The weekly union record., 1865-07-22

the existing powers or complying With tteri as
long as compIiauce contributed 10 their imue-
diate comfort and interest They had no
I thought of great questions OF moral and naiu
raj rights being involved. Hence it was only
here man and there man, numerically 10
significant as class, whose sleeping and wax
/ ing hours were devoted to the contemplation
of the injustice done them. ln themselves
/ they could directly accomplish nothing; but
they could teach their children to bate oppres
sion and love liberty. and educate them solely
to remedy the evil which they themselves were
/ impotent to remedy. Hence il was that the
stronger minded of their children, rapidly in
creaSiug in numbers and strength, were edu
Gated for that purpose, and devoted 10 the
! furtherance Of the great work OF the emane
patton of man and wrestling from strong hand
| ed oppression recognition OF his rights. So
| that when our fathers emigrated to America,
uominaly to escape from the repetition of re
cent oulrages, yet 10 reality TO develop this
great system Of universal equality and Justice.
they were eminently fitted for the task, in that
themselves and their fathers and fathers
1 fathers had made their lives but an Incident to
! the study OF this grand problem. and had con-
templa;ed not only the mode but the sacrifices
and result. While the germ of cur Govern
ment was rocked in the Mayiower it had been
conceived and kept warm for more than cen
/ ,ury. The tea tax, denial Of representation,
4 Lexington and Concord did not cause the
/ Declaration of Independence or give birth TO
I this Republic. They were the Instruments
/ which broke the SHE'LL and allowed the well
developed germ TO come forth and enter upon
/ the arena of actual life.
/ Our fathers instead of deprecating the hap
pening of these events rejoced at them. They
felt like the Arkansas chap. who, when asked
/ by Judge Coughey with unusual dignity, " if
| be took that woman for his wife, replied q" in
/ course does | came purpose"
/ | submit this argument. sir. not in disparage
ment of our Revolutionary fathers no, for
while the pendulum of time swings TO and
/ fro, and there exists in all Gods earth single
soul imbued either with a love of freedom or
aD appreciation of grandeur, he will claim
/ kindred TO the illuSrious names of that age
/ But to show that their acts were rendered of
more Importance, and the sruc, ure they erect
! ed more probably well proportoned and its
I architecture correct, and its foundation dura-
bic, from the fact that they were so emlnenty
fitted for the work in which they were engaged.
The manner in which they executed their
trust was not only inconceivably grand but
SuOiihSf ioi cutu uNil, 81 hioS, ~ potSub
thought with such integrity of design, and
/ yet so terribly in earnest could do nought but
what was grand for every look and act of
theirs was Heaven speaking. Go with me, if
it please you. to the hall of the American
Congress of l776, and witness the scene that
preceded and followed the Declaration which
TO day we celebrate, and you will behold the
most solemn scene of gandeur that human vision
I scanned Hbara ocsaunkleI or1
thoughtful men. True, their garb is plain
and the house n which they meet would never
suggest to even poet oriental luxury. They
They are with closed doors, debating an i'm
portant subject We will penetrate the vail
of secresy with which they have sought to
surround themselves, and gaze upon the scene
/ What means this anxious crowd of men, of
/ women and children that besiege the place,
/ and although they can neither see or hear,
seem all in brea thless silence. as if an oracle
! were there eushrned, or all of life encased
within those well Drowned walls? Why sit
the members of that body with bowed and
thoughtful heads? Because they arc discuss
ing and brooding over the most grave and i'm.
portant question that human council ever con-
sidered Eas the tine come-the proper
time-to set in motion the ball that shall
emancipate our race? Shall we bend longer
beneath the yoke, or shall we boldly strike for
liberty, appealing TO the world and God for
the integrity of all we do? Shall we even
take the intiatory step? Shall we even spread
aught upon our record to show why all this
counsel is? Three days of dire suspense have
passed and nothing yet has been done But
now the spell is broken. There rises in his
seat spare. far-haired Saxon. Young 10
years. but old in wisdom, and deep 10 thought,
and with voice as clear and ringing as the
music of the spheres. and yet melodious as an
! angels, Richard Henry Lee dares offer
Resolution that not only arouses that House
but shall arouse the world
Resolred, That these Colonies are, and of
right ought TO be free and independent States.
and all allegiance 10 the British Crown ought
to be and hereby is dissolved"
The House is shocked men stand up in
their seats. He supports his Resolution with
speech OF eoquence and FIRE, as if each word
were fresh from Nulcan's forge, intended for a
couucil of the Gods. He takes his seat and
silence reigus supreme. But who is that timid
soul who now arises to address the House
'Tis some poor donbter who fears that our
countrys resources are too weak. He argues
that our enemies are powerful, and that resist
ance will be but death, and the result the loss
of property. honor and life. There comes one
who does not think we have been outraged,
and that we are uniusty rebellious. Another
speaks: 'ris right but this is not the proper
time. We can, if we embark upon this boist-
erous sea, but sink and perish. Another rises
, to reply. And who is be, with firm set teeth
and lips, and high resolve burning upon his
noble brow. as if be could, upon bis own right
arm, support all the responsibility of the step
He speaks. aud all listen Sink or swim, live
or die, survive or perish, l give my heart and
hand to this Resolution, says the iron patriot,
John Adams of Massachusetts. And be then
proceeds 10 show We are not weak, and depicts
( iu language that shall live while eloquence has
a votary, the glory which shall in future crown
each returning anniversary of that day. He
closes, and the die is cast The vote is taken
aud from the steps there rushes little white
haired urcbin, and with bis tiny hands be
swings aloft bis welworn cap. and cries 10 the
aged bell man peering anxiousy from the bel
try: Ring ring ring. And seizing with