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Duntoar, Joseph
ol-ation pronounced at the celebration of the
I Fourth of July, 1846.
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B\irl ing ton, 1846,

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JULY J, 1846.

ORATION

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FOURTH OF JULY, 1846,

OAKLANDS SCHOOL,

BY JOSEPH DUarBAK,

A PUPIL OP THE institution:

Together with the other Proceedings on the Occitilon.

JSuflfnaton:
PniKTID BT EDMUND M0BBI5.
1846.

Cbl9. 4-3 fed

PROCEEDINGS, TOASTS, CORRESPONDENCE, &c.

The seventieth Anniversary of our National Independence was celebra
ted with much spirit, and high enjoyment, by the Pupils and Teachers of
the Oaklands School, on the beautiful grounds connected with the Insti
tution. After the various amusements of the morning, the pupils of the school
assembled al 3 o'clock P. M. to partake of a surnptuous repast prepared by
order of their ever-obliging Principal ; after which the Deoiaration of In
dependence was very impressively read by Iheir fellow-student, Henhy W.
CowLEs, of Macon, Georgia, which was received with long continued ap
plause by the whole assemblage. An eloquent oration was then delivered
in a clear and forcible manner by Joseph Dunbah, of Baltimore, Maryland,
¦which was also greeted with protracted and heart-felt bursts of approbation
from every quarter of the Saloon
During fhe intervals of the ceremony, the following toasts, prepared by
the Teachers and Pupils, were offered and drunk in full bumpers of lem
onade ; the entertainment and entire celebration being conducted on cold
water principles.
The Day. — Eternal honor to it. May its annual sun continue, through
all coming time, to shine upon a united, free, aud happy people.
The Patriot Hekoes of the Revolution. — "True as the steel of their
tried blades;" they drew their swords in the cause of liberty, and refused to
sheathe them till a glorious and triumphant success returned them to the
scabbard, free from a single stain of cruelty or dishonor.
The DECiABATioif of Independence. — The terror of despots, and the
pledge of liberty to the enslaved and the oppressed of every clime.
The Keadeb of the Deciabation. — May the sacred principles so impres
sively and beautifully read by him this day, become to him and his asso
ciates the ruling motives of their future political action.
Washington. — May America ever regard His example as her polestar.
May the principles professed by him, never be stripped of their efficiency
by being spread over too great an extent of territory.
The Litebabt Institutions of oob Cocntbt. — May they ever continue
to shed upon us the glorious light of science and knowledge, and one day

give to our young but growing Republic, that rank in the world of letters
which she has already attained in respect of her political Institutions.
The Pmis or the Oakiands School. — May they improve the excellent
advantages now offered them ; raay they, when they go forth from this In
stitution, to embark on the sea of life, become in religious, civil, and mili
tary affairs, the ornaments of iheir country, and never fail to be guided by
the principles of truth, liberty and justice, which are here constantly in
stilled into their minds.
The Ohatoh of the Day. — May the talents which adorn his youlh, be
crowned with distinction and honor in his manhood, and be ever found
united with that goodness and Christian virtue, which alone lend lustre to
genius, and render reputation desirable.
OUB WOBTHY AND EESPECTED PnlNCIPAL, AND HIS ESTEEMED AND BELOV
ED Lady. — May they ever enjoy a full share of that happiness which il is
their delight and the business of their lives to bestow upon others ; and
' long live to reap the reward of their benevolent exertion?..
The Oaklands School. — May the success and reputation which have
hitherto attended her progress, continue to grow with her growth and
ripen with her maturiiy, until she shall become a fountain from which
shall issue streams of learning, of patriotism, and of piety, which shall wa
ter the waste places of our land.
OuB CouNTBY. — Though no patrician palaces or royal galleries adorn
her soil, yet we would not exchange her democratic rudeness, her free
heart, and her homebred virtues, for all that Europe boasts of ancestral
dignity and modern magnificence.
The Pbesident of the United States.
The Daughtebs of Amebica. — As the Ladies of the Revolution stim
ulated our Fathers by their bright smiles to deeds of heroism ; so may the
Ladies ofthe present day, by their gentleness, loveliness, and virtue, urge
our youthful hearts to worthy deeds, that shall immortalize our names.
The amusements of the day were closed by a neat display of fire--wrorks
in the evening : and the pleasure of. the pupils was heightened by the pre
sence and approbation of the entire household.

At a meeting of the pupils of the Oaklands School, near Burlington, New
. Jersey, held this day in the Gbove adjoining the school, Henby W. Cowles,
of Georgia, was called to the Chair, and Severn Eybe, of Virginia, was
I chosen Secretary.
On motion, it was unanimously Resolved, That a Committee of four be
named by the Chair, to request of Joseph Dunbab, of Maryland, a copy of
his able and interesting Oration delivered on Saturday, the 4th inst., and
that said Committee be empowered to raise the amount requisite for the
purpose, and to attend to the publication of the Address. Accordingly, Ihe
following pupils -ivere appointed said Committee.
BORIS A. BODISCO, of Washington, D. C.
JOHN H. STOCKTON, of Pennsylvania.
SEVERN EYRE, of Virginia.
DUNCAN S. MAGEE, of New York.
On motion, the Chairman ofthe meeting was added to the Committee.
The following resolution was then moved and unanimously passed.
Resolved, That the cordial thanks of this meeting be presented to Prof. E.
C WINES, our esteemed and beloved Principal, and his excellent Lady
for the ample repast prepared for the great National Holiday, andfor their
uniform kindness to us on this and all other occasions.
HENRY W. COWLES, Chairman.
SEVERN EYRE, Secretary.
The Oaklands, July 6th, 1846.

The Oaklands School, July 6th, 1846.
To Mr, Joseph Dunbar,
Sib : — At a meeting of the Pupils of this Institution, held this day in the
"Grove,'' the undersigned were appointed a committee to request of
you for publication a copy of the very interesting and instructive Address,
with which we were entertained on Saturday the 4th inst.
In full confidence that you will not deny us this gratification, we sub
scribe ourselves, Verjy respectfully, your Fellow Students,
HENRY W. COWLES,
BORIS A. BODISCO,
JOHN H. STOCKTON,
SEVERN EYRE,
DUNCAN S. MAGEE.

The Oaklands School, July 6th, 1846.
Gentlemen : — I have pleasure in complying with your request, and
place the Address in your hands, with all its imperfections and "short
comings.'' Be pleased to return my warmest thanks to the raeeting, of
which you are' the organ, for the unexpected, and I may add, unmerited
honor, they have conferred upon me ; and accept for yourselves, my grate
ful acknowledgments, for the handsome manner in which you have con
veyed their wishes.
With sincere respect and esteem, your Friend and Fellow Pupil,
JOSEPH DUNBAR.
To Henry W. Cowles, Boris A. Bodisco, John H, Stockton, Severn Eyre,
Duncan S. Magee.

©rati0ii.

Respected Teachers, Companions, and Friends:
I feel myself honored by the position assigned
me on this occasion, the Anniversary of our National
Independence. I am conscious of my inability to do
justice to the tbeme which the return of this day, the
most memorable and glorious in our country's an
nals, never fails to suggest to every patriotic heart.
Nor would I venture to appear before you as your
orator, were I not assumed that your kindness, not
less than my own youth and inexperience, will over
look and excuse any deficiencies and imperfections
in the performance of my task. And although my
words may not rouse such a burst of enthusiasm in
your hearts, as those which you have often heard
before from older and more experienced heads, yet if
my hum' le efforts are capable of affording you any
gratification whatever, I shall feel myself too well
recompensed for ray labor.
This day itself is its own remembrancer and eu
logist. It lives in the heart of every true lover of
liberty. The very mention of it causes a thrill of
indescribable joy to penetrate the bosom of all those
who now rejoice in the inestimable legacy bequeath
ed to us by our heroic ancestors. It is a day, of all
others, the most momentous in the history of our
country, when our forefathers, those venerated patri-

8
ots of 1776, excited beyond endurance by the unjust,
nay, cruel and tyrannical restrictions laid upon them
by Great Britain, declared they would no longer be
the slaves of a country, which, instead of acting the
part of a mother and protector, played that of an op
pressive and insatiable master; and when, goaded by
innumerable injuries, they came to a decisive stand,
and declared they could be the "friends of Great Bri
tain, but her subjects never."
Picture to yourselves this day seventy years ago.
The first thoughts of those who awoke and beheld
its dawning light, were upon the momentous, and I
may say, terrific step they were about to take. They
thought of what a contest they were then engaged
in ; how they were fighting against their own kin
dred, those allied to them by the tenderest ties. But
at the same time they considered that their's was a
just cause, that the smiles of heaven were upon
them ; and they were confident, that that God, who
controls and manages all human affairs, would assist
them in their struggle. To Him, then, they looked
with humble reverence, and implored His blessing
and favor upon their undertaking. But now the
time approaches when that "Declaration of Inde
pendence," which you have just heard, was to be
proclaimed for the first time. Behold the concourse
which flocks toward the State House in Philadel
phia. Here you may perceive the kind and peaceful
Quaker; there the honest mechanic, in his well
brushed coat; here the sedate looking matron with
her husband ; there a group of the fair and beautiful
daughters of "the Sons of Liberty;" and, last though

9
not least, the noisy schoolboy hailing the holiday,
like ourselves, — all, all hurrying in the same direc
tion. On they go, till they reach the threshold ofthe
State House. There, held in anxious expectation,
they await the solemn declaration of the crisis be
fore them. Is it not a fearful crisis? Three
millions of people defy the authority of the greatest
nation of Europe. A handful of undisciplined mi
litia dares to contend against those veteran le
gions, which had made all Europe tremble ! But
to proceed with our picture. The vast and mot
ley crowd are now assembled in front of the State
House. The hum of voices is hushed. A death-like
silence reigns. Men even hold their breath, that
they iqay not lose the least whisper of all that is said.
In a clear and distinct "Voice, one of those ven
erable patriots proclaims the freedom and indepen
dence of the British Colonies of North America.
Now the air is rent with shouts ; the acclamations of
the assembled multitudes show that they all, "For
the support of that declaration, with a firm reliance
on the protection of Divine Providence, mutually
pledged to each other, their lives, their fortunes, and
their sacred honor." The gentle gales wafted to
heaven the odor of this acceptable sacrifice, and car
ried a death knell to the ears of their oppressors.
The hearts of those patriots felt relieved. They felt
that God was with them, that He would "raise up
friends to fight their battles for them,"^and trusting
their fate in His hands, they determined to stand by
their country, and rise or fall with it.
And well did they perforra their vow. That Pro-
3

10
vidence to which they appealed in respect to the jus
tice of their cause, and whose protection they implor
ed, assisted them in the hour of peril, and caused
them to come off at last victorious. He "was present
in their counsels. He guided them aright, and caus
ed "all things to work together for their good."
Seventy years have passed since this declaration
•was first made, ' and yet the spirit of patriotism,
which animated their breasts, still continues, I hope,
to burn in ours. Though it may lie dormant in the
hour of peace and plenty, ygt let but oppression show
her face, and ten thousand 's-words will leap from
their scabbards to repel her from our soil.
But 'I may with propriety ask the question, why
we celebrate this day with so many demonstrations
of joy? Every heart her^e present can return an im
mediate answer. Upon this day liberty was born;
upon this day oppression received its death blow ;
upon this day the regeneration of mankind was com
menced ; upon this day the fetters, which England
had riveted upon her colonies, were torn asunder;
upon this day the oath of America ascended to hea
ven ; in fine, this day was the commencement of a
new era in the history of man. Should not such a
period be held in commemoration? Can we ever
honor it too much ? Can we give sufficient thanks
to God for implanting, in the breasts of our forefa
thers, the resolution to take such a bold measurfe? —
Never ! In adopting that course, they risked their all
of earthly prosperity and happiness ; and yet they
hesitated not, they faltered not, they quailed not, in
view of all the perils that lay before them.

11
We must not omit to pay a tribute to the memory
of those illustrious statesmen who were the planners
and movers of this mighty revolution, and also to
those brave soldiers, who with their swords sealed
the* covenant with the blood of their enemies. They
have nearly all gone to their final resting place. —
Those ofthem who remain, are one by one dropping
off like the leaves in autumn. But though they are
gone, they are not forgotten ! Their's was no idle
fame ! Their's no barren ambition ! They sought not
honor; they sought not to have their names enrolled
in the lists of fame ; they wished not to reach the
pinnacle of glory, which all ambitious conquerors
have endeavored to attain. No, they were good and
peaceful men, who knew not what it was to thirst
for mere fame, and who only fought to gain their in
dependence ; and how much they desired and prized
it, let the history of their sacrifices testify. But,
though they sought not glory, yet glory, pure, se
rene, and imperishable, encircles their brows. —
Whose name stands higher in the roll of fame than
that of Washington ! Does Alexander's? No! —
Does that of Napoleon Buonaparte? No! Their
conquests were made but to appease an insatiable
lust of personal aggrandisement. All their plans were
conceived and carried forward but to satisfy a crav
ing hunger for power and renown. They sought not
the good of their country, or, if they sought it, it
was at the expense of cruelty and oppression. Not
so, however, with Washington. From his earliest
infancy, he was trained in "the nurture and admoni
tion of the Lord ;" and while, his heart burned to re-

13
taliate the cruelties exercised upon our unfortunate
countrymen, his conscience forbade him. If I were
to atterapt to speak at any length of the deeds and
^character of Washington, time would fail me; but
it is impossible to pass his name in silence, upon such
an occasion as this. He it is who, at the head of our
armies, maintained that Declaration of Independence
whose blessings we now enjoy. Let one go to other
lands, let him stand beside the gorgeous monuments
of some of the greatest conquerors the world ever be
held, and contemplate their character. Then let
him return, and kneel at the shrine which holds the
remains of the "Father of his Country," and note the
contrast of his feelings. He can find many blemish
es in the character of the former; but in that of the
latter, where is the man who will make such an as
sertion ? No, my friends, his name is without a sin
gle stain to sully its resplendent lustre. No breath
of calumny could ever taint with its pernicious influ
ences, a character as pure and exalted as his. He
has been universally admired,*and even his most
bitter enemies were forced to acknowledge his supe
riority over themselves. Beloved and adored by his
own troops, he was an object of respect as well as of
terror to his foes. Combining with determination and
strength of mind, all the milder qualities of clemency
and compassion, he was respected by those whom for
tune had thrown into his hands. He has been hon
ored, and he will be honored, by not only all his coun
trymen to the latest posterity, but by all mankind,
when thrones have crumbled, and dynasties been for
gotten. In the words of a distinguished orator,

13
"whenevery vestige of human greatness, and gran
deur, and glory, shall have mouldered into dust, and
the last period of time become extinct, eternity itself
shall catch ,the glowing theme, and dwell with in
creasing rapture on his narae."
Nor raust we omit a grateful recollection and raen
tion o! the generous Frenchman, who ran to our suc
cour in our darkest hour of trial and danger.
The name of Lafayette stands preeminent araong
those which are dear to us. He it was who, forsakinsr
the repose of affluence and rank at home, came over
to fight our battles for us. The companion and friend
of Washington, the uncompromising foe of tyranny,
the ardent champion of human rights ; among all the
great spirits that adofn our early annals, he was second
only to that exalted name, which was "first in war,
first in peace, and first in the hearts of his country
men." But time would fail me to go over the cata
logue of our revolutionary worthies. One and all of
the patriot names who acquired for us our independ
ence, shall be remembered by us forever, with the
deepest emotions of gratitude and veneration.
How great an example did they set us ! And shall
we not imitate them ? Shall we not strive like them
to hold fast to our country, through " evil as well as
good report." Let us, then, remain by that consti
tution so dearly bought ; bought with the blood of
many valiant and noble men ; men who risked every
thing to procure it for us, who not only perilled their
lives and fortunes for it, but subjected themselves to
the disgrace, (if overcome) of being considered and
treated as rebels and traitors to their king. Let us

14
maintain that liberty they obtained for us, and show
ourselves worthy of it. And most of all, let us never
forget to render thanks to Almighty God, for permit
ting us to enjoy so great a blessing, and implore his
protection in our behalf, that our statesmen may^ be
guided aright, and that the war which we are now
wagino-, thouffh not with so good a cause as that of
the Revolution, may not be less successful. And,
my friends, that you may all live long to commemo
rate this day, so important in the annals of the world;
that the golden light of liberty may ever illumine
this Western Hemisphere; that our country may go
on prospering and to prosper ; that the beneficent in
fluence which she is exerting in religrious as well as
civil affairs in other lands, may be more widely dif
fused ; that we raay continue to have our Cincinna-
tuses, our Catos and our Leonidases ; that the daugh
ters of our land may exceed both in beauty and chas
tity those of all other countries ; that the rising gen
eration, of which we constitute a part, may surpass
the last ; that, in fine, our country may excel in all the
arts, the decorations and accomplishments of life, is
my raost ardent desire and humble prayer to Alraigh
ty God.

THE OAKLANDS SCHOOL:
BURLINGTON, W. J.
The design of this Institution is to prepare youths for College, and for
business pursuits. The great object aimed at is a full and harmonious de
velopment of the physical, moral, and intellectual powers. The course of
study includes the Latin, Greek, and French Languages, English Gram
mar, Spelling, Penmanship, Elocution, History, Geography, Natural Phi
losophy, Chemistry, Natural History, Antiquities, Physiology, Arithmetic,
Mathematics, Christian Morals, and Composition. A well selected mis
cellaneous Library is provided for the use of the Pupils.
The discipline is strict, but mild and affectionate. Virtuous pniNcirLEs
are made to supply the place of artificial stimulants. Moral and reUgious
instruction is sedulously imparted. The School forms a Christian House
hold, and the domestic influences are much relied on.
There are two sessions in a year, one comfriencing on the first Monday
of May, the other on the first Monday of November. The vacations are
the %ire weeks preceding these two days respectively. Pupils are not
permitted to visit their homes during term time.
The whole expense for the term of five months, including every charge,
is $150, payable always in advance.* Each pupil, however,. must provide
himself with a Bible, and with a case of mathematical instruments, when
necessary. The charge for each vacation, to those who remain at the
School, is $15.
In order to the withdrawment of a pupil from the School, three months'
previous notice is required ; and this without regard to the intervention of
a vacation. The amount of pocket money received weekly by each pupil, is made to
depend upon his conduct during the week. All such supplies must, there
fore, pass through the hands of the Principal.
A report of the standing of the pupils is sent to parents and guardians
at the close of the term.
Every article of apparel should be marked with the owner's entire name,
in plain, legible characters.
Letters of business or inquiry, relating to the School, must be addressed
to the Principal, at the Oaklands, near Burlington, Ifew Jersey.

*The ornamental branches of Music and Drawing do not form a part of
the regular course. They can be learned, if desired, at simply the Profes
sor's charges.

YALE

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