The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer., 1863-07-31
WHEN THE NIGHT AND TEMPEST CLOSE
JULY 81, 1868.

late that exhibition of wisdom and pa.
triotism. BE patient, be resolute. Yield
nothing of your rights; but bear and
forbear. Let your action show to the
world, that, with courage to confront
despotisni,' you have also the discre-
tion to avoid inconsiderate~ action in re-
sisting its advances. George Washing gton
and Samuel Adams, Matthew Thornt3p
and Charles Carroll, George Reed and
Roger Sherman, Philip Livingston and
William Hooper, Benjamin Franklin and
Edward Rutledge, George Walton and
Richard Stockton, With their associates Of
all the thirteen then independent sovcr-
eign States, stood eighty-seven years ago
to-day, in that simple but most memorable
room, where the Declaration was signed,
like the people Of the States whom they
represented, with the solemn grandeur Of
high resolve, if apparently weak yet with
their armor on and their hearts. strung for
the contest Of civil'liberty;' IF we cannot
be joyous and eyultant on this anniversa-
ry Of that day, it may do us good to re-
member that Joy and exultation were far
from the hearts of the brave men who
sanctioned the Declaration Of Indepen-
dence, and then fought seven. years, to
maintainsit. No! they were not joyous
but determined. They felt the inspira.
tiou of a great object and they sought
its accom- mplishment with stern, devoted,
selfsacrifcing spirit. They were ANNA
ted by that determination which In "a
rigteous cause of selfdefence and self-vin-
dication is invincible. They knew the
condition Of the Provinces in, point Of men
and munitions, and they had clear per-
ceptiou of the colossal power which they
were to confront. But neither one nor
the other consideration, nor both combin-
ed, shook either their faith or their cour-
age. They compensated for the want Of
numbers, arms, and all which under ordi,
nary circumstances goes to constitute, the
sinews of war, by the glory Of their patri-,
otism and the strength of their purpose.
To be sure, they fought for their rights,
but. their endurance and energy were
quickehed by an incalculable power; they
fought for theirhomes, their heartR:stones,
their wives and children behind them II
trust it may be profitable on this occasion,
as the Call of your meeting suggests, to
revive the memories Of that heroic epoch
of the Republic, even though they come
laden with regrets, and hold up that Pc
riod of our history III contrast With the
present. Though they come to remind US
OF what were our relations during the
revolution, and in later years, prior to
1861, to the great Comm ohwealth which
we were accustomed to. refer To by the
name of ''the mother ofatStatesmen and of
States;" and Of what those relations now
area Can it be that we are never again
to think of the. land where the dust Of
Washington and Patrick Henry, Of Jeffer7
son and Madison repose, with emotions of
gratitude, admiration and 'flial regard p
Is hate for all that Virginia has taught,
allthat Virginia has done, all that Yir-
ginia nowis, to take stbe place ST senti-
ments which We have cherished all our
livese Other men may be asked to do
this, butt is in vain to appeal to me, SO
far'as my heart is concerned, it Is not a
subject Of violation. While there may be
those iii whose breasts such sentiments as
these awaken no responsive feeling, !; feel
assured, sI look over this vast assem-
blage, that the grateful emotions which
have lsignalized this anniversary ia all our