AN ORATION DELIVERED BEFORE THE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES OF THE CITY OF BOSTON, JULY 4, 1849. "THE CHIEF AMONG THE NATIONS, SEEING THOU ART FREE."-Cowper. BY WILLIAM W. GREENOUGH. BOSTON: J. H. EASTBURN... CITY PRINTER. CITY OF BOSTON. In Common Council, July 5th, 1849. Resolved, That the thanks of the City Council be presented to Wm. W. Greenough, Esq., for the able, eloquent and appropriate Oration, delivered by him before the Municipal Authorities of the City, at the recent Anniversary of the Declaration of the Independence of the United States of America; and that he be requested to furnish a copy of the same for the press. Passed by unanimous vote. Sent up for concurrence. BENJAMIN SEAVER, President. In the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, July 6th, 1849. Read and concurred. A true Copy. Attest: JOHN P. BIGELOW, Mayor. S. F. MCCLEARY, City Clerk. ORATION. FELLOW CITIZENS: MORE than threescore years and ten have elapsed since this republic unfolded before the world the chart of her liberties. It seems as yesterday that she was young and weak, although her frame was that of a giant. To-day, she ranks among the oldest, most stable, and most powerful governments of the earth. She has passed safely through the dangerous paths of her earlier days, and arrived at the prime of her maturity. Years have not chilled the warm blood of her youth, nor diminished the energies of her age. Time has written no wrinkles on her brow. With a conscious and a just pride she finds that the foundations of her government have outlasted all the constitutions of civilized Europe, save that of Russia. In the life-time of these United States, the development of liberal principles has demanded and obtained concessions from the ruling powers of every country in Europe |