| Extract from the original diary of Archelaus M. Hughes at the 4th of July Barbecue at Dresden, TN 1825. Transcribed by David H Ward in May of 2001.
Archelaus M. Hughes was an attorney, new to Weakley Co having just moved there from Franklin, TN. He stayed in Weakley, practiced law, and ran for public office. He raised his family of six until his untimely early death on Sept 26, 1838 at the age of 38. I have not corrected the spelling or grammatical errors of the original.
.…..I was solicited by some of my friends to deliver an ovation on the fourth of July in Commemoration of our Independence. I did so on that day to a large company of gentlemen and ladies at a Barbeque at Esq. Johnson’s spring, near Dresden. It was the first effort of the kind I ever made. I only had two or three days to prepare and memorize it in. I delivered it pretty well, the audience were pleased at it. That speech gained me some reputation with the people as a speaker. I here insert it for the perusal of the reader so that he can read and judge for himself.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This day is rendered sacred to the friends of Liberty, as being the day forty-nine years ago, our fathers in general council resolved to be free. It has long been a maxim with the writers on the rights of man, that it was only necessary for a people to will to be free and they were so. We have seen the maxim verified in our own case and as it has also been verified and that recently, in the case of the South American Republics. We were at that time of which I am about to speak, a dependent set of colonies of Great Britain, one of the most powerful and war like nations on the earth. Her navy rode triumphant on every sea and her armies never marched but to victory. Notwithstanding the immense difference that was between us in point of physical force, we made an appeal to the God of Battles, relying on the Justice of our cause for its success. We were to fight for the most inestimable of all prizes, Liberty, Equality and all that was dear and sacred to man.
A grievous yoke was put upon our necks, a mighty burden was attempted to be put upon our shoulders, and the sacred rights of man was ridiculed and condemned. Taxes were imposed upon us without our consent. Our voice was not heard in their councils. Our petitions and remonstraces were disregarded and trodden under foot. In this dreadful dilemma there was but one of two alternatives left us. To be slaves or freemen. The choice was quickly made. The course to be taken was plain & obvious; Liberty or Death was the choice, the heroic choice of our fathers. They laid by the cases of domestic quiet and felicity for a season. They grasped the sword and the firelock and marched fearlessly forward to the field of blood, of carnage and of death, to meet the heretofore-victorious troops of Britain. They appeared as a forlorn hope making some daring and hazardous adventure. Me thinks I see in fancy’s eye, the solitary flag of liberty with thirteen stars representing the thirteen states, and the eagle, the bird of love, with liberty or death written on it as their motto, waving pendant in air, amidst this little band of patriots, who had thus daringly drawn their swords in defense of their violated rights with a determination never to return them to their scabbards until their wrongs were reversed and they were an Independent people.
Me thinks I see them now on the heights of Bunker Hill, with the gallant Putnam and the intrepid Warren at their head, waiting to receive the attack of the enemy. Me thinks I hear those daring patriots animating their little, but resolute band, reminding them of the value of the prize for which they were to contend. Me thinks I heard them exclaim with the illustrious Henry, give us liberty or give us death. It was there the British troops received the foretaste of the strengths that slumbered in the peasants anew, when fighting in the cause of oppressed humanity. It was there they learned to fear and respect the undisciplined rebels of America.
Need I recapitulate to you all that was done in that celebrated contest? In that contest where they were contending for their liberty, their lives, their children, their posterity, their fireside and homes? Suffice it to say that after many privations and difficulties, they finally triumphed over the arms of Britain and Britainís King on the ever memorial 19th of October 1781, on the plains of York Town, in the state of Virginia. There it was that the valor, wisdom and greatness of Washington & Lafayette showed conspicuously bright. There it was that all the latent energies of Washington was brought into action. Then it was by his superior skill and management, he completely foiled all the efforts of the British Ministry and the British Army to subjugate and enslave thirteen rebellious colonies.
The name of Washington is written in the hearts of his countrymen and nothing but death can erase it from their memories and their affections. As a soldier he has no superior. As a statesman he has been rarely equaled, but never surpassed. And as a man, he was superior to all competition. We may then with the poet say:
Take him all in all,
We never shall look upon his like again.
The name of Washington is venerated and revered wherever liberty has a friend and Justice an admirer. His name will be recorded by the faithful historians of every clime, and descend through every age down to the latest period of the world.
We are at this time, the most free and happy people on earth. Ours is a free and happy government. We are governed by men of our own choice, and not by the whim and caprices of an ambitious Prince, or the will of a cruel Tyrant; it is on the other side of the great waters they govern. It is in the fertile Countries of France, Italy and Spain. In the cold and icy regions of Russia. In the beautiful and fertilizing valley of the Nile. But, thanks be to the God of liberty, the scepter of tyrants have nearly lost their power and sway on the continent of America. The standard of liberty had been raised, and that successfully by our brothers of South America, as well as Mexico. The Tyranny the Spanish government can no longer find afield on this side of the Atlantic, on which to exercise itís hellish cruelty. The Inquisition is banished. I trust forever banished from the Continent of free and happy America. The tree of liberty has taken deep root in our land and all the inhabitants thereof may repose in safety, and security, under the shade of itís wide spreading branches.
Greece, ancient Greece, the cradle of Science, the land of Homer and Demosthenes, had been for hundreds of years under the tyranny and despotism of the Turks, but it has at length shaken off the Yoke of itís servitude, and the cry of liberty is again heard in the Senate house, and the country of Aristides and Leonidas is again free.
Fellow citizens, we as a nation are in a prosperous and happy situation. We are at peace with all the world. By the late war with Great Britain [The War of 1812] we were immensely benefited. We convinced England and the world that we were not to be insulted with impunity. The victories of Lake Erie and Champlain taught the British nation our power on the water. And the battles of the Thames, Chippewa, Bridgewater and New Orleans were sufficient evidences to the world that we had lost none of the fire, patriotism and valor of our athers. Since then our seamen are not impressed. Our flag is not insulted. Every nation and people respect us. We are at these times carrying on commerce with all the nations of Europe, and most of the civilized nations of Asia, Africa and the Indies.
We are in a state of great prosperity. The arts, the sciences, manufacturers and agriculture flourishes, and if we will but be true to ourselves, we will continue to flourish as a nation. For this purpose then, let us choose men of wisdom, talents and integrity, to rule and govern us, to stand upon the watchtower of the Nation, upon the ramparts of Liberty and give the alarm when encroachments are attempted to be made with from without or from within. To watch the motions of that unholy leagues of Despots that have combined together for the purpose of arresting the march which liberty has taken, and will take in the world. For woe be to these gouty-fooled tyrants, should this fatal cry of liberty once reach the ear of the multitude and this poisonous sprit of Justice be disseminated in their minds. Let no local and sectional feelings divide us. Let us but be united and we may defy the combined powers of Europe.
Our liberties are in no danger, but from ourselves, and I hope and believe there is too much good sense in the great mass of the American people for them to suffer their feeling and partiality for particular men, of particular measures, to cause them to endanger the liberties of the nation by attempting to invoke it in Civil War. Fellow citizens, accursed be that man or faction of men that would endeavor to subvert or endanger the harmony and good order of the Government for party feelings, or for party prosperity. Whoever they are, if any such they be, they are traitors at heart to their country, they are friends to bloodshed, anarchy and tyranny. They would, like Judas of old, betray you into the hands of your enemies with a Kiss, if they should ever have it in their power.
I will here fellow citizens depart form the usual courses taken in these kind of addresses for the purpose of taking particular notice of the only Individual amongst us that shared in the trials and dangers of the revolution, I mean James ANDERSON: behold him there, his head is white with the frost of many winters, and the scars on his brow and his body give honorable testimony of the part he acted in that eventful struggle for Independence.
Let us then repair with him to the festive board and there participate in all the enjoyments that can be derived from the celebrations of the birthday of American Liberty.
Archelaus M. Hughes
Dresden, Tennessee
July 4th, 1825
Submitted by David Ward
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