Carmel
Bailey
Ballard-Barrett
Barrett
Belden
Carver
Cole
Crane
Fowler
Gilead
Gregory
Hill
Hughson
Kelley
Mt. Carmel Baptist
Old Baptist
Old Methodist
Old Presbyterian
Raymond Hill
Union Valley
Baldwin-Crane-Fowler Cemetery
Carmel, NY
July 4th speech by Captain John Crane, c. 1822
Fellow Citizens:
What the occasion of this thronged assembly? Why the song of hilarity? Why are our ears assailed with martial music and the tremendous thunder of the cannon? Is all this hustle, this parade to do honor to some king? Have we met to celebrate the birthday of some tyrant or to commemorate some memorable day of bloodshed, the battle of Trafalgar or Austerlitz? No, fellow citizens, you have not assembled to rejoice as subjects, the one degrading to the dignified nature of man and the other the most melancholy that can present itself to a feeling heart. You have met on an occasion more honorable to rational man. To celebrate the Independence of your country, the emancipation of the millions of inhabitants from bondage. The establishment of a government protecting the rights of the subject from lawless power; to commemorate that day in which an infant nation rose to empire and reserved to compel the tyrants of England to acknowledge her independence. To hallow the tombs of your departed heroes and to drop a tear to the memories of those who nobly laid down their lives that you might be free.
A day the most important in the annals of mankind in which a people industrious and persevering laboring under all the melancholy evils which resort from tyranny and oppression declared themselves and their posterity forever free. America soon after it was discovered became the receptacle of emigrants from different nations. Her manners and customs differed in some measure from other nations: innocence and simplicity were distinguished traits on the character of its inhabitants, Agriculture their principal employment.
Ties which bound them to their sovereigns were at once dissolved. Petition after petition were sent to the English councils. Remonstrance after remonstrance but all to no effect, those detestable decrees were put in force at the bayonet point as if virtue and humanity had forsaken a nation then the pride and glory of Europe. Our fathers yielded til further submission would have been disgraceful. They were at length impelled to rise up against that sovereign and that country whose oppressive conduct had forfeited all claims to their allegiance and friendship and on the 4th July 1776 an oppressed and insulted, an injured people resolved that England should no longer tyrannize over them and according to the terms of that declaration just read to you, that the American Colonies were as of right, they ought to be free and independent states. For the support of that declaration they pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. This is the period from which we date our liberties and the first dawn of American glory. And whilst these remain, that ever memorable day wiIl be hailed by the loud hallelujahs of a grateful people. Is this occasion then not calculated to fill every bosom with gratitude to God for his peculiar interference in behalf of oppressed humanity and ought we not to pay a just tribute of respect to the memory of those heroes who had the courage and boldness to resist the encroachments of Regal tyranny. The war of the Revolution must yet be fresh in the memories of some of you. The history of that war familiar to you all, the pledge which our had thus generously offered for the preservation rights and the protection of their liberty sacred until their most sanguine expectations were realized. Without even the form of government, without army, without navy, without money they commenced this illustrious and most daring enterprise. With a disorganized band scarcely deserving the name of an army they fought and conquered British veterans who had been inured to toil and accustomed to success. And amidst the most trying difficulties conscious of the rectitude of their cause and the approbation of their God sustained the attack of their powerful enemy with a firmness that evinced the priority and integrity of their motives. They were led on by that consummate ski1l and prudence which characterized our Revolutionary
heroes. Washington the father, the saviour of his Country was their chief in counsel and their commander in the field. He led the Israel of America to the promised land of peace and triumphant glory, commissioned by heaven gathered courage from danger and hope from dependency. Can I pass over this part of my subject without paying the just tribute of respect to the memory of that great and good man and his companions in arms, i eut for them and \r'e had in aII probability been English colonies, subject to her impositions, to her tyrannies, to her oppression. But for them and we had yet been vassals! Been slaves. Many of them are asleep their ashes are moldering in the grave. They listen not to the meal of praise which their children are bestowing. They, for our welfare, sacrificed all the comforts and enjoyments of life, and many their lives have endured alI the hardships peculiar to the tented field. But for the welfare of their Country, for the freedom of their children they listened with pleasure to the trumpets clangor the cannons roar. Hal1ow their memories; they have strong claims on your gratitude. Cherish their glorious example and you will in some measure repay the defenders of your Country. After a struggle of near seven years our forefathers compelled England and all Europe to acknowledge the sovereignty and Independence of our Country. The war having terminated with success to the Course of Justice and of freedom, the surviving heroes in order to secure the privileges for which they had fought and the right they had won, formed the federal bonstitution which is now the basis of this vast and, I trust, lasting empire. This has thus far proved our bond of Union and is the pledge of our future greatness. Had it not been for this sublime instrument, the fabric of our liberties would already have begun to crumble and we should shortly have returned to a state of vassalage or of barbarism.. But it has stood the test of national prosperity and of national calamity.
All artificial distinctions in society were abolished. The proud lord and the humble vassal were reduced to the same level. The temple of fame was alike in their reach. Equal laws were enacted. The rights of all egually protected.
The due administration of public justice held sacred. All that man could desire was here: wealth, honor, power. all were proffered as a reward to enterprise. An extensive territory, a rich soiI, a salubrious climate and more than all, the full enjoyment of civil liberty made this the asylum for the oppressed and persecuted beyond the Atlantic.
All flocked to this land of delight so that the same territory which was occupied by only three millions of inhabitants in I776 now affords the necessaries of life to millions of people. In agriculture, in the arts, in scienee rapid advances were made. Where but yesterday the Indian war whoop was heard today the ear is greeted by the plowman's song and the sheppard's whistle. Where yesterday a wilderness, today a cultivated field or a flourishing village. In arts few are our superiors, on the waters of the Hudson are now floating the proud monuments of American Ingenuity.
The genius of FuIton and the enterprise of your friend and neighbor, the late Chancellor Livingston, conspired to produce effects which while they astonish an admiring world will- be of lasting benef it to mankind. Their names will be remembered with pleasure by their countrymen, Europe and posterity. Manufacturers of every description are established throughout our Country.
We cannot expect That perfection which time and experience alone produce. They want governmental patronage and individual support. They wilt soon rival European establishments of the same kind. We ought to extend to thern every nourishment. They are one of the pillars of our independenee. Without them this Country in case of disaster will be forever embarrassed. Extend to them every encouragement, suffer a little inconvenience for this inportant advantage to your Country. Your own State had commenced a $tggk which will but be a lasting monument of her munificence and enterprise.
To connect the great Western waters with the Atlantic Ocean is certainly an object as grand and extensive its importance and its advantages as it is bold, apparently extravagant in design. This great and splendid undertaking is Ea.rry complete. The rapidity with which this work has thus far been carried out, the beneficiary results already flowing from it have astonished even Europe. A country so distinguished for its monuments of art, I feel myself inadequate to describe to you the importance and advantage of this gt":9- gana_I, most of the produce which is now exposed to the impediments and dangers of our western waters will be transported with safety through this extensive channel. The proud Hudson already swells under the flood of wealth rolling from the western world. Will it not by rendering easy communications between distant sections of our vast and extensive country cement and render impregnable our bond of union? Will it not give us an imporanlce abroad? Will not the proud tyrants of Europe tremble at the rising prosperity of this country?
Your_own great city will be the depot of this extensive inland trade. It will soon be the emporium of the United States, and rival in mercantile prosperity any of the European towns. The great and powerful state of New York has thus erected a monument to her own glory and independence as imperishable as brass. What the progress that we have made in the art of war. The thuners from Erie to the Mediterranean, the distant roar of which is yet sounding in your ears tells England and haughty Aeulnes-that the rights guaranteed to us by the laws of -nations sharl never be infringed with impunity and is convincing proof that in this terribte calamity, this scene of bl00dshed, h'e are great and invincible. The American soldier strikes for the honor of his Country, and for the protection of his wife and family, he strikes home. It is not the stroke that comes from the careless mercenary or the trembling I slave. The late war had furnished examples of bravery ; and devotedness unparalleled in the annals of modern warfare. The death of General pjl" and of the ever to be lamented Captain L.r_-!e_nce while it fills the soul with melancholy it exaltingly exclaimsfthey were Americans. They fell a sacrifice for honor and welfare of their Country. Their meritorious and distinguished services must never be forgott'en. Our infant navy has lrt acquired a glory that will I trust ever remain untarnished. The laurels that deck the brows of our naval commanders will be ever blooming. Although the English navy but a few years since rode triumphant on the wave and hacl almost by the common consent of our mankind acquired the sole and exclusive right over t[e watery elements, the infant navy of our almost infant Republic babtered down the wooden walls of England and checked the pride and insolence their superiority had inspired. our flag vrhenever it is wafted is respected and our commerce uninterrupted proceeds to its destined port. Since the peace with England little of moment transpired. The day "t Algiers no sooner insulted our rights than Decatur and Bainbridge thundered in his ears the Ianguage of free man: respect our rights or be destroyed. This war too has terminated to the honor of our Country. It is a matter of congratulation too that the genius of liberty has dawned with magnificent splendor in South America . The inhabitants of Mexico, North America. Peru, Chile, Columbia and many other countries in America for ages have been slaves in more than Egyptian bondage, Iooking however at the Star Spangled Banner as a guide for their conduct they have thrown off the yoke of despotic power and declared and fought themselves free. May God in his infinite mercy protect and support them in their struggle for national liberty.
And fellow citizens, whilst we rejoice in the progress of freedom in this hemisphere let us not forget unfortunate unhappy Greece. That desolate Country, once the pride and glory of the ancient world, but for years past under the power and dominion of the Infidel Turk. Greece too is struggling for her freedom, her victorious go conquering over the Mores and the islands of the Mediterranean. What shall we say or do to aide them in this daring enterprise?. It is the land of our fathers. It is the land dear to the scholars and the philanthropist. 'Let her sons enjoy freedom' I know is the prayer of every true American Cit.izen. The conquering hero who so long led the victorious legions of France against combined Europe has alrso paid the last debt to nature, and furnishes an awful example of the instability of human power and human greatness. Whether his downfall and death are beneficial or not to the world I leave to each individual his own opinion.
WhiIst we have so many subjects for rejoicing would it not be well to remember that we are but a Republic, that perhaps we are liable to the same melancholy fate of the ancient and European Republics. Many have risen, many have fallen. Rome the once proud mistress of the world where is she now, where is her splendor, her greatness, her wealth: humbled to the dust. Where are her philosophers, her statesman, her heroes, her sages? Go to their solitary tombs and inquire. But Rome lost her national character and her destruction followed. Is the grandeur and stability of our Republic founded on the same basis with that of Rome? No. Plunder and rapine made her sick, the destruction of millions made her great, the forms of law were kept up merely to cover the licentiousness of her courts. Rome ceased to be formidable because she ceased to be just.
Holland too once the mistress of the ocean met the same melancholy fate, her numerous fleet whitened every ice, her commerce was extended to every part, her subjects wallowing in luxury forgetful of the past and deriving but little instruction from the anticipation of the future became feeble and enervated. The genius of Iiberty fled to a region more comfortable with her nature, Switzerlanrl, a Country which had been peculiarly favored by Divine Providence and which had for ages been proverbial...."