American Union. Two centuries more and our numbers must
exceed those of Europe itself. The destinies of their empire, as
they appear in prospect before us, disdain the powers of human
calculation. Yet, as the original founder of the Roman State is
said once to have lifted upon his shoulders the fame and
fortunes of all his posterity, so let us never forget that the glory
and greatness of all our descendants is in our hands. Preserve
in all their purity, refine, if possible, from all their alloy, those
virtues which we this day commemorate as the ornament of
our forefathers. Adhere to them with inflexible resolution, as
to the horns of the altar; instil them with unwearied
perseverance into the minds of your children; bind your souls
and theirs to the national Union as the chords of life are
centred in the heart, and you shall soar with rapid and steady
wing to the summit of human glory. Nearly a century ago, one
of those rare minds to whom it is given to discern future
greatness in its seminal principles, upon contemplating the
situation of this continent, pronounced, in a vein of poetic
inspiration, "Westward the star of empire takes its way." Let
us unite in ardent supplication to the Founder of nations and
the Builder of worlds, that what then was prophecy may
continue unfolding into history--that the dearest hopes of the
human race may not be extinguished in disappointment, and
that the last may prove the noblest empire of time.