Year: 1867

selves, rather than give up jot little of the
faith for which they suffered.


But I must pass from this theme, fruitful
though it be. The brief time which I propose
to occupy your attention will not permit me to
pay more than passing tribute to the memories
of those to whom we owe the redemption of the
New World from the dominion of the savages, or
to pass in review the many events which made
up the history of the Colonies prior to that day
which marks our existence an Independent
nation Whatever may have been the nation
atty of the first settlers of this Republic, or
whatever diversity of religious sentiment pre-
vailed, seem to have made no difference between
them in recognizing the authority of Great
Britain as paramount, and that authority they
sought On every occasion to uphold and main
tain by force of arms. The records of the bloody
wars between France and England. in which the
Colonies of each in the New World bore prom
inent part, show that the meu who were self
exiled for opinion sake, retained in their hearts
that love of the land which gave them birth,
which prompted them to take up arms not only
in its defence, but to extend its sovereignty over
all that portion of the Continent which adjoned
their own borders. And it was not until (by the
aid of Provincial arms) the power of France had
been driven rom the land and its Colonies be-
come a part of the possessions of Great Britain
that those differences between the mother cOun-
try and her children, which ultimately led to an
appeal to arms, first began to be source of dis
cussion on both sides of the Atlantic.


When we search the records of those years
Immediately preceding the revolution of the
Colonies, we are struck by one noticeable fact
that in no portion of the country was the idea of
independence and separate government thought
Of 1t is difficult at this time, when the love OF
free government has taken so deep a hold upon
our hearts, to account for that Divine right OF
the sovereign which, joined with the fraternal
ties that bound the people of both countries to-
gether as one nation, prevented the manifesto
ton of any feeling which looked toward the dis
solution of those ties and the establishment of a
separate nationality. d" 1t is true," said John
Adams, when urging the adoption of that i'm
mortal State paper you have just heard read
and in which are enuncated the many griev
ances which were borne before the dread appea
to arms was taken, p" it is true that in the begin
ming we aimed not at independence. The I'M JUS
tice of England has driven to arms and
blinded to her own interest for our good, SHE
has obstinately persisted till independence i:
now within our grasp" Although the appea
had been made to arms and opposing armies
were in the field although the cold, gray dawn
of that April morning at Lexington had beheld
the " Minute Men " of that place driven before
the murderous charge of Pitcarin's command,
leaving the lifelcss bodies of their comrades
stretched upon the greensward although the
sun of Bunker Hill had set, and proved that un-
disciplined yeoman, when fighting for their al
tars and homes could resist successfully the on
slaught of the disciplined mercenaries of power,
yet it was not until the 9th of May, of the fol-
lowing year, nor until after the British
throne had, by applying to the Landgrave of
Hesse Cassel and other petty sovereigntes of
Germany, called in the services of hired mercen-
aries to reduce its rebelious subjects to submis-
sion, that the project Of separation was definite
L., = a. IN
the seventh day of June resolution was offered
which, after discussion, was postponed until the
first day of the succeeding month At the np-
pointed time it called up, again discussed
and passed the next day. This resolution,
which we may consider as the first decisive step,
was in the following words:


Resolved, That these United Colonies are and
of right ought to be, free and Independent States
that they are absolved from all allegiance to the
British crown, and that all political connection
between them and the State of Great Britain is,
and ought to be, totally dissolved"


have been thus particular in aluding to
what preceded the Declaration of independence,
believing that anything imme liately connected
with the occasion which brings us together to


join in its observance will be possessed of inter-
est on this day. The sessions of the Continental
Congress were conducted with closed doors.
British spies swarmed through the land, Tories
could be met at every turn. 1t was an hour
when the side which men would take in the
forthcoming contest was not yet known, and
each looked upon his neighbor with doubt and
mistrust. So we know but little Of the secret
history of the Revolution, and that little was
mostly obtained from the lips of the members
themselves or from the journals when made pub
lie. But the members of that body conducted
their deliberations with prudence as we'll as pat
riotism they knew full we'll the fate which
fbeir uDtr no Y
failed. They we'll knew the mighty power of
that nation against whom they would have to
contend they knew the strength of its vast navy
which would sweep their infant commerce from
the seas of its standing army, which, backed
BY the hordes OF hired myrmidons that her
wealth could purchase, would be hurled against
them They knew their own weaknesses, COM
pared with the strength Of the adversary the
feeble armies which could not even hope to de-
iend the long line of sea coast, and that must
protect them as well against the incursions Of
the savagcs who would be reused against them
on the western border. But confident in the
Justice of their cause, end the patriotism of
their constituency, they resolved to make the
issue one in which all world be gained or lost,
and on the 4th of July, ninety-one years ago to-
day the Declaration of our Independence was
proclaimed.


The fears expressed by some that by placing
the war upon this footing it would ALLEVIATE from
their support many who had united with them in
an appeal to arm for redress of grievances,
proved to be unfounded. 1t was not issued a
moment to soon. It met with response from
the people which must have cheered the hearts
and encouraged the hopes of those brave men
who had deliberated SO long and so earnestly
upon what measures would best insure happi-
ness and prosperity to that people which had
placed its interests in their 1t was read at
the head of the armies in the field, and received
with enthusiastic shouts it was carried quickly
to the different Colonies, and received with
cheers Of rejoicing, with ringing of bells, nring
of guns and all the usual demonstrations OF ap-
proval. But, Mr.. President, at that time' as
ever since in the history Of our Government, lne
people were in advance of their poitical leaaers


We have seen this illustrated In our owl .nl'
when measures of apparently doubtful eApedi-
ency were promulgated they were accepted oy
the people with an unanimity Of Approval whicn
at once astonisbed and alarmed the most san,
guine oppoucnts of human progress and equal
11;obts Il was SO when the Proclamation OF
Emancipation was issued; it was so again when
the Civil Rights bill conferred tardy justice up
on a class which had long been oppressed and
dowutrodden and it will prove SO again, when,
BY constitutional enactment, the bigoted preju-