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1 
 
THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE POLITICAL DISSENSIOI^ 
 /iV THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 PREACHED IN DRACUTT, MAY 11, 1811, 
 
 IT BEING THE 
 
 ANNUAL FAST. 
 y 
 
 BY SOLOMON 'AIKEN, A. M. 
 
 4>ASTOR OF THE FIRST CkuRCH IN DRACUTT, 
 
 -^ nA\*ERHILL, (Mass) 
 
 jtjf^ r HINTED AND SOLD BY WILLIAM B- AI.LEK. 
 ^^^ 1811. 
 
# 
 
NUMBERS 33, 55. 
 
 BUT IF YE "WILL NOT DRIVE OUT THE INHABITANTS OF THE 
 LAND FROM BtFORE YOU, THEN IT SHALL COME TO PASS, 
 THAT THOSE THAT YE LET REMAIN OF .THEM, SHALL BE 
 PRICKS IN YOUR EYES, AND THORNS IN YOUR SIDES, AND 
 SHALL VEX YOU IN THE LAND WHEREIN YE DWELL. 
 
 M' 
 
 OSES had now by the divine command, brought 
 the chosen People of God, to the borders of the prom- 
 ised land. He not being permitted to enter it with 
 them, and about to be removed from them, at the di- 
 vine direction- gives them many important inftructions 
 respecting their future conduct. Among these, he 
 gives it in charge, that they should utterly destroy, and 
 drive out the ancient and heathen inhabitants, and not 
 suffer a vestage of their idolatry to remain. And to 
 enforce this injunction, he forewarns them of the evil 
 of its neglect, in the text just cited. '• But if you will 
 not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before 
 you ; then shall it come to pass that those which ye 
 let remain of them, shall be pricks in your eyes and 
 thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land 
 wherein ye dwell." The expr(^sions " Pricks in your 
 eyes and thorns in your sides" are figurative, and mean, 
 that the ancient people of the land remaining in it, 
 should be a great curse and affliction to them, by 
 deceiving and blinding their eyes, or minds, by which 
 they should be led into errors, and then they 
 would be inftruments in punishing them ; and prove 
 as thorns and goads in their sides. The last clause of 
 the verse is exegetical of this, *' And shall vex you in 
 the land wherein you dwell. This was, but two well 
 verified, as the history of that nation evinces. They 
 were remiss in the duty enjoined on them, and neglect- 
 ful of their own interest, and happiness. " They did 
 net deftroy the nations, concerning whom the Lord 
 commanded them. But were mingled among the 
 heathen and learned their works. They served their 
 
Idols which was a snare unto them — Therefore the 
 •-'■wiath of the Lord was kindled against his people — and 
 he gave them into the hands of the heathen, and they 
 that hared them ruled over them. 
 
 The greatest afilicticns which the children of Israel 
 experienced, arose from their mingling with, and suf- 
 fering persons of different religious and political fenti- 
 ments, to remain in their land. This led them to idol- 
 atry ; in confequence of which they fuffered many 
 great and fevere national calamities, and finally to 
 Monarchy, and the lofs of their civil Liberty. The 
 Jewifh religion was altogether different from that of 
 the heathen, and fo was their poliiics, or mode of civil 
 govern rftent. The Jewish government was at this time 
 a Theocracy. God was their Legillator j and com- 
 manded the people to choofe their Rulers, or Judges. 
 This is the greateft feature of a Republican govern- 
 ment. By the people's mingling with monarchifts 
 and thofe who were prejudiced in favour of kingly 
 governments, as the Canaanites were,^they experienc- 
 ed the bitterefl confequences. They were truly pricks 
 in their eyes. They deceived the Ifraelitcs. They led 
 them on to worfhip their falfe gods ; and then were 
 inftruments of their punifhment ; and proved thorns 
 in their fides. Hence their corruption of morals, their 
 frequent oppreffions by the Canaanites ; their divifions 
 among themfelves, and wars and fightings. And were 
 led to relinquilh their free government for a kingly 
 one ; like the Nations around them. 
 
 Various are the infliances in which the hiftory of 
 the Jewilh nation, with ours, will admirably compare. 
 But we Ihall confine ourfclves to that circumftance in 
 their hifiiory, which laid a foundation for the corrup- 
 tion of their morals, the lofs of their liberty, and for 
 national calamities. For a methodical performance 
 of this wc fhall 
 
 L Speak of the rife and progrcfs of the poHtical 
 diffenfion in our land. 
 
 II. Confider the evils refulting therefrom, as mat- 
 ter of lamentation. 
 
I. Speak of the rife and progrefs of the polidcal 
 diffenfion in our land. ^ 
 
 As in the courfe of divine Providence, there were 
 of the ancient inhabitants of Canaan left in the land ; 
 fo thzt/ame fpirit which was in love with Monarchy, 
 and oppofed to our political feperation from Britain, 
 was fuffered to remain, as well as perfons vi^ho fled 
 from us, and joined our enemies, were after the con- 
 teft permitted to return, and dwell among us ; \\ith all 
 the rights and priviliges of Citizens.* And by their 
 arts and addrefs, being joined by the Monarchifts in 
 heart, rule over fome fed:ions of the union, and have 
 for a time ruled over the whole, and directed our na- 
 tional concerns. 
 
 After the termination of the war, which feparated 
 us from our political connexion with England ; under 
 the old confederation, party fpirit was fcarcely known 
 in our land ; as thofe circumftances had not occurred, 
 calculated to bring to public view, different political 
 fentiments. At this time it was found by experience, 
 that the then exillingj Confederation between the 
 States, was, for various reafons inadequate to fe- 
 cure our national happinefs. Therefore the contem- 
 plations of our Fathers and politicians, were turned 
 
 • These were then called Tories ; as ihe party appellations, in the time 
 of our contest \\\*Ai Eiii^land were Whig- and lory. 
 
 The Tories returning with the intrigue, assistance and deceptions of 
 older states ;have since as policy micfht dictate, assumed varioiis iippella- 
 tions.such as in their view should accord with the feelings of the People, 
 and applied such epithets to thu Whigs or Republicans as tluy imagined 
 would bring them into contempt. Hence they early assumed the appella- 
 tion of Federalists to themselves, which is discriptive of all who wished for 
 tlie continu.ition oftlie Coi.federacy, or political union of the states. — When 
 tliis was not sufficiently popular by their tarnishing the appellation, they en- 
 deavoured to hide the spot by covering it with ti^e venerable name of V/ash- 
 ingto.i and therefore assumed the appelh.tian of" Washington Federalist." 
 But when they found that liepubhcanism could not be brought into disre- 
 pute they condescended to apply to themselves the appellation of " Ftd- 
 erai Republicans." But finding that tiie term Fedeu a l however dear to 
 the people in its original meaning, co'ild not cover iheir designs ; in some 
 cf their late electioneering papers, they huve condescended still more, ar.d ' 
 styled iheir nomination "The Hepiiblican Nom'nation." But though Ihey 
 utay change their names as often as the Chamelion does his colours, they are 
 Tories still. And by their multi])lied arts, and hijih professions of Patrict- 
 ism they have deceived tliousaud of our well meaning fcilo^v citizens, so is 
 to obtain their support. 
 
virxi^vuv 
 
 upon the neccflity of an energetic national government, 
 idPlccurity at home, and refpe6l abroad. And al- 
 though they were throuL;h the conteft, agreed in the 
 article ot reparation from England, they were fo un- 
 happy as to differ in their fentiments, refpecling the 
 form of the national government, about to be eftab- 
 iifhed. Accordingly, wlien the convention met, for 
 the formation of our prefcnt national Conftitution, 
 there were difl'erent forms propofed. 
 
 Mr. Alexander Hamilton, a delegate from New- 
 York, propofed one, the prominent features of which 
 were ; That the chief Executive fiiould be chofen for 
 life ; the Senate alfo for life, the popular branch, or 
 Houfe of Reprefentatives, fliould be chofen periodical- 
 ly ; and that the Governors of the States fhould be ap-. 
 pointed by, and dependent on, the Chief Executive of 
 the nation, for the tenure of their office. And with 
 his ufual energy and pathos, advocated this mode of 
 government. However, there were a majority of Re- 
 publicans in the Convention, who had formed a Theo- 
 ry of a Reprefentative and eleclive form of Govern- 
 ment ; and could not concede to the adoption of any 
 other, v/ithout an experiment of the operation of fuch 
 an one. Accordingly fuch a form of Government as 
 our prefent Conftitution, without the amendments, was 
 with condefcenfion, on both fides to each other, agreed 
 on, to be prefented to the States for their adopuon. 
 
 The Republicans feeing great facilities in it, to 
 bring it into a monarchical form, and to wreft the lib- 
 erties of the people from them, propofed certain a- 
 niendments, guarding againil this evil. The amend- 
 ments in general v/ere, to fecure the people in the free 
 exercife of Religion, the freedom of the Prefs, and of 
 fpeech, to fecure the right of bearing arms, and to pre- 
 vent unreafonable fearches. The Tories or leading 
 Federalifts, were difpofed to adopt the Conftiiuticn 
 without the amendments ; the Republicans, with en- 
 ergy, urged the amendments to be incorporated in the 
 Conftitution, as conftitucnt parts thereof j which, ac- 
 cordingly was done. 
 
i 
 
 This difpute gave rife to the party appellations^f 
 federcliji and anti-federahjt. And, as thofe amendments 
 were adopted ; that Conititution now exifts, which the 
 Republicans wifhed for, and to which the federalifts, 
 falfely fo called, were oppofed, as they contended for 
 it, without the ame'iidments. 
 
 Party fpirit being known, at this time no other- 
 wife than that of Whig and Tory, except what arofe 
 in the debate refpeding the adoption of the Conflitu- 
 tion ; and the people not diftrufting characters which, 
 had been adive in the revolution of their country ; 
 a majority of Federalifts, was found in the Senate of 
 the firft Congrefs. And immediately, they exerted 
 themlelves to bring the adminiftration of our govern- 
 ment, as near a monarchical form as poffible ; not only 
 in their refolution, that it was expedient to addrefs the 
 Prefident, with the title of, " His Highnefs, the Prefi- 
 dent of the United States, and Protestor of their Lib- 
 erties ;" and this out of refpecl, and conformity to 
 European powers, as expreifed in the preamble of the 
 Refolve ; but alfo, as their approbation muft be obtain- 
 ed, for the appointment of federal Judges, fuch men 
 obtained it, as did determine upon the fuability of the 
 States ; or that they were liable to a legal proccfs be- 
 fore a federal Court. Accordingly, this Common- 
 Vi'ealth, had an action brought againil it fuft ; as it was 
 conceived to be, at that time, as much or more federal 
 than any other ftate in the Union ; and therefore, they 
 were the more likely to fucceed in the profccution, as 
 there would of courfe, be the Icfs oppofition, and the 
 more advocates for the procefs. Governor Hancock 
 was then in ofiiceas fuch, in this Commonwealth ; who 
 convoked the General Court to an extra fellion, on the 
 occafion. He with the General Court, viewed it as a 
 bold ftroke for the annihilation of the ftate fovercipcn- 
 ties, and giving exiftence in a meafure, to that monar- 
 chical form of Government propofed to the Conven- 
 tion, by Mr. Hamilton. With thefe juft conceptions 
 of the Governor, and General Court of this Common- 
 wealth, the proccfs was neceftitated to ccafe where it 
 
siMk. 
 
 8 
 
 0JJK39 
 
 Tliofe exertions, In the federaliftb', to bring the 
 adminiftration of our national Government into a mo- 
 narchicgj form, naturally excited the exertions of the 
 Republicans in oppoiition. 
 
 The march of the Federalifts, however, under the 
 adminiftration of Wafhington,was flow and cautious, 
 having the fame objeft in view. But when that illuftri- 
 ous character left the Prcfidency, it was a joyful day to 
 the leading Federalifts. A Prcfident ot their own choof- 
 ing took the chair of ftate. They had a majority in 
 both houfes of Congrcfs. Thus every obftacb to their 
 accelerated march, fecms to have been removed. From 
 this time there appears to have been no impediment in 
 their career. As France and England were now at 
 war, they infringed on neutral rights. Fyery injury 
 from France was exaggerated, every aggreftion from 
 England palliated, or winked at in Congrefs, ahd the 
 federal papers through the Union. All exertions were 
 made to alienate the afi'eclions of cur fellow citizens 
 from France. Thofe among ourfelves, v/ho were dif- 
 pofed to purfue the equitable line, with impartiality, 
 were denominated Frenchmen ; fo were the minority 
 in Congrefs. I am not dilpofed to comment upon the 
 cmbafi)' of Pinkney, Marflial and Gerry, and the refult 
 with the fignature of X Y Z. At this time the Repub- 
 licans were, in the eftimation of the Federalifts, French- 
 men, and enemies to their Country. And Mr. Jeffer- 
 fon they confidered as being at the head of them, who, 
 they faid, held a fecret corfefpondence with the Jaco- 
 bins in France. Marihal and Pinkney are now return- 
 ed from their fruitlefs embafly. Gerry ftill remains in 
 France. 
 
 The Prefidcnt in his communications to Congrefs, 
 fuggefts his determination, to feni no more ambafla- 
 dors to France, until he fliould i.ave aiTurance from 
 the ruling power there, that they iliuuld be received 
 and treated in character. Thus far, the door of nego- 
 tiation was clofed. Now where let. ■- rs of rcprif .1 ilfu- 
 ed again ft France, Captain Truxton., >. mmandiiig one 
 of our frigates, captured an armed veilel of theirs, 
 
9 
 
 with (laughter. And now were exertions made to d^ 
 fend ourfelves againft a French invafion, ahhougU the 
 French had enough to do in Europe, being at war with 
 England and Auilria, with their auxiliries. A prc- 
 vifional army is railed, flationed in the interior of the 
 country. An alien bill is enacted by Congrefs, giving 
 the Prelident power to prevent the landing of any for- 
 eigners whom he might judge dangerous to the United 
 States, and alfo to order the tranfportation oijuch per- 
 fons, or otherwife deal wi. h them, making the will of 
 the Prefident to polTefs the power of law. With this 
 alfo came the fedition bill, prohibiting ail perfons from 
 writingjUttering or publifliing any thing which fliould 
 have a tendency to bring the Frefident, or either Houfe 
 of Congrefs, into diirepute, in the minds of the citizens 
 of the U. States. Thus were our fellow citizens pro- 
 hibited from writing, uttering or publilhing the truth, 
 however important to be known, if it had this tenden- 
 cy. And this, notwithRanding any provifion in the 
 bill, that the truth might be brought in evidence. As 
 Judge Iredal, one of the judges of the United States, 
 on the trial of an alledged defamation of the Prefident, 
 gave in charge to the jury, that " The greater the truth, 
 the sjreater the libel." Then was " the rei«;n of terror." 
 Jails, fines and imprifonment awaited thofe who argu- 
 ed, and fpoke their fentiments upon public niealures, 
 if it had a tendency to bring the Frefident, or either 
 houfe of Congrefs, into difrcpute. Congrefs were now 
 ready, though with a very fmall majority, in various 
 inftances to augment the powers of tiie Prefident, by 
 refolving legiflative powers out of their own hands, 
 into his, to be ufed at his difcretion;; 
 
 At this time every exertion was ufed by the lead- 
 ing Federalifls, to difgrace a Republican Governm.enc, 
 to make it appear in the view of the people, " Ugly as 
 a Witch or Wizard." It wasfboken of with contempt, 
 as deftitute of energy, generating contentions and fac- 
 tions. Advantage was taken of the confufion which 
 was experienced in France, when they ftvled thcmfelvcs 
 B 
 
10 
 
 <>& Republic, to bring Rcpublicanlfni into difrcputc, m 
 the minds of the citizens of the U. S. They faidthat 
 a Repubhcan Goveirnment was impraclicable ; that it 
 coulci exill only in theory, that no fuch Government 
 €ver long flood and never could ftand. 
 
 Our Laws and fifcal operations are now brought 
 into conformity to European and monarchical powers. 
 We experienced a flamp a(^, a land and houle tax, a 
 tax on carriages, stills, sugar refineries, kc. Thofe 
 in, and out of Congrefs, who were oppofed to thefe 
 meafures, were ftigmatifed as enemies to their Country, 
 as joining with France in a fyftem to demoralize the 
 world ; that they were engaged in the Illuminati bufi- 
 nefs ; which they faid, was to demolifh all law, and or- 
 der in fociety ; to difregard the laws of God and Man, 
 to break up fecial order in families ; and for man to 
 range like the brutal heard vv'ithout connubial reftraint. 
 Volumes were written in this country, upon the fub- 
 je6l, by the help of Robinfon and Barruel, who wrote 
 in England ; and our pulpits refounded with the awful 
 danger. And what augmented the danger exceeding- 
 ly was, Mr. Jcfferfon was conlidered a fair candidate 
 for the Prefidency ; as the fourth Prefidential Election 
 Was approaching. 
 
 Mr. JcfTerfon now became the butt of flander, for 
 the leading Fedcralifts, as the Head, and ring leader of 
 thofe who were about to turn the world upfide down. 
 Accordingly all the flanderous flood gates of the federal 
 Prefles through tlie union, which by care were greatly 
 muhiplied, pouuid in torrents upon him. He inftant- 
 ]y became a Deiftj an Infidel, it was found in his writ- 
 ings which had been a long time extant, and which, no 
 fcrutinizingeye could ever difcover before. 
 
 They laid, that Jefferfon was an Infidel, and that 
 he was in league with infidel France, and foon expected 
 a French army to his afliftance. And to alarm and 
 frighten the People, and to keep the public mind in 
 agitation, many flories were with an air of furprife and 
 ferioufnefs, put in circulation in confirmation of this. 
 
11 
 
 Among them was " The Tailor plot." That, it was 
 difcovered that the Tailors in Philadelphia, were mak. 
 ing French military uniforms, for the jacobins in this 
 Country, to join the French army, as foon as they 
 fhould land. Another ftory in unifon with -this, pre- 
 previoufly to the approaching Prcfidential Eleclion, was, 
 that which is known by the "Tub plot" which was 
 that the Packet containing the correfpondence between 
 Mr. Jefferfon, and the Jacobins in France, failed from 
 thence, at a certain time fpecified. It was difcribed, 
 and faid, to be navigated by men of colour, and that 
 the letters were contained between two bottoms of one 
 tub. And what added an air of ferioufnefs and alarm 
 to it, was, that our fea coaft from (jeorgia to Maine 
 fliould be watched, and guarded if by any means we 
 might avail ourfelves of the Packet and correfpondence. 
 And anon, behold it was faid, that the packet was dif- 
 covered, and feized, and the correfpondence between 
 Mr. Jefferfon and the Jacobins in France, obtained. 
 And now it was confidently publiflied in the federal 
 papers, that Mr. Jefferfon will now certainly loofe his 
 Head ! And here the farce ended ! It was con- 
 fidently affirmed alfo in the federal Papers, that 
 if Mr. Jefferfon Ihould be chofen Prefident, our 
 houfes of public worQiip would be demolifhed, and 
 our Bibles burnt. This calamity was dwelt upon, and 
 painted in the mofl heart felt manner. It was faid, 
 that he would commence a war with England, and 
 that in confequence thereof, our feaports and habita- 
 tions would be con fumed. That \^ Ihall be governed 
 by the infidel and arbitrary powej* or the French nation. 
 Now it was time to know who were for their 
 country, and who for France. For this purpofe was 
 invented the black cockade, which created fo much 
 confufion and alienation among the people. This in- 
 fignia was elevated, not only in every corner of the 
 flreets, decoracing heads of all colours ; but in multi- 
 plied inflances, it intruded itfclf into the facred Desk, 
 that if by any means, it might obtain a little co7tfidera~ 
 
fWtiCCP 
 
 tton and rcfpeEl. This Cockade affair was fet on fOor 
 by a Bvitifli Emmiilliry, then an editor of a federal pa- 
 per in Philatielphiaj who after his return ro England, 
 was t}\.)iiG;ht to be worthy of aftatuc of j^old, by one 
 of the Jiritifh parliament, for the fecret fervice he had 
 rendered lO England in America. However, the peo- 
 ple rofe in the '* Majefty of their ftrength," and Mr. 
 Jcflcrfon was chofen Prefident ; notM ithftanding the 
 llanderous tongue rhen moved with fuch zeal and rap- 
 idity againfl him, that it hath fcarcely loft its vibration 
 to this day. 
 
 This Prefidential Election, was a heavy ftroke to 
 leading Federal'ijts, It has convinced the people, that 
 in lime of peace, without emharrafiment to trade ^ they 
 can live without an enormous fyftem of internal taxa- 
 tion. And that prifons, and fines are unneceflary to 
 be reforted to, to prevent our citizens from fpeaking 
 their minds upon public men and meafures, although 
 it fhould have a tendency to bring the Prefidenc, or 
 either houfe of Congrcls inio difrepute. 
 
 Thus have we taken aview of federalifm,in its 
 rife and progrcfs to its fall and lofs of power, by the 
 fourih Prefidential Eleclion. But although Federalifm 
 received this heavy and fevere check, we ftill feel its 
 baneful confequences. To contemplate which brings 
 us to the 
 
 II. General head of this Difcourfe ; which is, 
 
 To confider the evils refulting theretrom as mat- 
 ter of lamentation. 
 
 ' As we have j^en notice of the rife and progrefs of 
 federalifm, which ronftitutes the political diffcnfion in 
 our land, in confidering its effe6ls, we fliall not be gov- 
 erned by any comparative importance of them ; but as 
 near as may be, by the order of their exiftence. 
 
 The firft unhappy eifecl of Federalifm which v/c 
 iliall take notice of, as matter of lamentation, is, its 
 giving cxtention to that idle, and diflionefi fpirit of 
 ipeculation in our land. This was commenced in buy- 
 ing up the Soldiers* Notes, for lefs than three twentieths 
 
Id 
 
 of their value. It was don>; by taking advantage of 
 the foldiers* neceility, and the ftate ot our generalGov- 
 ernment, at that time, not being in a fituation to pay 
 them. And the uncertainty of their ever obtaining 
 any thing for them, was flrongly infmuated. Care 
 was taken that this fhould be done before the funding 
 fyftem ihould tc ke place. For this purpofe the pay 
 rolls of Companies, and even of Regiments were ob- 
 tained ; and men were employed, furnifhed with mo- 
 ney and horfes, who rode throufrh the Country to find 
 the difperfed Soldiers, who held their fecuritie,-i, to pur- 
 chafe them on the ealieft terms they could. The lirft 
 Congrefs under our prefent Conftitution, taking the 
 public debt into conlideration funded them at the full 
 value of the face of the Notes. This was done through 
 the influence of the leading Federalifls, notwithftand- 
 ing all the propofitions the Republicans could make in 
 oppofition. 
 
 This overreaching conduct, was known and felt, 
 through the Union. It was an improvement upon 
 fpeculation, in the minds of the aged, and inflamed the 
 youth for the prad:ice, when they faw what property 
 was gained without labour. Hence in every part of 
 the Union the practice of fpeculation fo much prevails. 
 
 In our populous Towns and Cities, there arc idle 
 fpeculators, who make it their bufinefs, to buy and fell, 
 and get gain, in the mofl ufelefs manner to fociety. 
 
 . The flock-holders of the Banks run upon each oth- 
 er, decry their Bills, fo that they pafs at a certain dif- 
 count, until they have obtained a^M^ntity of them to 
 their fatisfaclion, then again give tWm their full cur- 
 rency, and make the faving to themftlves. 
 
 Thefe grofs and bare-faced inflances of fpeculation, 
 have a tendency to break down all barriers to common 
 honefty. Hence the incrcafe of diihonefty, defrauding 
 and overreaching, iri private and individual dealings ; 
 and confequentiy an augmentation of vexatious and 
 expenfive law fuits. 
 
 The next evil effect of federalifm, which will be 
 
14. 
 
 90999M 
 
 named, and is truly matter of lamentation, is, the 
 great incrcafe of Infidelity. That, there is fuch an in- 
 creafe is granted. The federal papers, not only ac- 
 knowledge this, but with great zeal publifti it, and in 
 fome inftances dcfignate perfons, as being Infidels, who 
 ftand the higlieft for reputation, and have acquired, 
 and poffefs the greatefc confidence, of any in the Na- 
 tion. Let reafon determine whether declarations and 
 publications, like thefe, have not a direct tendency to 
 propagate Infidelity ? But this is not all ; great men 
 and good men arc not always wife. Federalifm, witK 
 its baneful influence, has been fufiered to enter the fa- 
 cred Delk ; and to deal out federal flander in copious 
 eftufions. This has had an unhappy effect on thou- 
 fands ; when they haveylvw a zeal becoming Religion, 
 converted to politics, and with fuch folemnity federal 
 tales propagated, which the hearers were incapable of 
 believing, or thinking, thtfpeaker him/elf believed them ! 
 "What has more confounded the faith of many than 
 this, and drove them to Infidelity ? When they were 
 previoufly confirmed in the belief of important things 
 to receive inftruflions, they are now chagrined, abafh- 
 cd, and know not what to believe. 
 
 Another evil of Federalifm, is, that it hath created 
 difcord in focicty. Not only in the Union generally, 
 and in the States particularly ; but it comes nearer the 
 tender feelings of the human heart ; it enters Families, 
 and feperates very Friends j the father is againft die fon, 
 and the fon againft the father ; the mother againft the 
 daughter, and thejhiughter againft the mother. 
 
 Federalifm niaKes mere fceptics of fome perfons 
 in politics. They hear fo much contradiclion, that 
 they know not what to believe, and are not ready to 
 believe any thing. They find that thefederalifts bold- 
 ly and in a reiterated manner, deny the truth of the 
 faireft, and moft properly authenticated public Docu- 
 ments. And alfo they will publifti the fentiments of 
 perfons, high in the eftimation of the People, fur Re- 
 publicans, as being of their political opinion. This 
 
15 
 
 confounds fomc, fuch bafenefs and deception they can- 
 not conceive to be in the heart of man, depraved as it is 1 
 Another diftrefling and malignant evil which the 
 leading FederaHfts have fet an example for, and which 
 calls for lamentation, is, flander and defaming individ- 
 ual and moral charafters. How infmately apparent is 
 federal flander, for fome reafon againft Mr. JefFerfon, 
 and that while he fuftained the dignified office, of the 
 Prefident oi i\\e U. S. ? Previoufly to this, the leading 
 Fcderalifts, were abundant in expreffing their fenti- 
 mentsupon the bafenefs and treafonable condud: of 
 thofe who fhould fpeak againft the Prefident of the 
 U. S. in a political point of view, without effecting his 
 moral character. But when Mr. JefFerfon became Pre- 
 fident, it altered the cafe, they forgot their maxims, 
 they were capable of writing and publifhing the moft 
 obfcene flander againft him, and reprefent him in his 
 
 amours with perfons of colour, who 1 forbear, 
 
 decency forbids proceedure ! Blulh ye Federal writers 
 at your inconliftency ! at your obfcenity more ; or ac- 
 knowledge, as your conduct will declare, that yo-uT faces 
 are iron andjy*«r brows hrafs. If you federal writers, 
 who pretend to more than an ordinary {hare of Piety, 
 are capable of flander like this, and that againft the 
 Chief Magiftrate of the Union; and Colleges join there- 
 in, and the Pupils on the public ftage, as if they were 
 fage ftatefmen, fhould fpeak againit public meafures^' 
 and viUify public charaders, holding the moft impor-l 
 tant offices in the Union, and the governments of our 
 Univerlities countenance this, makyte fome of our 
 Colleges to become fchools of flander and defamation ; 
 is it any wonder that the common and more ignorant, 
 not to Jay more vicious part of the community, fliould 
 catch the contagion, fabricate and propogate the molt 
 obfcene ftories of their neighbors, to the lafting grief of 
 individuals, and to the diftruction of the peace and har- 
 mony of fociety ? It is as truly for the political intereft 
 of modern Federalifm, to corrupt the morals of the Peo- 
 ple, to which their condudl admirably correfpo?ids, as it 
 
16 
 
 was for the interefi: oi the Canaanites to coiTupt the 
 morals of the Ifraclitcs. 'ihis will weaken the fenfe the 
 People may feel of their moral obligation, to abide their 
 national compa^l:, and facilitate the political feparation 
 of the States, " Peaceably if they can, forcibly if they 
 mull:." '1 hefe cffccls of Fed .ral fin, are truly Pricks in 
 our eyes, blinding and deceiving the People, and lead- 
 ing them in delufion. 
 
 The next evil proceeding from the influence of 
 leading Federalifts, as matter of lamentation, is, Injub- 
 o'rdination to the Laws of the Land. 
 
 While of late, rrutrril Nations experienced unjufl, 
 and arbitrary reftriclions from the European belliger- 
 ents, fo that "Sailing had now become dangerous.*' 
 Our government impofed an Embargo. 
 
 We now come to a circumftance of fo recent a 
 date, that the reflections of our young men upon the 
 fubjed, inflantly anticipate all juft obfervations which 
 may be made upon it. Soon was there the greateft 
 
 ,; complaint of extreme poverty and diftrefs, in confe- 
 i^M quence of the arbitrary meafu res of Congrefs. * The 
 
 'Jm defign of which, the leading Federalifts faid, was to 
 weaken and debilitate the northern States, that the 
 fouthern might rule over them. They laid, that the 
 I Law was unjuft and unconftitutional, and therefore 
 ought to be difregarded. The General Court of this 
 Commonwealth for the time being, did enkindle rath- 
 er than quench the federal flame of murmur and dif- 
 content. Whatever the real was, the oftenfive reafon 
 why Congrels ifjpofed the Law, was kept out of fight, 
 and was not fo much as named by them, and much 
 lefs defcanted on, in their memorial to the members of 
 Congrefs, from this Commonwealth, inftvucting their 
 Senators, and requefting the Reprefentatives, to ufe 
 their influence, that Congrefs might remove the em- 
 barrafsments attending our trade, as if the Embargo 
 were all the difiiculty, and the embarrafl'ments were 
 folely at the will of Congrefs, and did not originate in 
 foreign Courts. • This is maiiifeil from the Memorial 
 
itlelf, and the anfwer of a majority of our Congrefiion- 
 al Reprefentatives to it, which are recommended to 
 your perufal. 
 
 This was preparing the way to Rebellion which 
 the General Court was not ripe for, nor could be until 
 they had report from their Committee appointed to 
 confer with other ftates, which had the fame intereft 
 and ends in view, which they had. 
 
 But happily, for the Commonwealth, the next 
 Governor and one branch of the General Court were 
 Republicans, which perhaps faved that committee the 
 labour of reporting. The painful fenfations of: the Em- 
 bargo are ftill felt. Federalifts, fjch as they were, 
 through the inftigation of their directors, could parade 
 in the ftreet before the Governor's houfe in Bofton ; to 
 requeft of him relief, under the preffures they felt, from 
 the embarraffments of our trade, as if he controled the 
 Councils of foreign Nations and the acls of Congrefs. 
 This federal movement, had its influence in ftirring 
 the People up to the refiftance of the laws ; when as 
 the federal writers faid, they were famifliing with hun- 
 ger, and at the fame time, to reprefent the diftrefs of 
 the Embargo, in all its fliapes, they faid, the rich pro- 
 duce of the Country, was perifhing in the barns of the 
 Farmers, and in the llore houfes of the Merchants, for 
 the want of a market. They faid that diftrefs and fa- 
 mine had pervaded not only the humble cottages of 
 the poor, but the fplendid edifices of the rich. 
 
 Hereby were ftirred up the Silver Greys, in a 
 neighboring town, to a menacing attitude* a- 
 gainft the execution of the laws. How unlike the an- 
 cient Silver Greys of Bennington ? This is modern 
 Federalifm, in oppofition to the Whigs of 1777. The 
 federal influence extended from Boilon to Newbury- 
 porc, and thence to the north part of Vermont, and 
 there flied the blood of two perlons, in the affair of 
 the black fnake, a trading boat, fo called. And when 
 did the abominable practice of duelling flourifli, with 
 greater luxuriance, than fince the fpirit of modern fed- 
 
ci^lifm has prevailed ? And fomething more Turpn- 
 fing ftill ! Has not the world witne0ed the fall of a 
 blooming youth, on Bofton exchange at noon day,with 
 only a walking cane in his hand ; uncxpecledly con- 
 fronted by his antagonift, with a fatal weapon, which 
 was with premeditation prepared ; which inftantly put 
 a period to his life ? A jury upon the fpot confidered 
 the acl to be wilful murder. On trial before an high- 
 er Court, with a jury whofe foreman was a federalift, 
 the innocent man-flayer was permitted to purfue his oc- 
 cupation in pleading at the bar, in our courts of Ju- 
 dicature ! ! 
 
 The violations of our laws, iuftlgations to rebell- 
 ion, faftions and tumults in fociety, murder, and the 
 flieding of human blood, with all the poignant and 
 lafting grief of the friends and connections of the de- 
 ceafed, are the fruits and effecls of modern Federali/m, 
 
 Another evil which we fliall take notice of, as be- 
 ing the direct fruit of this Fcderalifm is, the invitation 
 of the injuries and aggrelHons of a Foreign Nation to- 
 wards this. The Government of England, ever fmce 
 the Treaty of peace which terminated the conteft for 
 our Independence, has treated us, as if fhe remembered 
 that fhe once confidered us rebellious Colonies. 
 
 She has habituated herfelf even to this day, to 
 take from under our flag, our citizens, by force into 
 perpetual flavery ; fhe has arbitrarily, and contrary to 
 the laws of Nations, confifcated our properly, and ref- 
 tricled our trade, fo as to gain a revenue from us ; 
 file has wantonly murdered our fellow citizens, in our 
 own waters ; fhe has made an unprovoked attack on 
 one of our frigates, the Chefapeake, in which the lives 
 of feveral perions were lofl, and others taken into ila- 
 very. She has invited our fellow citizens to violate 
 the laws of our land, in trading with her, without fea 
 letters. She has, by her minifler, made an arrange- 
 ment with us, in confequence of which, fhe received 
 an abundance of our commodities ; then difavowed the 
 minifler*.s authority, and witheld from us the condition 
 
of the ftipulatlon. And for no aggrefiion is fhe willing 
 to make us any reparation. Yet the leading Federalijh 
 have the confidence to fay that, " She hath done us no 
 effential injury.*' This is a public invitation and en- 
 couragement to England, to purfue her aggreflions. 
 But for the Federaliils, in and out of our councils, we 
 liave every reafon to believe, that the obftruclions to 
 our trade would long before now have been removed. 
 In the time of the Embargo, the Britifli Parliament by 
 continuing the Orders in Council, were fondly looking 
 for a rebellion in America, through the influence of 
 leading Federalifts. And you, as well as I, my refpec- 
 table hearers,, can judge how narrowly their hopes 
 were difappo^nted. But if they had not been dif- 
 appointed, I have not now time to make ob> 
 fervations upon the probable benefit it would have 
 been to this nation. We cannot hope for better times 
 or lefs foreign aggrefiions, until federal influence is 
 more narrowly circumfcribed. 
 
 But one more evil, fhall I name, refulting from 
 federalifm,and that is, the embarraffment of our na- 
 tional councils. This cafts a gloom over the minds of 
 our fellow citizens. Some are ready to imagine, then* 
 duty is as difficult to be difcerned as their debates are 
 prolix. This thought is incorrect. The Federalifts 
 iu Congrefs, are willing to perplex our councils, and 
 confume time, for the procraftination of a queftion, 
 when they are a minority, and determined to be in 
 the negative. As every one according to the rules of 
 the houfe, have a right that their voice (hould be 
 heard; their fpeeches are fpun out in a fine thread, to 
 the point or not ; and when the queftion muft be call- 
 ed, they have found themfelves capable of withdrawing 
 from the Houfe, and the majority, fo as not to leave a 
 quorum, conftitutionally to do bufinefs,and thus compel 
 lefs than a quorum to adjourn. In this they are pricks 
 in the eyes of the people Winding and deceiving them. 
 The fubje<n: fuggefts thefe important Reflexions, 
 I. The danger, moral and pohtical in certain iw- 
 ftances of Mingling and having intercourfe with per- 
 
20 
 
 fons of different and oppofite principles, in religion and 
 politics. 
 
 Minj;ling with the Heathen Nations, and having 
 intcrcourfe with them, was the deftrudion of the 
 Jewifli Nation. The heathen were corrupting. They 
 demoraliled them, and brought them to relinquifh their 
 free government for a rrjonarchy. So is that of an- 
 cient Toryifm, or modern Federalifm. Thoufands of 
 our Fellow Citizens, have their morals corrupted by 
 them, in the manner we have contemplated. They 
 will juftify their practices of falfehood, flander and de- 
 famation. It was as impolitic for us as it was for the 
 Jews with the Heathen, to mingle with them ; to give 
 our Daughters to their Sons, or receive their Sons to 
 our Daughters. A feparation muft and will take place, 
 things will come to a crifis. There is a rooted enmity 
 between modern Federalifm and Republicanifm. They 
 are totally oppofite in principle. 1 hey can no more 
 coalefce than the feet and toes of the Hieroglyphical 
 Image of the Nations, which were a part of iron and a 
 part of Potter's clay. 
 
 A feparation muft come, and in the opinion of the 
 fpeaker, who pretends to no fpirit of prophefy, neither 
 party will die, *till it bleeds to death, 
 
 2. We are taught from the fubjeA, the importance 
 of inftrucling the rifing generation, in the principles of 
 a republican form of Government, as truly, as in the 
 principles of Religion. This muft be confidered of the 
 fecond greateft importance. They ought not to be ig- 
 norant of, but underftand, and deted: the deceptive 
 wiles, which the enemies of Freedom will ufe to def- 
 troy it. Let them underftand the Conftitution of the 
 United States, and of this Commonwealth, together 
 with Wafliington's valedictory Addrefs, and they will 
 fee the hallow profefTions of patriotifm, in thofe who 
 talk of the poflibility of the political feparation of the 
 States. 
 
 3d. In view of the moral and political fituation of 
 our Country, it becomes us this day, to be clothed with 
 
21 
 
 <Wt<M9 
 
 deep humiliation before God, who direfts all events, 
 in the Natural, Moral and Political Worlds. And en- 
 quire why he isexercifing ns with pricks in our eyes, 
 and thorns in our fides. Why He ftiould fend this po- 
 litical divifion ; why he fhould fuffer modern Federal- 
 ifm to arife, to blind the people, to diftrad our Coun- 
 cils ; to join with and juftify thofe who make depreda- 
 tions on us ; Murder our citizens, fteal our men, con- 
 lifcate our property, violate their faith, and obftruA 
 our trade? Why all this public flander and defama- 
 tion, fpeaking evil of dignities, to the great corruption 
 of the morals of our nation ? Why fo many of the an- 
 gels of our churches, fhould join in it, and emit fmoke 
 and darknefs from the golden candle flick, inflead of 
 light ? Why our land fhould call for the atonement of 
 innocent blood flied therein ? Why this bold and me- 
 nacing attitude of fome, againfl the execution of our 
 laws, which being perlifled in, mufl terminate in Blood, 
 and their exterpation, or the deftruclion of our Gov- 
 ernment, and the flavery^ of our whole Nation ? It is 
 for our iniquities and the abufe of divine favors. God 
 hath given us the greatefl liberty civil and religious of 
 any Nation on earth. But what aflonifbing returns 
 of ingratitude have we made. We have abufed our 
 liberties to great licentioufnefs ; like Jefhurun of old, 
 we have waxen fat, and kicked ; we have rebelled a- 
 gainfl our God. 
 
 While we have been indulged with all religious 
 liberty, our Confciences not bound, nor our faith di- 
 refted by the arbitrary laws of ignorant men. While 
 we have had the liberty of choofing our own teachers 
 of Religion and morality. While we have been indulg- 
 ed with the liberty of worfhipping God according to the 
 dictates of our ov/n confciences, and none to make us 
 afraid ; we have greatly abufed all this indulgence ; 
 negle<5ted the practice of religion, and religous inflitu- 
 tions. Profaned the name and fabbath of the Lord, 
 and generally have been difpofcd to walk in the way 
 of our own hearts, and in the fight of our own eyes. 
 
22 
 
 UOCHV 
 
 God is angry with us, and fees that we are unworthy 
 of thofc privileges, by our abufe of them ; and threat- 
 ens us with calamities, internal commotions, refiftencc 
 to our laws and with blood, for the innocent blood 
 unatoned for, flicd in our land, if not with a total lofs 
 of our liberties, civil and religious, by being fubjecled 
 to the foreign power which once ruled over us. 
 
 Let us therefore, this day, humble onrfelves be- 
 fore God, as its duties require. And by fincere re- 
 pentance, return unto him with refolutions fuitably 
 to improve our liberties, his heavenly gifts, and attend 
 to all his commandments. Let us be clothed in fack- 
 eloth, that we may be found worthy, and obtain the 
 divine favor j and God avert his judgments from us. 
 
 AMEN. 
 

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