A N

 RATION2

DELIVEREQ 1;»; Tag:

BENEVOLENT CONGREGATIbNAL

Ix-“I I§.".1‘1'1“ I N G-e-H U SE,
aw THE»
33"  U    0 rr  U 1; ,'§’7‘$
A. 1)‘. 1797,
H: c0MM‘EM0%RA'rx‘oz~: 01:‘

%MERIflAN INDEPENDENCE,

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xw GEORGE.R.BURRlLg Em”

Em: Spmftaculum dignum!

?1>§.IBLIsH,EI) BY REQUEST, K

V1>k. ()v%xDENcE;

‘.\‘.’!"‘;'jIX?~'l'3l"‘lf'-1'.) zév mnr_zn% 1_u-an wxpxxmson, Ann 5r<:y_;x.n .5.';%rHx:x.i 

mgooxcwgwogzzs. 1797.

 

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FELLOW-»CI'rtzENs,

 tliis day is exhibited, ‘through...

A out the United States, a new and i1“1terel‘ting fpeeta...

rI\nJ""'~\o

eele-----a greatiand enlightened people allexnbled to
A celebrate their freedom and independence, and to

eommemeorate the clay which rendered them free and

independent. It was that event which fulfilled the A

prophetic hopes of patriots, poets and philofophers,

in elder times. It is that fpeoftacle which they dc» i
elired to behold, but Could not. They beheld in 1

deed fI‘O1'n the rnountainwtop, and afar off, the pro}...
mifed fcene; but to enter upon it, to take a nfearet
View of the fublime and glorious fpeétacle, and to
participate in the feelings and joys of that highly
fhvourecl people, was forbidden: A a broad and ind..-
paliable gulph, the immaturity of events,% feparated
them from that felicity which has been referved for
us. Yetthey fang and prophefied the certain ad-«
vent of this day. They fcattered in lilenceg but in

confidence, the feeds of truth, liberty and gllorygl

They faw their labours fucceliively flourilh, maturej,
and feattewr their feed with increafe of a tlioufixnd
fold; and feeing, exulltled in the perfttafion, that
though the harvell: might not be theirs, it was lure

and certain. The germ thus planted in fecret, fpreacleee
ainldecommeunicated, till the world was full of its in-» A

ilgfeneie, amdit expeéicd the moment when the defirc:
of Ilatiolfms flfroulti belaeeompliflied, Bttt wlro flfl011,l{=i

t 4 i
iti_¢:p.forth the Vindicator of man, and become the
iIl.:31'_k, andperhas the viflim, of confederated def...
iiotifin ? Impatient of further wrongs, and alarmed
at the infatiable and continued incroachments of
Britifl} power upon their dear and boalied privi-

ileges, the Uriited States of America, on the Fourth day

,pf"]uly, 1776, declared iitlieinfeliries free and indet-
pendent. M This was the glorious confdmmation,
propliefied, hoped for, laboured for; To the world
it was a day of inqalculatble importance. Empires
had irifein; and had falleni thefe evenis however
were not the concern and caufe of the people, but
of their mafierg. c But this was the eaiife of man, and

i intereiied the feelings of Irianltind. Every fondelt

hope, every trembling anxiety, every ardent wiih
and fervent prayer, A rtilhecl to that point as the blood
to the heart. The taliiman had been touched, and
the {hock was felt and anfwe"1*ed through thelpuriiverfei
That day was a great era in the hiltory of man; it
was to decide the quefiion between the people and
their oppreiio1*s; upon the turning of the balance
depended, whether Liberty ihould quench her torch
ih theioceanp, or ‘whether it {hould burn forever;
wltetliet“ are ihoiildp dwell with men, or fly to her
iwlrontled caves, and hide lierfelf in her deep receflizs.
To the iznrhediate aélors it wasla day of irxexpreflible
aniciety. A Unpra€tifed in policy and blood, their
hands arid their exertions had beezrfemployed in
donieflic C)i'f1C€S-3 and in tlie arts of peace. Her
gentle voice alone had echoed in their fields ;. their
‘ears could not endiire the difcorctlant clarion of war;
they fluiddered at the profpeét ofburrling cities, and
fields empurlpled with kindred blood. Iiow could
‘they lrrreet thecsnfe: ofBri‘tilh valour and difcipline 1:’
Wltere were the refources to balance the Britilh

treaftiry  A The ll1e'art-{triage of ancientloyalty were
 urfiby alfeparationi'1*orrrthe once honoured mother»

liountry, thegbirth-1»-placeelof tlleir fathers. *But the
t§rea'd reformat: i1%.tCl’paiiC‘£lA; the eyetsi aadtlte liopest



;hi’r1ia1ik~-ind were upon them; it was il'1artilefutl 
look back, it was dangerous to proceed. Before‘

them was the power “of” an ancient and formidaghie’
tongdom, infligated by third of domination, 
eincou1'a'g.ed by community of caufe with the pyowyejrg
and potentates of the earth. V The profpyefit 
hlaekened with the reviiliiori of man to accuiiiglziiitiggé
bondage, the renovation of ancient abules, the ye;;2y_c.;-i
tinéiion of hope, and the eurfe of di_fapp0irited ;l};}}_1_-;'-
rnanify. But hope lighted their way, and the rye;
rnemhranceof former wrongs fl1“"engthened thuegir
hands, and fortified their holoms. The yemancipa:
‘tion of a world, the termination of the 1r1i11o1'it.y?»
and theyttjmpletion of the ‘full age of mankindi; the
name of the. elde_yfi.-horn of freedom, brighter fgiihsg.
imelotided ilcies and fairer fields, were the p1*ize:m-e
heavier chains and deeper dungeons were the forfeit;

That day, To defirable, W fo important, Io }*)xl"egna[_m:

‘ with events, we now celebrate. It is indeed no ‘or:

dinary occafion. As every thing until the fulfilment
of all hope is butfecondary at ttiofi, fo afterwards it

is even leis. The ion has rifen to-—day, and will fetg.

-but fuch another occaiion mariltind never have ce1e—

hratedr andnever will ‘celebrate. We fee that day,
we enjoy thofe pfivileges, fo rfiuch and fo long d_e~

fired; for the attainmerit of which fo much labour‘ _

has been fuikained, [omany miferies have hem c::1ii-gs.
(lured, and fo much bloocl has been flied, Idciw
little do they who have always enjoyed the high pri.-gr
vileges ofthe free, know how to eiteem them. ilvia-ii.
try of us, who now {port in the pavilion of f‘reed‘<>1‘m
hardly know how; or by whom, it was raiihd. Britt;
ny ofthis afiembly, who have borne tl1€i1"p:«_‘:» rt in the
fuccefsftil Ilruggle, now repoie in the fhade of their
laurels, andeiijcay the reward of their labours... Biixt
how many are they whohave oppofed their hreallss
 the battle, who have toiled, l‘l11I“tg€1‘€Cl, itl1iI"i"iC:(_l
?;ar1d,Ibrrowed, and at lafi periihed in the eaufe; wlio

tiever tailed the reft provided for the Wéfflllwdfififflfiilyi

 fail wlziile the e::m’rl‘i€t was doubtful ; who liearcl

limit the {hem of viétory, and died in the bitter apa

preiiietifioit that their Country might yet be enllaved,
..l?=i.t)'wr great the price whi.r::l1 they have paid for this.
“They fieep almoii. i'iO‘l‘gO_ItE:I1 in the earth. They tafie
mat of the feltiviity of this day. They are not with
us, to helmlcl their Children in the poiieflion of all
earthly g.<*>»:.>yg_ly.y , Let us not run heedlelisly over ts:::“ei3;
gi"aves;, bti*fiT__1‘€lI1€h‘%l)Ci“ them in mir_joy*with a holy
a.a‘ha:lg1ratel’ul remembrance. The birth of a ptirice,
and the corcmaticm of a lting, have heretc>fore been

-s,',‘€l€l)i"ai‘,'3(jl with clamorous mirth; but the prefenta

<3lCC%1fiWi*a €XCiting,r more pllre, tlignilied and cuiifolu
at(:1"yfeelithgs, clemzamds exp1“eiii«._ans correfpondently
t',i:3C€nt and cligniliecl- Our annual incenfe arifes to
the .Gt3d c>fhawel‘t, the giver of peace ;1ndprol'peri-

ity; let this be our anmlal thankfgiving t<;> the God of i

Iiiherty, ahcltherein, ofeyery good and every per...
left gift. A " V A i E

The United States hatfe indeed efiablilhed their
fieeclom and independence. They have given a
leilipxiy to naticms, lwo1"thy of imitation, and which
they lhall ftillow, as they attain to the degree of
prepamtion neceiiaryto profit by it. They will re...
quire new examplesias they advance, and reqiluirb
them of their il1l'l)[ii“I1il£1‘uiiil2(“)1‘S. They will claim a
ihare in the l”1()f.~11‘(l(3Cl, ey:v.:pe1*ienc:ie of tholie who have
gerxe befoie them. Tl1eiattai‘nrnent of independence
is but the beginning of lahiour, and the foietafie of
itsbleiiings; to ietiure and preferveit, isthel toil»
icrme CO1’}liL1f1'1‘matl(,‘m. The prejudice of the age is

net an adherence to ancient infiitutioris; it is iI'Eltl]‘Ci_i},‘- i

alpafiion far imvelty and impmvemeant. This pal?-

.%7i<m., which operates fol univerfally, finds an 1I‘1C.XL-“-y i

_h;miiihlel‘L1hjeE’t ii1i~government,i in f_yl’cemsi0f'ypoli—,
:.:;.,:', anti hypothetical COniiitutiOI"1S. It would well

a hecome the America!) people, as theyihave lihewxi A

:manl.~;ti:‘2d the v.»*<a.y tofreedom, to teach them ~h;oiw m

  i-Oi€I‘3_}~.’”1}’ it; tie ti:-antinueifiilli foi“emofi line the A

e
the United States operating upon ll;

l 7 ll
eourfe of’ political improvement, to light as  wt
to lead the way, and produce it e hill model of 
peiiett form oi g.overnment. Th Conilitution of
l)jCi;lS oi‘ g-3ne.;.

rail adminiftration, is a great pOl.l"’lt.g£lll"l€Cl in this

flattering pufrpole. It has refuted its enemies, anti’

iaitisfied "its VVal"I"fl€ll'. advocates; and withottt (l1‘lV-+-
ing them toahltrule Cllll.]l1‘ll3tl()n$ ujoon its p1[‘(}p€j{'....

tines, has enabled them to reler tzheiif C)":-t")'{if»t)l3Cfl'ltt§ to

its mzmifell coniequences, mid to their own c;‘~,.;pgrj._

«mice and confcioulhefs, for its Vll1CllC3ttl‘O:l'l.A limit’

the Conflietution of the United States extends not to?‘
the part1cular and internal policy of tlie individual
States; though the force, the purity, the hez.tuty*

rand effieaoy oflits: operation, depend upon the petty
fcéliprii of that pa1'ticLt1lar% and internal policy. If

the State governments, which are the lfountainet of
the general government, are corrupt, tl1el1*epz*efent~gi
cation from the States, which is the fix‘-earn, antzl tho”-7
general government, which is the great I‘€l-i’i‘.1“V’Oi;!7,

will alfo be corrupt. The fountain lhoulcl therefoiiegin
he kept pure‘, and this is not merely a .c0neem iof

the State, but of the Un:ited_ States. Someitlnlinghetw

tier than 21 void, or at molt an imaginazry iCo11{lititi;-,;_

tion, was to hasvebeen expeéled from the Sttate oi’
xRhode-Ifland. A ‘We inl1oabi.t a crazy and cornfo1"tl.e£ai‘
manfion, lhalten by the winds, and pervacl*ecl by

the ltorm. The materials are around us, of at ltalnlegi

eommoeliious and magnificent edificel, fuch am one anal
might‘ invite the llrang'e{rto dwell in it, and be ho:
nourecl and iznitlated by dillant" people. i The foun-

dation is laid in the independence of ~ot1r couintry 

let the" littperilzrufiture, the Conftitution, perfeélecl‘
from the models of our filler States, and the ezatperi-»
ence of our own numberlefs iI‘1(:':C€3illltltES,tl“)C .1"21lli':‘.Cli‘
and fixedl upon it.) The linall extent of twe'rritiory in
the State, will render unnecelliary that complexity"

A l'Wl1lCl1 is foundl in the Cflllllltutlolls of molt Statesii.

In fin,e_.,. we miglitéenj,-oy a: Conlllituti-oil), more litnw

('3)

.‘lé“,=» éfE~e.acious and cheap, than that of any othgé
gi*‘é*jé7 g:oxgert~e1xncnt. l
lE?zt“1*t4 if, in areprefentative government, the great-
fit‘ 1'-'i‘liJ,'r-11‘l)tE':I-’?_ of the people choofe only the minority,
fl1tE:'{ltn3ll€I‘ number choofe the majority of the
;Eé“g2i*fl3at—u»re, how {hall a Conllitufion, or a change
'ilr3hfili1e’Go1iftitutio11, be effeéted? Equal I'€pI'€fCl'1'lZ~g-
@tli?e”‘t7i‘_i’n“i7uch a cafe will be the conlequenice of a
@<1i’t~lfi3i«tut~ior;*, and will deprive this rnajoriity of tliar;
fiiIi:éjé3llOU"S‘ power, of which men are To tenacious, and
&?6~lit§i%c?11"‘,l+ when they are once in poileflion of it, they
rittilllllxltlrive to render perpetual; To petition this
£é’§i*4fliat‘u'x‘e for equal reprefentation, is to require
}illilé;5"lfifiajOFl~ty' to furrender their power, a requilition

{ttlilile-h*it’ is not in humatn nature to grant. But is this

§tVi"lltio’ be perpetual? Is there not in every free go»-»

il*:é‘1*i'%1'ine»ntl« the principle of amenclment and accommo--

dfatiibn’, a‘ radical health-—giving principle.,e a natural

_,$t§'rl{l'f3itiultiion,r paramount; to all pofitive inftitutions  A

llfirliere is not, there may then be, in a given cafe,
 fit*ée‘lpeople, who neither are nor ever can he go--»
i'?*‘é’5iiiie‘d‘ by their reprefen_tativ_es; and the govern-.
.1i?iie"?”t7t7t”, thus corrupt and abfurd, may yyexifi with all
_ilt‘S3é”rirorstatiid abufes for ever-—--exhivbiting this pa'ra--
 at free, liovereignyancl inclependent people, ClC-_—-
lii3rT6fi‘S‘ of Cllfitflgllilg their form of gtnverrihtent, with-.
t3lt"e"powe1* of doing it. This power iscertainly
3l?‘(3llE’.ll:éfL3t.-lind’ lornewliere. Sticli a perpetuity is ab-4
$iL‘Wi:l«landt1'epLtgziatit. The power epxillsl in the State,
 int‘ e*very‘ free State, and that of ne_cefiity, and
i?l3i‘t;lle“-iieinderrtiyi ef any human provilion. Reprefentw
é”t31'l]o"ri?a‘l*t»'a§?s' fuppoles proportion. b An hunclred in.»
il.‘§l’37illtltaixiit"ps’ in one place cannot’ be reprefented by one
:‘it"ilti"?W,~ yvh‘iii.er an equal nurnb'er in another place are

l ;i'é*~”3§r'e‘7l’l§1iitedi by ten men. lEither_, in the firfl inflancei,

rtlierematre ninetiy who are not reprefentecl ; or there;
_;i"1i§,“= the {trained 1ynfian‘ce, nine perfons intrthe Leg-

‘ .
o

rlhe3’t;er wlro reprefent nobody. . Suchi at difproporm 
ltiitfilil :.'rt‘l%rét*"z1ya cyonftitutes ta. tyranny, aE_tiv,e or C10?»

7(9)

iiiéiifit, éin9ci"{'evcre in: not, according as the difpitifii

jaortiori is great or {mail}. The minority, and tlieii‘
tzonfiituents, are abfoiuteiy in the power ofthie TIMI»;-
jority. If this di1‘pri)portion.may c0iifi[’tei'it1y emit
in any degree, however fi’na1l,‘ the prihcipie is ade
~mitt_ed, and it may exiit in any tiegwee, thowevet‘
g1“eat.ei It is ceitiiiily im‘pofiih1eitio:‘ Juttify fuczh a
‘igoverniiiieut in the uiideritaixdiiigs of filélf niiiiiurity;
(_:>rithe‘i1* conitituents. It is abfurd to 1'1”i’c‘i.ifl'tE1iiIj,‘ that
the people are free iii a defpotic gm'em1i"rierit, or that
the g"overn1'n’ent rrieiy be {'0 C01ii{i1i'i'ic'itre<,i, as that it
never can alter or improve‘, and’ that its errors :.-ind
éibufes muff be perpetual. Yet this ci0Ei.1*i1’ie"e, {*0 iii);
furd,‘ {'0 T€pUigl‘)ai‘1£ mad CO1'1tTé1CiiEi()l"}’, has found itgé
advocates; If there isany converiieiiice or aidvzm»
tage in eqiiml X‘("”.‘p1"'{:'.“i‘(':.’l}If.i&.;.i'.ii()7l1,it becomes a rigglnt,
and righits are eqt12iiti.ly fizicreti,‘ and ti) witilihfolcl them
is equal injuitice, vxhtjitevei‘ may be the fub_je6t to’
which they 1‘t‘i‘.iiEW€"Z‘,i whether pectmiziery or po.!itica5L;
To with-"hold this ii‘ight, may be the triumph of pet}
ty arribitioii, the jeit ofthpie who trifle with juftice,
arid indifliereiit to tlitvfe waxeii conifciemies which
may be moiilded to every feature of é:irCL1n'iftaiiCe ;
but to the upright and iiberzil I'l'1iI‘:(i, and ptibiie. {pi-A
rit, it is matter of fe:rit>us c<;>n’<:ein, and, meaiiiureci
mi the fcaie 0f mural _juitice, it  at liighwiizizideci’
WT(‘)i1fgai 5  , .  e ‘v t 1
'1"h‘e whole C‘Oi’1ii.itl1't‘i(m of 21% free’ g0vetr:m’tei"i"t iei
niiat‘ a. pnztifitive in'i.'iitL1ti01'1i,’ neither is it c>if_t:aii it be‘
“W1"i!‘.tfi’7n upon paper. V No mticliiiiery cam (Ii€3i'i1"(’)Y the
force uf gravity, iieitlier is there need” (.)f1-’U£1liCi1i1‘"‘;Cif‘_V‘
to precipltatie bcidgies to the ez«3;rth. No laiw can makei
t‘h.2it tight, which‘ is inorally wrong. As in riattgiral‘
philciiféipiiy arid in momls, ft)’ a;H'0t in gmrernnient,»
t'here are certain fixed and \.M1'Ci1'¢.il'13:_<.’:21ii)i<=";.‘ ina:¥<ims,i
which enter into the very efifence of it, ivhich ncy‘
Writteii Conftittttion can vary,’ or needs, t)r~0ugiht.;

‘ to explain or cletzltiie’. i The exifieiice of this (Elem

B

(ml

iititution paramount is for true, that there can he no

free government where it is not acknowledged. It
is the reetifying principle, which enables govern...
m€Z'lt to efiieét the purpofes of its inltitution. It is
lilte the operations of nature,’ which in the natural
body repair the walls of age, cllliorcler and injuriat
ous imprellions. Wlieii thele operations are wietlk--=
erred, the body decays; when they ceafe, the body
is dead. It is the fiandard and regulator of every
fu_nEtion, continually correéling and; improving.
‘Whenever any authority fuperfecles the Comltitution
paramount, that authority becomes abliolute power.
In a free government, no majority, even among the
people, who alone are the makers of the written
Confciitutiou, can prevail againll it. The power of
fueh a majority, is but the power of the itrongelh,
and not a legtixnate or conllitutional power. Much
lefs can the Legiflature, to which eventhe written.
Conltitution gives law; eontroul the Confiitution
paratuouitt, to which all other authorityis luborcli-4
nan-.-. VVhenever a court of law exceeds its jurill
i:liEtion,.ethe judgment is illegal and void, and the
minillerial officer executes it at his peril. All lawn

enafitedfiby the Legillature contrary tothe C-nfl;itu-y
ti~on,t are llallo void, and not hiuchng upon theegwurt

oflaiwitor the citizen. In lileiernanner, whettever
the written%Co11{litution c«')ntraai'enes the Confiitu-

tion paramount, or in other words the tprineiplesl

and immutable imazstims of free governrnent, it is
Void. Rebellion therefore, or refiftancetolaw and
otdter, is not to be imputed to thol'e who rnaintairit
this fupreme authority, although they aét in opptofiu
tion to a written Conltitutioo, hecaufe, wherever

A the two authorities interfere. thefubolrdinate is voidg

and mull give placeitothe fupreme authority. Still

left can th eliarge .be talled~ged,l wliere there is no
written Ctonfizitttutton,» or wihere it was never ratified

by the people, hut impofeclfon tliem b y an authority
wliieh they have iut.he molt folemn manner re... f

(11)

muncied. Equal rcprcfentation is invclvedlin thé
vary idea of :21 free: government; it is accordingly,
and canfequently, lprovided by the Conllitugtion pa.
ra.mc:aunt,l that every citizcn {hall be ;*ep1*efent7ed.
When and how this equazl 1”t‘:}”:I‘4E‘ fentzltion {hall ope...
ratga, islcft to the w ricten Cozuilitution to providcg
but that it fllall opczvrate, is alreacly prov ilded for by
we Confiimtion paramount. Rlefijfiancc tothis {'11-9
premc authority, is that aél -caf dloxheliic viczlencc,
againft which the g<)vex"nnw¢x1t of that United States
ill. ta protcffl «tht:- ixldividual States.

Tlxmcz are; three principal bmnches in govern?
mam; that is to fay, the nzaukers of the written Con-.

l‘{l:ituti<:>n, the lhaw-nmkez*s, and thllle adnxirxillmtors of

the law; or, in other "©+Or‘dS~\? the peoplcgl» Leglf-

lature, and thc‘cc.>urtsof law. All other branches
A are c0lll:;ucralar*2d mlirxiflcrlall. The rmlkixzg of the
C-r:mfiimtic>n p‘::lI'3ITl0UTlt is rm aél c;.f gmerxhnlmetit _; it  

always Cxillsg it is the immecliatel work of God,
axzcl a part of Imature itfel-f. 'l"lj<::{l‘c€* tlarge ‘branchmss
are diilirxét ml feparate. A ccnm. of_jullice: Carmel‘.
_§!"£':at€ a Legiflature, or enaéla. law, iiuce it erxifisl
after the law,’ is creatc-rd by the law, and his ;llI'lCl€21‘.

it. Neither can lthelLjegi{lalturc create a Confiitu-,-

‘aim, fiuce the Legiflature ihltlhlf is the lcréature 0f

the written C<>n{lit1.1ti<;m, is polhlcrior and i‘11'lI)0l”Clf§ieg-‘
mm to it. The court of jufllce cannot Judge of thgz

nccczlfity of pafling a law, or difilate when or how it

{hall ‘baa znade. N either can the Lelgiflalturcjuclge of «=
rtha x1lx:r:t2:Hit.y of lforming a Cmnfllitution, or dlélateé

wlwu orlmw it {hall be formadl. To the courtls re»
fk:trl“cdltlc> proxwunce judgment, to the Legiflamrc
film cnaéling 10f laws, and to the people the A forming
ofla (3<:n1’citu«ticm,, and to each Cli‘lllI';1é’(bTal1Cll1, cvcl»
Try qucflicsn appertsaining to its r<::f~,;lh~:cElive funflwillon.

in pc:tition’ing tl1eLegill:m1re .tl1.erefc-re for 21 ‘C;~h:‘x1i’:i;-»"
atutilcm, we are guilty 10f d«;:{ert-nxg from prlztxxzsplcl, l
and oifpubandotxin c>urlr1ghts..l We mlghtasl WM

V l pctitimmtlm Slupéraalr ~*Gour~t fur Maw. l;'I"‘-hcqzucllilmm

Vs

(3.12);

is i*ef’erj1'ed to an ingzompetent tribunal. It is comgtrzt,

gioiz jtidice.‘ The _determi1iation of it 1'efis with the
peottle. _It1s thatiole and tranfcendexat act 0f;'i'ut110l‘1‘fi
ty which reiides in the people, and tha_t nothy repre-»
fet-ttiou, but pe1'ft)na.liy and iiumerically. "Fhe
Cohveuticm which forms the Confiitution, is but 3.
Coiiiitiittee of the People. This is at jurifdiietiutl
which caiinet he tilt";-.‘t1’}Sff';’!'I'€'3ds The e.:§<ex'ciie of it
is the 1‘efumpti0n of de?;e_g2tted;. power, and 21 1f€Ctl1‘~
t'em:e tothe eieriients of goveriittieiit. i

From every light in which me Can t*iew a free ref-
pubiicdll g0Vetnme1’it, it feeins to f...»ii~K;)t\§." iI1c0nte{’ti--
hiy, that an inh;e1_'eht perpetuity in the form ofit, is
ahhm‘t‘eht and 1‘ep1i;;1‘ia1it ; that it rnuit COt1t21'i11'Vwith--
in itii;-:{f” theprimziples and tnegms of amendment and
gtccoitmioclatiotig and that thefe ptttpofes are ef'TeEt-
ech by an ‘clCi‘s'.1'l()";Vii€3Cigl1’1(i‘1"}12 of the exiftence of the
C0E"3iiitL1tiOnp&I‘:?.II'lO”t}73"zt, and of the exclufive juriili
diEtion of the pveQp§e,_ in 3.11 gqeftioné relating to a,
Cmfitittttion. ‘ I ' ii  i A
I Thefe are fiihjefis which have lately occuped;
your tliotiglits and feelings: but at prefent, a fub-;,—

jeétof more inip01“tanee, even as the exiiience of

yeur independence is more iztiptartant than theibrrrl
in wghich it {hall he enjoyed, ohtrudesee itfeif upon;
you, in Ct)1'I1‘1“t1‘O11‘With your felhiyw-citizens of the
United States, Iliouglt we inhabit a crazy and cont-
fortlefs i11ah{i_o1i, it behowels us r:2.ther to fee firit OE

i alitiizit it is our d'v\'n_, émd that we are‘ 1'i0tn‘ze1‘eiy

t€:}a'£'1i_ZS by ftifierance, than to c<:mcem ourfelveswith
the fmini, or even the conveniences: of it. An over.-

  bearing claim, i41’?COl’AtfifiCI"iI'.\Viiih mire title, and the

prc:»feHi.0nsA0f‘ the C1B.i_I.113.tiilS’, is made upon 0_uri1'"1de§
pendenee.i   iii V i i J$  i
A How is the fy:scred‘n2;me of Liberty, that name"
t~:hi‘ch fliritiid i'ca.*i‘celyi be pronounced but with up-—
lifted eyes, “pmp.ha1':ed Amide éhtiiedi t It fiilsi th;§:_

V Ifléutils iofmillionsg iwhioi little underfiiand its high

i;mpm*t. ‘ There is a charm in the~f0l11'Id’.‘iiWl}ic11“C1¢_“""?':

(13)

lights the heart, but eludes the underftanding. It it
in; t a blind rnadnefs, which lets loofe the infuriate
iaaliionsg it is not a Moloch, pleafed with the wot"-L
ihtp of the critnllon altar, and rioting‘ in the blood
of the human viétitn: it is a guarded, colleéled and
reiirainiug fpit*it; moderate, though firm ; and gentle,
t;l]011f3;l1 irnpraéiticable. The enjoyrnent of liberty is;

not for all, at all times. It is an inilrttment, tool

delicate for a_ clumly performer; it is fafe only in
the maf’ter—hand. To diltmguilh between the boun»
daries of rational liberty, ztnd niad licentioufnefs,

requires a temperature of foul, and a preparation of

lientiment, which they only pofllefs, who have lone‘
§CtJlllilClCf.‘I'(3(Li the queltion, and rendered the fubjeél‘.
familiar. ,l.'3iL1I‘llil’lg froin the darltnefs of ancient
abttfes, into the full fplendour of liberty, the eye»
is dazzled, .and__the objeél is loll inthe new etiol-

gencei. There is large room to fufpeiél, that though 
the French nation have undergone the feverellt difci--t 
plmen. they have not yet acquired this necellary pre.-. l

yparation. They long purlued a viiionary phantom,
drelled in the garb. and bearing the name of liberty ; ,

ta fpirit of Clarkn"e{'s, in the fetnblance of an angel of
light, which abufed them to damn them. But the:
tending of the veil difcovered their ancient defpot-—
ifm, returned and reinltated with accutnulated hor-..
;“ors. Yet the time of this deluiion was confidered,
as the reign of freedom; the whole nation ptirfued
the dancing meteor; liberty was the theme ofevery
ffong, and the only objefit oftheir adoration. In

the intoxication of the moment, their hands were A

hound with chains unfeen. A. new convuiiion ef-~
feéled their releafe, and now again they worfhip the
i_1nl«;nown goddefs. The period which {halls decide,
whetlter they are yet to obtain the ltnowledge and
fruition of theirobjeél, or whether they are toybe
fcourgeclhack to theirfortner opprellion, is not yet

“arrived., Ithasbecome a ferious doubt, whether

tlgte Etjeticlt goyertitneztty are, in fatit, accoriding to

( M4 1

their p«mfeH‘ie,m-mas, the sfrieenels of ~un_ivcrfa%I liberty,
ifhrugghlizeag {ole-Ey for their «rights and privileges, 031"

Maether they are not emther the enemies of'l1herty,;
firsvxzng for un%1vier'fal dwxnmlon. £ncuurag_ed« by me"

vieto1"mus progrefs ofthexr wins, the pofleifion of
uzmuuted power, and the facihty with which they
have penetr ted a;=:;;d giiretted the Ca.-UliCilS of certain
fi.:.ne.s ' in Europe, they have attempted the council;

u’E’the United E%t..ates§ a;.d the inetegrivty of public
epnxoza. thecretemflhuence and corruptxon have been A

euployhed, to detach the peaple from the govern...
HT%...i‘.i}ta, and the govemznent from the mtereit of the
3:2: non; that,“ dgvided and weakened, we might
more eafily receive the impreflions of foreign poli-.-
emzes. The fuccefs of theft: artxfices was truly a]‘iarm--
img. hHc)w great mufi have been the perverfion;,
‘wheen the iuterefi of our country was but a ieconhda...
my object; when the proceedings of 01-11' govern-_-..

.n~.ent were meafured on -the fcaele of F rehczh poh1itics~,

and reprobated or approved, as they hthwarted or
m;:«.rmhded with the views of the French gcwernmemg
wh~eu the tried patriots of our country, not except»
ie:g.;eht’hese1 «the late Prefidehnt, had become objeéts of
hfu-fiucican a~ndfhan1e1e1‘.s obioquy, and when the name
0=f'a,;1a Aemerieclen feerned hforgntten ‘in the corlzteftfor

371311 ranesm inte1'e‘{'i3‘; But the reat bode of the so,
I A _ % X A 8 Y P _
;;.«e%0f the Umted Btatesc, awake to the aflvamages of

peme anxci neutrality, have had the wxfciznm to {hum
the appm;aeh of fm'e:g11 influence, and tlfxfichhvirtue to
give their rulers credit fur the purefi motives and
me wifefi meafurese, b<e>hht1*1 in regard to the hineterefi
-and h<>xmu1" of the mtLoh,;. and in Vmofieperielous and
mi ucael C11”CL11'f}fi'ci‘I‘lC€S. A A A A A e A
'1"hexxmchhirmticwrzs of fecrheteinflueneehaving been
Véeceected and e~xpc>fed, the FrVe~r1c11 egovernment‘ have

e:m3»tahbee~»«n€10‘z1ec1 hthehi-1‘ objeét, 9bu:t h3.V'€ come fcreth in

«m mxmreh open and hdiéthatdrial manneewr. They h_aveprhe?-

fr. rihed thee’mo{ht hum:}iatihg,has stiheh 011iy<«thermse,ehu%pen

" whierlu they avxll hreeeh»i*vhe=tl1eMineifier fgmme‘ the Unit»

l is 9
am States. ‘They have driven him from among th-rem,
as though he was not the: reprefcnitative of a great. a
brave, and a higlt.fpir1tc:d pe;)plc:;_ as though he had
E20 wrongs to complain of, or his nation’: no power,,
01' no fpirit to 1'€ll.?£flt them. When from the fear :of
hffending at foreign natitm, any one meafure 1111.111 gb-3
ado, ted or I'(‘.'_j=.f:£“l€‘(l-----\.\«’l1*.‘2I1 one hand xtiore or Otlrfl
hand lefs {hall he: held up, we are more or lefsal
tlezpezidctit people. lvVlic~:n at the requ fition half
any foreign nation, we llmll hat. eh violated tlm
faitlt of treaties, and ahi'og;.xtcd tlm ftmstnii tzhlai
hf our gcmeral Legifl...tum-—~—. l'1\'f‘3I‘l wt: lhzigil have ex...
temled our coi“iiiplail‘a.ii’1ce <~;ven to the alCltIllJ‘)liV‘ll'2l.[lfi.)I3
wfour laws, and reverfczd the: Cl(;ft'.3l"t“:(:“.‘:.s of our judiciztl
éoumi, txlmt rtstiiains? what form oar ll.1é3t(Jl,Hl" ()l.V1i£l"tm
El€pe..d€l".tCC cart we hcmfl? Tlmugli we may fay that
tvé are iHd(i‘p@t"ld£2‘l')t, thtgxugh we may ecven think {K39
and though tliert: tnay be im vilihle force at liaxid mi
ttontroul us, yet we are fmtn tlxtat “‘m€:iment a fuliju...
gtmzd pe()pl€. "Fliert: is equal rettlhii for a. jl‘t‘3C()t‘l&
ittllaxxce cyiicompliamctz, as for the flrfi; antl when
we fl13zllAl'i€élVC cm"nplic.:¢;l in two inllances, we {hall
have relinquifliczd all right to I'¢i‘fLll'l£:‘: a third. W7.-h
lhall liave Vbtzcome a Clflflélp and an eafy Ctjllqltlfilll. It
would  vain to razfill invinciblh power, but ‘am;
lhould ctcmiinly know what deg.t'c:e hf ptwvcr is cm-s»

iplcayccl againll us. Let us at léalt receive one vuol,~

lay, befwre tve tlirurw down our arms. The firfl at»

tmnpt at ul'urpatic.m., whetlier limited or,%£w<tei'il'i*i.~a~,t

is pregnant with =thc~: ptitxciple, and dtzmancls '1li'l‘@-3»
qttivoczal reftllahcc. The A1nc:r.ic:-:tn.flamp—a«E‘t it».

(elf, which fttt the Britifh mcmatrcliy in a flatne,

might have been ft) mcwdiligd and employed, as ta
have anfwéiwzd many he-mtzlicial pttrpofest but the

power which might Lltflp-O*l‘C at llampweél, might hewmi

impaled any othef aft; and ftthmillicm to that haclgfi

of fervitude, . wasa furtvhnider of every thing. A It is .

tliflicult . to tlifcern. tlm ohjicél, it is impofliblc: my

formal the: ifliue, of the injuries to the tzitizcttis, and

(16)

A :llndli~”gnities to the government of the Uhitetl 

which the French govemment are in the habit of
oflleringz‘ it becomes us, however, to 1“efolve that
we will know the ifzlhe of it, and to prepar.:: for it,
flvlnatever it rrxay be; tcrrally round the common:
ll,ar1Tda.rd, to exert the ancient unanimity and refolu-;
tion, and in celehrztting our zridependence, to re...
folve that we will he i1'1dc=:p:.%.1'1d'er‘zt. 'rlr~le1'1;‘ades of
our departecl heroes {peak from the grou‘ncl-9--—-or if
already in poll’;-flltsrr of their lrnerited beatltude,
look frorn their feats above, and talte _a pz~u't in the
various c«:;L1»nfi;derations of this day. They bare their
bofoms, rmtrltecl wltlfr rnamy fears, and conj-ure their
coulntrymen, by the wounds, the tools,‘ and the
forrows which they enouretl, to preferve unimpaired
thctllihelrty for which they l1Lwe}:r;aid fo great 21 mice;
nothing lefs than life, its hopes a;1ndp1"o tpeffls, the

light of heaven, and the corwerle ofmen ; nay more,‘

the enjoyment and participation of that liberty. Are
they of lb little account, have they fought and d'iecl{
in vain, is the purchafe of eigllt years war to be
tamely relirzquilhecl, and have not we in thefe days
the fpirit to rrxaintain the acquoifitions of their va-.4
lrour? Is this to be one in the miferable catalogue of
nations, «gm. lmve fultered the net totbe lclrawrx over
them, and fusbmittecl to the ofl:1cio11’s’g‘ua1'dianlhip of
republican amlbition? Trult not to kings, nor peo-wt
ple, nor monarchies, nor republics ;, for all are men,;

1 and ft1hjea€’t t:>llil«;epafl"1ons. Your cleperrclence is on

your own arm, and the unconquera*ble mind. c All;
favour of the corlrflagratron which proltrates your ci-we

ties in ruin,’ and ofthe wind Whitchprovohtes‘ it; but»
alk it not of nations l1111‘nlngl‘Wltl1 :ambition, and thlrllzo

of power. This devouring and in'extinguifhable
flame rtages In the bofom of man, and clonfurrres the

lcobligatiorrs of friendlhip, gratitude and humanity,

The emanciplation of a kingdom‘, is not the regene»-v~

A A mien of man‘ ; this" heart fimrls nolcluange, hetlis fill!»

  t 17 3
the fame being, only his power is increafetl, and.
his ambition more excited. i

Though in the com ulfions which tend the world,
the United States have fufiered in their p.1”Op€I‘tj,’,
theiryfeelings, and their national dignity, yet we
have abundant reafon to congratulate ourfelves that
we are yet at peace, that the government and people
of the United States are one, having one object and
one intereli, neither feeking for unconihtutional
poweron the one part, nor fearing it on theother;
but above all, that we are yet free and independent.
The increafing unanimity in the United States augurs
well to the Common Cal-‘lib, and though the wifdom,
the virtues and vigilance of our late beloved and il«
lttiitrious Prcfident, are withdrawn from the itnmediw
ate fervice of his cottntty, yet its honour and fafety
are well confided to the hands of his enlightened and
patriotic fucceffctr. A  

In our mm State, we are authorized to eapeét a.
fpeedy revifion of the laws. The urgency and hene-,
fit of the meafure, will enfttre itscompletion. The
lc)t'tg~~tnegleEied militia of the State, has ailinned a

tefpefiabilitiv which may vie with the military efiaa.

l bliihtnents of neighbouring States, and under the

pmteéiion and encoiiragernent which the oiiicera
have been accultomed to receive, and probably will
conttntie to 1“€C€W6 from the Executive, in the ener-.,

getic and impartial execution <.>fthe militia laws, we

may flatter ottrfelves, that the State of R_hode--Ifland
will be among the firli to evince ayreadinefs to aniiwer
the calls of our country, and the ea1*1teit 1"€COlT3-,-.-
mendatione of the Preiident of the United States,

  But iv». hat confidence, what honeil pride, what hope t

and What 4d(ii§t3I‘I'Ifllif’lE1ti()I}, Inuit every fpeEia.to1* feel,
at the brilliant idiiiplaiy of niilitarytiifcipline ateati

protnptitude, tliisiday prefented. ‘W’hile fpealszingi

of our cot1nt.ry’s wt*<;*ings, we behold her vintlicators ;

  tevhile deprecating the horrotzs of war, we behold lrtezt

 lg 
élefelulers". How honourable and how prudent is ill
to provide 111 peace for the emgeneaxes of war; for,
like death, 1t comes at an hour we thmli not of.

The privileges and refources of this csauntry are

loo great to be abandonecl, and too well underlined
to be in dazxger of it. Every attempt upon our inm-
d(:”:p€I1dC:I1CE,' whether fecret orlopen, will be deteflu
ed and refilled. We will hold the flaming fxmrd at
the gate of Our Eden, and guard the Tree of Life’
from the aflaults of the Adverfary. This, wetrufi,
is not the lafi am'1ive1“fary offtheir independence,
which the citizens ofthe United States will celebrate.

The friend of freede-m andl of man {hall on this day?

lhed annual tears of unfpeakable jey; hislfecret burl
inviolable oath {hall on this day be annually renewed,
and the Day be celebrated and hallowed forever“