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TOWNOF BRIDGEWATER,
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ANNIVERSARY OF

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FRIENDS AND FELLOW-CITIZENS,

y SINCE you have conferred on
me, the honor of leading our contemplations, on

this joyful and important, occafion ; permit me to,  
l _ place unflialceti confidence in your candor. e A

The commemoration of remarkableevents is
a cnfiom fanétionediby the univerfal practice of
civilized nations, and derives 3. {till higher fanétion
from the facred volume. That the memory of
great events may be duly perpetuated, men are
commanded to tell them to tiling generations.

"3 Hath this been in your days, or in the days

of your Fathers ii Tell ye your children of it, and

let your children.‘ tell their children, and their
children another generation.” The mighty
deeds, wrought by pjehovah, while he led Ifrael
from bitter flavery in Egypt, through the wilder-»
nefs, to the enjoyment of the promifedland, are
frequently celebrated by the facred pen of infpirau
tion. Hence vtre have ample authority for the

l due commemoration of our National Independence.

 

V flSureI am, that veryfew, among €116 ‘media

’ bered eventsstwhich have diverfified thehiitory of

the human race, have ever occurred more impor--

tant to the happinefs of “men, or more worthy of
commemoration. "

A frequent recurrence to thofe noble principles
on which our laboring plan of State was originally
founded, and to thofe fentiments and aétions on
which the glory and felicity of our nation refit fup-A
ported, Inuit be highly intereiting. It gives our
rifing oifspring opportunity, to imbibe the noble
fpirit, of their Fa'thers,and to receive an impor--
tant portion ofhappinefs, which might otherwife be
loft. ,iEvery true patriot mufi realize joyful fenfa—-
tions : and it is but a juft tribute of refpeét to our
Ixioiltibenevolent Sovereign. i

Thofe principles and noble aétions which led
to,‘ and produced the eftablifhment of the Inde-»
pendence of our country, conititute the theme of l
our prefent Cornmemoration. A

  l Ifwe believe the "wordyand infinite perfeftion of
God, we mufi: admit‘ the connexiont andoharmo-
nious operation of all events, for the _ accompliflb

A ment of the molt noble and important ends.Onthis

ground,we mufi admit, that the fee1ings,principles,
and noble aéiioiis of our venerable Forefathersfiood

A iconnec'ted, with our nation’s Freedom and Inde-

pendence. The feelings refulting from oppref-.
";[ion, a fervent defire for focial equality, and the

principles of eternal juftice, moved them tocon-

ceive and profecute one of the boldeft enterprizes
that ever engaged the mind of rnan;   We may
trace its origin, not to the lnft of conquefi, nor to A
theideii1"e of gain,but to the love of Civil and Re-l

ligious Liberty. And its profecution, in every, p

[5]

rtitep, waslmarl-zed with an effort and tconfiancy

highly honorable to their name.

The pleafant andfertilefields, the affluence and
fplendor of the old world, were moit cheerfully
abandoned, for the fake of Liberty to worfhip their

God without moleflation. Hence when infpired A A

with the tfnblime ipurpofe, of feeking refuge from
cruel oppreilion, in thewilds of America, and of
converting her forelts into the favorite nnanlions
of Liberty ; Heaven looked on them with 21 ‘Indie.

Had they been criminals, making their efcape
from deferved puniflnnent, concealment would

have been their firll; objeét. And if permitted to ll

crofs the Wide Atlantic in fafety, it is very probable,
they would foon have fallen, by the hands of their
wild neighbors, or {hated fome dreadful calamity.
But when they attempted the American coloniza-
tion, their caufe was juft. They fled, not from the
wholefome reitraints of Government, nor ‘llvlltll an
expeétation of that Liberty, which promifes un;
controlled indulgence to the lufis and appetites of
human nature. l it

But with 21. becoming difpleafure, they left ‘it
country, which denied them the proper rights. of
chriflians and of men. He, who rides on the wings
of the wind and governs the florm and raging
tempeft, proteéted them from the dangers of tlie
boiiterous ocean, marked out the place of deitiina-.
tion, and landed them fafely on thefe inhofpitable
ihores. The divine proteétion was fizill necefiary :
for they were now in a wild and dreary wilclexn,

nefs, inhabited, by wild beaiis. and men.

. E 5 3 L

While they faithfully applied every proper mean
of fafety and profperity, innumerable difficulties
were furmonnted ; the omnipotent arm removed
the heathen, and their fettlement wasxnadepert.
manent. l l  

The firftemigrante to this continentywere faga-. i

cious and enlightened omen, cool and deliberate in

y difculiion, firm and unweariedo to maintain their

rights; and to carry into operation their rational
fyfletn. A fyllem happily calculated to place
them and their tiling oflhpring inithe quietenjoy-
mentiof folid Liberty. ~

-Many of them were lvenerable for thofe endoW-
ments, fo highly ornamental to the human cbarac-
ter, and fo happily conducive to the profperity of
‘a community.

Their plans, being; the refult of their united coun-
fels, were executed by common confent, and the
exertion of their combined powers. Hence to
their joy, it was veriiiied, that “ two are betltet
than one; that a threefold cord is not quickly
broken: and that in a multitude of icounfellors
there is fafety.” A i 7

As many of them were men of flrong minds,

and well taught inlfolid literature; they Weret duly A

qualified to take the lead both in Clhntcli and State,
to difliufei ufeful lmowledlge among the whole, and

to lay abroad founclation for a great,i1"efpeE’cable,

and happy nation.

If you travel through foijne parts of this, and l

of other COl.1I}t1f3lC'S, and duly obferve the manners
and habits of the people ; you can fcarcely difcover

l the leaft trace of moral obligation, or evidence of

El 7 J 
any fuitable attention to the foliclleducation of
children. No places dedicated to the worfhipof

l God are to be feen. Nor can you believe, from,

What appears, that Religion isrefpeéted, or that

duty is performed in anygood degree.

But with pleafure we contemplate the very op-
pofite in our venerable Forefathers. lDoth. Deity
prefide over, and direct all events in the whole uni»
verfe to the belt poflible ends? Tliey firmly be-
lieved it. a "With the noble fpirit of patriotifm, a
lively fenfe of moral obligation found a conftant
refidence in their hearts. And their conduct gave
full proof of their fupreme love to God and uni-
verfal good will to men. A

Pmteftion againll the attacks of the Indians,

and the lfupply of their daily wants, required the ',
wconftant and moi’: vigorous exertion of every

power. Yet public, private, and fecret devo-

tion were not negleéled. Schools for the educa-~ ,

tion of their rifing offspring were formecl, more
public Seminaries of Learning founded ; and Tem-
ples dedicated to the worfhip of their God. Their

‘ children faw examples of piety and order, and re»-

ceived religions inftruftion both in families, and
in their literary eilabliihments. To their honor

beit faid, that the poor children fhared thebenefit We

of education, with the rich, and that on a plan then
new to the world. ‘l t

Thus ,while the new worldwas opening, Colo»
nization progrefling, andtthe wildernefs of Goa-
lumbia becoming a fruitful field, important objefis
gave ample {cope to all tlieenergies of the human
‘mind it and a broad foundation was laid for focial

E 8 J
equality, for order, Liberty and l'1appinefs. The

Colonies rofe into refpeftability, andfor a time,

happily flourifhed under the Crown of Great Bri-

V min.

Had not the Sovereigns of that nation, unrighl-

"i teoully attempted to -burden their Colonills, had
they purfued the policy dictated by their own in» a

tereft, and treated the Americans on the ground

a of equality, reciprocal afi'e€tion might have been

the happyconfequence 5 and perhaps ythey might

haveretained to this day, a durable and molt im-to

portant empire.

But their fordid fouls were not contented with

the lucrative monopoly of our trade. Hence they

attempted to eltablifh a durable fyltem of internal
taxation '; to bring the Colonies, who were not
reprefented, to acknowledge the perpazmrz! rag/.2: of
Parliament, to tag: them in all cafes whatfoever.

A To give a favorable reception to this poifonous
draught, it was at firll; urged as the price of their

rproteétion. A But the enlightened Americans look-

ed through the veil, fully apprehended the defign,

and objected with unfhaken firmnefs. Not that

they were unwilling to pay jnit demands. But
they A were unwilling to be flaves. Unwilling to
fubmit to any propofition or 218: of Parliament
whichwould ellzablifh the opp1‘efl3ve precedent, or
fanétion it as their right, to tars; the Colonies at

. A pleafu re.

Fully poiiefliedof the operations» of tyranny,
they difclailned even an experiment "on theirplibter-»

ties.   Senlible that a yoke, already impofed: would.
be brtolten Wltll the utmolt difiiculty, if brokens atg

E  J

i  ; ii they refolntfely determined AA to prevent the itng

pofition. Hence as often aslthe attempt was made,
tocarry their plan intoexecutione  metithe bold
and unihaken refiitance of united America.‘ No

pretended friendlhip, no delufive ple2i,ino1* threat» W
ening moved them to hold ftill, and lofe their

eyes. a Nor did the numbers and brilliancy of the
moit potent armies on earth, deprefs their   fpirits
and awe them to fubmiflion.

A But while obfiinacy and cruelty progrelied on
the part of Britain, unfhaken fortitude andlrefolm
tion increafed on the part of America : until the
connexion between the two countries was com-

‘ pletely deftroyed by the violence of 1*eciprocalehoA{3-

tilities: and our Reprefentatives declared the

united Colonies, Free, Sovereign and Independent 4

States. This event{’cands high among the opening
fcenes of Providence. It has’ often engaged the
attention, and frequently employed the pens, of
Hiitorians,‘ Philtofophers, Orators and Divine-s..~

And it will ever excite the admiration of .all nau

tions.

That was emplmtically an eventful periodgwhen
our national exilience c:oAmAmAenced. To what an
amazing height did the tone of heroifm then rife
 the minds of freemen ? The importance of Lib-

- erty was fenfibly felt. It was fully realized. Every

other confideration vvas Ahappily fubordinated to the
common good. The Omnipotent arm of Jeliovah

was firii fought andrelied on, ash our Shield and
‘Defence. A Whilelthe‘ infinite importance of the
public caufe was felt bytrue Americans, union,
foIidieunionAtook place vvithliallreadinefs. Andina *
dependentgronnd was,tal<:e~n with unfhaken“ firmed

B

E103

nefs and fortiytude. They Rood ready to meet
theirpotent enemy in any combat ; to ventureon
every daring enterprize; to execute every wife p‘ur-
pofe; to endure every hardfhip ; and to make every
poflible facrifice for the fake of Liberty. For this
indeed, the common good of their country, they
were even forward to venture on all the f“ varie-
ties of 1‘1ntrie‘cl being,” andto facrifice life itfelf.

Being few in number, luntaught in the arts and A

without the N weapons of war, and Funfortified

againfic aipotentr and unrelenting enerny; atthat
momen‘t,.when invaded by a brilliant and mofl: '

potent army, and when that fleet the dreadgof all

nations infefied our eoaftsv, even then, they dared-
to pronounce an’ eternal feparation from our parent .

country, and to throw the gauntlet at the greatefif

power on earth. A long‘ and bloody war enfued.
But of this particulars will not be eXpe6l§e'd.*We1“e

,’ it poflible however, I would count, in your prev».
iifence,'all thofe millions of treafureexpended dur.»

ing the whole contefi, Then I. would sconduét you
to Lexington, frornl thence to Breled"s-htilll, and
from thence to all places where battles were

fought a; A exhibit before you every plan and m-ove-- A

, rnent of American Heroes during the war ; and ,

dwell particularlyon the great and noble aétions
of the illufcrions alhington, who, under God,

probably wrought more blefiings for his country’
than any man., In irnmediate View of A every en»,

gageiment, I would open before you,everyvvo1imd
received by Arnerican‘foldiers, their blood flowing

from their veins in crimfon i7 fireams, 4 and prefent;

t "outwith their d in mans and a onies, ,Theni

Y_r _, Y 33, ,3,   1
t w1th~ thew graves open to view, I woulddlfclofe
wevetry motive rfrom which they aéted, ‘and lhew you

 [ If]

* #11 tlxlazir labors, hal‘d£l1ips,,fufferir.1gs axmadlnctlble ac,.._lM’

tions during the bloody commit, To this I w<>i11c_l

add ‘all that was done and fuffarcd by tbbfa  A

lived througbtl1e¢ tedious wan ‘And thuslwould

  prefent you with thelinvaluable priccof your free» .

clorn ; with all thefe feelings, ffifferingsancl noble? l

acflions which were neceffary to the maintenance

A (if that Independence, for which, olurlvelnerable

forefzuclxers laid the foundation, and which was de..
czlared in Seventy-Six. Some: pmfent was aélive;
while thefe flupendous fcexzes were pafiing. To
them the moit able defcription is only a revival of
pfifi: expexfierxcc. Few of us however had fufficientv
Iy advanced in life, to take an aélivc: part in 1:116 ‘dew

fence and faxlvationl of zfhat Liberty, Wllich our fa-l

thers have luequeatlmed to us, for a. glorious inhe-l

1*it;.mc:<:. We would fondly indulge the bopetlm; V

the foundation- of our ixmdependencc will never give
way 5 that our country will nfiver call us to tlwfe
ha.1*dfl1ips,tlo thofe extraordina,ry and hexfoic cxeral
tions, w11icl1 crown their names with glory. Bubs

{hcmld this fond hope be difappointcd, and t_h_i_s,%
f()len:m, call reach our CATS,-it is prefumed tlmtlfublll  
proof will be given,tl1at tl1g~:'_1'r fpirit happil}rM1;¢fills.
on us 3 by an aélual difplayl of that heroifxnlanld b

1*g3pub1icanvirtue, which flmne lfo confpiwgouflylin;
them.l Durixug fevcn years hofiility, 1:113 Britifh

Govelfmnent lexpendcd an liundred 1_?1:1ill1ionsAc:>f'
treafuxfe, f'o0Iifl1lyfacr'ificcd thoufands o£ her lvlete,
ran troops, ltolmzzintziin 21 mofi; zzzbzzlwzzlezzt claiztm V
Bui: Vwas   cfompelledbtc) give: up the purfuit,,llto lC;W'(37.

the ground with W difgraclel, “ to “l3C22M_.ff- the A h<_3’a.‘V}7_l0a€?;
c>£21Vcr;ulrx1L1latlcad ca1amity,an;1 to C-lofe an” inglori-V
q,us.lwa*1* bin[Wl1ich ihelhad fr'equ.cnt1ylbcen thcdlobal

§§eét,bult rarely the acflor of 214 t,riuVmph.%” Infiead.

to :2 3

. Ofadding tOp‘naptiOna1 grandeur; and procuring a

 foflifutpiure corruption and extpravagance ; 1116
was  clothed with mama, and left to bear her own
ponderous burden without the help of Independ-~.
ent America. The hiltory of our nation frem that
periodto the prefent-, is highly interefiing. But
to be particularon this, would carry" me beyond
proper limits. Inthe pmgrefs of events, the nu-
merous dtefeafts of the Confederation were realized.
Infurmountable diliicultieps, too many to be fiatedg
ropfelto view, and forcibly taught leading men,‘l
that, to fecure liberty and profperity, the States
mull: be cbnnefted by an inclilioluble bond of
union, The wifdom of the nation was futenmon-
ed,‘ and after four months mature de,liberation,,,l
united in that moil; excellent inflzrument, the Fed»-
eral Conititution. To fay lefs were ingratitude ;,
for it is emphatically the mafler piece of human
wifdom. Oppofition to its adoption, however,,_
in lbrne States was formidable. But one State fol-.
lowed anothelf, till eleven States wereunited in this
happy bond.  AP’re.Iident was then chofen. It-la,p..o.

py for Aniericans tlmét the man was raifecl to the M
l exalted chair, who had led them through the dill

treffes of’ war tothe cheeringbeams of peace.  

Though they placed unlimited confidence_ in;
him, and hence were lets guardedglie did not dif-i
appoimthlteir melt iahguine expeetationsl. ' lnftead
of fileiiening — his» fame, an irnportantladdition ‘Was.
madeton his virtues and noble aétione.» By the
adoptionand execution of the wifeft mea£ures,l the

nationp role into refpeétability and grew in wealth
end im;portance.; Americans!’ To what pa-Iztofi
put country may we turn our eye and not beheld

  E 13 J

the happy fruits of that union? Donot the rich
and the poor, learnedand unlearned {hare the in-:
valuable blefiings of Liberty E’ Since thewheels of
government have moved on this foundation, have
not all the States feen and felt the infinite imporu .

tance of that Conliitntion which is the folid linls ,

of their connexion. A t

Our Conftitutions of Government happily corn.

‘bined Liberty with order, and the fecurity ofin-I

dividual right, with the neceffaty energy of the
ruling power. 1 And is it not juft and grateful to
fay, that the bleflings of civil and religious liberty
are here enjoyed to higher perfefiion, than by any
people on the globe ?,iAfide from, African flavery,
which ltains the hiftory of every nation, where it is

  fuffered, what defcription of Amen can produce a

jufi; complaint. ‘Americans! happy Americans 2:»

_ Are our fellow countrymen opprefled? Are they

compelled to devote the firft fruits of all their 19;...
bors to fovereigns of the land, to fupport them in
extravagance ; while they mull live on the mean-
efi food E‘ No, no, fellow citizens, the bleflings of

Liberty are not made the texclufive right of a. few, _

bntare as diffufive, as the inhabitants of our happy’

If you pafs through the States, the city, “town or“
village is not to be found, where oppreflion reigns.:
Provifion is made for the fecurity of life and pro-
petty, civil and religious rights to every man.

'EVt3l”1lti1€ icriminali may not feel the weight of in-e

jnllice, unlefs it bein oppofition to the fpiritof.

H 0111' 13-W8 and Con.ftitutionsof Government.

Tilt? door: is happily iclofed againfl: iperfecutioni

. One religioausafec'tis nct»ti~rnadlefuperio1' to: all etha-

E I4 3

crs. A Hypocrify is not thus encouraged. But
every denomination {hares the ineftimable free.
dom; A All are proteéied while they W0l‘li1ip God
according to the dic”tai:es of their own confciences.
The means of infiruétion are open to all, and free
inquiry is tolerated. A A t t

HappyAAme1'icansl On what part oftheglobe

would you‘preferA to live A? «AWihere will you find t

fuAch=univerfa1 Liberty? Was it not infinite goods
nefs,A that gave you birth in this land it

Look on other nations, behold theA1ifted hand

_ of the opprefforiand the pains~of' the Opprcffed,

and contemplate the heatlien ready to petilhl for
lack of lvifion : then turn to your own country,
and learn to prize your liberty.

Our country has produced her learned and great

men, and enrolled their names on the fair page of A

fame. In this refpeét, her annals fiand high,
among all _ nations. t

 Infthe fanie portion of time, where have the
artsand fciences,Aagriculture and com rnerce floua
riihedtmore, or beencarried to higlaer perfc('?ti<‘)n,
than on this continent? A Or what naAtioAn hasrifen

higher in dignity onvthe face of the whole earth 5*‘

u Had the fettlement, growthancl profperity of
our nation been predified two hundred years ago,

A who would have credited the prediction ? But

hofweveryyy then improbable to man, the A event has

.. taken place, and is the plezlfillg theme*A0Af this day. f

But is thete no ground to fear, that, late fome

A future pe1'iod,'Astourpr'ofpee“ts will be veiled in dattlcl.
A t nefsi Ought we notytto fear, that ythe, cloude ‘of

 ginblicflcalatnityt will collect and thicken to :1 term  

  F *5 3  
peii, and pour forth upon us their magazines of
defiructionpi In that cafe, our hiflory would re-A

femble the hiiiory of all nations. Changes are"

quite common, in this wo1*ld,% Divine Providence
is coxnplex, containing a mixture of adverlity and
profperitty, for nations, as Well as individuals. iOne
getieration pafieei. away and another furcceeds. Like
the mighty billows of the ocean, nationserife and
fall. ‘When they have rifen high in magnitude
and glory, they frequently {ink as low in wretch-

ednefs. But what is referved for America is hid~  

den, within the divine ipurpofe.

Rightcottfnefs exalteth a nation, and vvifdom is
ever profuable to direct. If we retainfland carry
into operation the fpirit of our FO1"€fatl1CI'S, and

faithfully purine that fyfiern of government, un-at

cler wllliich, we l‘121VC fo happily profpered, we fltall,
in all probability, flill enjoy peace in all our bor-
ders, and plenty in all our habitations. t

But if we act in oppofition to the will of that
God who rules all nations ; if we break into par-5
ties, prefer the vain philofophy of the wicked to
the wifdom of the jufi, fet atnought thofe jufi:

and equal laws, by which our civil and religious

liberties have been protected-and fecured, and will
not entruft our national concerns with the wife’
and good: if we thus depart from the fpirit of

our predeceiiorsz we have great rseafontolfear,

that the judgments of I-Ieaven will convince us of
our folly, when it is too late for repentance- But:
we wifh not to indulge thefe gloomy apprehenfions,
and would fondly hope for better things :-----Ti hat
our people will be righteous, that we fhall imitate

  the Pteadyhabits and noble virtues of op‘: rvenerag

E I6 J

l Bile, Forefathers, pleafingly progrefs in our wife iyf.

tern of government, preferve our happy Union,
Independence and Freedom, and exceel every other
nation, in profperity, dignity and honor.

A foundation is here laid for great and glorious-

things, and the fuperliruéture vaitly exceeds in

magnitude and glory.

Wliile we fondly hope, that all poflible bleilings,

A refultingpfrotn civil and religious liberty, will here a

defcend to our pofcerity, even to the latefl: gene-

rations : we would look forward to that bleffed 
A era, when Wars {hall be no longer known, when

arbitrary oppreflive power {hall be no longer felt,
‘When ufi: and equal Liberty {hall carry its inellima-

' ble blefiings to every "portion of mankind, and

when party diflincftions and differences {hall no
longer require mutual forbearance and condefcen-
fion. “ Then that Jefus, now clefpifed by arnany,
{hall be univerfally honored as l-ting, of the na-
tions; and men {hall be as ready to commemorate

I his deatl1,as they now are tocelebrate their liber-«

  ty and independence. And then {hall apnre of»; ‘

fering of praife be direéled to God, from the rifing

to the fetting fun, and from the river to the ends l

of, the earth.