The Georgia pioneer, and retrenchment banner. (Cassville, Ga.) 1835-184?, July 13, 1835, Image 1

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Vol. 1. EDITED BY JifOKGjA EURNETT. T E R M S. ""‘'“’Fhe PIONEER will be published weekly, per annum, AH ADvERI ISEMENTS will be published at the usual rates. No subscription taken for less than a vear,and no paper discontinued till all dues are paid, except at the option or the Editors. All communications to receive atten tion must be post paid. \Jn\on Candidates. For Governor. WILLIAM SCHLEY. STATE LEGISLATURE. For the tienute, Coi. william Hardin. For ike House of Representatives. '1 HUM AS ESPY, Esq. H—a»i m ■ m sr>- PIONEER. CASSVILLE, JULY 13, 1835. AN OHA L ION, DELIVERED BY WILLI IM L. MORGAN, Esq. To the Union Par Ip of Cats County, on the Athof July last, and published by request. FELLOW- We again a*sem de on the Anni versary of oUr National Independence. But not for the purpose, I hope, of e •viucing on this occasion, merely a dis position to comply in outward appear ance with the bare cerem mies of a Celebration, which have, for more than half a century, been observed by the citizens of the United Slates; but, for the purpose of observing and com memorating thia joyous day, with feel ings of the deepest devotion and grati tude to Almighty God, for those bless ings which tie linn been ptevrrcA Btow on our ancestry and ourselves— and of‘transmitting to succeeding gen er-itions, unimpaired, that holy spiri; of devotion, which is due to the birth day of our N itional Liberty. The 4th day of July, fellow-citizens, should be celebrated by Americans, with feelings of the purest patrioti-m. No distinction of Party—no Sectional jealousy, should contaminate our Na tional Jubile**. Such ungrateful pas gions, if any there are on this occasion, should in the deepest re cess of a bosom so ungenerous and po inted as to give them birth, and we should here meet and recognize each other only as fi iends &. brothers—par ticipants in common of those blessings which no party will dare be so pre sumptuous as to appropriate exclusive ly to itself. The Federalist and the D- mocrat, the Consolidationist and the Advocate of State Rights,ail act ing io concert, with unbounded love and patriotism for their common coun try, side by side, achieved each, a glo rious and conspicuous partin produ cing that happy result, which it is now our privilege and our duty to commem orate* And those blessings which we derive from a combination and Union j of the whole system, with due respect i to the Liberty and Reserved Rights guaranteed by the constitution to each 1 co-ordinate Branch constituting that; general Union, and which we trust will I be perpetuated to thousands of age? j yet to come, were produced by mutual consessions on their part, of interests and i clinations in themselves so dis cordant. That discord between pow erful and often fluctuating parties,yet exists; and each,with an eye of watch ful jealousy,scrutinizes the conduct and administration ofthat Party,which h* p. | pens for tbe time,to hold and d>' ec t r reins of government. Pq, a „ ‘i 5 ® and talented rep r^ gen t a t; ■di.cord i< ie conv? _ - • v>u r ition which orga- nized our pre»e~ jt for nos Government, a Line of d 1 tf markation, which should be a to either party in power, was, their mutual self-preservation, drawn and sketched by the constitu tion,the fruit of their joint labour,with accurate precision; and whenever those bounds are once e’erleapcd, an outraged and oppressed people, guar ding it with vigilant jealousy, will shake the foundation on which the fab ric of government is erected to its very centre. Parties, with party feelingsand par ty interests* have been, by some, con sidered as inevitable consequences of THU GEORGIA PIONEER. Republican and Representative forms ol government; and while mutual suc cess and defeat follow in such rapid ro tation, the effect resulting from a rot ten and corrupt administration, or a vi ol ated constitution, which all have pledged themselves to support, will be, to hurl the ascendant Party from eleva tion & power into minority, and they in iheir turn will rigidly scrutinize the ad ministration of those who have supplant ed them. Thus fellow citizens, when they donotassume the attitude and bear ing of a faction, the vigilance and in terests of a minority, will be a sure safe-guard for the preservation of oui National Institutions in all their purity, and a shield against the encroachment of usurped power. It will not be amiss, fellow citizens, on this occasion, to advert for a mo ment to the situation of the Colonies, and their rcl. tions to the British Em pire,anterior to the time on which they threw off th l .' galling yoke of foreign oppression,and declared their Indepen dence. It is unnecessary, however, for me to tell this audience, that we were English Colonies, planted by Great Britain, governed by her own laws and governors sent hither forthat purpose, and subjects of her exclusive legisla tion, but divested, by a partial legisla tion on her part, of many of the dear est rights and immunities, which were extended'to her subjects, residing with in her own Territory. “The sad story of our Colonial op pression commences in the year 1764. Great Britain then adopted new regu lations respecting her Colonies, which after disturbing the ancient harmony between the two countries,for about 12 years, terminated in the dismember ment of her empire.” A perfect cairn, in the political world, is not long to be expected. The events of the French war, in which the colonies bad render ed material assistance to the parent country, had also given them some ex perience in military operations, and they now began to acquire confidence in (heir own ability from the rapid Scarcely had the calamities of that war ended, when the seeds of discord, which vere destined soon to produce ano tner, in which the Colonies were to act t still more conspicuous and arduous part, were planted by the mother coun try, and they speedily grew up, and produced deadly fruit. Foreseeing iheir future importance, with pleasure the Colonies indulged sentiments of in lependence, and while combustibles vere daily «ollec'ti'ng in the New tVorld, a spark to kindle the whole, was by acts of tyranny and oppression, produced in the Old, which nothing but blood could extinguish. By their acts of Parliament, the En glish Nation subjected the Colonies to heavy and oppressive taxation, and drained their coffers of thousands, an nually; denying them at the sarnetime the right of Representation, a right so inseparable to that of taxation. While on the other hand, the Colonies insisted, that it was illegal, oppressive and un just, to subject them and their proper ty to heavy and oppressive taxation, wh L they were represented, neither directly, nor indirectly, in the parlia mentary power winch imposed them. By w hat authority, others could assume the right, of giving and granting away their own property, without their con sent, they could arrive at no clue to as certain, and they considered it as ma nifesting a settled and determined dis position on the part of Great B:it”; n i to check their growing pro3P* r jt v -t importance, by acts of 'de pression. And tha* * ■ r ~ , «• Lt once acqui esced in, and . .. P ricans th- uOro ' -<ed to by the Arne nor w Suld then have no other .. , ctte r security for the protection of I ul€,r property,against unconstitutional ( requirement, than the magnanimity of , a Nation, which already seemed to con i sider the accomplishment of its purpo -1 ses of ambition, and a deficiency in its , Exchecquer, a sufficient authority and excuse for its exercise. But for the presumptuous Colonies, their children, “planted by their own care, nourished by their indulgence, and defended by their arms,” to question by respectful and repeated remonstrance, the exer cise of even usurped power, by the Omnipotent Parliament of Great Bri tain, were acts of stubbornness and ob stinacy, equivalent almost to treason and rebellion. Proud and jealous Na tion! Had your acts of fostering care and protection, (as vou are pleased to call them) have manifested in their ob ject, even a semblance of justice to wards your disobedient offspring, with Cassville, Ga. Monday Evenijjg-, July 13, 1835. filial pride you might now behold them “basking in the sunshine” of prosperi ty, and in the days of your dotage, you would consider them the strongest pil lars of your government. But a just and righteous heaven, to the terror and dismay of crowned heads,has seen fit to ordain otherwise; and holds them up to thefaceof an admiring world, as an of a form of government, congenial in its spirit with the creation and happi ness of each individual, wherein all her creatures stand as she created and des tined them equal, and none enjoy any precedence or distinction, by birth or fortune, above the rest of their fel low beings, except that alone, which merit confers. And may the last revo lution of any Nation on earth, be, foi the purpose of establishing its govern ment on the same basis I It is unnecessary, fellow-citizens, for me to detain you longer, by reference back beyond the period of our Coloni al forbearance. The innumerable acts of tyranny and oppression, which were continually heaped upon them, on the recommendation of a weak and impoli tic ministry, and which finally dissolved all their political connection with the Old World, you have just heard enu merated in the emphatic and eloquent language of the declaration. And when all hones of other redress were in vain, when their patience was ex hausted by the contempt and neglect of their repeated remonstrances and pe titions tor redress, and submission to one act of usurpation, only inviting the er actment of anotberstill more tyranni cal in its character, the Colonies, des pairing of peaceful reconciliation with the mother country, were driven to the necessity of throwing oil* their galling yoke of oppression, as an only alterna tive between bondage and freedom.— They saw that they were forced eithei to surrender, without a struggle, their dearest rights and liberties, or to rise in one united effort to resist the govern ment of a Nation, which they had been taught hitherto to regard with unboun ded affection and respect; and which re-rl, id rTUE irjcnn tvif £u all others, the resources of war- But weak and diminutive as a comparison with their powerful and warlike antag onist may have rendered them, in physical strength as well as fiscal re sources, and fearfully awful as may have been the odds against success in every point,casting themselves for suc cour and direction within the arms of a just and righteous providence, they fearlessly resolved to contend manful ly for the restoration of their lost lib erty, or to be exterminated by the sword of a tyrannical and despotic government. The prize was not un worthy’ of the daring effort. If they succeeded, they were a free indepen dent and happy nation, unfettered by foreign dominion; but if conquered, proscribed rebels. Dreadful and a larming indeed, fellow citizens, was the alternative! How deep and se vere the afflictions which could have placed our forefathers undei the dire ful necessity of choosing it! And how many fountains of pure and living gore, to appease the fury of the stern God of Battles, have drained in tor-' rents the souls of our bravest warr’ ors in the accomplishment! How uear to every American bosom that Gov-' eminent to be, which Las be en purcha sed and purified by tly c * bloo d of so ma-1 ny invalua *ie L’tiizens! Yes, fellow' t’L n and behold that blood | r>,n LL banner,gently waiving without, 1 ..nd emblematical of our relations to the Federal government, and be re minded of the dying groans of those martyrs in the cause of Liberty and Union, whose last aspirations for its protection and preservation, ascended heaven amid the shocked din of furious and assailing armies. Then if thou canst reckon it's value. The day which we now celebrate, fellow-citizens, is the day on which the Continental Congress declared that these United States, then dependent Colonies on G. Britain, should thence forth be free and independent. It is that day on which our ancestors, 59 years ago, undismayed by the presence of a threatening army, sent hitherto enforce their obedience, and into subjection, severing the tie which connected them with the parent coun try, and assuming the attitude of a free and independent people towards all Nations, confidently anchored all their hopes on the justice and righteousness of their cause, and relied solely on the God of battle, for its vindication. Tl t e ( controversy between the two countries had now passed the stage of petition, remonstrance and argument. The long dreaded crisis had at length ar rived. The dark and threatning ele ments, which had argued well the ap proach of an impending storm, which on its bursting, would rend in twain the greatest empire oh earth, were now ragingin all the fury of impla cable(war. Anappeal had already been made to force, and opposing armies were in the field. The battle of Bun ker Hill, Concord and Lexington, had inflicted a wound, and effected a breach between the Old and New World, which no art or medicine could heak Ihe “sun of Liberty” which alone could cheer and buoy up a Nation, in its onward march t© that towering greatness, which it seemed destined by Nature at no distant period to reach, bad now descended, and would never again illumine the horizon, until it pro claimed to the world its Independence, and sealed it with its blood. Congress was then assembled to agi tate a question, big with the fate of empire. It was to decide whether the tie which had so long connected us with the mother country, was to be se. vercdatonce, and severed forever.— They must either dissolve ail their connection with Great Britain, or, tamely submit to a disfranchisement I of many of their dearest rights and li berties. “All the Colonies had signifi ed resolution, to abide, Lbe_re£ulL heir deliberations; and Ine people looked forward to it, with the most in- i tense anxiety.” And surely, fellow ci- 1 lizens,never were men called to a more ! important political deliberation. Il we contemplate it from the point where they then stood, no question could be more full of interest; if we look at it now.and judge of its importance, from i itseff j cts,it appears in still greater mag nitude. It was an act fraught with the utmost peril,and on its issue, hung not only their liberty and fortunes,but their lives. Let us for a moment bring be fore us this assembly, open their doors, and look in upon their deliberations. — Let us survey their anxious and care r»cn comdenances, while dismissing,a. Nation s grievances. Let us hear the firmed toned voice of this band of patri ots, when the momentous question was announced from the chair, in encourag ing each other to firmness and resolu tion. “The venerable and proscribed Hancock,” presides over the solemn assembly, which was to agitate for the first time,the question of independence, in our National character. Hereto fore, oppression was resisted by this Colony,and that one, where its effects were more intensely felt, and until now, the keen lash of oppression,had produ ced no united and combined resistance. Many of them had long hesitated, ar t d still hesitated, to take the awful step, which they could never retrace. “Sink or swim, live or die. survive or perish, we give our h?.nd%, and our hearts to this vote. We know the un certainty of affairs, and we in deed may rue if. VVe may not live to the time, when this declaration shall be made goo'i, \y e may die; die, colo nists; ffie, slave 3 '; die, it may be, ig- BOPfnniatisly, and on the scaffold. Be ’it so. But whatever may be our fate, be assured, that this Declaration will stand. It may cost treasure, and it may cost blood; hut it will stand, and it will rieb’y compensate for both. — through tne thick gloom of the present, we P'ee the brightness of the future, as the sun in heaven. We shall make 'this a glorious,an immortal day. When we are in our graves,our children will honor it. They will celebrate if, with thanksgiving, with festivity, with bon fires and illuminations. On its annu al return, they will shed tears, copious, gushing tears, not of subjection and slavery, not of agony and distress, but of exultation, of gratitude, and of joy.” Yes illustrious patriotsand prophets! as long as a spark ©f patriotism and gratitude dwells in the bosom ofyour Countrymen, they will welcome with joy, the return of that day, on which you periled your all. that was dear to you on earth, regardless of the impen ding doom that awaited the uncertain issue. Your memory and renown on earth,shall test in duration, the blasts of all—consuming time itself, although no monumental statutes may mark ‘he places of your dismal abode. You have nor/ ended your brilliant corner of mortality on earth, but the recollec tion ofyour namesand deeds,shall ral ly around the standard ofliberty, your countrymen, in the hour of danger, & infuse in their souls that noble daring 1 and love of freedom, which caused you to immortalize this day; and which rcu-' NO. 2. dered you invincible in the field of bat tle. We now arrive at the period, fellow citizens, when we are no longer to con sider America, as dependant colonies on Great Britain, but as a free and in dependant Nation, struggling for its ex istence-struggling against the inva sion of a powerful army from without, and distracted by civil convulsions within. Horrid war raging in all its relentless fury, in the very centre of her empire. Iler Congress flying from city to city, for safety, before au invading army. Her own inexperi* enced and feeble army, naked and frost bitten, destitute of arms and am munition, driven in triumph before the conquerer from one colony to another for shelter, and not daring to risk the fate of a general battle. The merci less indian turned loose to satiate his savage lust of blood and carnage, on the defenceless widow and orphan; and to drag in blood and dust the grey hairs of venerable age, as trophies of honor. Freedom held forth as arewaid, to those of our slaves,who would murder in the gloom and darkness of midnight, their unsuspicious masters. And all this desolation, woe and misery, merci ful God ! the unhallowed fruit of mor i tai ambition; which at best is but of a day, is as it were, and then passeth a way forever—the covetousness of an Aiuilxronad rmnnaicr f-Linntin-. f..-: . sed revenue, or panting tor more de spotic sway over the liberty of his sub jects. But our feelings recoi’, and our i hearts sicken, at the contemplation of those black days of fiendish outrage, and we will not now unrake the dying embers of National jealousy, by the gloomy memorial. They inflicted deep i and enduring pangs of grief, in the bo soms of our ancestors, who for liberty and independence braved them all, but this prosperous and peaceful genera tion, knows them only as facts detailed in the history of the times, and they serve to set a value on their peace and prosperity. Congress having proclaimed our In- dllzeuadt .was now, when that astounding news had reach ed the parent country, that the anger and violence ©f her rage, which now knew no limit, that her inexhaustable resources could encompass,came well nigh overwhelming our country in ruin r in its revengeful fury, and lopping the bud of our liberty in its fii st dawn.—» It was nowthatshe poured forth,confi dent in her anticipations of certain and, easy conquest, her numerous armies to ransack our cities for spoil and plunder, and to overspread our fertile plains, with countless numbers. “But the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.” Heaven bad de creed otherwise. And contrary to all their expectations, an able general, whose talents and fame were yet in em byo, was here to be found, and to be first conquered. A general whose prudence and abi lity supplied the deficiency of numbers, in his little band of patriots, and were more than an overmatch, as the event happily proved, to the strength, skill & discipline of his adversaries, the boast and pride ofEngland. A general, who on the coming of the most tremendous storm which for eight years ever deso lated any country, would waver not, hesitate not: But born to a rich inhe ritance, destined to the attainment of high distinction, he was prepared to assail the slavish doctrine that man was incapable ofself-government,and to aid in erecting this happy system under which it is our destiny to live. Atari early day, he sa distinguished himself, as the firm and fearless asserter of the rights of Colonial and oppressed Ame rica, and hud already anticipated the occurrence of (he period, when the Colonics should be elevated to free, sovereign and independent States. A righteous Piovidcnce had ordained that he should be the instrument, whereby she would humble the pride ot powerful England, and con luct the destitute and oppressed, to glory and conquest. She blended in him quali fications so splendid, as to redound to the glory even of the country which i: ive him birth. You all anticipate me, fellow-ci’izens, in the mention ot his name. Yes, I mean George ash< ing ton. That name which in the day and hour of its country’s peril, was as a powerful loadstone, rallying and hov ering around it in suspense, a whole Nation, for its fatherly direction. And happy, thrice happy for us, frit it pos sessed such powerful attraction, when the common cause dem inded such uni ted effort. Division would have p.ov-