They, however, gradually flow back to the same old channel, and flow on as serenely as ever. They may also rise in wrath and fury, and bear away, on their angry waves, the accumulated wealth of years of toil and hardship. They may sometimes rise in quiet and stately majesty, and inundate the land, refreshing and fertilizing the earth with their mysterious properties. Great streams are not easily turned from channels, worn deep in the course of ages. There is consolation in the thought that America is young. Its future might be shrouded in gloom, and the hope of its prophets go out in sorrow. May he not hope that high lessons of wisdom, of justice and of truth, will yet give direction to her destiny? Were the nation older, the patriot’s heart might be sadder, and the reformer’s brow heavier. The eye of the reformer is met with angry flashes, portending disastrous times but his heart may well beat lighter at the thought that America is young, and that she is still in the impressible stage of her existence. There is hope in the thought, and hope is much needed, under the dark clouds which lower above the horizon.
According to this fact, you are, even now, only in the beginning of your national career, still lingering in the period of childhood. Three score years and ten is the allotted time for individual men but nations number their years by thousands. Seventy-six years, though a good old age for a man, is but a mere speck in the life of a nation. I am glad, fellow-citizens, that your nation is so young. This celebration also marks the beginning of another year of your national life and reminds you that the Republic of America is now 76 years old. It carries your minds back to the day, and to the act of your great deliverance and to the signs, and to the wonders, associated with that act, and that day. This, to you, is what the Passover was to the emancipated people of God. It is the birthday of your National Independence, and of your political freedom. This, for the purpose of this celebration, is the 4th of July. With little experience and with less learning, I have been able to throw my thoughts hastily and imperfectly together and trusting to your patient and generous indulgence, I will proceed to lay them before you. You will not, therefore, be surprised, if in what I have to say I evince no elaborate preparation, nor grace my speech with any high sounding exordium. That I am here to-day is, to me, a matter of astonishment as well as of gratitude. The fact is, ladies and gentlemen, the distance between this platform and the slave plantation, from which I escaped, is considerable - and the difficulties to be overcome in getting from the latter to the former, are by no means slight.
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But neither their familiar faces, nor the perfect gage I think I have of Corinthian Hall, seems to free me from embarrassment. This certainly sounds large, and out of the common way, for it is true that I have often had the privilege to speak in this beautiful Hall, and to address many who now honor me with their presence.
The papers and placards say, that I am to deliver a 4th July oration. The little experience I have had in addressing public meetings, in country schoolhouses, avails me nothing on the present occasion. Should I seem at ease, my appearance would much misrepresent me. I trust, however, that mine will not be so considered. I know that apologies of this sort are generally considered flat and unmeaning. The task before me is one which requires much previous thought and study for its proper performance. A feeling has crept over me, quite unfavorable to the exercise of my limited powers of speech. I do not remember ever to have appeared as a speaker before any assembly more shrinkingly, nor with greater distrust of my ability, than I do this day. He who could address this audience without a quailing sensation, has stronger nerves than I have.
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