ORATIG 
 
 ruONOUNCED AT BO 
 
 UN THE FOURTH DAY OF JULY, 13U, 
 
 BEFORE THE 
 
 SUPREME EXECUTIVE 
 
 IN PRESENCE OF THE 
 
 BUNKER-HILL ASSOCIATION. 
 
 BY HENRY A. S. DEARBORN, M. B. A. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY REqWKST- 
 
 BOSTON: 
 PRINTED BY MUNROE & FRENCH, 
 
 PRINTERS TO THE STATE. 
 
 1811. 
 
 CHESTNUT HILL, MASS. 
 
lis 
 
ORATION. 
 
 FRIENDS AND FELLOW-CITIZENS, 
 
 WHEN the patriot, statesman and hero of future 
 generations, shall read the history of that instructive 
 period, from the dawn of our revolution to the present 
 momentous epoch, with what glowing enthusiasm must 
 they dwell on the annals of that perilous, but glorious 
 warfare, which eventuated in the effectual establishment 
 of an Independent Government. 
 
 Until the rights of subjugated man, were proclaimed 
 in the western continent, by the adventurous and hardy 
 champions of liberty, the world had been bound in the 
 manacles of slavery, since Caesar's towering ambition 
 induced him to trample on the sacred rights of his 
 deluded countrymen. When the conqueror of the 
 world halted his victorious squadrons on the banks of 
 the Rubicon, the destinies of empires were poised in 
 awful equilibrium. £j 
 
 It was not, whether the devastaljpi of Germany, and 
 plundering warrior of subjugated Gaul, should sway 
 the imperial sceptre, or disband his triumphant legions 
 beyond the ramparts of freedom ; but whether the labori- 
 ous efforts of civilized man, in the advancement of science 
 and establishment of his natural rights, should end by 
 the irresistible supremacy of a military despot, or 
 extend the blessings of liberty to the farthest confines 
 of the globe. It was not the pause of patriotic virtue,, 
 where conflicting reason left unmarked the path of recti- 
 
tude ; doubtful to retire from the portentous storms of 
 civil discord, or with his returning armies establish on 
 a lasting basis rational independence, and governmental 
 prosperity, by distracting the patricidal machinations of 
 unprincipled ambition and arresting in their proud career 
 the infuriated partizans of licentious rebellion — but the 
 wary hesitation of a remorseless tyrant, estimating the 
 dangers of premeditated usurpation and the precarious 
 chances of eventual success. 
 
 It was not the guardian contemplation of an illustri- 
 ous Roman citizen, watchful of national honor, dwelling 
 with magnanimous solicitude on the accumulating 
 wrongs of internal faction, but the cold reflections of a 
 relentless despot, concentrating the collected energies of 
 his vigorous and expansive mind on those desperate 
 designs which involved, not only the ruin of his coun- 
 try, but broke down the opposing barriers of Gothic 
 barbarism, wrapt in clouds of ignorance and supersti- 
 tion succeeding generations, and spread the broad mantle 
 of a long and dreary night over depopulated empires, 
 which might have flourished under the meridian efful- 
 gence of extended science through centuries which now 
 leave a melancholy blank in the annals of mankind. 
 
 Individual aggrandizement and personal revenge rent 
 asunder the social bonds of domestic tranquility ; gen- 
 eral commotion and wild misrule raging with ungovern- 
 able and demoralizing fury, subverted the stupendous 
 foundations of popular government. Justice was hurled 
 from her seat ; her statutes obliterated ; and her sacred 
 courts converted into the polluted tribunal of lawless 
 oppression. The Genius of Literature was haunted 
 from her Tusculian groves, and the arts and sciences 
 buried in an Herculanium of oblivion. The inflexible 
 
advocate of the people's rights, were either expelled the 
 Senate Chamber, ostracised, or immolated on the reek- 
 ing altars of patriotism, by the encrimsoned sword of 
 slaughtering persecution. The massy pillars of liberty 
 were subverted, and the mutilated fragments of hei 
 prostrated temples scattered over the wide spread ruins 
 of devastation. The last refuge of freedom was des- 
 troyed. 
 
 From the decline of the Western Empire, the history 
 of the world unfolds but melancholy recitations of 
 bloodshed, ignorance, superstition and ignominious vas- 
 salage. If illustrious examples of individual greatness, 
 splendid instances of heroic virtue, and the philanthropic 
 efforts of superior genius, sometimes fling a transient 
 gleam athwart the dreary waste, like the unfrequent flash 
 of the vollicd lightning through the nocturnal storm, they 
 serve but to display the tremendous horrors of the over- 
 whelming gloom. 
 
 The unalienable and indefeasible rights of man, had 
 not been strenuously asserted, and effectually maintain- 
 ed until the insulted and outraged citizens of these 
 United States indignantly revolted at the arbitrary impo- 
 sitions of imperious Britain, and bid defiance to the 
 haughty mandates of regal vengeance. 
 
 Those primary and fundamental principles of a well 
 organized government, which for ages had been merely 
 the pleasing theme of learned disquisition, or theoretical 
 speculation, were by the adventurous advocates of free- 
 dom, established as the broad basis of an Independent 
 Republic. The combined energies of an exasperated 
 and heroic nation, were marshalled in hostile battalia, 
 for the vindication of those inestimable sentiments 
 which were implanted in the breast of every Americam 
 
nerved the patriot's arm with vigor and enkindled the 
 emulative enthusiasm of an undaunted people, determin- 
 ed to maintain their natural and indisputable rights, or 
 perish in the glorious conflict. Succeeding generations 
 will peruse the historic volume of the revolution, with 
 wonder and admiration. What scene more magnificent 
 can be depictured to an enlightened mind, than a whole 
 nation rising in the majesty of their collected strength, 
 and proclaiming to the astonished universe,this irrevoca- 
 ble declaration, that all mankind are born free and equal, 
 and that " these United States were, and of right ought 
 to be, free sovereign, and independent." 
 
 When the impartial American in future times shall 
 run the broad parralkl of the unequal belligerents, 
 incredulity at the momentous events and glorious result 
 of that arduous struggle, ought not to derogate from 
 his understanding, and cannot attach to his heart the 
 damning epithet of literary ingratitude, with more pro- 
 priety than to the modern antiquarian, who regards the 
 fabulous accounts of Greek" and Roman origin as the 
 visionary chimeras of poetic enthusiasm, or the legen- 
 dary tales of untutored idolatry. 
 
 Unappalled by the sanguinary denunciations of their 
 implacable enemies, firm" and unshaken amidst the 
 gathering storm which threatened ruin and devastation 
 on this devoted land, each patriot breast opposed an 
 impregnable rampart to the impetuous assaults of law- 
 less invasion. The strong arm of hardy valor wielded 
 the irresistable sword of emancipated vengeance — the 
 noblest energies of enlightened man, were roused into 
 generous devotion to that sacred cause which demanded 
 the most liberal sacrifice of every citizen. 
 
When the loud clarion of battle sounded to arms, 
 the determined champions of their country's rights 
 rushed from the calm enjoyment of domestic tranquility 
 to the field of slaughter; unfurled the standard of lib- 
 erty, and appealing to the God of armies for the justice 
 of their cause, advanced with martial intrepidity, to 
 certain victory, or honorable death. 
 
 On Bunker's ever memorable heights, was first dis- 
 played that lofty spirit of invincible patriotism, which 
 impelled the adventurous soldier to brave the severest 
 hardships of the tented field, and endure in northern 
 climes the rugged toils of war, uncanopied from the 
 boreal storm and rude inclemencies of Canadian winter. 
 On that American Thermopylae, where wrapt in the 
 dun* smoke of wanton conflagration fought the assem- 
 bled sovereigns of their native soil the everlasting 
 bulwarks of freedom, and thrice rolled back the tre- 
 mendous tide of war, was evinced that unconquerable 
 intrepidity, that national ardor and meritorious zeal, 
 which secured victory on the plains of Saratoga, stormed 
 the ramparts of Yorktown, and bore the bannered eagle 
 in triumph from the shores of the Atlantic to the farthest 
 confines of the wilderness. 
 
 By that destructive battle were awakened the most 
 exalted faculties of the mind ; reason unrestrained burst 
 forth in the plenitude of its effulgence; man regenerated 
 and disenthralled, beat down the walls of slavish incar- 
 ceration, and trampled on the broken chains of regal 
 bondage ; the vast resources of an emancipated people 
 were called into generous exertion. An enthusiastic 
 spirit of independence glowed in every breast, and 
 spread the uncontaminated sentiments of emulative free- 
 men, over the broad extent of an exasperated republic. 
 
8 
 
 1'he united energies of a virtuous people, were strenu- 
 ously directed to the effectual accomplishment of national 
 independence. During those portentous times were 
 achieved the most honorable deeds which arc inscribed 
 on the ever during records of fame. Stimulated by 
 accumulating wrongs, and elated by the purest feelings 
 of anticipated success, no disastrous events could check 
 the progress of their arms ; no fascinating allurements 
 deflect them from that honorable path which they had 
 sworn to pursue, or perish in the hazardous attempt. 
 
 Inspired by the guardian Genius of Liberty, no bar- 
 riers could oppose their impetuous career. Like the 
 " Pontic sea, whose icy current and compulsive course 
 ne'er feels retiring ebb," the irrefluent tide of freedom 
 rolled unrestrained. By the courageous virtue o*our 
 illustrious heroes were secured those inestimable bles. 
 sings which we have since enjoyed. To the warriors 
 and statesmen of the revolution are we indebted for all 
 those distinguished privileges, which place the citizens 
 of the United States beyond the predatory vengeance of 
 ruthless oppression. This invaluable inheritance is the 
 prize of slaughter acquired by the lives of contending 
 freemen, secured with the blood of battling patriots. 
 
 While the kingdoms of the eastern continent have 
 been convulsed by the ravages of war, we have flourished 
 in the sunshine of peace. While contending armies 
 have depopulated the plains of Europe, and whitened 
 her fields with the bones of her slaughtered inhabitants, 
 the agricultural enterprize of our industrious citizens 
 has subdued the wilderness, and numerous constella- 
 tions rising in our western horizon, have increased the 
 splendor of our political galaxy. 
 
The happiness and prosperity of a nation are depen- 
 dent on peace ; wars have ever been productive of every 
 vice ; corrupted and demoralized society, and reduced 
 to poverty and misery the wretched subjects of all gov- 
 ernments, which have been involved within their dread- 
 ful vortex. 
 
 Conscious of the infinite advantages which ought 
 necessarily to result from a state of impartial neutrality , 
 the wise administrators of our general government have 
 studiously endeavored by the prosecution of an equita- 
 ble and impartial policy towards the belligerents to pre- 
 serve unimpaired our national rights. But an amicable 
 disposition and generous forbearance, has been con- 
 strued into contemptible submission. 
 
 racific appeals to the justice and honor of the two 
 great hostile powers have produced only reiterated insult 
 or protracted satisfaction. The established laws of na- 
 tions are put at defiance, and our citizens forcibly enslav- 
 ed while their property becomes the common plunder of 
 licensed robbery. The most solemn compacts have been 
 wantonly violated, and the extent of our wrongs limited 
 but by the physical power of effecting injury. Every 
 honorable arrangement which negociation could effect, 
 proved unsuccessful, and tended but to multiply causes 
 of complaint, and increase the already enormous sum 
 of our aggravations. 
 
 Unwilling prematurely to plunge the nation into the 
 miseries of war, but indignant at the flagrant violations 
 of our commercial rights, a system of measures were 
 adopted, which, if they had been faithfully observed 
 and rigidly enforced, would most indubitably have com- 
 pelled the implacable enemies jof neutrality to respect 
 
10 
 
 our flag, and give speedy compensation for those nume- 
 rous acts of unwarrantable outrage which still remain 
 unredressed. But the blasting remains of that restless 
 faction, which frowned on the evolving hopes of man, 
 struggling for his stolen birthright, clandestinely endea- 
 vored to palsy the efforts of freemen, beared the sword 
 of regal vengeance against their native country, and 
 stained the fields of their forefathers with blood, spread 
 with maniac fury sentiments of disorganization ; pro- 
 nounced the authenticated statutes of government 
 unconstitutional, tyrannical and oppressive ; encouraged 
 by treasonable resolutions hostile opposition to the laws, 
 and by forcible violations, rendered inefficient those 
 pacificly coercive measures which the assembled repre- 
 sentatives of the sovereign people have deemed abun- 
 dantly adequate for effecting those important objects 
 which induced their adoption. When with appropriate 
 and dignified seventy, official animadversion falls on 
 the guilty partizans of rebellion, with insolent effrontery 
 they appeal to the immortal heroes and sages of the revo- 
 lution, for exculpatory examples, in justification of their 
 indefensible conduct. Profanation unparralleled ! — 
 Because Washington, Hancock, and Adams, with 
 their ever memora*ble compatriots in glory, resisted with 
 Spartan intrepidity, the tyrannical impositions of an all 
 grasping monarchy, in which the citizens of these United 
 States had no participation, where they were not repre- 
 sented, in the councils of which they had no voice, to 
 which they disclaimed all allegiance ; who had appealed 
 in vain to its relentless sovereign and subservient Par- 
 liament for redress of grievances ; shall the members of 
 
11 
 
 a republic, over which a government has been estab- 
 lished by the declared and common consent of all ; under 
 which their rulers are periodically responsible for their 
 official conduct, thus with impunity reflect back their 
 own merited disgrace, and stamp with damning infamy 
 the untarnished lustre of our sainted worthies? Forbid 
 it reason. The demanding gratitude of emancipated 
 millions will indignantly avert the unhallowed attempt. 
 
 When characters who were pre-eminently distin- 
 guished for their most honorable services during that 
 perilous struggle for national freedom and independence ; 
 whose political integrity and sterling worth, still renders 
 them venerable examples of patriotic virtue, are desig- 
 nated as our chief magistrates, and appointed the guar- 
 dians of those invaluable privileges, which their inde„ 
 fatigable zeal and laborious exertions tended to secure } 
 the destinies of the Union and the Commonwealth can 
 not fail of being propitious to the advancement of indi- 
 vidual happiness and the public good. When such 
 illustrious personages call upon us to watch with unre- 
 mitting vigilance the ruinous proceedings of domestic 
 malcontents, it becomes the bounden duty of every citi- 
 zen who is ambitious of transmitting unimpaired those 
 peculiar advantages which he now enjoys, to his latest 
 posteritv, to vindicate our civil rulers from the foul 
 aspersion of slanderous detraction, and use his utmost 
 endeavors for the establishment of public tranquility. 
 We are obliged by every principle of national policy to 
 support a government which has been uniformly directed 
 to the advancement of commerce, agriculture, manu- 
 factures, literature, and the internal improvements of 
 our extensive territorv. 
 
 
 
12 
 
 The angry passions of unprincipled individuals may 
 for a period disturb the general harmony of these confed- 
 erated States, but when cool, unprejudiced reason shall 
 blazon in the vivid colors of resistless truth, the disas- 
 trous consequences of exasperating denunciations, the 
 lowering tempests of faction, will retire before its dissi- 
 pating effulgence. 
 
 Friends and fellow-citizens of the Bunker-Hill 
 Association, who, for "the purpose of celebrating the 
 great anniversary of our national independence, and of 
 guarding and perpetuating the well merited fame of the 
 worthies of the revolution, and of all other friends to 
 their country, who have since contributed, or may here- 
 after contribute, to the permanent union and harmony of 
 these States, have solemnly pledged yourselves to pro- 
 mote and encourage an emulation in virtue, and what- 
 ever may tend to the permanence and strength of our 
 Federal Constitution, and to the glory and happiness of 
 these United States," to you I appeal, in the names of 
 those immolated heroes who poured out their blood in 
 the service of their country, by that sacred charter of 
 our rights, which unites under one social compact the 
 whole people of confederated America, I conjure you to 
 perform the high duties which you have so magnani- 
 mously undertaken. If patriots in all ages of the world 
 have not set so high a value on civil liberty ; if religious 
 freedom and security in the rights of conscience are 
 desirable ; if to live under the best organized system of 
 free government which any country was ever blessed 
 with, is an inestimable boon, then have the citizens 'of 
 the United States more powerful motives, ' more strong 
 inducements to rally round the ark of their political 
 
IS 
 
 safety, the Constitution, than any people on this 
 globe have, or ever had. Here no unfeeling despot 
 wrings from the hard hands of honest industry the accu- 
 mulated fruits of laborious years ; no clerical institution 
 immures within the gloomy walls of a sacriligious 
 inquisition that upright man who worships the Supreme 
 Ruler of the Universe agreeably to the dictates of his 
 own conscience, uncontrouled by the arbitrary mandates 
 of bigoted superstition, or the appalling horrors of an 
 oto-de-fee. 
 
 All our right, our lives and fortunes, are confided to 
 a government which is under the supreme controul of 
 the sovereign people. 
 
 Blessed with a soil which embraces all the vast variety 
 of climes from the polar regions to the torrid zone, we 
 are enabled to extend the wide circle of national inde- 
 pendence, until it includes all the multifarious advan- 
 tages of every realm. 
 
 If foreign nations compel us to fall back on our own 
 inexhaustible resources, we shall acquire that perfect 
 independence which will render the existence of any 
 other kingdom unnecessary for its support ; extending 
 the broad basis of a Republic, which shall flourish in 
 unrivalled excellence and prosperity, although bounded 
 within the huge circumference of an impregnable bar- 
 rier, high piled to heaven's concave, impassable and 
 eternal. 
 
 But the citizens of these United States have such an 
 expansive and illimitable spirit of independence ; so 
 deeply implanted are the sterling principles of freedom 
 in any patriot breast, that-they will not be circumscribed 
 within the slavish limits of foreign proscription — tamely 
 
14 
 
 submit to unprovoked infraction of their rights, or suf- 
 fer with impunity an ignominious stain on their national 
 honor. During those sanguinary conflicts which have 
 deluged Europe in blood, we have remained within that 
 awful verge of war, on which we are now placed by the 
 combined outrages of Gallic despotism, and the preda- 
 tory spoilations of imperious Britain. If we are again 
 compelled to take up arms for the vindication of our 
 rights, our valorous countrymen will display that unre- 
 laxing ardor and heroic zeal, which triumphed over the 
 boasted discipline of experienced veterans, and entwined 
 around the warrior's brow the never fading wreath of 
 victory. The self stiled lords of the ocean will not find 
 the retaliating thunders of our navy borne on the silenced 
 batteries of a Chesapeake. The imperial conqueror will 
 not plant his blood stained eagle on our shores, or trav- 
 erse the extent of these independent republics in victori- 
 ous triumph , each stream will be more impassable than 
 the Danube ; unlike the towering Pyrennes or frozen 
 Alps, every mountain will present a barrier unscaleable 
 as the battlements of heavem 
 
 That we should remain happy, united, virtuous and 
 free, an exalted spirit of liberty should be excised in 
 every breast; not that turbulent spirit which puts at 
 defiance the constituted authorities of an elective and 
 impartial government, tramples on its laws, provokes 
 licentious rebellion, stimulates to deeds of treasonable 
 desperation, and involves us by false and inflammatory 
 declamations in all the complicated, awful and bloody 
 miseries of civil war; but that generous and noble 
 spirit, which willingly sacrifices every personal consid* 
 
Ha 
 
 13 
 
 era t ion, when incompatible with national honor and the 
 general interest of the public weal. 
 
 To perpetuate and secure the blessings of freedom, 
 we must liberally diffuse the means of universal infor- 
 mation. 
 
 It was by a criminal, short sighted inattention to that 
 primary and important object, which must ever consti- 
 tute the vital strength of all republics, that they have 
 uniformly degenerated into despotism. — Let the citizens 
 of the United States become enlightened by the general 
 dissemination of science ; let them be deeply impressed 
 with the unparralleled advantages which they now 
 enjoy, and contrast their enviable situation with the 
 oppressed and impoverished subjects of the trans-at- 
 lantic empires ; stimulate their adventurous disposi- 
 tions ; give energy to our manufactures, and our hills 
 will be covered with the flocks of the Pyrennes, our 
 plains whitened by the fleeces of Andalusia, and our 
 freighted commerce will traverse every sea with the 
 increasing harvests o£ extended agriculture and the 
 domestic fabrics of mechanical ingenuity. 
 
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