as some of us have known-fit to be called statesmen. I do not

say we have none. Thank God! we have, but, comparatively, how few. Most are but aspirants for personal success-the success of sound, of glitter, of shoddy style. It is the fault of our educational habits that their scope is so contracted. We hurry into action. The sooner at work, every man thinks, the better. So men are in action unequipped. And even the best rush by the shortest road towards their meditated goal. How many wait and seek the formation of character, make that their motive, and then seek or accept life's tasks as duties. And so, general rottenness goes on, till even the horrid expositions on which the press batters to-day would be almost welcomed as necessary to the hope of better things, if it were not for the fear that familiarity with scandal and filth may breed contempt for evil accusation.

1

It is in view of this underlying want of moral tone, cropping out in every quarter that I have chosen and press my subject to-day. I have endeavored to speak as they would speak who laid the foundations of our freedom and progress, the men of 1664 who once walked these streets, who laid its broad avenues and parks, who established here religion and law, whose characteristics still live recognizable in many a descendant, whose lives and plans still contribute to the happiness we enjoy. I have endeavored to speak as they would speak who rejoiced one hundred years ago over the news of the Declaration we celebrate a Declaration to which they came slowly, unwillingly, only from conscientious belief in its necessity, in calm religious resolution.

I have endeavored to speak as he would speak, chief promoter of the subsequent constitution, and so most of all, the Father of his Country.

Hear this Proclamation, made immediately on the completion of the Constitution, as an illustration of his views on the question whether the nation has a religion, and how intimately that religion should be connected with education.

66

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

A PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS, it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His Will, to be grateful for His Benefits, and to humbly implore His Protection and Favor; and whereas, both Houses of Congress have, by their joint Committee, requested me "To recommend to the people of the United States a day of public Thanksgiving and Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful "Hearts the many and signal Favors of Almighty God, espe"cially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to estab"lish a Form of Government for their Safety and Happiness;" Now, THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the twenty-sixth day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the Service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble Thanks for His kind Care and Protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation; for the signal and manifold Mercies, and the favorable Interpositions of His Providence in the Cause and Conclusion of the late War; for the great Degree of Tranquility, Union and Plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rationable Manner in which we have been enabled to establish Constitutions of Government for our Safety and Happiness, and particularly the National one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious Liberty with which we are blessed, and the Means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful Knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various Favors which He hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, That we may then unite in most humbly offering our Prayers and Supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our National and other Transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private Stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a Government of wise,

just and constitutional Laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations, (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us ;) and to bless them with good Government, Peace and Concord; to promote the Knowledge and Practice of true Religion and Virtue, and the Encrease of Science among them and us; and generally, to grant unto all Mankind such a Degree of temporal Prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my Hand, at the City of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand, seven hundred and eighty-nine.

G. WASHINGTON.

I would speak the sentiments of these fathers on this solemn day. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. It is ever in danger. Now from foreign enmity-now from intestine strife— at other times, as now, from the growth of corruption-irreverence for right as right, materialism, defiling everything, destroying true manhood, disgusting the good and competent with public affairs, and leaving the State to be managed and directed by cunning incompetency, seeking and using place for profit, scoffing at duty,-in a word, from moral rottenness. And the escape and, blessed be God there will be escape-I speak with no fear, for God is with us from ruin to come, the ruin that has befallen other republics, the ruin that has so far been avoided, because our freedom is that which comes of the open Bible, is restoration and increase of its dominance and influence. Stand by it, fellow citizens, as the true Palladium of your liberties. Maintain the schools and maintain it in the schools. Let it be an institution there, recognized and revered. Thus much can we do as citizens, nor little as it seems can we over estimate its extent. But this must not be all. In every way must we seek to saturate the community with Christian morality. The Church, the Sunday School, Colleges and Academies where religion is directly taught, the support of these is not only our duty as Christians. It is our duty also as patriots. The very infidel, if he loves his country, will aid in the promulgation of tolerant Christianity and the morality it inculcates. For, let no man doubt that just

in proportion to the extent that that morality prevails, just in proportion as we remain the land of the open Bible-in that proportion, and that only, may we be assured that our freedom and progress will last, and that another century will find the Nation one great, happy, republican and free.

ADDRESS

BY COL. ALBERT R. LAMAR.

DELIVERED AT THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, SAVANNAH, GA.,

JULY 4TH, 1876.

FELLOW CITIZENS: Impelled by causes not necessary to be mentioned here, for many years the people of this country have failed to gather in the spirit of patriotic devotion around a common altar. But to-day, from one end of the land to the other, the people will renew their vows to the great principles which gave birth to the American republic in 1776. Standing in the shadow of a dead century and facing the dawn of a coming one, the people of Savannah have determined to light again the torch of liberty, and with confident hopes to transmit it to their children and their children's children. In order to give suitable mark to this Centennial day they have selected a gentleman to read to you the Declaration of Independence, a document whose vehement eloquence not only moved the arms and hearts of American patriots, but set Europe ablaze in revolution a hundred years ago. I have the honor to introduce to you Capt. Robt. Falligant, a gentleman who in the last struggle for constitutional liberty nobly distinguished himself, and illustrated Georgia, his native State.