American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-07-05
The Fourth Of July.

The time has been when this da
was embalmed in the affections an
hallowed in the memory of every pa
triot in America. It's annual recur
renee was hailed with Joy and enthu
siasm by old and young. The Ami
versary Of American Freedom wa
celebrated by every demonstration
of national pride. 1t was wont to h.
ushered in by salute at early dawn
by the firing of cannon at meridian
corresponding with the number o
States composing the Union, and q
farewell gun at the close of day
Wherever there was military com
pany, the day was religiouSly oh
served by parade-the "ear-piercine
fife and the soul-stirring drum
aroused the patriotic ardor of til
people, and the glistening musket
and bayOnets in the sunlight, anG
the marching and countermarching o
the citizen, soldiery, furnished :.
counterfeit presentment" of 18th
pomp and circumstance of glOTiop
war" The Declaration of Indepel
dence was read, an Grafton delivere
in commemoration OF "the day W
celebrate" dinner was given, anC
latter the cloth was removed, patr
otto toasts were drunk" and ever
mark of veneration was paid to til
day.
But now, how changed is all tn
in these Southern States The r.
turn of the 4th of July awakes l.
emotion in the breast of the trl
SOuthrOn except that of pain and
sense of humiliation. The people g
the South, within the last five year,
have seen wrcStcd from them, by Il
strong arm Of power, almost ever
vestigc of the liberty for which tnei
foretathers fought and died. They ar
ground into the dust by demon
ination worse than that of "Brit
ish tyranny" in the days of Geore
III. Within the past five yeays
nearly every provision Of the Fedt
raj COnstitution-that once sacre
instrument, framed by the patriot
and wise men of the revolutiOn-ha.
been fagrantly violated 10y the lat,
President and the present "Rum
Congress" 1t has proven as but q
rope of sand in the hands of the pow
ers that were, and the crazy crew
demagOgues and fanatics who a
present disgrace the nation as tn,
Congress OF the United States. Tn, |
Declaration of Independence now |
read to Southern audience, wOulc |
be as "a sounding brass OF "A tinklinl |
cymbal." Scarcely principle enun
ciated in it but has been utterly vi
olated by the radical party Of the
North. The grievances on the part
Of George III, complained of by the
Colonies, have all been inflicted up
On the South by our masters who
hold the leading strings at Washing
ton.
Let any one take the Declare
ton Of Independence and read the
bill of indictment against George III.
setting forth the "long tram OF
abuses and usurpations," " all hav-
ng i'll direct object, the establish
nent of an absolute tyranny over
.hese States, and compare the
of the Colonies with the
present condition Of the Southern
States, and see how perfectly they
correspond. We append a few of
the griev ances complained of in the
Declaration
He has obstructed the administra-
ton of justice, by refusing his assent
to laws for establishing Judiciary
powers. Witness the refusal to
give Jefferson Davis a fair trial after ,
bill of Indictment had been found
against him.J ;
He has erected multitude of new
'ttces, and sent hither swarms of ,
'fncers to harass our people and eat !
sut their substance. II