The Liberty Minstrel Part 22

Long, too long, have we been dreaming, O'er our country's sin and shame; Let us now, the time redeeming, Press the helpless captive's claim, Till, exulting, He shall cast aside his chain.

ODE TO JAMES G. BIRNEY.

Words by Elizur Wright. Music by G.W.C.

[Music]

We hail thee, Birney, just and true, The calm and fearless, staunch and tried, The bravest of the valiant few, Our country's hope, our country's pride!

In Freedom's battle take the van; We hail thee as an honest man.

Thy country, in her darkest hour, When heroes bend at Mammon's shrine, And virtue sells herself to Power, Lights up in smiles at deeds like thine!

Then welcome to the battle's van-- We _hail_ thee as an HONEST MAN!

Thy own example leads the way From Egypt's gloom to Canaan's light; Thy justice is the breaking day Of Slavery's long and guilty night; Then welcome to the battle's van-- We hail thee as an honest man.

Thine is the eagle eye to see, And thine a human heart to feel; A worthy leader of the free, We'll trust thee with a Nation's weal; We'll trust thee in the battle's van-- We _hail_ thee as an honest man.

An _honest man_--an _honest man_-- G.o.d made thee on his n.o.blest plan, To do the right and brave the scorn; To stand in Freedom's "hope forlorn;"

Then welcome to the triumph's van-- WE HAIL THEE AS OUR CHOSEN MAN!

A TRIBUTE TO DEPARTED WORTH.[5]

[Footnote 5: As sung by G.W.C. at the erection of the monument to the memory of Myron Holley, Mount Hope, Rochester. It may be sung as a Dirge.]

[Music]

Oh, it is not the tear at this moment shed, When the cold turf has just been laid o'er him, That can tell how beloved was the soul that's fled, Or how deep in our hearts we deplore him: 'Tis the tear through many a long day wept, Through a life by his loss all shaded, 'Tis the sad remembrance fondly kept, When all other griefs have faded.

Oh! thus shall we mourn, and his memory's light While it s.h.i.+nes through our hearts will improve them; For worth shall look fairer, and truth more bright, When we think how he lived but to love them.

And as buried saints the grave perfume, Where fadeless they've long been lying;-- So our hearts shall borrow a sweetening bloom From the image he left there in dying.

THE LIBERTY VOTER'S SONG.

Words by E. Wright, jr. Air, from "Niel Gow's Farewell."

[Music]

The vote, the vote, the mighty vote, Though once we used a humbler note, And prayed our servants to be just, We tell the now they must, they must.

Chorus.

The tyrant's grapple, by our vote, We'll loosen from our brother's throat, With Was.h.i.+ngton we here agree, The vote's the weapon of the free.

We'll scatter not the precious power On parties that to slavery cower; But make it one against the wrong, Till down it comes, a million strong.

The tyrant's grapple, &c.

We'll bake the dough-face with our vote, Who stood the scorching when we wrote; And paler than the milky way, We'll bake the plastic face of CLAY.

The tyrant's grapple, &c.

Our vote shall teach all statesmen law, Who in the Southern harness draw; So well contented to be slaves, They fain would prove their fathers knaves!

The tyrant's grapple, &c.

We'll not provoke our wives to use A power that we through fear abuse; His mother shall not blush to own One voter of us for a son.

The tyrant's grapple, by our vote, We'll loosen from our brother's throat; With Was.h.i.+ngton we here agree, Whose MOTHER taught him to be free!

THE LIBERTY BALL.

G.W.C. Air, "Rosin the Bow."

[Music]

Come all ye true friends of the nation, Attend to humanity's call; Come aid the poor slave's liberation, And roll on the liberty ball-- And roll on the liberty ball-- And roll on the liberty ball, Come aid the poor slave's liberation, And roll on the liberty ball.

The Liberty hosts are advancing-- For freedom to _all_ they declare; The down-trodden millions are sighing-- Come, break up our gloom of despair.

Come break up our gloom of despair, &c.

Ye Democrats, come to the rescue, And aid on the liberty cause, And millions will rise up and bless you With heart-cheering songs of applause, With heart-cheering songs, &c.

Ye Whigs forsake CLAY and _John Tyler_!

And boldly step into our ranks; We'll spread our pure banner still wider, And invite all the friends of the banks,-- And invite all the friends of the banks, &c.

And when we have formed the blest union We'll firmly march on, one and all-- We'll sing when we meet in communion, And _roll on_ the liberty ball, And roll on the liberty ball, &c.

How can you stand halting while virtue Is sweetly appealing to all; Then haste to the standard of duty, And roll on the liberty ball; And roll on the liberty ball, &c.

The question of test is now turning, And freedom or slavery must fall, While hope in the bosom is burning, We'll roll on the liberty ball; We'll roll on the liberty ball, &c.

Ye freemen attend to your voting, Your ballots will answer the call; And while others attend to _log-rolling_, We'll roll on the liberty ball-- We'll roll on the liberty ball, &c.