.CH85 J,805G I AN ORATION, PRONOUNCED, AT THE REQUEST OF THE » CHARLESTOJVN LIGHT INFANTRY^ BEFORE THE Republican Ctttjens! of Cfiarieftoton, ON THE ANNIVERSART OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, July 4, 1805. BY BENJAMIN GLEASON. « WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES." ConJRtution. ■« Th6 glory of Soldiers cannot be completed, without a/*«Am of Duty ever reward the obedient hand. Yeurs, &c. B, GLEASON. July % 1^05. AN ^^ ORATION. •yf *i^ Virtue is i\iefotd of a Republican Gov- ernment ; — ^and truly great and generous are thofe fpirits, which feel and exercife the exalted Principle. Liberty is the birthright, and Equality of Rights the inconteftable privilege of Man \— Sacred to the Citizens of our United States, be all their bleflings ! Sacred to the prefent generation, and to ail poflerity, be " The Daf we celebrate : — ^be it confecrated to the memory of " former times ;" — to the remembrance of" mighty deeds ;" — and to the prefervation of thofe « principles," which warmed the pure blood of our Fathers : — to be perpetuated down, through the long lapfe of ages, a Jubilee of Joy, Union, and Glory. Our Republic — the Fabric of our Independence, ftill exifts ! — The Republics of the elder world have long fmce ceafed their continuance; — all fwallowed up, in abfolute power, or abfolute ruin ! Our feveral ftate governments, united in a national body politic^ comipoie one grand confederated Re pub- j^ic ; — a Union, which ftands unrivalled, among all the fyftems of government, throughout the habitable regions of the Earth ; and we, its Citizens — indeed Republicans, — not in fancy, but in fa6l^ are moft fu- premely bleft ! The prefent occafion affords an opportunity to elu- cidate, and fubftantiate this pleafing reahty. Look through all Africa ; from Grand Cairo^ to Tangier^ and from Tangier to the Cape of Good Hope : — through all the diverfity of tribes, from the Copts and Mame- luks in Egypt, to the black Inhabitants of Senegambia ; to the Hottentot, at the Cape : you find no organized Republic — no free-born Republican of a free and dif- tinguifhed Country. Look through ail Asia ; and you behold all the mighty wheels of Efnpire, xoWing at large, like Comets, in boundiefs fpace, difconnefted with fyftem, confum- ing and confumed, with their own ^res : wandering in hordes, and preying on all oppofmg obftacles ; or walled in Cities, ever waiting the iflue of Battle ! — * Among the Clans of the former, abjedl poverty and defpotifm ! — Among the Governments of the latter, def- potifm, opulence, avarice, indigence, and flavery ! Europe prefents an ajfemblage of character, — a group offcenes, — a budget of curiofities, — a prolixity of events, — a Picture, which is variegated, with almofl every hue, and colour of diverfified Life. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Rujfia exhibit, in their national and political characters, no bright and glorious traits of Republicanifm. — The Norwegian principle is perhaps too much incafed in Climate ; — every chieftian, at Stockholm, is not a Gustavus Va- SA ; — Copenhagen flill points the cannon of the Mole, to the exadion of tribute ; — a Ruffian numbers his Haves, by the multitude of his roubles : — the Baltic wafhes all their fhores, and will perhaps, for ages yet to come, never feel the grateful breezes of Freedom. Poland Is called a Republic^ but in its bofom, lives an hereditary Ariftocracy. Its Kofciujkos ileep beyond the bourne of Life ; and the Siiwarrow fpirits, already gorged, in madnefs and blood, (land ready waiting at its portals, to rufti in, all terrible with havoc, llaugh- ter, and ruin, at their grand feflival of anticipated Rebellion ! The Circles of Germany^ though compofing a con- vention of great political Interefts, in their National Diet, — Imperial Cities^ with an Imperial Emperor^ at their head, yet fall far fhort of a firm and free Re- public, What a difference between the peafant of //^^w^/g'ry, and the Republican Farmer of New-England I — be- tween their heyducks and huffars^ and the Infantry and Cavalry in our great, refpedable, and invincible Militia ! Holland^ fmce the great confederation of Utrecht^ boafts itfelf a Republic ; but in its States-General there is more than a pure democratic reprefentation of the United Provinces : — it contains an hereditary StadthoU derfhip ! Switzerland^ whofe Cantons enriched by the hand of Induftry, fmile with plenty ; affording a fit refidence for a vigorous, free, and happy people. Switzerland ever confidered a Republic^ in the Helvetic Union, is too often fubjeded to the controling authorities of Ariftocracy and Ufurpation. Geneva, once the ally of the Swifs, knows but the flu6:uating thrills of Liberty ; not the glory of be- ing a permanent i^^/)?/M^. The Government of the Genocfe more refembles their Jhieid executed by Vacche, than the Republican Gov- ernment under which we have the happinefs to live. Venice is faid to be one of the moft celebrated Re' publics in the world, and is perhaps one of the moft perfect and powerful Ariftocracies on Earth ! This facl has been well attefted, by even their Doges them- felves ; too often the devoted vidims to the infcruta- ble operations of the minijlerial Cabinet ! Italy ^ hewn up into fo many ftates and kingdoms, with fo many oppofite, conflicting and complicated in- terefts, can never become a united and lafting Repub* lie. Look at the Defpotic ftate of Spain : their Cortes^ or Parliaments^ are the moft harmlefs things in Na- ture ; a mere fplendid etiquette to Royalty ; without power ! without privilege ! without pretenfion ! Portugal is a fifter in the fame connexion, and their Government, like the Government of Spain, as con- trafted with that of our United States, is a ftanding monument of impoveriftied Often tation ! and preem- inent Infignificance ! France, after it had exifted a monarchy, upwards of 1200 years, was by the National AJfembly, in a repre- fentation from its 92 departments, declared a Republic! How true this declaration is, in £ad, you yourfelves are judges. A Corfican, abfolute in Authority, and nearly thirty millions of people to obey his imperial pleafure ! — a government hereditary ! — France — ^not a Republic ! It may have been faid that Great-Britain boafts a Conftitution, which is, in its nature and effedls, the moft perfect model of all Governn\ents : ^* the moft ftupendous fabric of human invention :" Grant it bears the fefnblance^ — it is not the fubjiance : it is but the Jhadings and outlines ; not the full piSlure^ the per- fedl glory of a free and united Republic ! England compared with the United States, is much like the ark of the Covenant^ in comparifon with the Temple of Solomon ; but in its Creeds and Deeds, it has been much like the Giant ofthePhiliJlines, in competition with the little ruddy David of Ijrael ! Its whole head is now fick ! its whole heart is faint ! . its deflruc- tion it is feared is inevitable ! On their " Land's End^'^ may, at fome future day, be reared a Beacon, to warn againfl approaches to that mighty Pit, where Hes the wrecked, and ruined glory of Old England I — While America young, vigorous, glorious, and happy, will af- ford an Afylum to the perfecuted of all Nations, and Ihield them ever, under the banners of Liberty, Prof- perity, and Peace ! Upon the continent this fide the great waters of the Atlantic, the devouring talons of infatiable ambition, once ufurped the power to prey, ravage, wade, and deflroy. Earthquake, Ternpeft, Inundation, and Flames have been rivalled by daring and ufurping man ! The blood flained traces of a Cortes and a PiZARRo, carrying depredation in one hand, and defo- lation in the other, flill are and ever will be vifibly de- lineated, on the charts of South America* The altars of a Republic can never rife or ftand fe- cure, on a bafis of blood -, but if founded on the im- perifhabie principles of Integrity, Honour and Glory ; when the rites of Freedom mud be confecrated with blood, its flirines are cleanfed from all pollution, by the potent fires of Heaven. 8 On fuch an imperifliable bafis, fland the altars of our own Country ; venerated by the patriot, and the friend of Man ; and having been once confecrated by blood, they fhall be defended^ though it be even by the blood of our Father's Children, and Children's children — down to the remotell generations. No part of America; no part of the known popu- lated world, {lands fo preeminent in Glory, in Princi- ple, in ReptibUcan Virtue^ as thefe our United States^ they are indeed a Republic I and we — Citizens of this free and happy Country, indeed — Republicans ! Be it ever our ambition to defend, preferve, and perpetuate the Conjlituted Rights of our Country ; to fupport our Constitution, which is proverbially called the '' Palladium of our Liberties ;^* to refped: our Rulers ; to remember with gratitude, the exer- tions of our Fathers ; and to tranfmit, unimpaired and laden with accumulating honours, the exalted Princi- ple, which has immortalized their names. On this all important Day, — Memory walks its med- itative round, among the multitude of glorious deeds effeded by our Fathers. " The Mind's Eye" con- templates, with infinite delight, the unfhaken firmnefs, the fteady virtues, the immortal bravery of our fages, our patriots, and our heroes : and often paufmg, at the warrior's tomb, where fleep the great and good, all covered with laurels ; — " oh ! how beautiful is Death, when earn'd by virtue." There flands the fmiling Angel of Peace — Guarding, with holy rites, the Hero's bourne, Guiding their fpirits onward, never to return. The guardian Angel of our Union has already in- fcribed, upon the records of Eternity — Ever/acred to pojierity^ be the remembrance of Times -pafi I andbethi^ Day hallowed^ with Life* s fublimefi fympathy ! In the retrofpedion of pad times, we behold a won- derful concatenation of Events, which led on ultirnate- ly to the eftablifhment of American Independence I " While Memory holds her mental feat," may we never forget thofe, to whom, we Hand indebted for our Freedom, with all its concomitant advantages ; and while Gratitude warms the human breaft, may our hearts cherifh the noble principles of Republican Virtue^ in connedion with the dearefl affedions and felicities of Life. May our fair Sijiers liflen to the tales of Old Ti??7es^ with pleafure; give a tear to departed worth ; 2i f??iile to merit ; and applaud with generous hearts, the truly virtuous fentiments of thofe Times, which "tried men's fouls''- — as in crucibles of political Afflidion ! May our Fathers^ who ftill live, and who this day witnefs our grateful affedions, our zealous attach- ment to the caufe oi Liberty^ and our refolution to defend and proted the Rights of Man, while they behold their children around them, rifmg up " to call them bleffed ;" may they feel the aiTurances of a blef- fed immortality ! They fhall be immortal in the af- fedions of their Children IJ While we retrofped the rough viciffitudes of War, ?nd regard, with due confideration, the fcene of Bat- fe ; may the thrillings of fublime fenfation pervade [me heart, vibrating to every tone of RecoUedion-^ — Behold ! A'ggrejfion followed on after aggrejfion. Prohibition B t 10 'diicrpro/jibilion. 'i'hejtar/ip act* 'I'he tnajjacrc* The tea" traffic, liliQ'-'Bq/lonport-billJ^ Impofitions and per- fecutions. — Thefe were the high-handed infults offered the people ofthefc United States^ particularly the State of Maffacbufeiis^ while yet a Colony, by his Sovereign Ma- jejiy the King ! " defender of the faith !*' and the Su- prerne authorities of the Court of Great Britain ! — And thefe perfecutions were anfwered by Remonjlrance after Remonftrance : petition after petition : but the evil in- creafed : oppofition then became a i?/g-/6/ ; and refiftance, Lavj ; then courage became a Virtue ; and refolu- tion, Glory f — " Arms become jufl and facred to thofe who have no other refource :" — The flandards of Liberty were erected, on the high hills of Maffachu- fetts ! — Thoufands rallied around them in arms ! — Heaven attefled the fad ! — and the " God of Ar- mies^^ fmiling complacent, bid Atnerica be free I See, a gathering florm appears at Leechmore's point, — eight hundred troops have landed ! They open their v/ay to Concord^ to deftroy our military ftores, and to fecure the profcrihed patriots, — Han- cock, and Adams ! Then Lexington recorded a fcene memorable in the hiftory of our country. *' Difperfe ye rebels /" cries Pitcairn. — Death or LiBERTT, *' exclaim our undaunted, patriotic Country, men. The fcene was cruel ! Skirmifh, confufion, and death pave their way from Concord. Lord Piercy appears with a relief of nine hundred recruits ; a brok- en retreat is made ; the warm fpirits of our yankee brethren purfue them fcatteringly ; but with revenge- ful havoc, to the very ground, where now we celebrate our Independence. 1 1 The alarm is fpread ! Gage trembks with his mighty men of war in our metropohs 1 I fee the arms of our Citizens taken by a collvfion ! I fee their fufferings, but they fcorn to complain ! — Their profpefts fhall be ferene ! Their native town is now befieged, with 20,000 of their brave country- men, demanding fatisfadion, for their injured rights. Flere, within a war-whoop call, fat in pompous Hate the Britifh Myrmidons, Ho we^Burgoyne, Clinton, and Gage ; — iffuing proclamations, and deciding up- on the fate of our Country, and the lives of our Citi- zens. — The Britijh martial laws are in operation ! — O ! think of the diftreffes of thofe times ;— all is lamen- tation, horror and diflraclion ! See ! — ^your brave countrymen throwing up en- trenchments, on Bunker* s Hill! The enemy advanc- ing, with the progrefs of the Sun, — all is loft I — ^No I — livid Death rufhes down their ranks dreadful and tremendous. — They retreat ! our Countrymen victo- rious ! — No ! They rally ! — They return ! — Again all is confufion, ihrieks and fliouts : — again bravely re- pulfed : — They retreat : — Victory ! — No ! — wrought up to a degree of defperation — great in numbers, — pomp and power, they furioufly put forward ! — O i God — temper, with mercy, the preponderating fcale of war ! — Spare — Spare our brethren. Warren falls ! — Relief- — ammiinition fail ! Convulfed, our coun- trymenmake thelafl ftruggle ! — Charlejioivn in fames I Howe yet trembles in dubious conteft. I fee the in- tereft felt univerfal, all round the hemifphere of vifion. — ^The enemy have reared the flandard of vi6tory ; but in exaltation, triumph the Americans! — Thofe take * 12 pofleflion of the Hill ; — ^but our Warren, our Court- trymen of immortal glory ! — The next war fcene difcovers the Green-Mountain boys^ at Ticonderoga^ under the command of General Allen^ — demanding a furrender " in the name of the great Jehovah, and the Continental Congrefs.*' — The key to Canada is fecured to the Americans. — A regular army is now eflabliflied, and its Chief h the illuftrious Washington. The next fcene difcovers the heroic Montgomery^ at the head of his troops, — flruggling againft double the number of the enemy, — fecuring the out pofts, and cities of refuge belonging to the Englifh. — He fell glo- rious in battle, fighting for Liberty ! Norfolk and Falmouth now lie fmoking in ruins ! About this time, rofe thofe aflonifhing heights^ at Dorchejter. Howe and his army in trepidation, quit our Capital— they fear the invincible fpirits of the Americans.— Our beloved Washington enters Bof ion triumphant ! Parent — Brother, and Friend, again meet and are happy ! — Congrefs publifh their Declaration of American Independence^ Qvily 4^^ 1776) which cut afunder the bond of connexion, and feparated America^ from Great-Britain forever ! See! — next 2XNeW'Tork^ Washington and Howe in competition. — See the American Soldiers, driven from Tork-Jfl- and^ and retreating through the Jerfeys — difheartened and almofl hopelefs. — Rhode-ljland is loft, taken by Clinto}2,-^Lof[es^ defeat, ficknefs, and death — the four Elements of prefent mifery, darken with conflifting IS tempefts, the prefent dreary fcene. — The northern ar- my reduced from 25,000 to 3000 men, is in a man- ner no more : — to add the laft aggravation, by a ftrange imprudence. General Lee is captured by a party of Britijh Light Horfe. It was on the Evening of the 25th of December, 1776, that Washington^ great in misfortune, as he was good in character, turned the tide of War, and " revived the defponding hopes o^ America, '^^ He pafTes from Pennfyhania — croiTes the Delaware in a florm, arrives at Trenton^ captures the Heffian troops — gains a fignal victory — faves his Country ! — The gallant Mercer dies, but the patriot lives, in eternal remem- brance ! Soon after Tryon cari'ies fire and fword into Connec- ticut^ — at Danbury^ the brave Woojier fell ! Pradlifing the policy of the Englijh^ in taking Gib' raltar^ the heroic Col, Barton takes the Englifh Gene- ral Pre/cot naked, from his quarters in Rhode-ljland. See ! — the mighty champion — Burgoyne — now ad- vances with 10,000 men ; many were the brave and worthy, who rofe in powerful oppofition. — Gates leads on the Americans^ and Burgoyne* s whole army at Sar- atoga yield prifoners of War. This was glorious for you, my Country. The tears of afflidion are now fucceeded, by the fmiles of joy and fatisfadion. See now the Engliih forces proudly failing up the Che/apeak! The heights of Brandywine are lined with a Wajhingtonian oppofition ; but the Americans' lofs is great : Philadelphia and Germantown witnefs fimilar fcenes : the Britifh loffes balance it, preferving the equipoife of war. f4 The year 1778 is dlftinguiftied by a treaty of Alli- ance with Fra7ice. Monmouth is rendered memorable by our Soldiers' fuccefles. Rhode-ljland the fame. Conflagration flill marks the footfteps of the Britijh, At St oney -pointy our Countrymen, led on by Wayne ^ are vidorious ! — at Penobfcot they are unfortunate. Again, at Savannah^ Lincoln and Count d* EJiaing re- pulfed with lofs ; here fell the " brave foldier," Pti* lajki ! Again, at Charlejion^ Lincoln taken : again, at Camden^ Gates and his troops routed with lofs. The Britifh marauders now ravage our Country, like hun- gry tygers ! Rochamheau arrives ! — General Green takes com- mand at the fouthward, and is fuccefsful. Guildford commemorates the beft fought adion during the war ; Green and Cornwallis in oppofition. The Eutaw Springs are commemorative of American fucceffes. Marquis De la Fayette^ be thy virtues in remembrance, while Liberty has charms ! Cornwallis is now blocked up at York-Town by Count de Grajfe. Washington arrives ! Cornwallis furrenders ! The contefl is decided ! America is free! Peace rifes to view, like the Sun emerging from the laft waftings and defolating bowlings of a ftorm, and Liberty is all our own ! The Britilh evacuate all their pofls. They take their laft ftand at New-Tork, Guy Carleton comes over their commander ^ and treaties of Peace, Friend- SHIP and Alliance, clofe the eventful fcene ! Thus, Gentlemen, conceiving it my duty, I have paffed with you mentally over the vaft theatre of the 15 world. You have had a curfory glance at the vari- ous modes and forms of Government, in their various relations and operations throughout the Earth. You have feen the Republics of Europe^ as they now exift, and by contrafl and illuftration, how glorious, how preeminent, the Republic of the United States I reared by our fathers, cemented with their bell blood ; and to be perpetuated in republican union forever ! Thus have we walked mentally over the terrific field of carnage, devaflation, and death. '"The Day," we celebrate, is defigned ever to be commemorative of thefe great events. Our fubjed: is our Indepent dence! and it is glorious for pofterity, on fuch a Day as this, to remember with gratitude the mighty Deeds by which, with the blefling of Heaven, our Freedom was obtained. The recital can never fatigue the Patriot^ the Re- publican^ whofe heart glows with love to his fellow man, to his Country^ and to his God. No ! it is juf- tice to elder times ! it is honour ! it is glory ! to blefs the memory of our fathers ; to drink of the fountain of their feelings ; and to feel, within us, 2.fpirity like theirs, invi?icible ! immortal I Peace contrafted with War, now appears like the circuits of Elyfium ; contrafted with the trophies and caroufals in the halls o£ Woden » The darkenine^ clouds difperfe! the hYighinek of Freedom's Day beams forth in tenfold luftre ! How pleafant, how grateful the profped ! Liber- rr vefted in the robes of Honour^ and plumed with immortal Glory : — radiant as an Angel of Light, and illuftrious as Truth and Virtue* — -Yes ! LiBEurr now t 16 '^' fits triumphantly enthroned, in the Temple of Peace !-^ On either hand the arms of our Country, with the perpetual memento " E plurihus UnurrH^ — " united : WE STAND y DIVIDED WE FALL^^ — and its vidorious Standards, crefted with the Spread Eagle of America^ an emblem of refolution, preeminence, invincibility. Often may we recal to mind the wonderful inter- pofitions of Divine Providence, in the prefervation of our Country — our Rights — and our Liberty — the mod invaluable blefling of Life. Hijiory^ ever faithful, will repeat the ftory to a thou- fand generations, yet to come, and on fuch a Day^ as this, fhall it be told them, for a thoufand fejiivals in fucceffion : — that their ancient fathers once lived be3rond the great waters, which wafh their native fhores : — that they were perfecuted, and injured in the Rights of Confcience, among their own breth- ren and kin : — that they fled, and fought among ftran- gers the free exercife of thofe privileges, authorifed by Nature, and fandtioned by Nature^ s God : — that Perfecution (till fpread its terrors and tumults around them : — that then, refolute to their purpofe, they arofe to a man, let their feals to the Charter of Liber- ■fy : — left the old world : — crolTed the Atlantic, with various adverfe fortune : — found an afylum : — and in a world new and unexplored — eftablifhed themfelves by *' folemn contract," a People— -free — and indiviftble!-^— zealous for good works ! and in fpirit and principle —worthy the name of man ! — That centuries had not pafled, ere an immenfe territory was covered with an immenfe population, furrounded with all the pro- duQIons of the Ocean and the Land ; — and that prof- 17 perity 5 felicity, and Liberty 5 — from the cottage hamlet, to the fplendid habitations of State and Empire; — from the vafl chain of Northern Lakes, to the Southern re- gions ;— -and from the great Weftern River, to the mighty waters of the Eafl — univerfaliy prevailed 1 That War once molefted the peace and happinefs of our Country-- O ! ivar^ hateful, bakful^manunotJjfav- age ! — when we pray for thee, as much as we pray for the kindly rains of heaven — may our latter fupplication h6 the moji fuccefsful, and bring down upon thee, fuch a deftroying Deluge as to whelm, drown, and bury thee, and thy fuppliants forever. Yes, my Country, that war once defolated thy fields — deflroyed thy fair cit- ies — prowled and gorged in Battles and in Blood ! — and with the fword, the mufquet, and the hot lava, fwimming from the cannon's mouth, once facrificed the noblefl vidims, that ever paid devotions at the fhrine of Liberty : — that Independence, like Hercu- les m his cradle, knotted the Serpent, and hurled him to the middle regions of the air ! — the fall was de- ftru£lion ! — war ceafed ! — and America was free ! Thus fhall " The Baf^ remind the generations of Men, of the principle which ennobled and dignified the fpirits of their Fathers ; of the elfeds of that prin- ciple — a row/^-- -fupremely glorious to our Coun- try ; — a preeminent " rank among the Nations of the Earth j" — a Government free ; — a Republic the ad- miration of mankind ;— and a Vnion perpetual ! Hail ! Peace, angel of celeftial glory, thine are the virtues and the blilTes of Life. It is thee, gentle and merciful Peace, who fiUefl our hearts with gratitude, our abodes with blefling, and our paths with Honour. C IS Dwell with us ever, in aii thy angelic purity and per- fections ; preferving the Conftitutions, proteding the Rights, fecuring the Advantages, and eonfecrating the Altars of our Country. To the " long and arduous confliQ:" of war, fuc- ceeded t\\e feveriteen years of fuccefsful Administra- tion ; — at the head of which, the free juffrages of a free People have fucceflively placed — George Wash- ington. John Adams. Thomas Jefferson. Fair lot of Mount Vernon — Father of thy Country ! — « Thy lleep is not the fleep of Death, for thy memory ever lives, in the living hearts of thy Countrymen — it mingles with our remembrance of forrow, and with our generous effufions of joy. — Thine immortality is double : — thou art immortal on Earth ! — thou art immortal in Heaven ! Be thou our Guardian Spirit, — and may thy memory perpetuate, among us, thofe focial and political affe6lions and felicities, which en- hance and enrich the exiftence of man. Woolafton — to remember thee as a man, detached from all unpleafant^ political confiderations, we feel it our duty to fay : — thy name (hall be borne to Pofterity, with benedidion : and ere a thoufand moons fhall have finifhed their courfes, when we who now Uvey fhall all lleep embofomed in the dufl: of our mother Earth : when the ebullitions and animofities of party fhall fubfide and be forgotten — then fliall thy name fland brilliant and refpeclable on the pages of eternal Hiflory. Sage of Monticello. — Loved and revered by the wife and good. — Thy Country's friend, and the friend of man. — ^Endowed with faperior wifdom, dignity, and un- ID derflanding. Faithful to the intereil of thy conlfi- tuents : — unimpeachable, powerful, and perfuafive, — ■ thy Country holds thee in veneration ! Founding Religion, on the baiis of Toleration, and political Law, upon Reason : — giving purity and fta- bility to the fpirit of the Conflitution, and divefting Government of all fuperfiuous formalities : — blend- ing juftice and refpe lability, with all our forenfic con- cerns : — unburthening the oppreffion of the Times, and diminifhing the mailes of national embarraffment and expenditure : — multiplying the advantages of a free People : — inftituting wholefome regulations, at home, and honourable negociations abroad : — treat- ing infolence according to its deferts, and leaving malecontents to the pubUc Indignation :— encouraging Commerce^ Agriculture^ Manufadures^^ and the Arts and Sciences : — adhering to the maxims — " viilliom for defence ^hut not a cent for tribute*^ — "Peace, Commerce, and honefl Friendfhip with all nations ; entangling alliances with none :" — fuch are thy virtues, 'vener- ahle^ illufirious Jefferson, Since the Declaration of Independ^jice^ America has progrefled to an eminence of political refpe^tabili- ty, not even furpalTed by the ancient RepubHcs of Greece and Rome, The Republic of the United States, at this day, ftands unrivalled and peerlefs, among its lifter Nations of the Earth ; and its glory, and its fame excite the admiration of the world. Who, but muft reverence the fpirit oiWhigifm^ and *75y — that well underftands the caufes and effeds of things. — The moft humble philofophy will teach us the value of that nature, which ads like itfelf 20 Whether man reclines, on the banks of the Indus, or haunts the wild deferts of Gingira^ flill Liberty is dear to him ; — and may we, who live in a Country, fur- rounded on all fides with the richeft and mofl flu- pendous fcenery of Nature, ever delight to exhibit and behold, in the American character, the firmnefs and ferenity, the grandeur and fublimity, thefe fcenes difcover. In War^ our Father s have left us examples worthy of imitation, in the like cafes of necelTity. In Feace^ they have taught us the Culture of the Soil, Navigation, and Commerce, and the improve- ments of Mechanifm ! May we, Children of fuch Fathers, ever prove our- felves worthy of our honourable connexion ! Among the traditions and hieroglyphics of the East, there is one mofl admirably adapted to our prefent purpofe. It reprefents a vifion of Cyrus ^ King of Perfia, at the time when the Children of Ifrael, were captives a- mong the Chaldeans. Cyrus lies in a pavilion afleep. A Lion is in the a6t of rufhing from his den to feize his prey. Above, is reprefented a Divine Glory, raft- ing on a cloud, from which defcends an Eagle to Cyrus^ carrying in his beak this label, " Give Liberty to the Captives /'* What a beautiful allegory this, as applicable to the captivity of our Countrymen at Tripoli ; Tripoli, gre^t in felf pride, Jleeps infenfible itfelf to the charms of Liberty. A marine force, as with the mighty ftrength of the Lion, rifes in view, formidable and refolute. The Divine Glory, from above, proteds the American Eagle^ r 21 which, under the dire£lion of Heaven, defcending, proclaims, " Liberty to the Captives /" — and they fhall be free ! It is the declaration of our Country — It is the afleveration of Preble ! — Our tears, and our feel- ings this Day are the prices of their Redemption, — ^they fhall return, and be infolded again in their Country's affections with everlafling rejoicing. This is the only f ombre fhade in the brilliancy of The Day ! all elfe around is delightful, grateful, and happy I Ours are the BlefTmgsof a free religion^ to lead the mind from " Nature up to Nature's God 1" The blefTmgsof a/r^^ government^ to make us hap- py in our political conne6lions ! The bleffingsof a/r^^ trade^ to afford us all the advantages of life ! The bleffings of 2^ free and firm administration^ to make us wife and valliant, diilinguifhed, patriotic, and prof- perous ! The bleffings of zfree andfocial friendship^ to improve our habits — to enhance the value of exifl- ence — and to eternize the age ! The bleffings of the j)AY—free^ for all the purpofes of focial, political, and refigious Devotion ! The blejfings^ — ^but where do they end ? — O, happy, happy People ! — thrice happy, my Country. — The very Ocean is faftened by a thou- fand flreams to thy foil, and feems, on this glorious occafion, to participate in thy happinefs ! The peals of Ordnance, which, this day, echo to the clouds, make an acceptable report of our tranf- actions ! nor chime our bells, nor beats the drum, nor fly our colours in vain — they are all demonflrative of fuperior defight, and joy. Our Country is, this Day^ like one vafl Camp with- 22 in its fpacious lines of Entrenchment :— or if you pleafe ; — Like one great Republican Marquee^ fttuated in the training fields of Liberty^ and though our en- campments are made in different pofitions, as looking on a map, we behold the order, pleafure, and magni- ficence of the fplendid fcene. Cheerfulnefs pervades our affociations, and peace, unity, and plenty prefide, in fmiles and joys, around the feftive board. Long may thefe bleflings and felicities be ours. Long may the unadulterated. Republican fpirit, which warms our bofoms, in the caufe of Liberty^ — ^be our boafl and pride. Long may the principles of Republican Virtue exift. Long may our hearts feel refpeftful, generous, and adive, in the great Interefls of our Country. — Long as yonder hills ftand firm upon their bafes — long as the names of Washington^ and Jefferson^ fhall be known — long as our Country continues a virtuous Republic. Citizen Soldiers I Your requefl is complied with, your commands are obeyed. The Republics of the world, and the mofl prominent interefls, and concerns of our common Country, have even now paffed in review before you ; — and by a reverfed march " the bay^^ this, which ftands at the head of the whole feries of events — fol- lows lafl in the train. This Day is your Anniverfary ! — A Day — ^fa* cred to Liberty ! facred to our political Rights ! and facred to focial Fejiivity ! - 23 Be it ever hallowed, and joyous, throughout your generations. Political diJiinElions work no ferious evil. The Anniversary of American Independence ihall be forever kept, in grateful sand glorious commemoration. •'^* A Union of fentiment, and feeling muft obtain, and do honor to the Day — Encouraged by the fmiles, and at- ' tentions of the Fair — the soldier^ particularly muft delight to do his duty on fuch an honorary occafion ! It is the pride of an Americun foldier that he is a C///- 'z.en — and that a Citizen is not a minion — to lick the duft at the outer fteps of a Grandee's Court ; or live, under regular difcipline, 2Xfixpe7lce a day. — Our Citi- zens are our Soldiers — whofe Jlandards are unfurled, and whofe arms glitter, in the full meridian blaze of FREEDOM. Our armories and arfenals are, hke the " Temple of Janus^^ fhut; but like the Caravanfaries of the Eaft — they hold accommodation fufficient, for every defenfive and appropriate purpofe. Ading, as bearing the " image and fuperfcription" of ;?/^;z— of your god^ you will ever exercife humanity: Never to be the caufe of woe — Or caufe unhallowed tears to flow. Be ardent in your military emulation ! be brave ! be ever worthy the name oi soldier /—What do I behold ? the warm crimfon mounting the cheek, and the pearly tear ftarting from the eye ! — It is a grateful compli- ment paid to your abfent General^ the good foldier^ the worthy Hull ! Yes, never yields but to the importu- nity of expedience- — never retreat^ but from the dan- ger of doing wrong — never be reludant in an honour- 24 able caufe, nor deficient in the defence of injured Vir- tue^ or injured i^/g-to — ^No ! Stand firm to yoMv pojis: — keep the Eagle's eye in your ranks ; — his plumage as your ornaments : — and his fpread wings to Jhield your virtues from ajfailants : — and march ye forward^ in the pathway of Glory, carrying refiftance to every obfta- cle that would oppofe your advancement. In one word;— be ever Citizen Soldier S'-zud the God ofannies and battles ever be with rou^ — and ever afford rou his Blessing. FINIS. Ja. LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 011 782 931 5 ccKc: c " vC(^i^ ^c:^ -^?^<^rT' <£