TOWN MEETING.
MAYOR’S OFFICE.
St. Louis, July 28th 1826.
Fellow Citizens: The venerable Ex-Presidents, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, ended their earthly career on the 4th instant. Upon this occasion, there is but one feeling throughout the community, and I am induced, by the solicitation of several citizens, to request a meeting of all the citizens of this place, and its vicinity, at the Baptist Church, to-morrow morning at 11 o’clock, for the purpose of adopting measures to testify, in a public manner, our great respect for the memories of those patriots.
W. CARR LANE.
In pursuance of the above notice, which was circulated in handbills, a large concourse of citizens assembled at the time and place designated. After the meeting was organized, the following preamble and resolutions were passed unanimously:
“Whereas, it has been announced in the papers, that on our last National Anniversary, two of those illustrious champions of freedom, whose counsels contributed to lay the foundations of this Republic, whose signatures are inscribed to that memorable Declaration of Rights, which, fifty years since, went forth as the harbinger of a new and more glorious era, and whose patriotism and services advanced them to the highest honors which their country could bestow, as successors, in the Presidency, of the immortal “Father of his Country,” were removed from amongst us at the very moment when the whole nation were blessing, in acclamations, the deeds of these “men of other days;” thus, by their deaths, sanctifying, as it were, the day of their country’s birth, and kindling anew the flame of patriotism in their survivors, which, in them, even to the last, burnt so brightly:
And whereas, it is proper and becoming in us, who enjoy the fruit of their labors after they have “entered into their rest,” to testify our grateful acknowledgments for that invaluable inheritance bequeathed to us by those dauntless spirits, whose heads, in counsel, and whose right hands, in action, have converted into reality, what the aspirations of ancient patriots had only indulged in fiction; and to express our deep reverence for the memory of those departed worthies whose patriotism contributed so largely to save, whose genius has adorned, and whose virtues are still blessing, their country: Therefore,
Resolved, That we will cherish and venerate the memory of those two men of Revolutionary renown, whose deaths on the fiftieth Anniversary of American Independence, has crowned the glory of their patriotic lives.
Resolved, That we will cling fast to that venerable Instrument, penned by one of those worthies, signed by both, and ushered to the world just half a century before their departure, which in politics, as the Bible in religion, proclaims “tidings of great joy unto all people.”
Resolved, That funeral honors be paid to the deceased, buy firing minute guns in this city, from 12 to 1 o’clock, P.M. on Monday next.
Resolved, That one of the Clergymen of this city be requested to deliver a Sermon, in the new Presbyterian Church, on occasion of the death of our venerable patriots and statesmen.
Hon. James H. Peck, Henry S. Geyer, Edward Bates, Edward Tracy, and Joseph C. Laveille, Esq’rs. were appointed a committee to carry into effect the two last resolutions.
The same committee were instructed to request the citizens to close their doors during the period of celebrating the obsequies of the deceased, mentioned in the third resolution.
The proceedings of the meeting were ordered to be published in both papers in this city: and the meeting then adjourned.
WILL. C. CARR, Ch’n.
J. Spalding, Secretary.
Appropriate remarks were made by several gentlemen at the meeting. On seconding the motion to pass the preamble and resolution, Judge Peck observed as follows:
Mr. Chairman: The papers have officially announced the decease of two of the signers to the Declaration of Independence—two of the late Presidents of the United States; and announced, that the event occurred on the last Anniversary of that Independence. With feelings of gratitude for their services, and of veneration for their characters, we have convened to honor their memory.
As signers to that instrument, in which, for the first time, the rights of man were proclaimed to the nations of the earth—as patriots, whose bold and daring counsels contributed to its adoption, they commanded our admiration, the admiration of the world! As patriots, whose wisdom and energy assisted to devise, and to impart vigor to those measures, which resulted in the establishment of the independence of their country, and reflect splendor on the pages of its history, their memory must be held in grateful remembrance, not only by us, but by all of every nation upon whom their genius has shed the light of liberty! Venerated patriots, illustrious in their lives, memorable in their deaths!
That one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence should have descended to the tomb on the anniversary of that distinguished epoch, would furnish a conjuncture that would be remarked as extraordinary; but that two of the signers of that instrument—two of but three surviving signers, of the fifty-six, and those the two who had been successively called by their country to the most exalted station in its gift—that two signers who had been thus honored by their country, and so favored by Providence as to be permitted to witness and to enjoy the fiftieth anniversary of that Independence which they had so materially contributed to establish, and should be, on that same anniversary, called by the Great Dispose of events, to their rich reward, is a coincidence altogether wonderful; so wonderful, as to impress upon the human mind that a signal Providence has thus intended to consecrate their imperishable fame, and at the same time to consecrate the anniversary of our Independence, and to point the present, and all future generations, to the duty of its observance, and to the value and durability of those institutions which have resulted from that Independence.
Immortal sages! honored by their country, favored by Heaven! identified by their actions and by their death with our Independence, and by their death consecrating that Independence! This signal Providence is the consummation of their fame.
We mourn not an exit so glorious, and distinguished by fulness of years and richness of honors. Among the mingled emotions which this solemn and impressive occurrence has inspired throughout the twenty-four states, grief can have but little place: in the interesting associations and reflections connected with it, the nation must rather find the sources of a perennial spring of joy. We have convened, therefore, not to mourn, but to testify our gratitude for the services, our respect, our veneration for the memory of the deceased; whose eulogy, above the powers of man, has been delivered from the heights of heaven.
We have not been able to procure the substance of what was said by the other gentlemen.
FUNERAL SERVICE, on occasion of the death of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, will be performed on Sunday next, at 3 o’clock, P.M., in the new Presbyterian Meeting-house.
Service will be commenced by the Rev. Mr. Horrell; a Discourse will be delivered by the Rev. Mr. Giddings; and the service will be concluded by the Rev. Mr. Monroe.