emmng our flag, that waves on every strand
Sees binding all the Constitutions band
Into one mighty whole-will dare to say
One word, and much less raise his impious hand
UAgainbt that glorious sum- whose livenlng ray
Sheds DER oolumblass ihe light OF freedoms day.
Thou mighty fortress OF people free
rock upon whose solid front may break
The billOws Of oppression cosselessIy,
And never cause Its armset base to shake.
Kingdoms may tumble monarchics may quake;
And revolutions rend the very earth,
Yet all the while, II freedoms sons awake,
win guard thor sacred rights Of bloody birth,
VIII this their potent shield protect each peaceful
hearth.
Thou "Bow Of Promise" on opprcsSlon's cloud
Down'trodden millions gaze on thee with eyes
That thence draw tightening to confuse the proud
oppressor, who beholdS thy arch with Sighs
And feels the weakness Of his prophesies
OF failure Of free goverpment-and long,
Yes, long before the tyraut struggling dies
viii Innovations cheering, strength ming song,
From bis own people rise, liberated throng.
Oil solid Keystone Of the Unions archI
win any dare to scOrn or scofr at theel
Where are the warriors whose victorious march
Secured for US our sacred llberty7
Hark-call them from their resting place TO be
= The judges OF the man who dares deny
Onto this useful code supremacy;
From Bunker Hill and Yorktown they pass by,
And blast the ratOro wretch with lightning in each
eye.
Thou art the heart OF all this mighty land
Thou art the soul Of freedom and Of right
Thou art our ruleri at thy high command,
The people raise their voice to praise or blight
Thine is the arm Of law and warning might
&The all. that is American thou art
And II In foreign war, or civil fight,
ooumbia's arm will shield her noble heart
The fierce and bloody strife will but new strength I'M
part.
Where art thou, mighty one whose noble form,
AValley Forge was bowed In fervent prayer?
That never bowed before the battles storm,
But humbly sought the God of Battles there;
Then sought the British Lion In his laIr2
And when nj pTinraton nm tha cbaaLn ~ tho.o
Thy countrymen thou saw'st by mornings glare
blanchingS Then thy mighty form uprose,
With flaming eyeand check, and led them to their f1as.
Dost thou not from the spirit land above,
Watch thy proud child OF freedom, and behold
With kind remembrance and undying love,
Thy Governments strong principles unfold,
Wherever our bright banner is unrolled
Causing the hearts Of the oppressed to burn
With fervent zeal, that never will grOw cold
Until the groaning millions rise and spurn
The tyrants yoke, and gain the power for Which they
yearn?
OIL thou-and those who girt thy form around
In battle and In councll not too soon
Your warning voices thunder from the ground
And shake the silence Of Ooumba's noon,
OF tell thy heirs, the precious cherished boon
or liberty to them to guard is given,
While beam the stars on high, or shines the moon
Upon the land 80 favored Of high heaven.
For which that Constitution from tyrant's hands wa
Iivenl
And tell themtoo, that that old Ship OF State
Mu,t pass the rocks and shoals Of civil war,
And II II sinks, then freedom shares its fate
And darkness soon must cover every star
Hark hear the vail OF millions from afai
And mark the tears Of sons Of Washington
Cursed be the hand that's ever raised to mar
The title to our birthright-let the sun
Neer rise to witness such destruction ~ begun
Aud let the csnnon's awful thunder sound
Now beating In wild waves through rreedom's ali.
sartlo the people to a thought profound,
To watch the braEen war clouds sullen glare
And let not souls be sinking with despair;
For twice before the oannon's fearful roar
Omened the breaking Of day more fair
or constitutional liberty-what more
Should stir the rulerssou who sways upon this st ore
For this. our fathers fought and bIed, and died;
And this 10 ours by dying testament.
And II for this our soldiers side by side
Are shedding blood and living 10 tho tent,
Then victory to our armies will be sent.
But II q vile ambition sheds our gore,
In vain noble hearts asunder rent
In vain opr fathers graves are trampled o'sri
Since God has never owned the wrong upon this shore
ALEX. II. MORRISON,
EEsT SPRINGFIELD, ONO.
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