Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-12
We SONS OF COLUMBIA.
BY ROBERT TREAT PAINE

AIR-"Anacreon IN HedUen.
The National IifelliOencsr says it is now nearly
,br.s-ouarters Of century since this grand ode
was written by Robert Treat Paine, when II was
s,n,at festival given in honor Of our Natiopai
A,,,,i,erzarv. of which il formed principal
seizure Time has not taken single DOT from
its great and surprising merit and 1t deserves 70
hs sung in all time to come, upon all patriouc
occasions. A slight alteration from the original
NAV however, be detected in the last verse; but
il ia thas stripped Of political aliuson that was
never in good taste. and which. if we mistake
not. was the means Of consigning the whole song
10 disuse. As it now stands, let it be revived as
a national song-and may it go down to postrity
"a the noblest Of American strains, and worthy
ofbeing preserved in letters Of gold. WeWould
rather have our fame linked with its authorship
than with any other American paper save anu
ercept the Destination Of Independence.
l.
Ye sons Of Columbia, who bravely have fought
For those ri gbts which uhslalheu' nun ''"'
sires have descended. 10. has
Nav Won long aste the blessings your yaior has
Ana vosT son. reap the soil whioh their fathers
Mid the reign Of mild Peace
May your nation increase
Win tne glory Oh h"1h0 "'i~ w.
Ana ns'eT nav the sons Of Columbia be slaves,
While The earth bears plant, or the searoiis It's
waves
tn. f.ms of our arms. Of our laws the mild sway,
Had Justly ennobled our nation IN story,
TIL the dark clouds Of faction oDscureu our
.n y suyslo ND the sun Of American glory.
But let traitors be told.
Who their country have sold
That meier will the sons Of Columbia be slaves
While the earth bears plant, or the sea roiiA
it, wayesi
onr mountains are crowned with imperial oak
Whose roots like our liberties ages have nouf-
ished A. -.
But Ions e'er our country submits to ths yoAf
Not a tree shall be left on the Held "here II
should invasion impend
Every grove would descend, \.
From the hilltop it shaded our shores 10 ae-
For ns'er shall the sons ofColumbia be slaves.
While the earth bears plant. or the sea rolls us
Wayesi
Let our patriots destroy Anarchy's Pestilent
Lest our Liberty growth shoad be checked by
Then let clouds thicken round US, we heed not
our relm fears no shock but the earth's own
explosion.
Foes assail us in vsin,
Though their fleets bridge the main,
For our affairs and laws with our lives we u
maintain
And ne'er shall the sons Of Columbia be slaves
While the earth bears plant. OF the sea rolls It's
wHyesl
V.
Shopld the tempest Of War overshadOw our land,
us bolts could meier rend Freedoms Temple
asunder; - m, ,..
For. unmoved as its portal would Washington
And TepuIse. with his breast, the assault oft
thunder
His sword from the sleep
OF its scabbard would leap,
And conduct with its point, every Hash TO the
For ns'eT shall the sons Of Columbia be slaves.
While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls
its waves
Let fame to the world SQUAD America's name
Her freedom deseryedy meets with acclamatiOn,
And shall flourish till Liberty slumbers for
everl
Then unite heart and hand
Like LeOnidss' band,
And swear TO the God who rules ocean and
That ne'er shall the sons Of Columbia be slaves.
While the earth bears plant, or the sea rolls
its waves