Rhode Island Republican

Festive Commemoration.

WE announce with much pleasure the general solicitude manifested in this place, to dedicate the 14th instant as a tribute of approbation to the wisdom and fidelity of the national administration, in the peaceful and judicious acquirement of the LOUISIANA TERRITORY. This great, and glorious event, so auspicious in itself to the country; and at the same time so eminently illustrative of the worth, and ability of our beloved President, and those whom he selects to fulfil and execute the plans of his faithful policy, and the wishes of his heart, cannot be held in too much estimation, or emblazoned with too much festive praise, and political thanksgiving. Would the nations of antiquity assemble in festivity, and chaunt their appropriate stanzas to signalize a local victory which gave them the possession of a single fortress? Would they make the high arches of heaven ring with exultation at the demolition of a city or town, or the capture or slaughter of an individual of the enemy? Would the people of France or England, after wading for years in blood, and draining the resources of their nations respectively, for the paltry rock of Malta, commemorate its acquisition in sounding accents of tremendous praise? Would these old war-worn, war devoted and experienced nations, whose learning fills the earth, and whose fame extends to the confines of eternity; would they for such events warble forth companioned notes of heated enthusiasm, and convulse the air in rapturous emotions of veteran, and political delight! And shall not united and happy America, whose ensign is the olive, whose goddess is wisdom, whose handmaid is liberty, and whose future prospects are enlivened, and garnished by the brightest, and fairest scenes of prosperity : Shall she not lift her heart in lively joy, and reverential gratitude to glorify, and eulogize the most propitious, and brilliant event, which ever graced the annals of any country? Shall she not with one accord offer the spontaneous incense of meek-eyed patriotism to ascend on high, and fill with fragrance the concave of the skies : Shall she not, in a true sense of the word, CELEBRATE a measure which, when the hoarse clarion of hostility was sounded through our border, and the base, degenerate influence of political disappointment, and malevolence were ready to let loose the dogs of war; when cabal, intrigue, falsehood, eloquence, menace and every insidious device was in the full tide of (unsuccessful) experiment to perplex and disturb the councils & the administration of the country ; which amid all these afflicting embarraments, like the steady, prosperous and irresistible influence of the sun dispelled those clouds which gathered around, and seemed so highly charged with electric fluid, diffused a placid lustre through the political hemisphere- hushed in confident security the apprehensions of the anxious-induced an accretion of fruitful territory, abounding in treasure unparalleled in the history of the universe-Secured to our Western boundary a permanent guarantee against future encroachment, and to America a name far above other nations : And ought she not to lift up her heart in trains of lively joy, and pious exultation in the celebration of such a measure! Ought not her honest, and intrepid sons, on that day elected for the purpose by general consent, to lay aside all other avocations, and to devote themselves in heart, and mind to such a celebration! An event more worthy of it, saving that of the general triumph of Republicanism in the year 1801, could have occurred ? Let us then, on that day go forth, and innocently indulge the feast of reason, and the flow of soul. Let that day be coupled with the immortal fourth of March, the dignified and ennobled proceedings of which continues to reflect so much honor on the Town, the State and our country.