The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-07-17
\ y y r y S S
Delivered at Murray's Settlement,
July 4th, 1875,
w. w. BRANNON, ESQ.
BY

Ladies and Gentlemen;
Although l fully appreciate til
honor you have conferred upon me,
regret that some one more learned an
experienced than myself, was not choi
en- to address ysu on this msmorabl
occasion.
Owing to the fact that my Invitation
to speak to you to-day was recent,
have had but little time for tie neccs
sary reflection aud investigation.
am, therefore, compelled to ask you
indulgence for the desultory manner II
which my reuSrks may DO offered
Surrounded by the most iuauspiciOu
circumstances, our ftrefathers, on
hundred years ago. endangered .hsi
lives, and impcriied their Liberties an'
their fortunes, by tho euunciatiOn o
the great, universal and imperi.habl
truths. that all men are created equal
th,t they are endowed BY their Create
with certain inalienablo rights; tina
among these are life. liberty and sh'
pursuit Of happiness."
The ex,ovlon Of these deathlssl
principles from the p,acabl, COlOuisss
was the result Of British imposition
and oppression. We see, therefore
upon recurring to the pages Of impair
tial history. that even in the mos1
despotic ages, amidst tho hardship'
of early colonial life, spraug up th'
germs Of liberty and enlightenment
that have culaliuated 10 the gloriou,
boon of"freo education, free speech FIRE.
though. aud uutramelled lives" Il
was for tue incubation Of the priuci'
pies Of the Declaration Of independence
iha. the American Colonists engaged
in the Revolutionary War. Alter
the lapse Of eight long years Of strife
and struggle. the libcrsy.sesking sons
of proud North America emerged frou
the bloody scenes Of that conflict
tropbicd aud triumphant, crowned with
The honors OF victory.
Let US glance hastily at the prog
rcssive strides of our Country. One
hundred years ago, our tracts Of SOL
i,ude had not been visited by tho sens
Of toll. Our purliug streams had moi
been cut BY the keel Of commerce,
Railroads, canals and other CONNER
cial facilities were as yet scarcely
known amidst tho wilds Of this Yves.
Tern World. Commerce aud manu-
fuc,ures were in astate Of prim,val
The means Of conmuni-
eating thought with lightning speed
we're foreign to our forefalhcrs.
Not many yeas had glided by since
tho vast tide Of superstition had swcp.
into the abyss OF its untimely gulf
many innocent aspirations.
.Tha echo Of the savage war-whooP
had scarcely ceased reverberat'ng from
hill to hill. The hideous howl of 70.
wing wolves had icarcely ceased to ter
rify the feeble colouists. Such, Ia.
dies and gentlemen, was the condition
Of this vast, powerful aud POpulos'
country QUO hundred years ago. This
great productive Country, with its gs'
NAL cline and its fertile soil. its tow
priug hills aud its fruitful! valleys, its
lakes and rivers. aud its
sublime scenery. l deem it proper,
at this point. to remark, that tho free
dom to worship the 0mnipo.sut Being
according to the dictates of our own
concieuces, was FIRST introduced by the
Charter Of Maryland, which was gran
ted by King James to George CalVe,"
Lord Baltimore. true patriot aud a
faithful Catholic. This Charter is
Justly considered one Of the noble''
works Of hcmau hands-Tha most
glorious proclamation ever made Of
Religious liberty. Bancroft, ia bis
History Of the United States. in speak
ing upon tbs subject, pays the follow
ing high and deserved compliment. to
this charter Of Christian tolerance:
Calvert says be. observes to be
ranked among the most wise and b.
nevolent lav.givcrs Of all Ag"t' for he
Was first, 10 tue history Of the world. to
,cek religious security aui pe4cA By
tho practice Of justice. and not by tho
exercise of power; to plan the e''aD'
lishmeut Of popular institutions with
the liberty of conscience ; to advance
The progress of civilization, by recOg.
MIXING tho riyhtful equality Of all
Christian sects' Chancellor Kent,
tho greatest Of American Law writer's,
in bis learned Lecture on the Rights o.
Persons, in speaking Of the beneficial
results that flowed from the broad
Catholic spirit, so prominent IN THU
memorable charter. quoting from IRA
hams History Of the Rise and Prog
ress Of the Uhited States. says: Thu
tho Catholic planters Of Maryland pro-
cured to their adopted country the dis
,iuguished praise Of being the first o
the American States in which tOlera
ton was established by Law; and whit
tho Puritans were persecuting theiI
Protestant brethren in New England
and the EpisoOpaliaus retOrtlog ,h'
same severity on the Puri1Ans III Viz
giuia, tho Catholics, against whom TIT
others were combined, formed il
Maryland q sanctuary. whare al
might worship, and none might op
press, aud where even Pro.estan.
sought refuge from Protestant insOIer
ance."
TL,s ,ueh hnvo va said Of the earn