Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from A Speech Delivered at the Union and Harmony Celebration, by the Democratic Citizens of the City and County of Philadelphia, of the Twenty-First Anniversary of the Victory of New Orleans: January 8, 1836
The history of our race is unfortunately the history of ferocious wars. Trained bands of veteran soldiers have, century after cen tury, met to measure their strength, and to glory in the triumphs of military skills Towering cities and the peasant's cottage, the most secret haunt; of social life, the products of successful genius, the acquirements of laborious art - all that ennobles, blesses or adorns the industry of man, have been made to bow before the ruthless march of conquest, and have been swept away in the tempest of warlike ambition. _these are the armies and these the conquerors whose path is marked by desolation, and who leave nothing but wretchedness behind.
Not such have yet been the warriors or the battles of our coun try; not such is the triumph we are; assembled to celebrate. The gallant band of our brethren sought not to win the gorgeous tro phies of war; they met to'drive an invader from their shores. Were they a host of veterans, decked in the trappings of military pride? They were the sons of the forest and the plain, hastily summoned. From their daily and necessary toil. Did they seek for plunder or expect reward? They left their homes and their fami lies; they deserted the fields from which they gained their subsist ence; they submitted to hardship and a scanty fare; they sacrificed their comforts and risked their lives with no possible prospect of profit - with no reward but a consciousness of deserving the grati tude of their country.
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