Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-07-16
GRAFTON,
BY CHAS. N. w B B, E S @.
Delivered at centralia, Wood Co., July 4, 1863

1t is natural for man, especially after
having arrived at that period Of life
which we sometimes term its zenith
when the joys and frlvolities of youth
and the transient cares and pleasures
of early manhood are supplanted by
the responsibilities that invariably
surround his maturer years; when, at
length, he has attained that eminence
upon the great highecay from whence
he can, with becoming seriousness,
contemplate, in the one direction, the
bright morning Of life's youth, and the
gathering shadows Of its evening i'll the
other-then, if never before his affections
yearn for the scenes and associations
identified with the former. However
distant from the old "school- house upon
the ll-side," with its thousand hallow-
Cd associations, he may select the home
OF his later years; however widely diff
ferent aaoao his relative position in life,
from that Of those who were his associ-
ates and equals there, he could not if
he would, and he should not if he could
cease to cherish for them an endurin o
regard. Early impressions are most
lasting, whether upon the Judgment,
the memory, or the affections. However
much they may be disregarded, or de-
fed in after life, men seldom forget or
dlsapprove those iniunctions to truthful
ness, to morality, to uprightness, which
they received at the hands of that pa
rent the recollection of whom is cock
tensive with the earliest recollection of
existence Convictions, formed in child
hood, as to what is right and what is
wrong-formed when the mind is too
young to comprehend the stern logic
by means of which their correctness is
tested, are seldom abandoned in after
years, even though their plainest direc-
tons are not always obeyed. SO, too,
with those objects III which center our
earliest affections. We cherish them
until we descend to the grave. Time
may remove us from them, events prove
them unworthy, but they are too
choicely embalmed in the memory to
be abandoned without regret. First
among those objects of early affection,
is our native land, without reference to
the country in which we first beheld
the light Men turn with fondness up.
on their native country, wherever upon
the broad earth she may be, whatever
the form of her government, whether
arlstocratlc, monarchical, or republi-
can. Whatever her misfortunes, or
whatever their cause, none should be
SO ungratetul as to diSown her in ad-
versity, or scorn her in her sorrow.
However imperfect in her organic law,
or however unwisely administered it
may be, her citizens should claim her
as their country, and amend the one,
and compel a reform in the other. Her
humbleSt child can claim her as his
own, and no earthly autocrat can be-
reave him of his right. While he is
faithful to her, no human executive can
nullify the relations which nature has
established between them; the decree
of no earthly court can cancel his title
deeds Of Inheritance. With all this to
.consost and encourage the children of
despousc lands, how great are the in
ducements and imperative the duty of
the citizen of this country, whether by
| birth or adoption, to stand firmly by the
government under which he lives. No
government has ever existed on earth
SO perfect in theory, or SO bcneticent
in its Influences upon the citizen, wheth-
er of high cr low degree. No crowned
head or titled peers can here prescribe
the laws, or coRtrel for themselves and
their children positions Of honor and
trust to the exclusion Of the more wor-
thy, but more humble in birth. 1t was
reserved for those who formed our own,
after passing through the purifying
ordeal of long years of trial, to erect
upon this continent, and transmit to us
their posteritv, the first constitutional
government that strikes to the earth all
lawful barriers between poverty, emi
nence and worth. The people erected
this government, drafted and adopted
Its fundamental law; and it is a gov
ernment of the people, for the people,
and, if not by the people, it is because
they have entrusted to other hands the
discharge of those high trusts which it
has contided to their own. In it, for
three-quarters Of a century, have been
centered the hopes Of the world. Made
up, as it is, OF a family of Republics.
each, within the sphere of its powers
reserved by itself, sovereign and indie
pendent-yet over the broad shoulders
Of all is thrown the still broader man
tie Of the Federal Constitution, making
them one and inseparable; one, for the
purposes of common defeuse, for the
general good, for all that makes gov
ernment worthy Of the allegiance of
men. The States are sovereign in all
that relates to their local concerns, in
all that is not expressly delegated by
them to the federal government; and
1t IS that very sovereignty, possessed
and exeFeised by the States in the for
nation of the Union, and in the dele.
cation to it of Enumerated powers,
which has made the Union what it is,
permanent and self:sustaining gov
ernment: with all the lawful power ne.
cessary to the ample and thorough vim,
dieation Of its authority. The Union
is the result of compact between the
States, all Of whom were able and viii
ling to contract, and did contract, that
the Federal Constitution, and the laws
made in pursuance thereof, should be
the supreme law of all and after an
uninterrupted acquiescence Of oyer seY-