The Shasta courier., 1865-07-22


Creator. The fathers of our Republic brought
this chartered right of God from the inhospl-
table shores of Europe, and planted 1t IN the
virgin soil Of the New " World, where 1t would
be watered by her noble rivers, embraced by
her magnificent inland oceans, and shaded by
her boundless forests. They came where
there were Alpine nights upon whose cloud
robed peaks the foot Of tyranny had never
trod: there were verdant valleys and plans
of immeasurable extent that had ever gwen
generous welcome to the bounding deer, the
antlered stag. the wild freedom of the butfa-
10. and the savage liberty of the red man.
Our pilgrim fathers were surrounded by
natural scenery that was emnently ealculat'
ed TO nourish that broad enthusiasm that led
them to seek some sequestered spot where
they could worship God with none to molest
or make afraid.
The noble champions of American liberty
We're men of learning, of deep, unquestioned
religious character. irreproachable IN their
lives and morals. They were not moved by
mad ambition, by love of paltry pelf; they
did not struggle for the honor OF wearing
stars garters, ribbons and titles of nobility
these baubles they left behind when, for
conscience sake, they went out from the land
that proudly boasts of the Magma Charta-
the Englishman's charter Of liberty. Large.
catholic mind, imbued with the principles of
this noble charter, brought its kernal to this
western shore, where it could be planted in
soil deep enough for it to take root, and an
expanse above wide and high enough for it
to send up its trunk and stretch out its
| branches without being dwarfed by the breath
of kinglv prerogatiye, divine right Of birth,
or inherited titles.
Weneed to keep fresh in our memories the
great animating principles Of the fathers Of
the American Revolution, lest we be drifted
away from the source that inspires the soul
with true, universal liberty. There can be
nothing more refreshing to the heart of
patriot-more soul-inspiring to a son Of lib
erty--than to 90 back to the fountain head Of
our national independence, and drink in the
rich, overtiowing utterances the gifted men
who could and did pledge their lives and
their fortunes upon the altar inscribed
Liberty or death" We cannot oyervalue
the worth Of our Independence. The clash OF
arms had been heard a year before the
act was adopted that forever separated the
Colonies from Great Britain. George the
Third and his ministry were implaeable.-
Though the head of Charles the First had
rolled from the block. the successors Of the
Stuarts held with firm hand to the dogma
of the Divine right Of kings 1t savOred of
treason for subject to question the authority
of the sovereign, and kingly prQrogatve was
of more value than the interests and rights Of
three millions of loyal Englshmen.
1t was reserved for America to assert
those principles with which God Professionally
and eternalIy endowed rational nteligences,
and which 5hey were never to abrogate ex-
cept it be the act Of voluntary and abiect
servitude. This our fathers could not do
Though exiles, they bore with them the seed
Of civil and religious liberty.
To-day we are permitted to gather under
the branches Of this goodly tree of liberty,
and behold the fruit, that it is all very good.
The temple Of freedom rises above US in ma
iestic grandeur, and freemen gather this day
within its bread area, not more for the pur
pese OF honoring those who 50 grandly
wrought out that noble form Of government,
so iointed and compacted in every part by the
clear recognition Of the rights ofman, that it
has been able to resist triumphantly the
seyerest pressure to which nation could be
subjected-a civil war,-than to refresh and
strengthen our patriotism by drinking from
these ancient fountains pure draughts, unal-
loyed by party passions or sectional jeal-
ousies.
We welcome our own glorious Fourth, the
Nations natal day, as the proudest of which
any people can boast There is a genuine
patriotic ring in the stern resolves of New
England, New York, Virginia and South
Carolina. that they would not buy. or wear.
or a single article that came into their
harbors with the imprimatur of the odious
stamp tax upon them.
Roman sternness and Spartan virtue
scarcely find parallel, in the declaration of
the stern, iniiexible spirit of New England,
we Will eat no lamb, nor wear mourning"
so jealous were they of the slightest en-
croachment upon their personal rights.
Our fathers had borne the yoke of oppres
sion, they had fed from cruel task masters,
they had braved dangers by sea and land, to
find little nook" where they might rest
and worship God in peace They had gone
out from their native land, with their wives
and little ones, choosing to suffer affictlon
rather than prove recreant g to the natural
rights of man, and the immutable laws OF
nature;" they had not passed through SO
many deaths, and had quiet possession OF
their dearest rights for Il century and
half. that they were to yield them to the
whims and caprices of stubborn king ana
stupid ministry.
The great men of the Colonies felt that
Providence had a glorious design in the set
tement of these western wilds, and the ldea
was finally expressed by John Adams when
he said, q always consider the settlement
of America with reverence and wonder; as
the opening of grand scene and design III
Providence for the illumination OF the lgno-
rant. and the emancipation OF the siavisn VI,
part of mankind all over the earth Inc
progress Of events has proven these words
prophetic. Ages have been crowded in'o
bebrief period of 90 years. Inc 6looa Oh
natriots had enriched the soil OF New Eng
land before the Continental Congress nad
nnhl;sbed to the world that instrument that
declared "t that these United Colonies are,
and If riebt ought to be. free and independ-
ont states" This document comhItted the
question of.s democratic liberty to the stern
qGub;troment qro;s, of war. Our Declaration OF
InJanendence was the grand voice of the
rro,vth of ages, announcing the birth OF a
Nat;on whose mission was to work out in
nract;cal wav the problem, the capability OF
free intelligence to govern itself.
: Never can human assembly be invested
Nth biober moral grandeur than that which
daI;berately put their names to paper. as
snred. if they failed in maintaining their
decIaration. a felon's doom awaited them
Thav are entitled to all that gratitude, vene
| hot ~ ,e y,oecihla for