an oteAT.foar, Y Doct. THOMAS W. MINER, , Delivered at a Dernocralic Celebration, at tPHkcsbarrc, Luzerne Co. Julyi, 1838. ' Hail, auspicious day! consecrated to National Independence and the Liberties of the people! Fellow Citizhns: , The annual celebration of this day, by every demonstration of respect and joy, far from being a mere pleasing and idle pastime, I regard as a momentous duty which should be cherished as a matter of sacred obliga tion. It not only commemorates tho deeds of our fathers in defence of frodom, but it should also bo considered as an annual re newal of the oatli on our part on tho part of the whole people on the altar of liber ty, before Heaven and earth, of our un changeable hatred to tyranny our undy ing respect for the worthies of tho Revolu tion, who achieved for us the rich blessings wo. enjoy and our firm resolve, live or die, to defend the great catisc of popular rights, assail them who dare, and come tho danger from what quarter it may. Freedom is to be preserved only at the price of ever-waking vigilance. The fiee liation that sleeps over its liberty, whether from indolence, fatigue, or luxury, reposes like tho strong man in the lay of a betray ing harlot, and will assuredly awake shorn of its strength, and be made to grind iiT the prison house of tyrants. Arouse ye, then, fellow citizens, now and every succeeding Fourth of July. Meet together and renew vour vow of fidelity to popular rights. Teach your children tho glorious lesson. Let the cannon thunder in the morning; bid our bells at noon ring out a peal for liber ty; let patriotism cheer the night; let hilarity and joy prevail through the day; lot at every meeting some one be delegated to speak in the cause, .advert to its origin, and discuss some topic that may advance the object to which tho day is consecrated. I stand here thi3 day .by your favor as tho advocate of popular rights. Such was the stand our fathers took at tho Revolution. We were colonies of Great Britian; they thought to make us slaves, they asserted the right to tax us without our consent; they jproclaimed the power to makelawo binding ,us in all cases whatsoever, 1 ncso estao lished, what would there bo leftt These points yielded, every thing would be held in America, life, properly, , nnd reputation, at tho will of a master. . War or slavery was the alternative; and our fathers nobly preferred war,(a's many their sons ever do, rather than submit to be slaves. You all know the story of the seven year's contest Britain poured her thousands and her tens of thousands unon our shores, armed, dis ciplined, well fed aird well clothed. ' Thc' denbiinced us as rebels, and let loose the fell demon of war to devastate the land. The fire was kindled at Lexington and Bunker's Hill, and spread far and wide. We suffered deeply, but the enemy found it no holiday parade. Wherever tho tyrants struck, the sons of liberty gave a blow in return. Thus may it ever be. Deeply, deeply, we suffered. Numbers, organiza tions discipline seemed for a moriicnt lb givo the ascendancy to, the enemy; and the mem orable winter campaign of '70, in the Jer seys, cannot be too often recalled; Literal ly the soldiers of liberty marched their way over the frozen earth with blood from their naked feet. There was patriotism worthy your emulation. The cry of victory rose from all along the British Jines ; they said we wore beaten ; it was all over. The immortal Father of his Country, in that hour of gloom, conceived and executed the glorious enterprise against the enemy at Trenton, and afterwards at Princeton. . He re-kindled thd beacon fire of hope in every bosom in the land. Six hundred Hcssian mercenaries laid down their arms, and the proud Lord Cornwallis, with his red coats, was driven back to Now York. Tho rising spirit of insolvent Toryism was re buked, and confidence was restored through out all the country. It is not my purposa io go thro' the whole of the war (0 its glori ous termination at Yorktown, though full of interesting matters for reflection; but I advert to this winter canpalgn of 1770, as it teaches this instructive lesson that those engaged in the best cause may bo sorely pressed, but that fortitude and spirit will eventually triumph and to draw the con clusion, pertinent to tho topie selected for this day's discussion, that the patriot, while engaged in the just and" generous pause of popular rights, should never despair. The war over, divisions arose among ourselves. It was natural. It was inevita ble. Many thought tho form of the British government, with its king, and hereditary peers, and its church establishment, were well enough, only that in tho case of Amcri ra it had been badly administered, Wealth nrlicd to perpetuate itself in family establish wents. With tho very considerable degree of liberty enjoyed in America, thero woio still many vestages of Aristocracy which had not yet been stricken off. In Home of (lie stales the law of primogenituro still pravailed, which gave the father's property not to all tho children alike, but to tho old est sou a chief part or a double share, so as to keep up a family namo and establish liicnt. The friends of popular rights justly rcgardod this as hostile to liberty, and H'lenously contended for its abolition. In this cause tho great leader of the Democrat ic party in the United States led the way. The repeal of tfieee odious relics of aristoc racy in the Assembly of Virginia w .s mov eM'by Thomas Jofferfeon, aiid adopt' J uner the auspices or his genius. In establishing tho .Federal constitution, the high-toned par ty the Aristocracy, honest and stnecro 110 doubt, though mistaken sought to infuse. unduo energy into the new government. They .wanted a strong government; they wanted a constitution of great power and energy. Un the other haiui, the trienus 01 popular rich Is contended that tho truo strength of every just government was the confidence and good will of llio people. There lay the sustaining power, tho potent energy which, would preserve it. forms might he established, and every thing else left free to tho people that then the Govern ment must and would ho administered with reference lo the Interests of tho great body of tho people; whereas, if rules wcro en trenched behind constitutional bulwarks, beyond the reach of o popular will, it would be as the history of human nature has shewn it ever has been aristocratic feelings would grow up, and tho govern ment bo administered for their own benefit; to the sacrifice of the great causo of popu lar rights. The struggle was severe; and if all was not obtained thai tho Democracy desired, yet in . the main the cause of the people gained Ynuch, and our federal consti tution, the wotk of compromise, should be cherished by every patriot as our bond of union our safeguard against foreign en croachment, and our sure defenco against domestic violence- Beautiful edifice ! thou splendid tower of National Union and Inde pendence ! Withered be tho hand that would break down one pillar that sustains thy splendid and protecting dome ! I come now to my native slate bclpvcd Pennsylvania the itey-stonc of the Fcj'er alarch. Here for half a century tho con test has been going on between tho aristoc ratic, or as it has sometimes been termed, the conservative principle & the principle of more extended liberty and popular rights. I mean to speak plainly and freely for before Ileav.en and on my conscience, I be lieve I an') defending the best interests of my country; but I do not wish to speak of fensively to any. By the aristocratic party, I do not mean to say that its members are (jnemios to liberty, and wish tp see tho peo ple reduced to a state of slat Ci'y; but that their general course is and has been hostile to the extension of popular rights. In the convention that formed the constitution of Pennsylvania, the ground was inch by inch sharply contested between the aristocracy on one side and tho Democracy on the other'; the latter seeking to infuse a much larger portion of liberal and republican principles into that iiistrumcnt. But tho conservatives, though they were compelled to yield some thing lo thespirit of freedom, retained far too much.. A Senate for Tour years life tenures in tho Judiciary a Government for three year's, re-cligiblo for nine, with an almost boundless patronage no restrictions on corporations: theso were the triumphs of the aristocracy over the popular party, which tho recent Convention many thanks to ihetalcnts and perseverance of our own distinguished representation have propos ed to be modified and brought nearer the standard of tho cause I this day advocate; the sacred cause of popular rights, and tho happiness of the people. ' . After the Constitution weni into effect! the conflict between the Aristocracy and the though populav party was renewed on other grounds. Our laws andlaw proceedings., much ameliorated and improved, were still extremely burthcrnsomo and oppressive to the common people. For every disputed account over twenty dollars, a debtor might be forced into court of course at tho county town, and involved in costs and expenco ruinous to a poor man, who might as well submit to oppression and imposition at homo as to go' abroad and bo ruined in pursuit of justice, The arbitration princi ple was extremely limited. Nothing' could bo done .in entering up judgments in the public offices, or in the transaction of legal business of any sort however simple, with out a lawyer and a fee. . To. correct these, errors 0 amend these really opprcssivo laws and rules of proceeding, was the next great' object of the democracy of Pennsyl vania. They brought forward their plan they reasoned they wrote they spoke thoy debated tho matter at homo and in popular meetings. Tho Conservatives met them lauco to lance, and defended the wrong with all tho zeal of interest and all the elo quence of long practie'd and .talented advo cates. But tho cause of popular right gloj riously succeeded, and I hero before you all hazard tho, assertion that if a party were to replace theso things as they wero thirty years ago, so unendurably oppressive would the galling chains bo felt, that the great body of the people, lovers of peace as they are, would rise in their might and at one blow levol such party, and restora suits, arbitrations, and legal proceedings to their present just and salutary forms. With con fidence may the assertion be made, that by theso continued and persevering efforts of the Democracy resulting in success, the ex penses of tho administration of justice in Pennsylvania were reduced more than one half, and the system rendered in ovory res pect more fair and efficient in settling con troversies between individuals. Though the friends of'popular rights wero sometimes beat back, yet with a zeal that was irrepressible and fortitude that could never be subdued, they have rallied again and again to tho conflict. Thoy have done much. They have accomplished great good, and have every incitement that can operate on virtuous minds still strenously to persfHfnv Our motto ihould bo. WJare'f 1 f e amil, thf f mil wc ni't him,v stage of active life they lall the ar- dor of youth, adPpc their fatb- crs, imbibing the fetl ""opinions 01 those nearest tirouii! Kellccling minds, as thoy advanco and improve by ex perienco, take a broader ken, cxaminaqucs-1 tions of policy and scr,utinizo principles for themselves; and with conscientious sinceri ty adopt tho course of policy their hearts and judgments approve. Such was ics course of Madison, who, when first in pub lic life, co-incided with tho Conservatives; but his pure heart and deep reflection soon led him to unite v;fth tho Republican party as the supporter of popular rights, of which he was so long the 'safe guard and distin guished, ornarncnt. Such, too, was the course of the eminent statcsrrian, the honor and pridnof Peiuisidiania, James Buchanan, who is destined wo hope to promotion com mensurate with his mind and ability. His wisdom is looked.fcci as among tho safest guides of our augus'ilSenate, where his elo quence commandsAJklause and his courte sy and virtues insrB" confidence and es teem. Popular rfcrhts find in him One of their most warm and able supporters. All improvement implife change;,, and I would earnestly invito all our young inen especial ly, whatevqr may have been their way of ininKiug iteieioioro, 10 join we pupuiur par ty, combine with the sons of freedom, and contend with us for the great and whole somo principles of Democratic liberty. A mong the qarliest battles in which Madison took the Jead in behalf of popular rights, was in 1791 and 2, when Hamilton intro duced the fundingsystem. It will-bo wholo some for our young men to understand this matter, and I will briefly stato it. The federal party proposed that, all debts duo from the public growing out of the Revolu tion, amounting to one hundred million of dollars, should be funded at par, and for which stock should be issued by tho gov ernment chiefly bearing interest. Now it so happened thaffr'orn the close of the .war in 1783 to 1791, the government was total ly destitute of money, and tho soldiers holding certificates, of debt, the . price of their services of their blood and their 3ulierings in the-army, were without bread and in want of all the necessaries of life, literally starving, andthcy were cpitipellcd by dire necessity to sell their certificatesof debt to speculatdrs at two and six pence on the pound one-eighth of their value; thus getting but .one year's pay for eight year's service. Many millions had thus been bought up by speculators, sharpers who lived then as they livp now upon the mise ries of the poor. Hamilton proposed to pay the whole amount of these certificates, jn whose hands soever they might be, at their face., at,jj. jft full. ;"Np," said Mr. .Madison, "thaK would neither bo just to tho public, to the speculator who has given only 12 cents for a dollar, nor to the poor soldier who is entitled to his pay at your hand. Let us divide this thing pay tho speculator ono half; he will then get two or three hundred per cent for his money, and we will allot the oilier half to tho poor and meritorious soldier who so hardly earn ed n." I3 it not obvious that this would have been just? .Was not this a noble ef fort in behalf of popular rights? .Though it failed, yet the effort rendered the name of Madison dear to ever true lover of justico and freedom, and was one of the corner stones of that beautiful edifice of character and patriotism that raised him to the station of President of this Republic. The contest of the aristocracy, the spec ulator, the money changers on one side, and the advocates of popular rights is still and ever going on, though Upon .new ground and this hour demands all your zeal and all your vigilance. , The encroachments of avarice, ambition, and power, like time never cease their on ward course; and are often tho most dan gerous whep noisless. Their commence ment is often minute as tho filament of tho silk worm grows to a thread increasing from twine cord, until at length the commu nity of themselves bound like the strong mans bands that resist their power to sever. Thus it has been wilhCorporations. In the early part of tho Republic, askpd for evi dently beneficial purposes for turnpike roads, or tho carrying on some manifestly useful work. Soon privato interest, and grasping avarice, see tho advantage that may be mado to result; and privato oharters are solicited charters or Coal Com panies chartersj for manufacturing charters especialy for banking great monied corporations; corporations that do in effect coin money, build marble palaces,, hold th.o destinies of half the business pop ulatipn in their hands,, and therefore by the unerring laws of nature holding in a meas ure the contrpl over their independencp. Hence around thesp monstrous monied cor porations grows up an aristocracy of pride and wealth; wealth obtained by speculation not by labour. Distinctions grow ,up in society. Tho ..mechanic's,' tho farmer's, tho laborer's softs and daughters find no ac cess to-the splendid sources of theso Bank nolo nabobs. Theu you shall hear, whis pers first, and then more audibly, this Ian gunge in relation to tho common people; "Theso fellows ! why that mechanic's vote counts as much as mine. Thero is no security where the rabble have equal rights of suffrage with men of property." And thus camo doubts, ominously hinted of the utility, at least tho stability, of Republican institutions. This is no fancy sketch. At tho present session of Congress, a patriotic and eloquent member from Massachusetts. who kne w the evil, itr g a end dangers When wen firsvl extent,, its inrcasingj' ftfjidoncy ami 'how widely this Anti-Republican spirit waa pib vailing,. took upon himself, on. tho floor of the House of. Reprcsoniatives, openly to stale its alarming existence, mid eiTiphati caly to rebufto it. Let 1110 tell you, Fellow' Citizens, this would not have been done unless these aristocratic cioaking against' our Republican institutions had arrived at a startling pitch, and needed bold and public denunciation I speak facts, I appeaMo your reason. 1 would arouse the democracy of the Stale to take a broad view of the subject to re member that every effort for popular rights, and every meeting obtained in their favor, lias been led on by tho democracy, and can only be sustained by tho union, harmony and encrgotio action of the party. But I have not yet done with these corporations, tho cryiing evil of tho time's. In thoir very nature and constitution wholly antagonistic to. Republican principles and .Democratic institutions. 1 say with emphasis that they .arcAlangcrously numerous, they are alarm- intfly increasing, and;oqgh't with firiM&cls to'be restrained and diminished. Tlicy are vast machines, of immense power, with all the most dangerous of passions, but without principle to restraint or guide fpr they have no souls, and the legal assovcration of my lord Coko is justified by their conduct. .Self interest is their moving. principle, and thoy roll on like the car of Juggernaut, their destined round, careless aliko of who rides or who is crushed, so they fulfil their des tiny. . Have wp not lately seen ono of these corporations in its. high blown pride, with daring insolence, Set the whole constituted authority of this nation at defiance? Have wo not witnessed the degrading, the humil iating spectacle, of one of these Behemoth corporations purchasing a charter, of enor mous amount from this Commonwealth, in defianco of tho known and manifest will of the people? Have we not jiecn the Presi dent of that Institution subsidizing if not corrupting the Press. You all leincmber the case of Webb, at tho head of a leading daily print in New York of extensive cir culation and influence opposed to .tho bank, but needy and unprincipled, ho approaches the President of the Bank. The powerful emotion of kindred symphathy drew them to each others embrace. Webb wants the trifling sum of 25,000 dollars, but with the express reservation of his virtuous princi ples. He is opposed to the Bank that must be understood. President Biddle, with tho most amiable respect for his inde pendence asks no pledge, expects no favor; but without consulting a single Director just happening to have 25,000 dollars in his breeches pocket, hands it over to tho true and unsuspected and unsuspecting editor; and then forgets, it was such a trifle, for some weeks to .mention, the fact or put it in tho loan books of the insQ Jtiou. Shanicful prostitutions! Was there ever a sale in the shambles or in market mbro open? And Webb forthwith, as in duty bound, came forth the advocate of the Bank. And for allud;;ig to this poor Cillcy lies low in his murdered grave, and any citizen who dare re-expose it to public reprobation, does it at the risque of assassination. Follow this corporation on. Behold its power. The Bank of England has not been sufficiently accommodating to Mr. Jaudon, agent of our Pennsylvania Mammoth in London, and Mr. Jaudon in his quiet way is able to make the Bank of England trem ble and come humbly to his terms. The whole Cotton crop of the South is bought up with Res'Surreclion notes, tho defunct and ought to bo cancelled bills of the old bank of the United States, most improperly pui in circulation. 1 hucydides loug ago remarked that the plague chased all otherdiseases from Athens or obliged them to assumosome of its symp toms, do too, tins over-ruling and con trolling corporation has furnished a livery iur uu icsser iiisiiuiuons or me same typo and character.and forced it upon them Operating then in a.11 the South, in Penn sylvania, and m Europe, with such im mpnso resources, can a rcasonble man doubt bitt that the derangement in tho exchanges is entirely the work of this corporation? Thus are the people oppressed. Thus is the general government of our country bear- ueu ami set at ueuance. hci 1110 say to you m soberness, that such a cornoratinn acting beyond all effective control on your part, thus irresponsible and of such extensive power, is a tremendous engine of aristocra cy, and in tho hands of men, wcro thoy puro as angels, dangerous to popular rights and tho best interests of tho people. As wealth and luxury thus acquired prevail, all history and all experience show ilmt iL moral sense of a community abates somc- uiing 01 us tone anti the pure spirit of hide penuence, partaking ol tho general lassti tudc, loses its vigor and droops before this ciiuivuung inuucnce. Behold again tho president of this nistitu Hon nominally subject to annual elcction.bu 111 iruin more permanently seated on his golden throno than the Autocrat of Russia wiui 1110 lormy ambition pi Woolsoy and the fanatic inflexibility ofBeckett, he coun teracts the government. While tho Pres ident addresses the nation through Con- gicss or uy proclamation, President Biddle sends forth his messages to tho world in letters to an Ex-President. Ho speaks not "1U 01 mo associated oanKs of Phil adelphia, not in the namo of the Directors of his own Bank but in the imperial style "It is I." I will rt -rulatfl il.n n . (r , - CJ ...w v.mi. - . py 1 "'Id resume eOOr.M n.nvmnnl fc, 4Volo ir j ,Uo," Thin tht do we heir' Scaled like n Dchiigog on his eminence, sycophants, flatcrers, and toad-caters sur round his throne; and the universal cry i3 'Great is Diana of tho Ephosians." Wo hoar of tho Biddle subscription, tho Diddlo donation, the Biddlo ball, until oven tho humble subserviency of Whig pride revolts and speaks oponly as it daro, "too much of a good thing, by Jupiter a little civet good apothecary ' : I disavow all' personal enmity to IIr, Biddle; tho privato virtues wo are told find no where more respect; but as tho head of thai mammoth State institution, he haS sown a power and a will dangerous in ray opinion to the liberty of my country, anil hostile to popular right3 ami thereforo do I warn yon of tho danger. And hero let me again advert to the measures of the lato Convention, to amend, tho Constitution. We are greatly indebted to tho Republican party, and especially to our delegation, for their efforts to infuse new and wholesome popular principles into that instrument; and if it were only for that provision which goes to curtail the dangerous and growing influ ence ofyhese institutions, the amendments ought to be adopted. This fjt tho present seems our chiefest hope; for tho rest wo must look to the intelligence & spirit of tho people. Fellow Citizens I have endeavored to show you that popular rights, the natural prey of aristocracy, have ever walked their wayv in danger and owe their healthful exis tence and vigorous growth lo the steady and well directed efforts of tho Democratic patty. Men may err men do err men will err. Principles arc eternal. Popular rights, if they still flourish, must forever be indebted to the vigilance, union and spirit of democracy,, Let mo then adjure you, by your love of liberty and your country, never to bo weary in well doing. Let no jealousies distract, let no sinister influences divide you but be true to yourselves, your cause, and your country. I wish I could make my voice heard through every valley, to cvety mountain lop; in Pennsylvania. I would say Awake! Arise! Tho Phil istines, Sampson, 'are upon you! Gird on your armor to go forth to this new contest. Our motto, from Lake Erio to the Dela ware, . streaming forth like a meteor on tho troubled winds, rousing to action let it be union and harmony in the Dcmncralio par ty tho strenuous defence of Mr. Van Du re n and .his administration in their jtut measures to throw off the chains of depend ence which tho banks havobeon too success fully weaving around ub. At homo the cheerful and vigorous support of the Demo cratic candidate for Govornor, David R. Porter the republican amendments to the Constitution, abolishing lifo tenures and restricting corporations lhc3oare tho grand objects of tie campaign, worthy the united efforts of the friends of freedom and pop ular rights throughout Pennsylvania. Irish Lawyer. Although full and satis factory evidence has been published that Gen. David R. Porter, the Democratic can didate, is the con of a Revolutionary sol dier, a native of Montgomery county (Penn sylvania, horn and raised on a farm, which he assisted his father to cultivate until some what advanced in life, and a lawyer by pro fession, yet the Ritner office holdora sneer ingly call him an "Irish Lawyer." This ridicule of the Irish will bo treated by the Geripan citizens, with the contempt such baseness deserves, while it will induce the Irish voters to dclare through the ballot box es, that a set of desperate 'office holders shall not abuse them with impunity. llepublhun Compiler. Wo have never witnessed, on any occa sion, such a universal concentration of pub lic opinion in favor of any candidate for of fice, as that which has settled down on Da vid R. Porter. The support which ho re ceives in the ranks of democracy, borders on enthusiasm. Tho abuse lavished upon him by a few personal enemies and politi cal opponents only elevates him higher in tho estimation of his friends, and draw3 those ties which have long endeared him to his numerous personal acquaintances, every where throughout Pennsylvania, still closer, around him; is there a man among us who would not feel proud to sec this common wealth honored by an executive possessing preeminent abilities, combined'with unassu-. ming manners correct mora! principles . gentlemanly doportment, and unimpeacha ble character? If there is let him oppose David R. Porter, the candidate of the dem ocratic parly. If on tho other hand, our. farmers, mechanics, and labouring men, de- siro to see the executive chair of. Pennsyl--vania, filled by a chief magistrate, posses-i sing the qualities just mentioned; let them, support David R. Porter, the long tried,-, faithful public officer, and tho poor man's! friend. Go into Huntingdon comity, and inquire of her industrious, honest labour ing citizens, who. has been thoir most useful. &entcrprising.citizen. Ask them to point out their greatest benefactor the man among all, parlies and (cjioHmiafions.most esteemed, und a voiqo from every mountain glen from every hill and valley of that extensive -populous and intelligent county, would ceuo 1110 name ot David I may Huntingdon county mid proudly may she say Pennsylvania, wc Imow'h echo tho name of David R. Porter. Well call him her own; ' say to tho citizens ol iw him. and therefore u support him hero ho has lived in pros perity and adversity, and who that regards truth can say aught against him. Democracy and the people on tho ono ' i ..c.asru towary j:k1 tije banks on the other.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers