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which we read the history of ancient times; they possibly increase that interest by the very contrast they exhibit. But they do warn us, if we need the warning, to seek our great practical lessons of patriotism at home; out of the exploits and sacrifices of which our own country is the theatre; out of the characters of our own fathers. Them we know, the high-souled, natural, unaffected citizen heroes. We know what happy firesides they left for the cheerless camp. We know with what pacific habits they dared the perils of the field. There is no mystery, no romance, no madness, under the name of chivalry, about them. It is all resolute, manly resistance, for conscience and liberty's sake, not merely of an overwhelming power, but of all the force of long-rooted habits and native love of order and peace.

Above all, their blood calls to us from the soil which we tread; it beats in our veins; it cries to us not merely in the thrilling words of one of the first victims in this cause: "My sons, scorn to be slaves!" but it cries with a still more moving eloquence, "My sons, forget not your fathers!"

Ex. CXLI.-THE YOUNG AMERICAN.

ALEXANDER H. EVERETT.*

SCION of a mighty stock!

Hands of iron-heart of oak-
Follow with unflinching tread
Where thy noble fathers led!

Craft and subtle treachery,
Gallant youth! are not for thee;
Follow then in words and deeds
Where the God within thee leads.

Honesty, with steady eye,
Truth and pure simplicity,

Love that gently winneth hearts,
These shall be thy only arts.

* An elder brother of Edward Everett. He was an accomplished man and

able writer, and filled many diplomatic situations.

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Ex. CXLII.-THE SWORD AND THE STAFF.

Speech in Congress on the Presentation of these Memorials.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

THE Sword of Washington! The Staff of Franklin ! Oh, Sir, what associations are linked in adamant with these names! Washington, whose sword was never drawn but in the cause of his country, and never sheathed when wielded in his country's defence! Franklin, the philosopher of the thunderbolt, the printing-press, and the ploughshare! What names are these in the scanty catalogue of the benefactors of human kind! Washington and Franklin! What other two men whose lives belong to the eighteenth century of Christendom, have left a deeper impression of themselves upon the age in which they lived, and upon all after time?

Washington, the warrior and the legislator! In war,

contending by the wager of battle for the independence of his country, and for the freedom of the human race,—ever manifesting amid its horrors, by precept and by example, his reverence for the laws of peace and for the tenderest sympathies of humanity;-in peace, soothing the ferocious spirit of discord among his own countrymen into harmony and union, and giving to that very sword, now presented to his country, a charm more potent than that attributed in ancient times to the lyre of Orpheus.

Franklin the mechanic of his own fortune; teaching in early youth, under the shackles of indigence, the way to wealth, and in the shade of obscurity, the path to greatness; in the maturity of manhood, disarming the thunder of its terrors, the lightning of its fatal blast, and wresting from the tyrant's hand the still more afflictive sceptre of oppression; while descending into the vale of years, traversing the Atlantic Ocean, braving in the dead of winter the battle and the breeze, bearing in his hand the Charter of Independence, which he had contributed to form, and tendering, from the self-created nation to the mightiest monarchs of Europe, the olive-branch of peace, the mercurial wand of commerce, and the amulet of protection and safety to the man of peace, on the pathless ocean, from the inexorable cruelty and merciless rapacity of war.

And, finally, in the last stage of life, with fourscore winters upon his head, under the torture of an incurable disease, returning to his native land; closing his days as the chief magistrate of his adopted commonwealth, after contributing by his counsels, under the Presidency of Washington, and recording his name, under the sanction of devout prayer invoked by him to God, to that Constitution under the authority of which we are here assembled as the representatives of the North American people, to receive, in their name and for them, these venerable relics of the wise, the valiant and the good founders of our great confederated republic,-these sacred symbols of our golden age. May they be deposited among the archives of our government! And may every American who shall hereafter behold them, ejaculate a mingled offering of praise to that Supreme Ruler of the Universe by whose tender mercies our Union has been hitherto preserved through all the vicissitudes and revolutions of this turbulent world; and of prayer for the continuance of these blessings by the dispensations of Providence, to our beloved country, from age to age till time shall be no more!

CONSEQUENCES OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.

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Ex. CXLIII.-CONSEQUENCES OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.

VIRGIL MAXCY.

IN a full persuasion of the excellency of our government, let us shun those vices which tend to its subversion, and cultivate those virtues which will render it permanent, and transmit it in full vigor to all succeeding ages. Let not the haggard forms of intemperance and luxury ever lift up their destroying visages in this happy country. Let economy, frugality, moderation, and justice at home and abroad, mark the conduct of all our citizens. Let it be our constant care to diffuse knowledge and goodness through all ranks of society. The people of this country will never be uneasy under its present form of government, provided they have sufficient information to judge of its excellence. No nation under heaven enjoys so much happiness as the Americans. Convince them of this, and will they not shudder at the thought of subverting their political constitution, of suffering it to degenerate into aristocracy or monarchy? Let a sense of our happy situation awaken in us the warmest sensations of gratitude to the Supreme Being. Let us consider Him as the author of all our blessings, acknowledging Him as our beneficent parent, protector and friend. The predominant tendency of His providences towards us as a nation, evinces His benevolent designs. Every part of His conduct. speaks in a language plain and intelligible. Let us open our ears, lét us attend, let us be wise.

While we celebrate the anniversary of our independence, let us not pass over in silence the defenders of our country. Where are those brave Americans whose lives were cloven down in the tempest of battle? Are they not bending from their bright abodes? A voice from the altar cries, "These are they who loved their country--these are they who died for liberty!" We now reap the fruit of their agony and toil. Let their memory be eternally embalmed in our bosoms. Let the infants of all posterity prattle their fame, and drop tears of courage for their fate.

The consequences of American independence will soon reach to the extremities of the world. The shining car of Freedom will soon roll over the necks of kings, and bear off the oppressed to scenes of liberty and peace. The clamors of war will cease under the whole heaven. The tree of liber

ty will shoot its top up to the sun. Its boughs will hang over the ends of the world, and wearied nations will lie down and rest under its shade.

Here in America stands the asylum for the distressed and persecuted of all nations. The vast temple of Freedom rises majestically fair. Founded on a rock, it will remain unshaken by the force of tyrants, undiminished by the flight of time. Long streams of light emanate through its portals, and chase the darkness from distant nations. Its turrets will swell into the heavens, rising above every tempest; and the pillar of divine glory, descending from God, will rest for

ever on its summit.

Ex. CXLIV.-DEVOTION TO COUNTRY.

ALFRED B. STREET.

HAIL to this planting of Liberty's tree!
Hail to the charter declaring us free!
Millions of voices are chanting its praises,
Millions of worshippers bend at its shrine,
Wherever the sun of America blazes,

Wherever the stars of our bright banner shine.

Sing to the heroes who breasted the flood,

That swelling, rolled o'er them-a deluge of blood.

Fearless they clung to the ark of the nation,

And dashed on 'mid lightning, and thunder and blast, Till Peace, like the dove, brought her branch of salvation, And Liberty's mount was their refuge at last.

Bright is the beautiful land of our birth,
The home of the homeless all over the earth:
Oh, then, let us ever, with fondest devotion,

The freedom our fathers bequeathed us, watch o'er,
Till the Angel shall stand on the earth and the ocean,
And shout 'mid earth's ruins that Time is no more.

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