V V.4*" '^6' ^^-1°^ .• .v-*-' •-•^ *^ "^ V 3^ AT a meeting of the Wafiilngton Benevolent Society of the County of Hampfhire, at Wafhington Hall in Northamp- ton, on the 25th Feb. 18 1 2. if^oTSD, That Wm. Edwards, A. Pomroy, J. H. Lyman* 1*. Strong, and L. Hunt, Efqrs. be a committee, to prefent the thanks of the Society to I. C. BATES, Efq. for his Ora. tion, and requeft a copy for the prefs. S. HENSHAW, Secretary, ORATION. Gentlemen, X HE day, on which Wafhington was born, may well be confecrated to a remembrance of his virtues. To the dead, our cenfure and commendation are alike indiiFerent. The fleep of the tomb is never difturbed by the one, nor the darknefs, cheered by the other. Wc can hardly indulge the wifh, that the Saviour of his country, "after having fhaken off this mortal coil,*' fliould be permitted to review, or revifit it. " Sadnefs would dim a celeftial vifage," and, for once, if poffible, violate the blifs of Heaven. But to the living, a review of his life, policy, and mea- fures, whether as a citizen, a general, or a ftatefman, will furnifli approved lefTons of moral and pnWur-^l \n{hvuf\\on» Death has given the final fan6lion to the purity of his motives, the wildom of his precepts, and maxims of gov- ernment ; authority to his example ; and, with a fingle exception, has consummated a character, more pure and perfeft, than the records of prefent, or paft times can furnifh. Having aflumed the name of Wafhington, the propri- ety of celebrating the day, which gave him birth, be- comes manifeft. If our Independence deferves com- memoration as a national feflival, no lefs the nativity of him, who was chiefly inilrumental in achieving and eftab- lifliing it J him, whom Congrefs pronounced, "first IN WAR, FIRST IN PEACE, AND FIRST IN THE HEARTS OF HIS FELLOW CITIZENS." How foon we may lofe this privilege, or, may wsfh to blot out the recollection of what we bave been, in view of what v^e are ; how foon our right of felf-governnieiit may be ufurped ; our love of liberty extinguiflicd forev- er ; depends upon the intelligence, the virtue, the fpirit and firmnefs, of the American people. The deftiny of the lad: republic on the earth is flaked on the experiment now making : — A period too, when madnefs is the diftem- per of the age ; when the paflions feem to have found fome new aliment ; when the dread of ruin yields to the love of it, in full profpeft of the de{lru6lion, on which we are rufhing ; when Great-Britain, on the one hand, is lalhing the ocean with her trident ; and France, on the other, more than was ever fabled of Saturnian Jove with all his clouds and thunders, is blackening and beating down the world. Ye, who are the fources of power, and ultimately refponfible for the exercife of it, ftiake the palfy from your nerves. Travel not upon the verge of ruin, with eyes open and fenfes locked in profound flum- ber, when the next flep may end your equipoife, and— end you. Wait not for the returnlefs plunge to awaken you to the reality of your condition. Diffolve the talifman Vvhich ^inds yon in chains and fetters. Follow the dic- tates of reafon and truth, uninfluenced by prejudice, un- clouded by pafhon, unenthralled by the wiles, the feduc- iions and delujQons, whether of men in power, or in pur- fuit of it. More your country will not require ; lefs your patriotifm ought not to render. With this view, let us recur to the origin of our exiftence as a nation, and trace the progrefs of Wafliington, through times, more difficult and obftacles more embarrafling, than the prefent, with hijlory and fad and your own experience, for our guides. There are no evils, which you cannot remedy, and, if you will not, then it is, " you become your own word enemies." I pafs over the events of the Revolution, not as lefs intcrefting, but as lefs ufeful to our prefent purpofe. I pafs over the proceedings of Congrefs, under the old confederation, and a/k your attention to the fituation of the United States, in 1789, when Waihington was firft 5 inaugurated as Prelldent, after the adoption of the Fede- ral conftitution. The Union, which had been emphatically ftyled "a rope of fand" ever fince the conclufion of the war, and which was little elfe in 1789, was compofed of thirteen diflinct and fovereign ftates, two of which* had rejefted the con- ftitution, by a decided majority, and in all of which there ■was a fyftematic and powerful oppofition to it, growing out of diitinft, local and conflicting interefts, and aided by the fufpicions, fears, prejudices and groundlefs appre- henfions of the times. For the purpofes of the revolu- tion, the paffions of the people had been inflamed to a high degree of enthufiafm ; their pride cheriihed ; their jealoufy excited ; their vanity flattered ; and, after the conclufion of the war, fo fatisfying to their hopes and gratifying to their ambition, it was not to be expeded that reafon would at once refume her empire, and the commotions of the public fubfide. The population of the country was a mafs of ungovernable paflion, ftrongly agitated by the uncertainty, the protrafted troubles, and inaufpicious occurrences of the day. Having thrown oflT the government of Great-Britain, the people were ill difpofed to fubmit to any other. No higher proof is re- quifite, than the unyielding refiftance, they made, to the adoption of the Federal confl:itution, in every part of the country ; a conftitution, the befl:, which the wit of man had devifed, or, the Lawgiver of the Univerfe permitted to be tendered to a free people, fecuring every eflfential right, and prefenting no obitacle to the attainment of the highefl poflfible political worth and happinefs. But fuch ■was the infatuation of the day, that Wafliington himfelf, with more mortification, alarm and anguifli, than on any other occafion, exprefled his fear,t that, after all the blood and treafure, which had been expended, to accomplifli the obje£l: of the war, we fliould exhibit to the world, '* North Carolina and Rhode-Ifland. f See Wafhington's letters to general Knox, and colonels Lee and Humphreys, in 1787. 6 the mortifyinsf fpcfVacle of a people incapable of felf- government, and fhould plunge, headlong, into a revo- lution of anarchy, before we fliould learn to appreciate the bleffinqs and comforts of public tranquillity and order. Nor did the oppofition to the conititution ceafe with its adoption. While there is any excitement to defire, or, encouragement to hope, a cordial co-operation feldom fucceeds a determined oppofition. Defeat had fharpened refentment. The profpc£l of ultimate fuccefs ftimulated exertion. Many, whofe reputation, as ftatefmen, was pledged upon the event, labored, unceafmgly, to verify their predictions and juflify their fears. Many, who had yielded their affent, rather from neccffity than choice, remained indifferent and fuHen fpeCtalors. While the conftitution was thus infecurely fixed in the affeftions of the people, there were other features, in the national afpeft, ftill more alarming. The price of the revolution was due to the feveral dates and to individuals for their difburfements and fervices. The uncommon prelTure of the times, and long delay of payment, had rendered the public creditors impatient and clamorous. The infurre6i:ion, in this Commonwealth, which was on- Jy one expreffion of the general difcontent, is within the recoHe6lion of many. It was a period of violence and outrage ; of commotion and terror. No general fyftem of revenue had been adopted. No one of the vafl vari- ety of queflions, which grow out of the fifcal concerns of a nation, fettled. The amount of the public debt had not been afcertained ; and, whatever it might be, the refources to meet it, were to be drawn from a people impoveriflied, difcontented, hoftile to taxation and jeal- ous in the extreme, ready to refolve every thing into *' (-/« arbitrary and opprcjjive iinpofition.''* Without the lights of experience as guides, the gov- ernment was to be organized. — The forms of bufmefs, under the conftitution, to be fettled. — Judges to be com- miiTLoiicd.— A fjflera of laws, civil and financial, to be framed. — The irritation of the public, to be foothed. — » The inquietude filenced. — Ihe jarring intereds of the union to be harmonized. — The affections of the people to be won to the conftitution ; — with a congrefs com- pofed of every diverfity of charafter ; — many of the members felefted for their determined oppofition to the inftrument, by which they were convened, confulting lo- cal and individual interell and prejudice, rather than the general weah Our external relations were not more aufpicious. With France we had a treaty. But, flie was holb'le to the complete eftablifliment of our independence and en- larged fecurity of our national rights. The fame caufes, which had influenced her to afford aid to the colonies, after their revolt, flill influenced her to the attempt to monopolize their trade. She wiflied to humble her rivals to aggrandize herfelf ; to pluck the diamond from the houfe of Hanover, to plant it in the crown of the Bour- bons. And, when the event proved, that the U. States bad not reje£led one yoke, for the aiTumption of another, ihe commenced an intrigue with the Britiili miniflry, to defeat our claims to the fidieries. Kr. owing thefe fa£ts, you can fathom the depth of our gratitude to France, and appreciate the danger, to be apprehended from her cabinet. With England, we had only the treaty of peace, which, although formally ratified, had never been carried into full efFe£l:. Many queflions ftill remained to be fettled of great delicacy and difficulty. Negociation had proved fruitlefs, and a recurrence of the war was, not only deem- ed probable, but, by many enlightened flatefmen, una- voidable. The mutual irritation and difguff, and, efpe- cially, the wounded pride of G. Britain, feemcd, in ad- dition to the real difHculties of the cafe, to oppofe infur- mountable obftacles to a refloration of amity and peace. She had, indeed, abandoned the war, and a«5lual hoflility had ceafed, but, the lion remained furly and vras often on the point of returning to the combat. 8 With Portugal, we had no treaty ; nor with Algiers, Tunis, nor Fripoli. Our commerce was excluded from the Mediterranean, and was, every where, the prey of thofe piratical powers. With Spain, we had no treaty. Having denied the weflern people the navigation of the Miffifippi, flie had confirmed them in a belief, that their rights were aban- doned by the U. States, and, that their fafety and prof- perity depended on a union with Spain, or, the formation of a diftinft and independent empire, and had brought them to the brink of revolt and rebellion. The boundary lines upon the South, Wefl: and North, were flill unfettled ; fubjefls of difpute, which feemed infinite, both with G. Britain and Spain. And, while the weftern pofls were occupied by Britifh garrifons, the Indians, fo formidable to an infant and unprotefted coun- try, were, every where, inflamed with new fury and fe- rocity. There was not one tribe, but what was hoflile, waiting only for the fignal of attack. Indeed, all the civilized and favage world, feemed to murmur at the In- dependence we had achieved, and exult in the troubles, which fuccecded. Such, Gentlemen, was the fituation of the U. States, when Wafliington was firfl: eleded Prefident. I have given you but the outlines of the pi£lure. I leave it to your own knowledge and experience, to determine, with what a diverfity and confufion of (hade, it muft have been filled up. I need not undertake to imprefs you, with the dangers and diflficulties to be encountered, in fettling our difputes with foreign nations, and eflablifliing our commercial and political profperity, upon a folid and per- manent bafis ; of bringing order out of fuch intenial con- fufion, and combining the materials, of which the U. States were then conipofcd, into a well organized Re- public. It was a ftate of perplexed and " untried being,** from which a man might flirink without difgrace. But, covered with " clouds and darknefs," as it truly was. Wadiingtofl, again, committed himfelf to the fortunes of his country and became himfelf the inftrument which con- trolled them. I invite you to a contrail: of the fituation of the country at the commencement, with the fituation, at the clofe, of the Federal Adminillration. Our Union was confolidated. The Conflltution firm- ly eftablifiied, fupported by the intercft, and cheriftied by the aife^lions of a majority of the people. The na- tional debt, liquidated and funded. A fyftem of revenue, adequate to the exigency of the times, the payment of the intereli, and final redemption of the public debt, devifed, matured and adopted. A Judiciary, able and indepen- dent, organized. A code of laws, in conformity with the fpirit of our excellent Conflitution, framed and en- forced. A treaty with G. Britain, fettling every point of con- troverfy, which grew out of the war, and fubfequent ir- ritation, was negociated and ratified. A treaty with Spain, by which (he acceded to all our claims, concluded, A treaty with Algiers and Tripoli, efFefted. A treaty with France, fecuring our national rights, and recogniz- ing our national fovereignty, in its fulleft extent, made and confirmed. The boundary lines were defined and eftabliflied. The Indians, fatisfied, by Wayne, that peace was preferable to war, and, not only treaties, concluded with all the hoftile tribes, but a foundation laid for the future tran- quility of the frontiers, and, until the recent interrup- tion, the friendly difpofition of the natives. The Wef- tern Pods were furrendered to the U. States. The tem- ple of Janus was fiiut. A new fpring was given to en- terprife and induflry. The face of things, covered with renovated life and beauty. Our commerce, was extend- ed wherever the ocean rolls. Our national fpirit, high and unfubdued. Our honor, unfullied and unimpeached. Never did the American eagle mount on bolder wing, foaring to the heights, and bathing in the light, of na- 3 10 tlonal glory. " Never,'* faid Wafhlngton to his lad Con* grefs, " did I meet you, when more than at the prefent, our affairs afforded jufl: caufe for mutual congratulation, and profound gratitude to the author of all good. How firm and how precious a foundation is hiid, for eftabh'fli- ing, accelerating and maturing, the profperity of our common Country !'* Such, Gentlemen, was the fituaticn of the U. States, attheclofe of this Federal administration; nor was it cffentially varied in i8or. I might, now, turn from what we have been, to what we arc, but I will not *' venture down the dark defcent." Fa6ts pronounce the bcft euloginm, and, the fevereft cenfure. They arc neither prejudiced, nor partial. They are truth itfelf. I leave you to the comparilon. Let it not, however, be faid, by way of apology, for one adminiflratlon, or, dctraflion from the credit of another, that the obfiacles, iiecejfarily originating, from owx foreign and domefiic relations, have caufcd our deteri- oration, or, been commenftirate with our decline. The belligerent decrees and orders were, as rigorous, in terms ; as hofble, in charaiTter ; as embarafling in op- eration, during the prefidency of Washington, as of M^-. Jcfferfon, or, his fucceffor. France had more pow- er, upon the ocean ; Great-Briiain, lefs. Wafhington had an Indian war to profecute, in the infancy of the csunlry, unprecedented for its obflinacy, duration and difader. He had an infurreciion to quell, in the heart of the union, which required the aid of 1 5,000 troops ; — aa infurredion, to refijl the pay?nent of a tax upon ixj-jifkey^ abetted by the gentleman placed at the head of the trca- fury, by Mr, fefferfon and Mr. Madfon, as a reward for his patriotifra, a cmnplimcni 10 " his fplendid financial talents ;*' and a manifellation of r//- hw, on which he laid his head, by night ; the hofom, on which he repofed, w'ith confidence, which never was be- trayed, with aileclion, which never was dirainiflied. Un- appalled by the approach of danger, unftiaken in the con- fiih, he was the guardian genius and confoling angel of his Chief. He was his Cabinet Minijler in peace. Great- ncfs was {o combined in his nature, that every field, was to him, alike the field of glory. There was no depth of thought, which he had not fathomed ; — do procefs of laborious relearcli, which he had not traced ; — no world of fcience, which he had not compaffed ;— no fphere of fancy, on which he was not mounted. — He was the target, at which the arrows of the oppofition were, inceffantly dire£led. But, like the diamond, he yielded to no im- preilion and became the more brilliant the more he was aifailed. Hamilton was neverthelefs mortal. Thet HATED AND THEY SLEW HIM. Qucnched is that orb, which filled, with " infufierable day,'* the labyrinth, vjhtrt envy, jealoufy, hatred, ?ind ambition v;/ ere plotting the ruin of his friend ; — cold that heart, which beat but for his countrys honor ; — nervelefs that arm, which could wield a nations deftiny ; — filent that tongue, whofc accents, were " propertied as all the tuned fpheres.**— Was this the man to be a traitor I — an enemy of the coun- 22 try, for which in youth he cafl: the die and put his lifg upon the cafl ! — He retired from office as from the field with the extorted fandion of his adverfaries to the purity of his couduft.* Such was his contempt of riches, that, with the exhaufllefs refources of his own mind, by which he might have gathered wealth as water, he died in pov- erty and left a family in want. Hamilton lived for his COUNTRY ; he might have lived, — to save it. Was Ames a tory ! — the Jlave of Britijh influence ! — As foon would the harp of Memnon refpond to a meteor of the night, as (he pure ?nindof Fisher Ames, to a fen- timent that was adverfe to the honor or interefl of his country. Having the whole compafs of hiflory, di{lin£l- ly, within his view and tracing and comparing the prog- rcfs of events with the nicefl difcrimination and accu- racy, he did, indeed, predift, that the current of the times, which is bearing us downward, would ere-long drift us beyond return. Such was his conviction of the faft, that it tortured him day and night. Yielding him every perfeftion, to which he was as much entitled as any mere man, it remains to be determined, whether he was not a prophet. The life of Mr. Ames was eminent- ly devoted to his country, llie lafl prayer of the dying patriot was, — not for himfelf, — not for the partner of his life, — not for the furrounding pledges of his love, — but '' Oh ! save my country !" — Is this the language of a tory ! — a Britijh agent ! — Thefe were the lafl words, that trembled on the eloquent tongue of him, who once, ** in the height of his great argument^* " funk the furies on their iron beds'* and — rcfcucd his country from their grafp.f • Vide Mar. life Walh. vol. 5, p. 550. f His fpeech upon the bill, making appropriations to carry the Britifti treaty into efFe(ft. — " That fpace the Evil-one abftrafled ftood " From his own evil, and for the time remain'd « Stup\dly ^ood:* The gallant Knox !^ — the valiant Lincoln ! — the generous Sumner ! — the inflexible and learned Ells- worth ! — the living Pinckney, companion of Wash- ington in arms ! — Were these traitors / tories ! the Jlaves of Britijh influence ! and I might fwell the lift to em-, brace all the heroes and patriots of the revolution. Search through the circles of your acquaintance and defignatc the DISCIPLE OF Washington, whom you dare^ at the hazard of a reputation which is not bankrupt, pronounce a traitor ! — a monarchijl ! — a Britijh partifan ! — an ene- wy of his country ! — But in the general and relentlefs profcription, the veteran flatefman is reproached as " a rebel,** whofe locks have whitened in the fervice of his country : — Thcfonh ftigmatized as the defcendant of a tory, "^hok father was flain and fepulchred in the " tented field :" — The war-worn foldier is denounced as a foe to liberty, whofe body was furrowed and whofe linews were wrenched in the conjlid, by which it was won, and ma- ny an honeft citizen and generous youth, who, ftiould the crifis again require it, "would be the^r/? to plant themiclves in the breach between their country and its foes, the firfl^ to pcrifti ; the lajl to flirink. — But, by whom is this charge made ? — I forbear the enquiry, I will not put my country to the blulh by telling you ; — a charge, which the republican and eloquent Randolph fays, " ought to be treated with contempt within the walls of congrefs ; without — to receive the He dired.** Gentlemen, is every thing which encircles us a mere delufion ! — Were the greateft and beft men our country has produced, all 'villains, — traitors ! — Are our fenfes the mere organs of deception ! — Are the precepts and max- ims, which our fathers reverenced us divine, to pafs away like the vifions of a dream ! — If so, I can only fay with an illuftrious ftatefman, but with more truth than arro- gance, " that as I am the leaft I had rather be the lafl of THAT RACE OF MEN, than the firji of their fucceffors.*' 24 Note alluded to page 15. The day on which Wafhington retired from office, the follow- ing publication appeared in the Aurora. " Nonx) let thy fervant depart in peace for 7nine eyes have feen thy fal- 'oalion" " was the pious ejaculation of a mm who beheld a flood of happinefs rulhing m on mankind. If ever there was a time that v/ould licence the reiteration of the exclamation, the time J>as now arrivd. for tlae man, who is the source of the mis- TORTUNEs OF OUR COUNTRY, is this day reduced to a level with his fellow citizens and is no longer poffe/Ted