PIONEER.
t'JSSr/LLfi, Jt/ty SI, 1833 k
CELEBRATION
by the 4th br July in Rome.
Rome, July 4; 1835,
K'ol. John Henry
Dear Sir:—-The undersigned com
mittee take pleasure in expressing an
Unqualified approbation of the eloquent
and able Address delivered by you on
this dav, before the people of Floyd
county; and in behalf of their fellow
citizens, would solicit a copy bf the
same for publication. By dn immedi
ate compliance With our request, we
feel that the interest of our common
country will be greatly promoted*.
With great consideration & esteem,
your’s,
James hemphill,
JAMES RIJYSr-
ROB r. L. JOHNSTON,
MOSES M. LIDDELL,
JOSEPH WATERS,
ROBT. DEAL,
THOMAS H. CLIATT,
P. W. HEMPHILL,
CHAPMAN S. SHIELDS,
Wm. E. MEREDITH,
EUCLID WATERHOUSE.
Rome, July 7,1835.
To James Hemphill, James Buys,
Robt, L. Johricton; Moses M. Lid
dell, Joseph Waters, Robert Deal,
Thomas H. Cliatt, P. W. Hemp
hill, Chapman S. Shields, Wm. E.
Meredith, Euclid Waterhouse,
Committee of Arrangements.
Gentlemen:—Your’s ofthe 4th inst.
soliciting a copy of an Address deliver
ed by me on the Anniversy of Ameri
can Independence,- has been received.
The Irequent publication of Orations
of this character,- seemed to my mind,
to make it unnecessary to launch ano
ther bark on the high sea of adventur
ous ehterpnzs. But yielding up my
humble opinion to the wish of my
friends, I have determined to let that
effort go forth to the world, which was
at first only intended for ihe citizens of
shy owr county. And if the latent e
nergies of freedom can receive a single
impulse, I shall be more than compen
sated for the sacrifice made in my
judgment.
Your very obedient, and humble
servant,
JNO. HEN. LUMPKIN.
ORATION.
FRIENDS FELLOW CITIZENS}
The great Jubilee of the Ameri
can people has again returned. And
tve have l iis day assembled, under the
most cheering auspices, to commemo
rate those great events of the Ameri
can revolution, which gave birth to our
national existence, and constituted us
a free and happy people. To demon
tftrate that this design is consistent with
the usages of every enlightened nation,
by* referring to historical events, would
do nothing less than check the ardour
of thdse generous emotions, that now
rises high with patriotic pride in eve
ry breast. Why en this day have the
time worn soldier and experienced
statesman, the industrious yeoman and
enterprising youth, come together in
one vast assemblage? Why are our
humble efforts enlivened by the pre
sence and cheered by the approving
smile of the beautiful fair? Why
waves in triumph the emblem of our
national character, suspended to the
spires of Edifices dedicated to the wor
ship of God and the cause of liberty?
Why echoes along the waUs of the
crowded mart, the roar of artillery and
the voice of the patriotic orator? The
answer is obvious; America has thrown
aside the galling yoke imposed by
British cupidity, and assumed to her
self the name and character of a free
and independent nation. Never, no
never shall Wc prove outseltea the un
worthy descendents of brave and gal
lant ancestors, until this last ceremony
of freemen and abiding place of free
dom shall be ripHn one general ruin.
That pure vesta) flame which once
warmed the breasts, and illumined the
minds of our revolutionary forefathers,
in the dark hour of their adversity,
now guides our enthusiasm, and sheds
ils genial rays over our festivity, in this
our mid-day prosperity. The patriot
Heroes of America, already renowned
in song, to have witnessed the annual
return of this glorious national Jubilee, 1
would have devised plans still more
daring, and effected their execution
with a valour atilt more renowned.
Yes, the statesman and warrior, who
fell an early victim to the desolating
ravages of an unholy strife and civil
discord, would have invoked with a
countenance beaming with exultation
nrd pride, his untimely fate, supported
and sustained by the hope, that hrs mfc,
niory should still live in youthfuTvigor
as the gallant defender of his country’s
invaded rights.
Permit me my respected audience,
before I embark on this Vast field of ad
venturous enterprise, briefly to premise
a single remark. America noW happy,
has enjoyed an almost uninterrupted
repose, for the space of sikty years; du- /
ring which time the JSgisbf civil au
thority, has shielded them against Hite
encroachment of their enemies.
Every revolving } ear has greeted us,;
and we met in public congratulations; :
to mingle our thoughts with thosejihßl I
have purchased our religions and civil i
privileges nt the price of their own ek- <
istencei Thus the prominent events <
of the American Revolution; hate be-, ’
come the common property of imeri- i I
can citizens. Talent mos-e tonspicu- 1 1
oils and genius more toWtering, might i
soar aloft in the regions bf fancy, and s
avoid the Scylla and Charybdis of An- j f
niversary exhibition, the staleness of. <
common place on the one hand, and tha i
eccentric creations of fancy on the o- 1
then WkiU I must tayfielf, <
with telling the familiar story of my
country’s wrongs, effectual redress, and ]
ultimate destiny, under the patronage I
of heaven.
The first inhabitants of this new |*
world, sought it as an Asylum against i
the oppression of wicked and tyranni
cal princes. The Ministers of Monar
chial power, under the insiduous guise
of being the defenders of orthodox re
ligious tenets, attempted to sacrifice
the gems of freedom, on the altars of
their unholy ambition. The shackles
of tyranny were forged and rivetted,tb
make them the pliant too's of Arbitrary i
authority. The stern integrity of i
freemen, was neither to be subdued or i
influenced, by force or power, dr the 'i
fallacious hope of deceptive rewards, i
In order that they might preserve an I
unshaken fidelity and constancy in the ;
cause of religious freedom, they relin- i
quished all the ties of nature and the i
endearments of society. Exiles from -
their homes and native soil, they laun
ched their frail bark on the fickle bo- 1
som of an unknown sea, in quest ofthe I
liberty of conscience, heretofore so sa- i
cred and dear to religion and humani- I
ty. The convulsed and boisterous o- ;
cean, the whirlwinds tempestuous ’
blast, and lightnings midnight glare, <
did not oppose an insurmountable bar- <
rier to their safe and speedy exit, from
the Isle of Tyranny., Guided and sup- ;
ported by principle they met and re
sisted the approach of death in a thou
sand frightful shapes. To the dangers
of the jaring elements, another was ad
ded of still more- ghastly character.
No sooner had the Plymouth rock re
sounded with the first tread our Euro
pean ancestors, than ears were saluted
with savage yells and startling war cry
of the aborigines of America. Their
Spirits still unknown, seemed to re
bound and gather new an additional
strength, at the successful encounter,
of every new obstacle. . Shielded and
upheld by the God of religious freedom
they combatted triumphantly, the war
ing elements, an unbounded ;and track
less forest, filled with savage beasts and
still more savage men. s, . ?
Having thus emerged from the dosor
lating ravages of the most unholy strife,
and rolled back the dark cloud of im
pending destruction, the united energy
of the infant establishment, was em
ployed in the development of the natural
resources of this vast fertile continent,
and scarcely had a few fleeting years
passed in review before them, when
their eyes beheld the enlivening sight
of Flourishing Villages, rising up as if
struck into existence by the wand of
enchantment and extensive farms
affording all the comforts and conven
iences of a temperate life, as the
product of their own labor and indus
trious enterprise. And they emphatical
ly “worshiped God after the dictates of
their own conscience, and with none
to hinder or make them afraid.” Thus
by rapid strides the infant colony plant
ed by British Tyranny, and nourished
amidst lawless exactions, became the
favored residence of wealth, of learning
and civil and religious liberty. The
ministers of the crown, jealous of the
growing strength, and increasing im
portance of this new world, sought the
first pretence that presented itsfelf, to
Crush their ascendency, by imposing,
upon their devoted necks the galling
yoke of tributary bondage. The colo
nists, accustomed to the free use and
I exercise of all the rights and privileges
of British subjects, hiirl’d back with
marks of open defiance, the engine of
1 destruction prepared for their own
fields, into the,vitals of their relentless
oppressors. They poised themselves
upon the original rights, of mankind
and contended that all governments
were the creatures of the sovereign
people; and that taxes were voluntary
gifts from the people so the crown or
state—And not being represented in
the British Parliament, all acts impos
ing taxes for any purpose whatever by
the sovereign power of England, were
incompatible with t-he irfoorenf and
uiialienable rights of every free British
' flibject, and nothing less than the total
detraction of every sefeguard fcr
tie liberty and property of British colo
nists in America. It mattered not,
whether it cairie in the form of a dlity
,bn stamp paper,or East India Tea;they
fifthly resolved, father to die freehieii,
than to live the slaves of pampered hu- .
thority. The British ministry like a
Vulture perched at a distance on some
lofty eminence; sahr their
less pray, darted their Iron pointed
talons in the vitals of their own helpless
offspring. Was ever ingratitude so
conspicious or cruelty so remarkable.
The country had thfen scarcely revived
from the shock, Which they had just
received, iri bearing with triumphant
victory, the British colours; side by
side they had contended in two success
full campaigns, against the common
enfemy of their cdUntrys existence —yet
an unholy ambition, which envied thei
happiness of their allies and friends, [
conspired their - total , destruction.!
Would CLoJ ikat nveil mold He
drawn over this dark and gloomy pic-,
ture of human depravity,and shield in
jured humanity, from the reproach and
rebuke of an indignant posterity I—No
sooner was the intelligence announced,
in a voice es thunder,of the settled
design of the English ministry to forge
for the necks of their children, the
chains of slavery, than a burst of pat- i
riotic indignation and noble resent
ment issued from the breast of eVery
lover of his countrys existence. The
industrious husbandman, enterprising
merchant and ingnious mechanic,with
a .simultaneous impulse, girded on ■
their and buckled on their al
most useless armour, in defence of A-,
merican liberty. No sooner, had the , 1
hireling soldiers ofarbitrary authority,
planted themselves in solemn array on
the sacred soil of freemen, than plough ,
sharesand pruning hooks were con-!
verted into engines of desolating war, ■
to shield the untrammeled spirit ofi
freemen, from the manicles of an ambi
tious monarch. Unaccustomed to the
use of arms, and the toils of civil strife,
they successfully resisted the practiced t
and disciplined troops of European!
warfare; with number and skill inferior!
did they acknowledge the superiority!
of their enemies? No; the enthusiastic 1
ove of liberty which inflamed their •
generous minds, taught them to match ■
singly their unfettered arm, and op
pose their vallient breasts,to a score of
ihe base instruments ofarbitary power. *
Go and witness the ground that was
stained with the blood of freemen, ye
chain forging despots I & learn this salu
tary lesson before that,that a small band
of Republicans armed in the holy cause •
of liberty, retired from the contest,!
bearing on their helmets the peerless
laurels of hard earned victory.
The British colonists of America.
fought for life, liberty and the untar
nished character of their sacred homes
—While the ruthless arms of thought-!
less tyrants, strove for power, plunder;
and extended rule—the one struggled
for existence itself, the other for total
annihilation of the very germs of liber-,
ly-r—one, contended in order to trans-1
mit to the latest posterity a rich and?
glorious inheritance; the other, tol
make their subjectsand allies, wear |
with patience the chains of servitude^,
galling yoke of tributary bondage. The
dark portentous cloud of Albions wrath,
which hung in doubtful suspense over
our quaking country, was rolled back
and the gloom dispersed, by the deter
mined resolution and inveterate brave
ry, of the American heroes and states
men. When the Godess of liberty had
well nigh despaired of success, and the
stout hearts of brave soldiers sunk with
in them, with trembling anguish,
for the fate of their country; the A
merican Patriot and commander, arose
amidst (he general gloom, as a pillar
of fire, to direct and support the fallen
hopes of all future generations. Let
the unyielding grasp of relentless des
potism, unloose its firm hold when a
grateful people accounts the virtuous
deeds of the immortal Washington. He
who by the magic influence of a single
word introduced order and system from
the mighty chaos of a settled confusion
—who amidst every calamity was the
master spirity of a mighty revoltion.
Repose ye shades of immortal chief!
Rest in peace that mighty sage, the
vivid remembrance of thy glorious at
chievments, hover over thy tomb and
shields thy fame from the attacks of
poisened fanged calumny Thy fame
is as extensive as the civilized world,
while the only monument erected to per
petuate thy deathless memory is found
in thy country’s glorious and happy
existence. And so long as memory
lives, and the blessings of civil and
religious liberty shall be appreciated,
will the name of Washington be rever
ed; having lived the matchless,warrior,
the uneqftled statesman, and died fill
ing the measure of his country glory.
The Independence of America, be
ing once acknowledged; by the proud
and gallant mistress of the ocean, the
rain bow of peace again skirted and
arched the political horizon, of the
civilized world. A systematic govern
ment was sobn organized, assuming as
the basisin the structure of oUr organic
lbw, those principles that they had
triumphantly vindicated, at the .ex
pense of so much blood and Treasure,
Under the wise administration of free
a Bankrupt Treasure has
. been replenished, life and animation in
fused into every branch of industry.
Our commerce has extended itself to
everi coast, and is convejed safely to
the most hazardous channels, to the
most distant ports of the civilized world
—-the cainvass of American vessels
whiten every sea, bearing in triumph
on its topmost mast, as tiieir trotection
and safety the emblem of our greatness
and honor, the star spangled banner,
and “long let it wave o’er the land of
i the free and the home the brave.’’
But the wounds inflicted upon the re- !
noun of the English arms,were too deep
to be easily healed—-she had too long
bia defiance to the combined force of
the civilized world, and her warlike
fleet too long traversed every sea, to
brook with complacency the pungent
disgrace, of an Uncompromising defeat,
so soon as her resources were partial
ly husbanded, so as to recover from;
the shock of an inglorious contest, she I
sought again some pretext, for a de-;
claration of hostility, against the infant!
Republic—wars fiery blast bursf upon
the astonished view of the Americans,
, while they were wrapt in a false and
almost fatal security. The sleeping
and dormant energies of a mighty peo
ple , were soon aroused, to a sense of
i their danger, and the heio of Orleans,
a man equal to the emergency of any
crisis, led on the patriotic troops to
the spoils of victory. Scarcely had
: the enemies flag been planted en our
i sacred soil, when the active spirit of
I determined bravery, met' arid repulsed
! their colours, supported by the skill
and decipline of European warfare.
Happy twice happy America! ! Thus
to have been governed by patriotism
and bravery, unexampled in this his
! tory of the woild—lf Washington was
I the father of his country, Andrew
! Jackson, the hero of Orleans, rescued
1 his countrys fame from injury and pre-
• served it from the deselating ravages
,of a hostile foe. And the gratitude of
his countryman, will ever remember his
valorous deeds & glorious attachments,
'with feelings of the deepest veneration
—yes, the crown of civic laurels, now
, pressed on his manly brow,and a grate
ful people will loek on him hereafter
as the savior of his country,
j “The price of liberty is eternal
! vigilence,” it should be the duty of a
free people to watch with care, the
| character and conduct of their rulers—
. But be not deceived, in a virtuous com
munity under, a republican form of
Government, the vilest tyranny is that
; of reckless popular commanders—The
; same patriot that successfully breasted
the thunder bolts of war, now presides
with repuolican simplicity and great
. ness, over the destiny of happy people,
|—with heroic devotion to the purity
! ©four government, he has turned back
I the almost resistless tide of corruption,
: that threatened to involve his country
! men, into the vortex of ruin. The
American system ot policy, which had
united in its support, the selfish and
discordant materials from every section
of the country, has under the energetic
administration of Andrew Jackson be
gan to recede from its former elevated
position. The United States Bank,
fostered and supported by Foreign
Capital, threatened a short time ago,
to control the destiny of this free peo
, pie—But the fiat has gone forth, and
after the most convulsive throws is
•oon to bury its diminished and fallen
• head, amid the tombs of the capulets
i —The disorganizing doctrine ofnullifi
cation, which bore in it frontispice the
impreisof unholy ambition, withered
i at his touch, as if struck by the wand
i of some powerful magician—These
: are the trophies of thy renown ! The
: splenderof thy successful arms, may
i equal, but can never surpass the wis
i dom of thy patriotic concils—And A
i rnerica guided by thy patriotism will
. transmit her fame so the latest genera
! tion, in unrivalled greatness—in the
: language ofthe Poet
“She will to glory arise
“The Queen of the world and the
F child of the skies.”
! A large and respectable number of
, the citizens of Floyd county, met at
• Rome, on Saturday the fourth day of
I July, for the purpose ofcommemora
r ting the birth-day of our National In
' dependence. The hoary headed fa-
I ther, the time worn soldier; enterpn
, sing young man, and the lovely lairas
■ sembled; to give life and animation to
, the inspiration natural to the annual
• return of our national Jubilee. A pro
cession was formed at eleven o’clock,
and the whole marched to the place
I j selected by the Committee of Arrange
j* ments, for 4he delivery ofthe Oration.
The exercises were opened by an spl
propriate prayer, by Dr Hugh Quin.
The Declaration of Independence was
read by the Rev. James Bujs, in*
plear and distinct style. After which
Col. John Henry Lumpkin, entertain,
ed his fellow-citizens with an eloquent
and patriotic address—rekindling ttia
vivid remembrance of our past glori*
ous attachments, and inspiring the
young to the renewed acts ol Patriot,
ism and valor.
, The assemblage was invited by the
Committee of Arrangements to partake
cf a free public Dinner, prepared un
der the shadowy grove oj a wild For
est. The cloths being moved Gen.
Jas. Hemphill took his seat as Presi
den, and Capt. Joseph VYatte.rs and
John Ellis Esijf . as Vice Presidents of
the day. The committee to prepare
Toasts for the occasion offered them,
and also the following
Toasts were drank with loud and deaf,
eoing applause. . u
REGULAR TOASTS.
t. The day we celebrate. May the
recollections of those events which
gave it birth, inspire our hearts with
devotion to the principles of freedom.
2. Gen. M. de LaFayette,* Lo the
Hero dies! Laifened with age, and la
dened with laurels, he lived to retain
the gratitude ofthe brave and geher
ous throughout the world, and died re
spected by every lover of liberty.
3. Old Hickory is tall, its bark is
> rough,
Its boughs aid large, its roots are
tough, ■>.
And stands in the best of ground,
With Democratic friends around.
4. Th* Constitution ofthe United
States, The Palladium of oiir Liberty,
let as preserve it as it cartie from the
hands of our ancestors, untouched oy
the sophistry es the enemies'of liberty.
5. The Heroes of the American Re
volution wherever they be,
On the fourth of July w£still re
member thee;
Though thy bodies are rotten and
laid jq the ground", j
6. The Coosa Steam Boat Company
A splendid by
wise heads and patriotic spirits—may
it conduce not only to their individual
interest, but prove higljly beneficial to
the Western part of Georgia.
7. Commerce,’ Free- Trdtie, the Ui>
ion and Slate Rights,— The Sovreign
ty of the States and the United States,
■The Palladium oi our happibess,'peacd
and prosperity.
8. The Removal of
Though opposed by the* votary will
place th© name of Andrew'Jacksdhj.a*
midst the sons of glory.
9. The Slate of Georgia one ofthe
old thirteen, Heretofore much’ neg
lected in her territorial eights arid
claims, the undeviating .perseverance
of the present Chief Magistrate, will
force her marauding enemies toyieli
10. Agriculture, Literature and ln
ternal Improvement, May enquiry
search after their rich benefits, and not
be impeded by political contests.’
11. Baron DeKalb, The braVe and
generous foreigner—who fought for
the liberty of mankind here— when the
Goddess of freedom could find no abi
ding place in his own country and a
mong his own kindred.
The Star Spangled Banner, “© long
may it wave, o’er the land ofthe free,
and the home of the brave. <
13. The Fair, Though ardent in
our devotion to the cause of freedom,
we all cheerfully submit, to their sove
reignty—And congratulate those who
have honored, us with their presence*
(13 cheers.)
VOLUNTEER TOASTS.
By the President of the day— Wik
son Lumpkin—The magnanimous and
grateful citizen, the dignified and Pat
riotic Politician. A
By Joseph Watters,! st T. P.—Hon.
John Forsvth—The corteous gentle
man, fascinating orator; and firm supT
porter of the present Adnriinistretion;
Georgians will leok to himfor support
in the darkest houroftheir adversity.
By John Ellis, 2d V. R.—Andrew*
Jackson—the patriot, the statesman
and republican, does honor to the trust
confided to him by the American peo
ple—May. his acts be read with ap
plause by generations yet unborn— that
he may gpeak though hehedead.—
March an old hero as heretofore and
you have nothing to fear.
By Wesley Shropshire—The Orator
ofthe day, Col. John Henry Lumpkin
The courteous and exemplary citi
zen, the eloquent Orator and systematic
republican. He has proven himself
the worthy descendant of patriotic an
cestors.
Gentlemen— I should do injustice
to the deep sense of gratitude that fills
my breasi, were I to remain silent af
ter the flattering expression that has
been made by this vast assemblage, to
my humble youthful efforts in the
cause of liberty and the union—Al
humble and unaspiring as I have been,
my political course has been the sab*
