The weekly union record., 1865-07-22
Oration of John C. Gray. Delivered at
Brush Greek, or July 4th, 1865
PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :


The rising sun which ashered in the dawn Of
this day 10 us OF these United States, has been
greeted with anthems of joy. It IS the birth 5ay
Of our nation. The birthday Of ration whose
independence wrung from the hands OF the
most naughty and tyrannical nation that has ever
occupied position among the nations Of earth.
The Declaration Of independence, TO the reading
Of which you have just listened, contains long
list of grievances and usurpstions, such as the
world never heard. before or since, practieed by
any other civilized or uncivilized nation upon any
Of its colonies or dependencies. Laws were passed
depriving the people of the rights of commerce
with al those nations where ii was most aivan-
tageous and profitable, torbiiding the erection OF
mills for the Manufacture of those things most
needed by the coloni-ts taxes and duties the most
onerous, laid upon everything almost that they
could not do without, and IS if to add the last
feather that breaks the camel's back. troops were
sent over TO enforce these od0as measures and the
Colonists compelled to support them. The Colo
nists had often given the highest proof it is pos
sible for men to give of their loyalty and devotion
to the mother country. by going with her, hand in
hand to extend the borders of her territories or to
repel the invader from her soil. Time and again
had the hasbandman left the plow standing in the
furrow to respond TO the call of the mother coan-
try to carry war into our enemys country for con
quest, and that too when famine stared him and
his family IN the face if he planted not the seed
that was to bring forth :he crop.
In coming time as the student of history shall
be carried back. through long line of years. to
the time whom thesa Irniaj Stata- ,ara co,naiiaa
to strike the first blow for their independence, he
will be struck with wonder and amazement at the
high position claimed by the English historian for
England, both in regard TO her refinement and en-
lightenment, especially when he reads that portion
of her history relating to her tyranncal yes, bar
barrie conduct towards her North American Colo
MES. Never before in the worlds history had so
much of malignity and hatred been exhibited BY
one portion Of nation against its own kindred,
living in another part of the world because they
would not submit to be vassals and slaves to them
when even the straw necessary to carry on the
work Of slaves had been denied them. But would
not for moment on this day of our nations re-
joicing and joy, be understood as trying to preju-
dice your minds against the Government of Great
Britain. The time viii come, and ii is not far in
the future. when she will be called upon to give an
account for the damage done to our shipping by her
piratical crafts, built and armed by her rich men,
and allowed to leave her ports by the Government
during domestic difficulties. The only object
have in asking you to go back with ME to the times
of the Revolution is, that we may again review
some of the dangers and hardships the Fathers of
the Republic had to undergo in order to establish
Republic in the face of an opposing world, and
that while doing 50 may again renew our oath
to stand by and help maintain that government so
nobly established by those great and good men.
We shall know all the better how to prize our
glorious country when learn the dear price paid
for it-how much of blood and treasure it cost that
we, their posterity, might have a country among
the first in the world in every thing that goes to
strengthen and adorn great people. We owe to
them debt of gratitude and homage that can
never be paid. If the Greeks could set apart day
70 the honoring of the memory Of that brave and
heroic band of three hundred Spartans who op-
posed the advance of the Persians at the pass of
ThermoPolae, until every one of them was slain
how much more ought We to honor and revere the
memory and deeds of our spartan band, who in the
midnight Of our Revelation, tramplng under foot
all selfish considerations, whether Of interest or
safety, laid all upon the altar Of their country that
We, their children, might live ander the freest and
most liberal government the world has ever seen.
Ani how eminently fitting it is for US, in these
dark hours of our domestic difficulties, when the
ship of State is sorey threatened with destruction
not more by civil war than questions OF domestic
policy to go back and study every act of those
men, who under the most trying circumstances
amid credit and an almost bankrupt people
could carve out and put in operationla government
that has justly challenged the admiration of
astonished world. Yes, Government that has
caused tyrants to look well to their standing.
while, at the same time it has been pillar Of
light . to the down-trodden and oppressed of every
nation and cline. When the bell on the old hall,
in which the Continental Congress convened at
Philadelphia, pealed forth the joyous notes that
the Declaration OF Independence had been signed,
it not only reverbrated through every valley and
over every hill the length and breadth of our land
but it crossed the ocean and entered the worhsh ps
and political dungeons of the Old World, proclaim
ing the hour of release near at hand. Mez zina
caught the sound, and forth from the vineclad
hills of Italy he led a band Of men in whose hearts
bazed the fire of liberty against their oppressors
until the governments of that land were shaken to
their very center. Kossuth heard the sound as il
rolled along the Carpathian mountains and with
call to his brave co-patriots of Hungary, rushed
upon the Austrian Government and had well nigh
overpowered it when the Russian troops were called
in to subdue them. Kossuth, to day. lives in exile
bat the brave Hungarian feels not the iron heel of
Austrian despotisn as before. The late Gar OF
the Russians, NcholAs, heard the mutterings Of
discomfort among the serfs Of his empire, begin
ing at Poland and stretching across the country
like the distant rumblings of an earthquake, and
with his usual foresight and discretion, instantly
made preparations to have them set at liberty.
Death, alone, prevented him from carrying out the
noble work, but it has been well and faithfully
dore by his successor, Alexander, and serfdom is
no longer an institution under the Russian sway.
The bold stand taken by the few men that COM
posed the first Continental Congress SO inspired
courage in breasts of their constituents that they