The Placer herald., 1873-07-12
GRAFTON. 4
Delivered by John N. Fulweiler, in Auburn,
July 4th, 1873.

uI. IfeStueJu; AOuteS ana UcNucmeu,
Boys and Girls: -
We have met here to-day, not with that
degree Of display and ,pageantry to be seen
in other larger communities, but in a quiet,
unostentious manner, to pay our tribute OF
reverence as patriotic, liberty loving COM
munity, in commemoration Of the day upon
which this our Nation was born; and to the
memory of those connected with and assist
ing at it's birth.
In common with true Americans all over
our land, we raise our voices in glad rejoic-
ing, that such day is ours; that in and
through the immortal declarations, the val
orous, patriotic and selfdenying deeds Of the
heroes of our Revolution, we are to-day
guaranteed and enjoy the great blessings of
freedom; that as the results incident upon
carrying out the principles contained in this
our Proclamation of Liberty just read to
you, we are to-day great among the nations
of the earth that prosperity ana peace are
among our blessings, and that all who to-
day stand beneath and claim the protection
of our flag are guaranteed freedom and ep,i-
ty. Unnecessary would it be for me to de-
tail to you the many and varied causes t,at
led tc the promulgation of the 'Declaraton
Of Independence.
The tyranny of old England sought by
every means and through every channel to
grind down, humiiate and oppress those
whom in justice she should have nur,ured
and sustained.
The earlier settlement of this, then will
derness of America, by those who fed from
the civi. and religious expressions of the Old
World are chronicled upon the page of his
tory, and we look back with admiration and
pride at the earnest endeavors and heroic
exert:ons Of those pioneers Of liberty, that
sought here, far removed from the scenes
and associations of their earlier life, to found
an asylum where they and those that might
come after them, should be free to worship
God according to the dictates of their own
conscience, and with nearer approach to
that civil liberty they so honored; and yet
not unmixed with sorrow is our feelings as
we peruse the pages of history upon which
is written the dangers, struggles and priva-
tiOns incident to that settlement. They, in
connection with the subsequent events, pre-
ceedng and during the Revolution, are the
sacred pages in the history Of these United
States of America.
Coming, as those colonies did in the six
teenth and seven teenth centuries, under the
supremacy and control of Great Britain, they
received little, if anything, from that govern
ment except control; she seemed to think
that her colonies were only means OF
wealth; that the royal exchequer must, and
of right should, be replenished and hiled by
their oppressive taxation; ana al'hough they
were thus taxed to sustain the home govern
ment, no voice was given them in the choice
of their rulers; no representation in the coun-
ellis of the Nation; their wishes and desires
were not consulted as to the means or man.
ner of raising and collecting, nor how, nor in
what manner those taxes, thus unjustly lev
ied should be apportioned or expended.
Long and earnestly did our ancestors
struggle and endeavor, by every means in
their power, to maintain their connection and
relationship with the mother country, and
yet retain those rights and Liberties to which
in Justice they, under the laws Of God, were
entitled.
But deaf was the king and Parliament Of
Britain to the petitions and remonstrances OF
our forefathers; almost unheeded was their
appeals and declarations of their rights by
the People of Great Britain and the world.
No Helping hand WAS extended nor asss tance
given by the home government in the devel-
opment and advancement of the interests OF
the country Is it TO be wondered at, then,
that this short sighted policy, this constant!
endeavor to oppress rather than sustain, this
apparent determination to bind them in the
chains of most despotic, ahject serfdom,
should have fed the fires of liberty already
burning in the hearts Of Americas sons Is
it Il wonder that the enforcement of laws, in
the enactment Of which they had no voice,
met with, in some instances, armed oppres-
sion And although this resistance seemed
for while to modify the policy pursued by
Britain, yet every concession was accom-
panied by new acts Of oppression. a deter
mined hatred and hostility to the colonies
seemed to pervade the Parliament Of Eng
land, and the little love and loyalty existing
in the bosoms of majority of her subjects
in these colonies was smothered by her con-
tiuued injustice; but from their ashes sprapg
with renewed life and vigor the determina-
ton to assert their rights, maintain and de-
fend their liberties with all the power Of their
combined manhood.
During the meetings of the Cont ntinental
Congress and the conventions called in the
different colonies in the few years proceeding
the Declaration Of Independence, there had
been expressed and declared by petition and
remonstrance many Of the principles contain
all the leading minds of tt country that sep
aration must come. War had already be-
gan; the blood Of patriotism had already
been shed upon the altar of American liberty.
The people of the thirteen colonies had be-
come thoroughly aroused to an assertion Of
their rights. England seemed determined
to maintain and enforce her supremacy.
The coming event was written upon the
wall; and when upon the 4th Of July, 1776,
at the city of Philadelphia, this. our Decla-