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would not be repressed. At its close, the band struck up
"Hail Columbia," and the company rose to their feet. Many
hastened to thank the orator for the just expression he
had given to their sentiments, then all dispersed, and
might be seen in friendly groups still prolonging the
pleasant theme.

Bishop OTEY's address, as printed and circulated by the
board contained the following remarkable passages:

If any people upon the earth may refer the distinguished
privileges, which they possess, to the favoring hand of God,
we are that people. When we review the prominent events
of our history , we realize that the hand of the Lord has
wrought mightily and wondrously for us;that it was he who
endued our counsellors with wisdom, and our warriors with
courage, to meet in conflict one of the most formidable
powers of the earth, and to pass with success and honor
through the dangers of so perilous an encounter, to the
achievement of Independence; to the high and glorious
distinction of a name and a place among the nations of the
earth.

A little more than seventy years (the period allotted to
the age of man) have passed away, since the clouds of war
rolled darkly over all out land, the thunders of battle
reverberated along our hills, and the crimson vesture of
the plains showed where brethren had met in mortal strife.
A nation's freedom was the prize for which they struggled.
The God of armies beheld the contest, discerned its merits,
and determined on which standard victory should rest.

These expectations have been largely fulfilled. We are
all of us here to-day witnesses for our fathers, that they
have done well for us in all that they have done. We are,
also, witnesses for God, in the acknowledgment we make of
his favor extended to them, and continued to ourselves. If
my tongue ever denies this debt of gratitude, "may my
tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth!" If my hand ever
refuse to strike in defence of our birthright of civil and
religious freedom, secured by the sacrifices of our Fathers
and the blessing of God to my countrymen, "may mine arm
fall from my shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from
the bone!"