Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-05
QUE NATIONAL B1RrHDAY.


Yesterday being the one hundred and
second anniversary Of the independence
of the Union WAS duly celebrated. In
this city the Fourth Of July was celebra'
ted yesterday in a manner most sgree-
able to the people and the large number
of visitors that came here, as will be
seen from our local reports OF the fes'
~livities and entertainments. The pyric
display Of Professor Jackson, OF Phila-
delphia, was by far the grandest of the
kind ever witnessed in Memphis, thanks
to the enterprise Of Mr.. Peter Tracy,
who conceived the idea and in~sgursted
the movement which secured for our
people this rare and enjoyable enter
taiument. In a country like ours it is
well indeed to observe the anniversary
of the nations independence and cele-
brste the event with true delight and
pleasure. This is especially desirable
in view Of the fact that u country has
undergone a civil wal Of such magnitude
as that in which the South and the Nortf
engaged for four years. The observance
Of the Fourth of July is significant o.
the patriotism and national Sentimeu.
that peryade the American people, anc
sanctify the institutions of republican
government in the faith aud allegiance
of its people from the Atlantic to thI
Pacific, and from the northern lakes t.
the southern gulf. And amid the festiy
tiles and pleasures incident TO the cele
bration Of the Fourth Of Jdly, It ma.
not be amiss for the citizens Of the Re
public to have some thought Of the polii
zeal relations between this country an
Old England, for, strange to say, th
principles of English liberty gave origi
to American independence, and are Il
day the safeguards Of American society
There never has been any genuine Ire
dom in the world, except that which hS
been developed by the constitutions
modern Europe, Of which that Of b
gland has been agreed to be theb best col
trived and the most advanced. 1t is onI
in so far as we maintain and enforce
this country the notion Of constitution
principles and constitutional rights, thi
we can hope to keep alive any liberI
here. WI do not mean those edie;s
limitation Of political power which q
contained in the written " constitution
Of the United States and the sever
States, which, in that form, deri'
their obligation from the consent al
authority Of the people who have esta
lished them in convention. We refer
those fundamental, inherent and fix
principles upon which the system
Anglo Saxon liberty is organized, and
whichit subsists; rational, convention
existing in nature, and therefore 1
capable Of being e%xtiuguished by ayr
ment or force; in fact, indestructit
being the true rights Of man in politi
society One of these principles, a
the one most p~recipitating the Revolut
of our foreiathers, is that which rec
nizes a distinction between ajax
and every other kind Of law isun
mon the difference between taking
perty and regulating conduct by wi
no law may be made which impose
tax ~unequally or without consent
without compensation. This is no
nal. technical rule, which is satisfied
literal compliance with IL it is a &
essential principle Of reason, justice
practical freedom; founded in the
per Of modern society and tradition
in English politics. Under the Just
viction that when any act Of legisla
eniuating either from the omnipots
of parliament or the soyereil
Of the people violates this ma
ia its spirit and tendency, it
unconstitutional; aud being persisted
without hope Of alienation, il becI
The duty Of the colonists as citizens
rs subjects q The law to rebel AlIho