The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-07-11
The Fourth in Charleston

Inc EOurCn In charleston.
THE n. E. SUNDAY School PIc.N1c
AND CELEDRATloS.-The members and friends
Of this Sunday School, pursuant to appoint.
ment, convened at the church at an early hour
on the morning Of the 4th inst, and thence
marched in procession 10 the grounds selected
for the occasion, o distance Of over o mile
northwest Of town. The clouds portended
rain during the morning, but nevertheless o
respectable number Of our citizens nccompa.
MED the school. The ruin coming on, and it
appearing that the 4uy might continue wet,
the exercises, az laid down by the programme,
were had ut once. The singing by the children
WINS good, though done while the ruin NAB
pouring down. Mr. Ripley led in prayer, and
Capt. {. W. Smith read the Declaration OF
Independence with clcarness and force, after
which speech was delivered by Mr.. WESLEY
Atkinson, which was the most attractive
feature of the day. The address WINS delivered
under embarrassing circumstances, such ns
would seriously deter older men, for the rain
was pouring down necessarily from the time
the speech was begun until finished. But,
Notwithstanding this, it Was well received,
and met with IN earnest response from those
present. MIR. Atkinson being rs yet quite
youthful, this effort is regarded rs very cred
| liable TO him.
| Address OF Nn. q. w. ATKINSON.
Tile dh dny Of Juty l77G, and The 4A day Of
JHig, leGG.
We convene here to.dny to celebrate the Goth
anniversary Of American Independence. Ninety
ycnrs ngO to-day, from independence llnll, in
Philadelphia, the united colonies, then thirteen
in number, declared themselves free and
Independent republic, which aroused the
| British Parliament to spirited action. AZ the
| colonies, since the ilrs, settlement 1T james
town, had been subjected to the iron T"te Of II
British monarchy, governed mud restricted by
her tyrnnuical luws; bound down, as they
were, by n government 20 oppressive, they, by
| their representatives, then in Congress Assem-.
| ble1, determined 20 be, and by that immortal
document just read i'll your hearins) an
nounced themselves no longer beneath britain =
"iron yoke" but bplligerent to the sway Of
her nntoual power.
This, however, was the opening scene OF the
American Revolution, which is 80 we'll known
az the struggle for her Idrpcmd'nr", for her
| liberty, for the privileges We now ENJOY NJ
citizens Of the benign government of this
American Union, purchasr'l by the blood Of
our iprrIalhers. After period .! eight years,
which terminated this mighty revolution,
young America hVis,cd her ilLg triumphant
over the dome Of every fort, nmd plnnted her
independent hummer even on the vessels Of
old Britannia, and forced the "rcl coats
from the "sicrcd soil The achievements Of
this small colonial army, und the valor and
patriotism Of our illustrious AMI revercd
statesmen Of '76, will be read 10y generations
yet unborn, with IL glow of national pr!dc, and
descend to posicri,y with undying honors.
Eut to-day, the history Of this once small
but now great republic is sill brighter even
than when bc.lcckcl by WashinSon's
multiplied victories. These United States Of
America to-day stand forth Disseminated, aft.
or passing through The fiery ordeal OF rebel.
lion Of her Sthtes; II rebellion that Is unlar-
uNcllcd in the annals Of history; rebellion
tina, has spread dcsulntiun and destruction
over extensive portions 0! our prosperous md
happy country, nI'l caused Eil"i mn" MOURN
ing t" visit the !ircsidcs Of millions OF people;
II rebellion which, for over four years, srrend
It's broad wings throughout tho land, sweeping
rs il were, prosperity from the Lace o' '"H
cnr'h, an'l covering the nni!"" WI" !" c'O'",
:" black that our r'rih'ic ''e'n"''" -. M"'
i"t'c:cd beneath nv nl'rr""'NhcS'' ''''
waicl' haA d"'":rl the l""a w''h h'"""' NV"
left th" heroes bones 10 "''n'n "P"" Wv
battlefield, with nolh,ng TO h'"r" '"e'r S'""s
save the records OF tue h:S'oI'""' ""' u '"'
they ever hc forgotten MN 'he "e'P '"'':!
md rnggc'l mountains, the sacred Sl.o's w"'e"
history MARKS "S 'nr'' """' 1870 r., ~
pass into oblivion? No. never: >" cong as
America exists, 20 long VIII their ''''".s "'''
their bravery animate the boSohs OF ."c'r
descendants. Their names Will ever DC 'feSn
in the minds Of all true Americans, an" Will
be cherished with the highest honors even 10
the end OF tiao. -,
Five years ago, when inc NOR" Oh CIV, , WI
enSei"ped our p"Ii''ct' n"'osr"p. :" ",r ."
darkness; when cIe'eh S'S''r L'"'',
the mystic cord th"t cohn'c.c" ''' "''," "
one, aud rushed hcedlessIy mo inc 'n"t'ss.o.
of rebellion, thus declaring themselves III "l'."
hostility to tho General government NV
PATRIOTS Of 81, pursuant 10 the call o' 'nr
iIlus,rinns Lincoln ('he SAVIOR .. our co,"rrs!
for volunteers to suppress '''' "'"'o''I", '" ~,
to overthrow The iOrcrIfHcht, ThIllcu W INV