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AN

ORATION,

DELIVERED AT BOSTON, JULY 4», 18:15,
BEFORE THE

SUPREME EXECUTIVE OF THE COMMONWEALTH,
Mm mm:
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY AND CITIZENS 015' THE TOWN‘,

IN COMMEMORATION OF

AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.

BY LEMUEL SHAVV, ESQ.

U‘O%V filfl

u-v--w--up-an-—-no
W%

BOSTON“ = A
mom THE PRESS or JOHN ELIOT.
1815..

 

'V0'I‘E OE‘ 'I‘HEa TOVVN.

It'll‘ as meeting of the ft-eehelclers and other inhabitantsef the town of
BOSTON, duly qualified and legally warned, in public. town-meeting, assem-
bled at Farleuil Hall, the 4th day of July, 1815.

On motz'¢m mtecl, That the Selectmen be, and hereby are appointed, a com-
mittee to wait on LEMUEL SHAVV, Esq. in. the name of the town, and
thank him for the elegant and spirited oration, this day delivered by him
at the request of the town, upon the anniversary of American Indepen-
dence, in which were considered the feelings, manners, and principles,
whielm produced the greets national event, and the important and happy ef-
fects, general and domestic, which have already, or will forever flow from
that auspicious epoch; and to request of him a copy for the press.

Jlttest‘, A THOMAS CLARK, Tmtm Clerk,

m .
M‘ ~,
diva 

ORATION.

M*m

DESIGNATED by your municipal govern-

ment, to assist in the services of the day, permitme,
my fellow citizens, to congrattulate you on another
peaceful return of this joyful anniversary, to exult

.with you in the interesting events,_ which it is dc-

signed to conlmeroorate, and to retrace some of those
“ feelings, manners and principles,” which led to the
declaration, and terminated in the triumphant estabt
lishment of our national independence. In perform-
ing this annual duty, allow me to solicit your most
liberal indulgence. Iiecollecting; how often you have
been deliglited with the glowing eloquence of u my
predecessors, I should utterly despair of success,
were I not supported by the conviction, that the sun-
ject, apparcntlyexhausted as it is, will never cease
to be dear to theheart of every patriotic A;1nerican.
The lapse of time, whilst it may impair something of
our original interest in the event, will confirm the

principles of the revolution, and add tveight to the

lessons of Wisdom, which it is calculated to impart. 
In recurring tothe period of i our emancipation, what
are the objects presented to our view? A Virtuous

and magnanirnous people, Without A political org,-aura -
cation, without military force; A without financial ru-

Q.

sources and Without allies, struggling against oppresw

sion, conscious of the purity of their views and the
soundness of their principies, animated by an ardor
which no disc0t1t°agement couid allay, impelled by
a deterniinatioti, whieh, novdanger could appal, re-
lying upon the smiles of heaven and their own hrave
hear-ts,hidding ayproud defiance to are great and vie.-
torious power-,lresisting to blood, and resisting with
success ! If such a spectacle cuuld hardly fail of
inspiring; even the passing stranger with the deepest

interest, with What enthusiastic admiration ought VVB,

Iny countrymen, to dwell on the pieture. Some of
you fought the glorious battles of the revolution in
the field, or maintained its principles in the senate.
Many of you participated in the hopes and fears of
that eventful period, cheered the eiforts of the com»
batants by your smiles, or sustained‘ their efortitude
by your example. IManyare the immediate descend»
ants of those who fell in the arms of victory, or tri;

, umphed in the arduous contiict; and all of us are

this day reaping the fruits of those fields, which their
bravery defended, enjoying the blessings of those in-
stitutions, which their energy secured, and exulting

V in the deathless fame, which their talottr and Wisdom
have shed on our country- A A i A

A This celebration, therefore, cannot: be regarded as

la. mere holiday, designed to amuse tithe, eye and dc.-

light the my ofthe id1e,lthevu1gar and the dissipa...
ted, with the exhibition of splendid and iunlneaning
pageantry; let it rather be {consecrated to the pur-
pose “of reviving and impressing the best lessons of

ipoiitieal wisdom, and of inspiring that ardent and

 exalted love of country, which is the‘ surest hasisilot‘ i

5

national greatness. In this View, the observance of
our national anniversary, is consistent equally with the
dictates of good feeling, and the maxims of enlight.
ened policy. It brings to the aid of patriotism the
powerful principle of sympathy, and adds to the con»
vietions of reason the energy of enthusia.s1n.. It in»
Vites us to lay aside other cares and attractions, to
unite in tracing our humble origin, our steady and
rapid progress, in recounting our (lz1ng.;e1*s and suii'er-~
ings, our t1*iur1npl2s and successes, in 1'ecog;11izing the
relation that constitutes us one people, andtraeiug
the duties and ol)‘ligatioil1s arising; out of that relation,
and in animating; our hearts with glon*i1'1gi1nages of
national glory and national greatness. iWl1e1'e is the
heart so eold,,“or the mind so perverse, that it can
turn away from a participation in sueh a solemnity,
Without feeling; enlightened in the eourse of social
duty, and animated to more active exertion in pun.
suing it? A . r
Wliilst with these views we celebrate our emanoi-i.
pation from the parent state, let us, my oountr_ymen,
guard against all dangerous It errors of feeling; and of
judgment, ‘to Whieli itlmay lead; A it Let not the bitter-~
ness of animosity mingle with our joy. God forbid
that We should set apart a day, for the unholy pur-
pose of eherishine; hatred and perpetuating 1*evenge.
Upon this subject, the deelarationof independence

reads to us auinstruetive lesson. In the heat of the

arduous conflict, the authors of that paper, designed
expressly to set forth the Wrongs and I grievances,
which compel them to theimeasure, have the uymagna;
nimity to“ deelaret,Ttl‘1at hten~oefor.tl1‘ they ;; wills regard

sifilnglishinenllilke all othertpeople, enemies «in war, sin  i

6

peace friends. The war of emancipation turned up-»
on a great question of right. Many of the most en»-
iightened men in England, in and out of parliament,
Warmly espoused the A_n1eI-icen cause. The admin.
ietretion which took the opposite ground has long
since pessedflewey, and the passions and reeentmente
of thecontest have passed away‘ with thje1n., The
commercial and intellectual intet*con1*ee, which with
liberal views we maintain with England, Iney be of
the meet beneficial and interesting lmtnre, arising.
from the comnmnity of origitl and language. From
her have we derived our lawn, leernnineg, taste, literwu
tureend science, our principles of government and
onrlove of liberty. And We cherish the hope, that the
period is not distant, when our country shell reflect
back some portion of that light, which the genius
of England has so ilihereiiy shed on the Wiestern con..-
tinent. Every coneidetetion, thereefole, of enlighten.-
ed policy, of mainly feeling, of nloml end 1*e1‘igio11e
duty, conspire to recommend the megneliimoue senti-
ment of the dec1a,r.et.i.on of independence. A

A Let us now taken tepid View of the ci1*cun1sta.ncee
under which America, was placed, and the great quee-
tion nponwhich the War of independence tu1*ned.
The cheracterend condition of the British coloniee,
tiieeprecise netnrewof their 1*e1etio11 to the parent state,
had nevertibeentdefinted, and was in fact little,‘ unden-

stood, by eitherjperty. Amidst the contentions that
agitated, the B1#itiehem.pi1~e, tdnring; the first century

of their sett1em:en;t,§ tthetse ico1on,iee,, flourisliingg in ei-

ience and obscurity, Werethought too insignificant to

attract much ettention; ; The early emigrants to Ame...

;-em, were actnetedibiyneoi tembitiolls vwws of   a"eeIran-

*7

disement ; their sole design was to found a state, in

it

which they and their descendants nliglit enjoy their

civil, social and religious liberties in security and
peace. rThey however were no leveliers, no adven-
cates for licentions doctrines, which, under the speci«-
ous name of liberty, have since been so prolific a.
source of misery and of crimes. They gloried in the
constitutional rights of Englishmen. '1' hey aclcn.owl-
edged their allegiance to the crown, but they uniform-»
ly maintainedtheir right to regulate their own inter»
nal concerns, ‘through their provincial legislatures.
Industrions, ilitelligent and enterprising, altllotlgli
emigration nearly ceased after the lirst twenty years,
the colonies increased with eunexamplecl rapidity, un-
til at length England, and all Europe, became deeply
impressed with their value and importance. Butthe

A spirit of colonizing America, was not confined to

England; France too, her ancient rival in ceminerce
aI1din~arms, had large possessions on this continent.
In the north and the east, no effort was spared to ex»
tend her own power, and crush that of her rival.
'l‘l1risr vexatious contestwas. eontinuedrwitlti feeble ef-—

forts and various success . almostu to the neriod of .
w 2 ’ P

thewar of 1756. It came at last to be distinctly

understood or fully believed, that a preponclerating;

ascendancy in America, must decide the 'loi1g and par-
dnous contest, between those rival powers. Itwas

V certainly a singular phenomenon, that a great question
wofwnational aggrandiseinent, between the courts or

London and Paris, should be decided in theinterior
of America, Such however Wasthe factgfand the
banks ~ of tithe;  Lawrence and A the ; "shores p n of the
American i1akes{,Were destined, tohethe ‘ theatre on

8 x

which this great prize was to be contended for. The
vigor of the contest was proportionate to the magni-
tude of the stake. The efforts of England were
cheerfully and powerfully seconded by those of her
colonies, through four successive years, until at length
the plains of A.iJ1‘£lllEtI11 witnessed the triumph of their
united valor, and the pp gallant and lau1ented_"Wolfe
planted the cross of St. George upon the towers of
Quebec. i The peace of Foutaiubleau, which soon
followed, secured the conquest, which valor and per---
severance had won. France relinquished her preten-

sions, and left G'rreat Britain Without a rival, onthis.

extensive field of glory and of enterprise. A

The American colonies, as they had made extraor.
dinary eflbrts and sacrifices in l11&il1i3t‘Ll.I1ll]gi'l1lS strug-
gle, reasonably expected to share liberally in the
glory and advantages of its successful issue. A new
career was opened to their enterprise, and a new
spring given to their hopes.  It was hardly to he ex-—
pected, that this mornentof joy and of triumph would
be seized by the adrninistratiou, as the cccasionnof

imposing new ~buI-thens on the colonies, and of assert-n
ing clangerous and alarming claims. Such ~hoWeve:r

proved the event. Great Britain,heavily pressed by
her natiolial debt, enhanced by the prosecution of the

t late war,with allher national glory_,bore her jiburthen

witli piso1ine_impatience,.. Although, in fact, British
views and interestshad been the leading, l110ti‘Ve,iS0
that war, the administration afihcted to consider, that

the protection_, extension and security of the colonies.

were ymoreexclusivelyi the cause of Waging it, and

y therefore, that they ought tocontributeliberallyto al-.,

1ev“iate' W3«l?“*“?11‘3"1: f»r11i<:h it .11a<1iimr0sed,,on; the

“9

mother country. There was at least enough -of jus-»
tice or of plausibility in this S-I-.1ggeSlti0I], to produce
an impression on superficial and interested minds.
Encrlarxd had new witnessed and felt the growing
strength and resources of the colonies. Parliament,
seconding the views of the ministry, without stioppinig
to inquire into the true nature of the relation in which
the colonies stood, affected to regard them as an in-
teg'-al part of the British empire, over which their
.power of legislatirxg was unquestionable and unlimit-
ed. "Within two years after the peace oft17(i3, the
rriglfrt was deliberately asserted, and the attempt pram-

‘ tically made to raise a revenue in America. America

solemnly protested as;-airist the assun1ption of the right,
and boldly resisted the execution of the measure.
She acknowledged the duty of allegiance and fidelity
to the crown, she allowed the right of the parent
country to 1'B§;11la.i;'0 her external commerce, and was
content to yield her a monopoly of that commerce;
but she strenuousty denied that she was bound by
acts of parlianient, in which she was not represented,
to which she had given neither an express nor implim
ed assent, she asserted that her own provincial legis-
latures exzercised the functions of pariiarnent, within

thesphere of their jurisdiction, that she had always,

manifested a willingness to hear her share of the com»-
mon burthens, that the alarming; assumption of power
on the part of Great Britain, was an entire subversion
ofrher whole constitution and frame of polity, equally ti.

iviolatiotn of the privileges of the colonists, guaranteed

by tchartexystand their unalienable trightrs as British sub»

jects. ‘ ‘These considerations were repeatedlyurgedon ,

the itpart of Ameriea,Twtitl1. a ;fo1*ce..~oft.reasening which
R

10

ought to have produced conviction,and a warmth of
eloquence, which should at least have conciliated re;
spect. ‘During ten years, Great Britain‘ persevered
in this attempt by a series of measures, by some of
whicyshe simplywasserted the right, without attempt-

ing tenforce “it, and by others implied the right,

without .expressly “ asserting it. But America was too

sagacious not to perceive, andtoodetermined, not to

resist the attack, whatever shape it might assume.
"During this period, many measures of coercion were
adopted, too formidable not to excite alarm, and too
imbecile tocompel acquiescence. B Great Britain at
length perceived the necessity of abandoning her pre.-c
teiisions altogether, or of maintaining them by milita»
ry. force. In an hour of fatal delusion, she adopted
the latter alternativeiil America had no alternative,
but to join in this appeal to arms. a “She asked for no
change, she wished for no revolution; , up to the ‘very
momentof the declaration of independence, she pro-
fessed her in attachment to the king, the "government,
the lawsand institutions of Great Britain. She de-
sired only to be left in the undisturbed enjoyment of
rights, essential to her existence as a free people. But

it finding herself not only abandoned but attacked,by
the power to which she had been a5ecustomed“to look

ferprotection, nothing remained but to dissolve all
connectionwith that power,‘ to implore the blessing
of heaven, and to provide for her safety by the organ-

i ization of anind.ependentgovernment. B The events

that followed are too well known to require recapitm
elation- America fought bravely, she fought success;

r   Iflluy :,3T1d We 'iP°3»03 Of 1783 A confirmed the sovereign.
ityi e 3andJindep.en.dence A of V the :»United slam. ‘oitl

11

grant that it mayforever secure them the blessings of
equal laws and free government.

Soon after the establishment of peace, experience‘
demonstrated the utter incompetency of the first rode
system of confederation, to maintain our respectabili-
ty abroad, and more especially to extend adequate
protection to commerce. r The good sense of the
country loudly demanded a more perfect form of gov...
ernment, better adapted to its condition and wants,
Hence our present constitution originated. That
constitution was formed and adopted, successfully
carried a into operation, and ably administered by
Wasl1ingto11, the beloved and renowned rnilitary
chief, who had so often led yourarmies to victory,
and who thus added the crown of civic honor to the
imperisllable laurel, which already bound l1istvictori-r
ous brow.

It becomes us, on an occasion like this, to endeaw
vor to make a just estimate of the value of indepen-
dence, and topconsider its eifects, in the present con».
dition and future prospects of our country. By her
declaration of independence and the principles ex»-
pressly asserted orpractically maintainetl by the con-
stitution of A general government, and those of the sev-
eral states, America has llazarded a hold attempt to
establish a more perfect state of civil liberty and pop-
ular government, than the experience of the world
has yet witnessed. The whole form and theory of
her polity is founded on the principle, that the happi-
ness of y the people is the only legitimate obj cot of gov;
ernment,   Theyy profess to guarantee to every-indivig-y

A dual,by fixed and permanent laws, the pp security of

life: libero’: P“°P61’W: reretetionenditheirturtuitief

1e

heyypiness, the rigiht errfree 7=(li*5§<cus'.eion‘ ugwm every

 subject, by speech, writing a‘ml'p1*inting,', the moetlnna-

limiitedt exercisie of the 1~i:g:1:s it of consciencere and oi
Worship,ianid an entire’ and abeoltwte exemption from
all exercise lief erbitmry power. A ‘i r

At the period of ‘ the settlement of America, the prin-
ciiplesl off governmelnt hecllmeguli to be freely discuss-7
ed, iinsfireat Britain, and the riglitsiof the people to lie‘
maintainecl, by come or her most eminent ci"vi"l‘iéine.r
The extension of commerce and the arts, the diffu-E
sion of wealth and intelligence, the influence of lear11~
ing and induet1** r, had gree-tl.y altered and elevated the
condition of society, and brongl1tiforWe1*(l a new class
of men, who lmew tlaeir 1*ig'l1ote end‘ felt their power,
and who could not long; patiently eubmilt to :1. state
of feudal V*asselng;e, which ha,(1 itsorigin in an igllo-
rant and military tege. : It was perlmpe the irregular,
violent and ill-«directed eiffortsi of men like these,
struggling against the _lligll' prerogative claims of ca,
repricious monarch and a jealous aristocracy, which
l‘)I’O11:~..’3‘l'l4l3 the first Ullarlcie‘ to the bilcclc, and ternaineted
in the usurpation of Cmnlvvell. But the revolution
of*1688, forever consecmtecl the triumph of civil lib»
erty and popular riglite, and pirecticclly declcreLl,tl1et
ttririfreie govei'nment,rr eecu1=ing the lmppiness of all, by
j‘uetancleque1lawe, is the constitutional prerogative
of eEnglisl1men, andr rthet wlreneverl government shell
eeasei to grantprotection, eubj ects may lawfully lcenee
to eyieldoobediencegi Atgthee period of cour7ema.n~cipe-
tiene,r=i these tpriinciples,oa1weye*ccl1e‘riehedi with comple-

éency, lied A mede e deepimprescioniuponi the minds A

of then American rrp“eople1t";f”7l7iircy§e;stly regardecl Eng-
land asthe~ionlymoel*eii otftfree and ‘energetic govern»

_.’l3

Inent. But not feeling the imnlietliatc infinence—ofthe

monarchical and arietoeratical branches, most of thei1:*

notional of such a government were taken from the
popxxlar hranch of the British tconsltitution. They
were too liberal and enliglitenerl, even with the feel.
ings of repugziaxice towards Great Britain, which

they then entertained_., not to avail the1ne~elv'es of all

the advantages of such a model.
These principles of icivil liberty, and this systemtof
popular govcnnnment, America has attempted to main;

tain and perpetuate, principally by the more completed
extension, developement and pracitical adoption of the} A

principle of 1*epresentation.. This principleisi the
great and capital _ improvement of ilmodern timee.»
Nothing at all enimillartorl eqoivalienti to it, was known

to the governments of antiquity. It consists intca ju... A

dicioue selection of a few, to exercise the powers ; of
government in trust for the whole. It is, in fact, the
only mode, by which a numerous people can exercise
any direct control over the adnninistration of its gov-

ernment, This priimiple has been long recognized and

valued, and eeemsjlinterwoven into the verynform and
taexturenof our society. Ite usevis astfamiliar‘ in pri-.
vate as inpuhlic affairs. Whenever any number of
individuals have occasion to act in concert, Whatever

A may he the nature of their organization, or the object

of associating, a select number is delegated to delib-2
crate and act for the whole. It is worthy of remark,
that this great , leading principle a in our government:
doesntderive its sanction ‘w from the ncomtiitutiong hint
on the contrary, ; gives to i1ilit.i1niG0l1Stii2l1i1i0!1n all the leaner
tion ‘ it tp0sseeses..;f ~ The ' adoptionof theconetitntion,

itself, the hiaiet W017,  a'npe0P1¢§:eaififiiflmisefta

143

was entrusted to representatives delegated for that
purpose. As the practical operation of this principle,
maybe extensively beneficial, it is also capable of
great and dangerous abuses. But when properly
modified and regulated by a due adjustment of the

right of sufi'rege,p its only efiect should be, to elevate
to oflice Inenof capacity and integri.ty, havinga corn»

men interest in the trust they are to exercise, and who
will exercise it under a deep sense of duty and re-

sponsibility. The representative, will then be a pre-
cise miniature of the constituent body, concerntrating
and preserving all its lineaments and features in exact
proportion. ‘ A government thus constituted, will
combinestrength with freedom. It will (3()lI1iI.lil.i1(l the
talents, sagacity, prudence and experience of its most
enlightened citizens, in devising measures, and the
moral and physical energy ,ofthe wliole peop'ie, in
supporting and executing them. 1

i . i But, Iphastgen from pursuing this detail, to
presentthe subject in a point of 4 view, perhaps, more
interesting. . Looking at the actual extent of the Uni-
ted . States, the unsettled lands within its acknowl-
edged boundaries, our disposition to... emigrate even
beyond these boundaries, the rapidity with which
population andsettlexnent is advancing, may we not
ant:icip.atei thettime, at no very remote period, when
the wholenorthern continent of America shall be in-
habited by a gpeople, speaking one language, jpossessu
ing the arts and enjoying the comforts and refinements
of civilization, enjoying an unlimited. foreign com.
memo and inteiinalyintercourse, ardently attached to
the principles of civil liberty,and practically tfamiliar»
with the tformsof representative government 3    r   I

15

With the improvements rapidly taking place in
the world, may we not aspire to a degree of national
grandeur more elevated, a state of society more re-
fined and perfect, than the world has yet witnessed 3.’
Oh may these bright prospects prove not the airy
visions of an ardent imagination ! It depends on
yourselves, Americans, whether so fair a prospect
shall be blasted. Military corruption or political (lea
pravity, the mad ambition and profligacy of rulers, or

the degeneracy and debasemcnt of the people, can

alone eradicate the principles of liberty, blast the

hopes of refinement, and bring back another agevof pp

darkness and barbarism. How solemnan admonition
is this, my countrymen, how powerful an appeal to
the heart of the patriot and philanthropist, to cherish
the national and manly virtues, to banish all narroaw,
selfish views, to pfrown with indignation on the arts,
and frauds, and intrigues of designing men, to culti-
vate the higher powers of intellect, to cherish the

nobler feelings of patriotism, to difiuse useful and

practical truth, in order to qualify and sustain us for
the high career of national glory, which Providence
has opened to our view. t l  s t i y y t t

The occasion requires, that we should take a nearer
View of the actual condition of our country, with re-:
fereneep both to its external relations and internal.
policy. The happy return~of peace, for whichgour
gratitude is so justly due to the protecting mereyof
Heaven, having relieved us from suifering, tagitation
andalarm, allows us leisure to survey our condition“,
and prepare for our future destiny. Although as sea»:
son like this, divests the political interests of «the day,
of that (lB6P:5.8;I1(l.5Btt1‘ll(3S.l}_il1l7BI'BSt,“Vl’hi0ll we fee1~I1}1de1*

16

the pressure of more trying; circumstances, the occa...
sion will be improved by the wise and relflectiiig; for
calm deliberation. But how painfa1l.y does this

scene of tranquillity and repose contrast with the deep L

and awful note of preparation, which reaches us from
Europe. , Oh who can cast a momentary View

 O’er the vine-cornered hills and gay regiousof France,

and not turn away with mingled emotions of horror,
indignation and pity. Twenty-five years have now
elapsed since the French revolution burst upon the
View of the astonished world, and opened a scene of
wretchedness and of crimes, of atheism and profligacy,

utterly Without a parallel in the annals of history. ‘

The American revolution has sufi'ered an irreparable
injury by being compared with that of France. But
they difiered not less in principle and in object, than
in the means, with which they were conducted, and
the anner, in which they terminated. The leaders
of the French revolution, manifesting an utter disre.
gard to all principle in their measures, and sincerity
in their professions, actuated by deadly hatred to all
that was eminent and respectable in character, or
amiable andelaegant in manners, or fixed and settled
in the institutions of a society, and instigated: by a.
boundless ambition, readily seized on the enthusiagsm
themselves had. excited, to gratify their imaliignant

passions. After a few feverish years of liberty, this t

horrible revolution termi=nated, as all reflectiug men
had a foreseen that it must terminate, «in a ~~ governmient
of physical force, .a cruel, ferocious military rderspot,

is. e The rulte of Bonaparte [was little rnore than has
i ;contiuu ascenetvofopp:-essilve, mttlrage,  teentemépt

'17

of social 1‘ig;lrnte. No epot within the extent of his
empire was too elevated or too lxumhle to be the
object of lr1ieI*eg;erfl. The padtece and the cottage,
the sanctuary of the (3l1t'll"5Cll, the halls of science, the
mliversitiee end sehoels, the eozlntimgflhouse of the
merehant, the wer;s1'k..el1op of the ertizan, the hallowed
ehode of doo;tes‘tie retzh-etneet, incessantly felt and
lamented hie rupptmestxrae, ietltteeee. Had l3onepa1*te
been eootent to confine the ephere of his relentless ty.
fmmny to F-::1.1"u:.e, alone, the 'worl(.lt would have had
lese reason to complain. It would have been a quest;
tioe for ltli'l§:§lll‘-lllllltlfltl ”l:‘7'tt'eoehmet1t elooe, ‘whether they
would Stilllilllt in Sll€‘.lJ1¢.:t;- to the totel euhvereioll ot‘
tlneir libertiee, or ‘take n1eeet1_ree me their (3't'11t’t11{3ip3.~«
tion. But Bonep.er‘te Wee tt.!11l)'ltl0l.1S; and with the
meet powerhtl militery foree ever lt12'<i)11§;lr1t to act at
the will of one man, ;.g;n?e,epetl et 'a:miveree.l conquest.
Europe bore» Witoeee, not only to his eml)itim1, but its
fe.te'l eueeeee. Nearly every capital of continental
Europe, had euhrnitted etleeeesively to the triumph of
his erme. 'jljl.lt3.‘§3l;‘f‘all1(.l.€“;t’3t‘1t were times whiell appalled
the tirmest l’)f1lm'.lS. "l"hey ‘began to eppnt-ehend, that

the even of freedom hed set forever, and that society A

was destined to sink beck into (lf:u‘h'£tlt1‘SS and bar-be-t

xriemt But suddenly tllt3li§§l1t0"fl1()[)B and of joy burst

with splendor from the north, the conqueror is de»

feated, his hordes ere eoetterecl, lhimself a. fugi‘tive.r
Snell was the joyful ecelernetioo, whiclx ell Europe A

reepomled. 'rm: fetal blow indeed was struck.

After agfewt Vain end fruitless struggles, the proud and
haughty eo1'1que1*o1* vves glecl to purellese lliselife by‘
the hun1ilietiogeorrenderl of his throne, zmclto seek in;

the little isletld A of‘ Elbe, e h»um,ble1 e‘a.e.y1u1n from the
l 3

18

eontemptiaml execration of lllalllillltl. ‘We, my friends,
cli£l1‘ejoice, most sincerely and cot-dialily rejoice in
this iseries of events, not merely because we had suf-
fered injuries and indignities fnoin the despot, not’

because his fall would promote our prosperity, but bc- A

cause We contsiclerecl it as the triumph of the cause of
justice, of libertyalid humanity, andoobcscatxsle we sin-
cerely believed, that it would restore happiness to
Fraliee, and safety to the W0l"l(l. .. A

‘Who then can regard with coldoin«Lliii'e1*enee, the
trememloust sti°u§;;;g;le which is again approacliiug,
which has al1*ea(;ly converted the borders of F1*ance
into a camp, pe1*haps ere this, into one wide waste of
desolation and of death. Can all this be donelto
satiatc the e1*aVing;e of one n1an'”s ambition E’ And is
it possible to regard that man with any feelings, other

ethane those of horror and (letestationi? I will not

stop; coolly to discuss the question, Whether the French
peopleihavea riglit to choose thei1- own government,
and‘ elect their own rulers, and whether other nations
may lawfully inte1'fe1'e. Nor is this necessary, ‘until
I am otaugl1t,stl1alt the acclamatiolls of a venal and rape-—
cioussoldiery, are to be eonsixlered as the clelibemte
voice of a free people. Bonaparte hacl solemnly re.-
nounced his pretensions to the th1*o11e of ;F1*ancc, in

g‘tgl”t»B 'facei»o‘t' eallEurope'. ‘ His subsequent conspiracy‘

with tl1e,;a1é1ny of Louis, to replace him on that throne,
wits equallyperfidious on] his part and treasonable on

it theirs. Perhaps no partcof this transaction exhibits a.
i1?I;1iJ1‘£3 dlsgusting spectacle, than that of the gross in.»

soin£'«e1‘ity,Atreachery and l cruelty of t ‘those :(1istin...

;‘:§¥—1iS113f1 ctlnen, W110) sihaving accepted the honours

‘1u‘—’19l—1‘3<5‘3tiiV*?i11th0oc031fif18n‘ce of A the ‘iunfortunatiettt Louis,

19

combined with Bonaparte to supplant him. After
their measures were in fact taken, they professed
their vvarniest attachment to their injured liing, their
d.eter1niuation to maintain his cause against the usur-
per, and kissed hisroyal hand with disgusting syco-;
phaney, at the moment they betrayed him.

It is not indift'erent to other nations WhetherBona..
parte is at the head of the French empire. W'ith his
known character and views, were he again in posses-
sion of i so formidable a power, the other nations of
Europe would again be in dan§;e,1' of falling succes-

sively under his sway, and thus contributing to swell. A

the tide of power and of conquest. '1‘e,~;gua1'(l against
this danger, those nations must become essentially 1nili~
tary, be compelled to relinquish the arts, the embel»
lishments and pursuits of peace, to abandon all moral,
social and intellectual cultivation, and devote then1-
selves exclusively to maintain large standing armies,
at leneeaburthensonie to their resources, ruinous to
their morals, and dangerous to their liberties. The
safety rind the happiness, therefore, not of France
only, but of the “world, require that the usurperbe
instantly crushed. 4 God speed the cause of the allies,
ofjustiee, of liberty, and of peace 3;

i l "V/Vhatever may be the eve.ntu.al issue of this tremen-—
douse conflict, we rejoice in the belief, that the danger
which We once feared from the ascendancy of .'Fre11ch
power, and the more contaminating influence of Ftreiieh
principles, is forever reinoved. ' The secret * spell,

pwhiehseemed to bind us in Willing chains to the com?
que1:"or’s ear is forever hrolgen. A Not sophistrly can

againdeceiveus ‘into a belief, thatthe cause of Brena-p.
xarte isthe cause of social tori hts lorvereate am
3 p:

eo

rneiitary sylhpethy between, the cliampioe of despot,

ism, :-mod the friemls of civilliherty.

One of the most alarming points of view, in which
the sincere oppoeexits of the late War with England
regarded that measure, was, that it tended to cement
and perpetuate that dangerous and disgraceful con;
nection. eThe commerc.lal ivestrictione of A.me1*ie.a,
corresponded inc principle and in object, with the
continental system of lthrance. "We (leclztred war‘ at

A the moment, when Napoleon had p1*epa1'ed the whole

force of his empire, to strike thelast fatal blow a.g:l.'ll'l£?§l3
the liberties of Europe, by the conqueosto of Russia.

,0f the cl1aractc1° of that War, we ,llt'.t\"{3 ofle1l1,e:~:p1'ee:aetl

our strong and decided opinion; and it is not my de-
sign to anticipate the sentoenee of censure and eemlein»
nation, which history will pronounr.e on its authors.
Let us rather turn from the reV'olting; subject, to the
more grateful task of Cflllllellllllallilg the lustre, which
it has given occasion to shed on the Ai11e1‘icaii clia1'ac~
ter. Oh who shall hereafter recollect the gallantry
of our little navy, the memorable exploits of our
ocean heroes, their skill and bravery in battle, their
:n1oderatio11 in victor , their dignity even in defeat,
without higher emoltionsof pride and Sflll..‘3f.£t{1tl0l1ai|1

the heme and cha.1*a.cter of are American P That navy,

one of the few 1'ema.ini11gwfruits of better couneels,
had survivedonly amidst the cutter it contempt and nee
gleot of those, whose administration ithas since con.-
tributed to en;1hlazon..  But it has justified the ardent
hopes, and realized the highoexpectations of its early
and constant friends, amlredeeinecl the reputatioxtlof
the c0unt1}-y. o It is new justly the favourite of all ;the

nation are its pa.t1*oi1s, and itmust and will becherishy

5931

ed. I certainly meant to bestow the highest praise on
the late American army when I say, that in most in»
stances, they have Well sustained the high military
reputation which crowned the arms of America, in
the War of the revolution.

Fae est ab haste doceri.

“If,” said ;s_;ene1-al Burgoyne, in his melnorable de-
fence hei"ore parliament, “ if there can be any per»
“sons, who continue to doubt that the Americans
“ possess the quality and facultyof iiglitiiig (call it
“ by wliatever name they please) they are of a
“prejuclice, that it would be very ahsurtl longer to
“ contend Witln.” This reputation the battles of
Niagara, of Plattshurgh and the Mississipi, Will have
notendency to impair. In this review, I should. do
injustice to my own feelings, not to mention with
lnerited comliiendation, the courage, the spirit and
patriotism of the American militia. Sensible of the
danger, as well as the burthen, of supporting a large
staiiding force, it has been tlie policy of America to
arm and discipline her citizens,, and in cases of sud...
den emergency, to entrust the safety of the country in
some measure to their zeal and courage. The vigor-
ous defence of Plattshurgh, of Baltimore and N ew“
Orleans, has well justilied the confidence reposed in
them. I may add with pride and with pleasure, that
the alacrity, with which the militia of Masslacliusetts
recently rallied at the call of their illustrious chief, in
whose juclgment, couragetpand patriotism, they justly
reposed unlimited confidence, their ardour and disci-
pline they exhibiteid, tithe. patience; and. copurage they

tflflllifestedg proved, it‘! proof were wanting, that the

soil of freedom will never be sorremle1'ed by its pro«
prietofrs, but with their lives. i A 
pWl1et is to be the future eomluet of the United
States, is a. subject of most interesting inquiry. Our
remote situation happily exempts us from the neces-
sity of interfering in the wars of Europe. Altlaougll
with arcle11t1nin(1s, it is impossible not to take a. deep

interest in the presetlat conflict, to have our hopes and

sympetliiets, to ‘feel “ the sti'(>u_g; o.ntips.t.hy of good to
“ ba.(l,” yet when our interests are untouelied, and
our safety notencle11gered,tit "would be the mere maxi»

ness of quixotismttointerpose *Wiltl1t0ul‘ at-ms. pp Om: i

dutytl1e11isplein, to !prese1*vet’l1e strictest i111pa.iftia,lity,

amltto imaintein this el1e1*a.eter with iirnmess, dignity

a11«.liperfeetgoo¢1 faith. The eo1';u*se of our domestic
policy is, we e.pprehe11d, 11m.rkea:l out in eha.1'eete1's, too
plaitn to be misunclerstood- A Let us hope tlmti the (lay
of idle theoigy, of frivolous experiment, ends of cle11ge1u

sous tt1‘-ifling with our 1 greet lietiomtl interests, which

eommeneed with: the administration of l\(I1~.?Jeii'e1*tsoI1,
lms tpiessed away, and ‘that it will be sueeeetletl by the
prewtleuee of good sense and pmetieel measuree.
We can no longer xniisteke apathy for fortitude, a, cold
indifference to the interests and glory of tl1eneti.olnt for
moderation; emit itmpamtiality, or the contempt of exp»
pelt-ienee ,f01"'ti‘m dictates of tpliilosophy. Let it be the
eonstlzmtxiobjeet of A the” government am]. people opfptlle

Unitecl stamps, to preserve ' tlietinational honour and I

national el1era.eter, to : cherlisht our 1-esourees and i1na.i11-

taiflpubliek credit, uto" strengtllemaxid ienlarge the

navy, to maintain a. small efi‘ieientyarmy, to etleouragei

and perfect the  omi1itia,to_ give atheist most ample pro. A

A tectionsto ,-,epommieree,itl to * agcieulture, lend Yto; every law A

3

Ex‘)

dehle pursuit, to pi‘-o1i1otelee1*nit1g, piety, usetlul inl'ot'-»
motion, just and "liberal sentiments, and shove all, to

cherish the union as the lneens of 11t1t]l011?tl security,
happiness and glory. Should the time ever come,

when one portion of the union, influenced by a mis-

tekeu estimate of local interests, governed by false
Views and unworthy pteiutlices, shall B‘llit3i‘i2tl.'t1 senti-A

ments, and adopt nieesures hostile to the rights and
liberties of ztnother, should faction, seizing the l‘llgil
places of governntent, with the eid of a, I1l.ll11t3l.‘lt‘_.t‘tl ine-
jority, endeavor to give to usurpation and injustilce
the forms of law, should the spirit and design of the
constitution be openly perverted to lend its sanction
to these measures, should all 1*es.sonehle means of re»
dness prove uimtreilingg, end such it course he systen1-
etically persisted in, nothing would pretneiti to the in-
pjured party, but to p1*epm*e deliberately for the crisis,
and to excleixii in the spirit oil’ the tleclsmtion of inde-
pendence, perish the union, perish the ‘cCutstl‘tutiot.t,
they heve ceased to preserve our liberties end one

rights. From such It crisis, inny God in mercy long._3;  

p1*eserve our beloved country. It belotigs tothe peo..
ple of the "United Etetes to cherish the union, in the
spirit with which it was fomietl, es the I1ltt2':1l1S of jus-
ties, of security, of safety and happiness to all.
Let the great sections and divisions of the United
States banish the local prejudices and narrow celo“us.-
ies, which effect Vulge1- and superficial minds, and
l’etthem learn to respect the character, the views, the
interests and feelings of each otlien. Experience has
shown that much of that prejudice is unfounded; its
consequences are obvious and lamented. Between
the different _g;reet‘sett,tiot11s of the union, it woutlcl he

...:\—_:,,.4 .__ 4... _ . .._‘_L.,.{,,.._..., :6

f'.%

eeey tollilemonetmte an intimate cemmtmlty of inter.-
eet; but I forbear. To the integrllty, the geml eense

and intelligence of the American ptbflplti-3, tlleir l1appi——-  

ness is entrusted.

Ameriea.ns, let me once more remiml. you 01' your
illustrious oI'igi1'1, and your laigll eleetination. Oh
stain not the purity of your youthful virtue, tarnielx
not the lustre of your early i'a.me.. Bzmish firomyour
counsels the t1'aito1*s, who weuldt .[}0lS§5(M1 your se11ti'-
ments and abuse your confidence. lnnprees en the
minds of your el1il(lre11, an emly aml amltent love of
country. Cherish a. national Cl‘123Ll“a.ctBI', cultivate [the
nati()na.l‘ virtues, so slmll you. prove to a. remote poem
terity, that the solid falJ1*ie of freedom zmtl imlepen-
deuce, which you have now miseul, is but the t'0mula.~
tion of a.loftie1- monument of national glow, lm.ppi.~
mess and fame.   ll