Celebration at Shepherdstown

Fourth of July.
CELEBRATION AT SHEPHERDS-TOWN.

The 57th Anniversary of our National Independence was celebrated by the citizens of Shepherdstown and neighborhood, according to the arrangements previously adopted and published. At 10 o’clock the procession was fromed in front of Mr. Jacob Sheetz’s tavern, by the Chief Marshal of the day, in the following order:– The sruviving soldiers of the Revolution, in a coach drawn by four grey horses; the Staff; the Orator of the day, on the right of the Staff; the Reader of the Declaration of Independence, and the gentleman selected to read the toasts, on the left; the Rev. Clergy; the Committee of rangements; the Mayor, Recorder, and Common Council; the Band; Invited Guests; Citizens:– and from thence marched to the Lutheran church, where an eloquent and appropriate oration was pronounced by Thomas Van Swearingen, Esq., in presence of the Committee of Arrangements and a large Assembly of ladies and gentlemen, the oration being preceded by the reading of the Declaration of Independence by Henry Berry, Esq., and both being preceeded by an appropriate prayer by the Rev. Mr. Monroe of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

After the conclusion of the ceremonies, the procession assumed its original order, and marched to a beautiful spring on the Potomac, a spot consecrated to the purpose, and dedicated by the late Colonel Joseph Van Swearingen to the use of the citizens in celebrating their annual festivities. At about 2 o’clock, P. M. upwards of one hundred citizens sat down to an abundant and excellent dinner, provided by Isaac N. Carter, Esq., at which Daniel Morgan, Esq. presided, assisted by Dr. Henry Boteler as Vice President. After the cloth was removed, the following toasts were given, accompanied by appropriate airs from the Band:

1. The Day we celebrate — A glorious epoch in the annals of human liberty.
2. The Declaration of Independence — A beacon on the mountain’s top, that will direct all future generations to the goal of liberty and independence.
3. The Constitution of the United States — May it be in successful operation when intrigue shall be trampled under foot, and unprincipled ambition ashamed to manifest in its doctrines.
4. George Washington — The Soldier and the Christian — He has given lessons to the world, and examples worthy the imitation of all succeeding Presidents.
5. The Heroes of the Revolution — Defending free and liberal principles, they hazarded their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honours.
6. The President of the United States — May he never forget that he is the head of the nation, not of a party.
7. The Heads of Departments — They have shown themselves safe pilots in the late storm.
8. The Congress of the United States — The collected wisdom of the nation, a representation of a free and enlightened people.
9. The Army of the United States.
10. The Navy of the United States — Well grown– England will long recollect its infancy.
11. The United States — May they be found connected together in the original bands of their union, increasing in political glory, national strength, honor and prosperity, when the doctrines of secession and nullification have been consigned to the tomb of oblivion.
12. Domestic Manufacturers and Internal Improvement — Cherished by our systems of policy, they are powerful means of strengthening the freedom and independence of our country.
13. The Fair Sex — Flowers flourish best in a free soil.

VOLUNTEER TOASTS

By A. Humerickhouse, Esq., Thomas Van Swearingen, Esq., the Orator of the day.
By Fonrose Morgan. The Reader of the Declaration of Independence; Health, happiness and prosperity attend him.
By John Wysong, Esq. The Rev. William Monroe; May his prayer on this day’s occasion be heard.
By Jacob Coontz. The people, the only legitimate sovereigns.
By M. A. Root. The Fine Arts; May their inestimable worth be duly appreciated, and their improvement ever continue to be cherished in the lap of this enlightened Republic.
By J. Duniven. D. O’Connell; Ireland’s true and best friend.
By Giles C. Gibbons. Benjamin Franklin, whose origin was as obscure as that of a spark, which, by the coalition of steel and adamant, was struck out of darkness.
By Wm. M. Sheetz. Plenty of rope and a good full swing to the enemy of his country.
By John Miller, jun. Our country; Free, sovereign and independent, as declared in 1776 by America, and acknowledged by Britain in 1783; may she become a wilderness rather than submit to any nation on eart.
By Gerard B. Wager, Esq. The next Presidency; “Quem vocet divum populus ruentis imperi rebus.”
By Phineas Massey. Col. Edward Lucas, jun.; Wise in council, mild in power, distinguished in arms; his public services have endeared him to the citizens of Jefferson county.
By M. M. Towner. May the tree of freedom flourish round the globe, and every honest heart partake of its fruit.
By Jacob Sheetz. A merry girl, a good fiddle, and a gallon of grog to every true American.
By Eli Conley. Here is to the managers of short guns, may their length be increased if necessary.
By John Hoffman, jun. Liberty and Union; May the resplendent star of Liberty continue to shine in the Union of American People, until the wheels of action shall cease to resolve and time shall be no more.
By W. J. B. Andrews. Virginia: The strongest arch in the American Union; her key-stone cemented with virtue, liberty and independence, she never will secede from any thing but what is anti-republican.
By S. Humerickhouse. The memory of Sergeants McDonald, Jasper and Newton.
By Michael Entler. Andrew Jackson, the hero of Orleans; there he wrenched the banner from a successful foe, and repeated to the bravest host of England the lessons of ’76.
By George W. Irwin. Columbus and Washington– The discoverer and saviour of America; may their names never be forgotten.
By Samuel Garrey. Washington, the great and the good, the man whom we adore, his beloved name will be remembered forever.
By David Conner. Long and happy life to the officers and soldiers of the Revolution; the hand which they saved wish the sword, their children now turn with the [?]. God save the Commonwealth.
By Griffon T. Powell. The memory of Washington; His spirit approres us from the skies; we will never forget that his valor and his wisdom have prepared our triumphs.
By M. B Brown. The National Government, a beautiful machine, made by master-workmen– it runs well, let no nullifying botch presume to mend it.
By Walter B. Selby, jun. Nullification, the unembotantial phantom of delusive sublety, propogated by Calhoun and his parasites, like the Eleusinian rites, or the oracle at Dorlona, its emoluments and its existence have depended upon successful imposture and delusion. “Cease viper, you bite a file.”
By Smith Hunsicker. Virginia, the key-stone of the arch of our confederation; when it gives way, the great and beautiful structure of our Republic must fall.
By Thomas Shepherd. The day we commemorate– Let Rome boast of her Scipio and her C[?], let England boast of her Rodney and Nelson, but America of her Washington and Jefferson.
By Edmund I. Lee, jun. Esq. John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States–Honor to whom honor is due.
By Dr. Sheetz. In memory of Col. Joseph Swearingen, our tears flowed from our hearts.
By Henry Berry, Esq. Our Federal Union– On the day of its dissolution, we may bid a long farewell to national glory, to peace, to liberty.
By Thomas Van Swearingen. The surviving Soldiers of the Revolution who have this day honored us with their presence– Their deeds immortal borne on the wings of time, Forever live–forever claim the tribute of applause; Eternal honors wait their mered shades, And from their ashes fresh heroes spring.
By Alfred A. Speake. Love of country– the heart that is cold to its native land, will never be warm to that of its adoption.
By James W. Harris. “The late Hon. John Randolph of Roanoke, justly celebrated as a statesman, and for his patriotism, wit, sarcasm, pointed remarks, and untiring opposition, as well as for his eccentricities.” May he be born again.
By Henry T. Briscoe. George Washington– America’s boast, his name will never die in the hearts of his countrymen.
By Maj. J. F. Hamtramck. The primitive simplicity of our republic; a frequent recurrence to first principles, the surest guarantee of its perpetuity.
By Daniel Markell, Esq. Andrew Jackson in his late Proclamation, “confusion heard his voice, and wild uproar stood ruled.”
By Dr. Warner Briscoe. Charles Fenton Mercer– discarded from office, but not from the hearts of his fellow-citizens.
By William M. Selby. The Virginia Fair– their charms enchant– “Ubi mel, ibi apes.”
By a Miller. The States of this Union– Like the blocks of the burr mill-stone– as a whole, useful and beautiful– utterly worthless, disunited.
By Samuel Humerickhouse. The American Flag– protected by American blood, it will protect all who sail under it.
By C. F. Hyniman. Virginia– may the sister States adopt her example, and stoop to none except those that are more worthy– and they are scarce.
By Henry Wisenall. Washington– the defender of his country, the founder of liberty, the friend of man.
By Alexander Burns. “While Europe’s eyes are fixed on mighty things, The fate of empires and the fall of kings, While quacks of state must each produce his plan, And even children lisp the rights of man.”
By G. H. Irwin, Esq. Gen. Andrew Jackson; he soars aloft on the wings of fame, pursuing his constitutional duties, regardless of the buzzings of foul-tongued slanderers– Eagles don’t feed on flies.
By Lewis Wisenall. The gentleman who prepared the banquet on this occasion– he deserves our sincere and hearty thanks.
By A. Humerickhouse, Esq. The ladies of Shepherdstown– Their virtue, beauty and patriotism, will always command the respect and protection of the brave.

The committee appointed to invite the surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution, addressed a letter of invitation to Maj. Henry Bedinger of Berkeley county, and the following interesting letter is his reply.

PROTUMNA, JULY 3, 1833.
To the Committee.
GENTLEMEN:– I regret exceedingly that I cannot attend at Shepherdstown, at the celebration of the 4th of July, as it is probable I shall not survive to see but few, if any more of those joyful anniversaries. Be pleased to present to the gentlemen who compose that committee, (of which you are in this case the acting member,) my best thanks for their kind and polite invitation to the only Revolutionary officer, out of more than 100 now existing in this valley, from the Potomac to North Carolina, (Gen. Robert Porterfield and Maj. Issac Hite, only excepted.) You honored us on the 10th of June, 1825, with a military salute, when two survivors out of one hundred, were met to redeem a solemn pledge, made fifty years before. There were then yet five out of the hundred living; only two attended, the other three have since departed; only those two remain, that is, my brother George M. Bedinger and myself. A very few days may sweep this remnant also from the face of the country, which we contributed to place in its enviable and flourishing condition, of which I hope posterity will enjoy the fruition.

Yours with high respect,
H. BEDINGER.

To which reply Col. Charles Harper offered the following toast:
Gen. Robert Porterfield, Maj. Henry Bedinger, and Maj. Isaac Hite, the only surviving Revolutionary Officers now existing in this valley, from the Potomac to North Carolina– may they be spared to witness more of these joyful anniversaries.