DELIVERED BEFORE THE ASSOCIATION OF THE OLDEST INHABITANTS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, JN WASHINGTON, ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1867, BY The Hon. Peter G. Washington, One of its Vice-Presidents. WASHINGTON: JOHN T. BURCH, STATIONER. DEAR SIR-In pursuance of the subjoined resolution, we respectfully request a copy of your Fourth of July Oration, which elicited the admiration of all who had the good fortune to hear it. Resolved, That the thanks of this Association are tendered to the Hon. PETER G. WASHINGTON for his able, eloquent, and instructive address just delivered before this Society, and that he be requested to furnish a copy for publication by the Committee of Arrangements. We have the honor to be, your obd't servants, JOHN B. BLAKE, A. McDONALD DAVIS, Hon. PETER G. WASHINGTON, Present. Committee. WASHINGTON, July 8, 1867. GENTLEMEN-Herewith I have the pleasure to place in your hands a copy of the address you have done me the favor to request. And may I ask the favor of you to communicate to the Association my best acknowledgments for the distinguished compliment they have paid me in their resolution, and to accept the same for yourselves for the very polite and flattering terms in which it and your request have been imparted. I am, gentlemen, with great consideration and regard, Messrs. JNo. B. BLAKE, A. MCDONALD DAVIS, JNO. CARROLL BRENT, P. G. WASHINGTON. Committee, &c. ADDRESS. LIBERTY, for nearly a century, has been our portion. It has shed its blessings on thirteen generations of men. Although its onward march has not been free from impediment and danger, these have not been greater, in number or degree, than were to be expected in the efforts required to achieve and defend it, to accommodate our institutions to its necessities and to extend its area. It has quickened our intellect, sharpened our sword, lent vigor to enterprise, and has increased our population tenfold, since the time when the soul of the nation "sealed it for her own.” It is ninety-one years since occurred that event, which has consecrated this day in the hearts of our people. Every succeeding anniversary of it, marking as it has done, an increase of our national prosperity, glory and power, has been celebrated by patriotic rejoicings. It is for us to manifest our felicitations that this has not proved an exception to the auspicious days that have preceded it, and reverently acknowledging in whose hands have been "our lines," to offer up a devout gratitude to Him "who has made, preserved, and blessed us as a nation." When on that occasion a declaration of our independence was made and published to the world, a war, in resistance of the assaults upon our inherent rights, had lasted fifteen months. It had not, so far, proved favorable, and the prospect for the future of it was far from being encouraging. By that solemn act the representatives of the colonies in congress committed themselves distinctly, in the event of failure, to the crime of treason. But public as well as private virtue A then abounded, and displayed itself, throughout the war, in the individual sacrifices it yielded to the common cause. The habits of the country were almost entirely rural. rich and virgin soil repaid the labors of agriculture. Men were content with the quiet enjoyments, and to perform the retired offices, of life-the education of their children, the practice of hospitality, and other neighborly duties and amenitieswithout an aspiration beyond. General WASHINGTON, in his retirement at Mount Vernon, after the close of the French war, who was by nature and sentiment an agriculturist, was a specimen of the country gentleman of his day. He relinquished the habits of life which were congenial to his tastes, and yielded himself, at the call of his country, to years of exile, toil, and risk, with no other motive than to serve and defend it. The Declaration of Independence, which has just been read so impressively by our friend Dr. Blake, is a summary of political wisdom, as it was an act of devoted patriotism. It enumerates, as you have seen, the wrongs which impelled the colonies to that measure, pronounces their connection with the crown of Great Britian "severed," and assumes that "as free and independent States they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and do all such other acts and things which independent States may of right do." If it shall be found upon examination that the American people, possessing as they do, a territory which is fraught with every sort of industrial capability, have wisely and beneficially exercised the enumerated powers thus assumed for the nascent State, and have, under the unenumerated, done all those things which were necessary for the general welfare, the progress of civilization, and the happiness and elevation of man; in other words, have fully acted out the correlative obligations of these assumptions, then there will appear proportional ground for the just pride we feel in our country, our race, and our institutions. Of this broad land, framed in the prodigality of nature, with the loftiest mountains, the largest rivers, the richest valleys, a climate so healthful, and a soil and sub-soil so |