Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-08-13

have fastened its leafy coils to the tops
of the tallest trees, swung in the air
with every breeze like the loosened
shrouds of a great ship. Giant trees
were to be seen breaking from their
root in the marshy soil, and threaten
ing to fall with the rude gust, whilst
the ground was strewn with the ruins
of former forests, oye which a protu-
sion of wild flowers wasted their fresh
ness, in mockery of the surrounding
gloomi Huge reptiles sported in the
stagnant pools, or crawled unframed
over piles of Wondering trees; the
spotted deer interchangeable thick
cts, but not TO hide; for there was no
pursuer, and there were none but wild
animals to crop the uncut heritage of
the soil. Silence reigned unbroken,
except by the flight of land birds or
the tapping of the water fowl; or rem
dered more dismal by the howl of the
beast of prey; the streams unlimited
to a channel, spread over sandbars
tufted with eopses of willow, or waded
through wastes of reeds, or slowly or
surely undermined the groups of syca-
mores that grew by their side. The
smaller brooks spread into sedgy
swamps, overhung with clouds of
mosquitoes; masses OF decaying veget-
alton fed the eXhalations with the
seeds of pestilence, and made the
balmy air of summer evening deadly
as it seemed grateful; vegetable life
and death We're mingled hideOusly to-
gether, and the horrors of corruption
frOWned on the fruitleSS fertility Of I'M
cultivated nature.
And man, to whom was given do
miniOn of the beasts of the field, the
birds of the air and the fishes of the
sea, the occupant of the soil-the red
man of the forest-was wild as the
savage scene; in harmony with the
rude nature by which he a sur
rounded, a vagrant on the face of the
earth, and in continual warfare with
his fellow man. The bark of the
birch was his canoe, strings of shells
his ornaments, his record and his coin,
and the roots of the forest his chief re-
source for food. His knowledge in
architecture was surpassed both In
skill and durability by the beaver.
Bonded Saplings We're the beams of
his house, the branches and barks of
trees its roofs, and drifts offorest leaves
his bed. His religion was the adOra-
ton of nature; his morals, the prompt
ings of undisciplined instinct; disput-
ing with the wolves and bears the
lOrdship of the soil, and dividing with
the squirrels the wild fruits with which
the soil abounded.
Such was the country, my friends,
that the Old Folks $50 many of whom,
and their descendants, L sm glad to
meet here to-day came into from oth-
er and cultivated regions, leaving be-
hind all the comforts Of civilization,
and with brave hearts and strong
rescued it from a wilderness and
made it the fairest country beneath
the blue vault of heaven.
Look around you now. Behold the
beautiful and growing young city of
with her 10000 population
and her immeGse trade, where erst
the Spaniard and the red man raised
Tie huge cross. See how the earth
gloWs With the colors of civiliza-
ton. The banks Of the streams are
snamelled with the richest grasses;
woodland and cultivated fields are
tremendously blended; birds offspring
ind their delight in Qrcliards and trim
gardens, V~ariegated with the choicest
from almost every zone, while
brilliant flowers Of the tropics
bloom from windows Of the green
house and parlOr. The farmer, living
ike n good neighbor near the fields he
,Ultivates, glOFieS in the fruitfulness off
ne valleys, and counts with honest
the tlocks and herds that
.raZe on the adjoining hills. The
horn has given way to the Fosebush; ]
he cultivated vine climbs over the
'ocks where the brood of serpents
lsed to nestle, while industry smiles
N the changes she has wrought, and
nhales the bland air which now bears
fragrance and health upon its wings.
And man is stu in harmony with ma
ure, which he has subdued, cultiya-
ed and adorned. For him the rivers
hat flow to the remOtest chimes min
le their water for him; the lakes gain
-eW outlets TO the ocean for him, the
rch spans the food, and science
Iron pathways to the recent
7ilderness. For him the hills Weld
p the shining marble and enduring
ranite; for him the forests of the in
come down in immense RATS;
him the marts of the city gather
he produce of every cline, and libra
les collect the works Of every Ian
uage and age.
The passions of society are chas-
med into purity, manners are made
enevOlent by civilization, and the
irtue Of the country is accounted the
lfest guardian Of its peace. An ac-
We daily press, vigilant from party
l@terests, tree to the fullest extent, )
'atches the progress of society, and
)mmunieates every fact that can in
rest humanity, and the genius of
tiers begins to unfold mis- powers in
he warm sunshine of public favor. {
nd while idle curiosity may walk in
lie shady avenues, and speculate on
he coming time, commerce pushes its
harves into the sea, blocks up its {
lde rivers with its noble fleets, and {
its boats and its ships-the !
tide of naval architecture-to every
ime, deties every wind, outstrides
'ery tempest and invades every ]
ne. '
These, fellow-citizens, are the fruits
n Iabors of the piOneers-the old I
lks whose anniversary we celebrate t
day. For while the patriot may |
lint with enthusiastic pride to those
lf-sacrificing spirits who have poured
It their blood in defense of human /
gifts and human liberty; while t
e schools of philosophy may glow a
TN ecstaey at the names of their d
eat teachers and founders; while the y
anthems of outbursting praise il
ay swell in honor of the great ones /,
the earth, who have made them T
useful and the friends of their ii
&c, and the sculpturel monument v
ty raise its lofty head to Heaven, to h
OF sleeping but undying worth. r,
sod is pressed beneath il. we q,
that zee can, with honest pride and 3,
justice, sing peans to their praise. b,
q remember with pride and graft n
the worth of those whose works Al
: before US, and all around us, and s,
enduring monuments. more OF
ting than marble or brass, are in n,
n of u hearts. fr
Who does not know, and remem- SC
and hear with pride the names of re
iderson, Carr, Winchester, Swee- OIL
Y, Mclean, Rose, Houston, Holt. fir
.ner, Belts, Banks, Bolston, Ro- ca
lie, Giles, Brooks, Ragland, Ma &c
'eny, Rawlings, Lawrence. Titus. 81
Satfarans, Ralston, Chris be
q, Cobb, Leak, Peribert, Reeves. oc
18th, Prescott, Peyton, Park, Nc at
an, and many Others whose very pc
are synonyms of honesty, in OF
rity, and enterprise? And these m