«W m R A T I (:0) N, PRON0 UNCED JULY 4, 1808, AT‘ THE REQUEST OF THE SELECTMEN OF THE TOWN (‘HT BOSTON, EN COMMEMORATION mi‘ "mm IKNNIVERSARY OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. W‘unuuw«&w«m‘ W finmm ifiitcbirr, Jmm m2:z:a:» WKIMMHHIWM A 0 mzrcii“ (wwgzm am‘m fgrxari .mmu.s «um; mzflm-zmz) 6? pam‘ gravizwa f dafrifi Mms grucagzw fiawm ..... .v*mr;.. mm yearly ¢;wrn:mé:-;n, that bri‘ii,~g*s this may abouts; ffihall xwver me it but 22¢ Irrfly-~‘¢!a1y.. . .. . .m'.¢14r. VOTE OF THE TOP)’/"N. At a meeting; of the frcehnlders and other inhabitants of the town of Boston, duly qualified and lega.1ly warned, in public town-m sembled at I*‘ancui1-I~Ia1l, the 4th day 0fJu1y, A. 1). 1808. That the Selectmen be, and Ixercrby are appoinlml a committee to wait an ANDREW I'{,i'rcI:Im, jun. esq. in the nmnc of the town, and thank him fur tile e1cgzi111t mad spirited Omtitm, this day delivered by him, at the r(..rquest'ni:‘ the ttmvn, Upon the Anniversary of the Indepmldmxm of the 'United States of Axnerica; anal ta rcqtmst of him :2. copy for the press. attest, WI LL I AM (3 0 0 PER. , "I‘0W‘x1«Clcx'Ia:. eating, 2125- On motion voted, Innnnunmm nosmw, JULY 4-,, 1808. cmwrnmmw, A I submit the Omticm to your disposal. and mm, with gI'cz1,t1'cspect, your hmnhhr .<»m:t'mn1;, AI\1I)I?i.lHV R,I'IF‘€Ii7II.I?.,_j2'. % rmrz !SI;1M:c:'x“nIIF:1\f ox? xzoszrom ORATION. ...x_ VVE devote tllis anniversary, fellow--citi— ‘Hens, to the celebration of those principles, which incited our patriots in their progress to inclepem deuce. The early 11isto1*y of our courttry pre» sents the interesting View of men leaving their paternal shores in quest of la retire;-tt from 1*eli~ gious persecution. Tltey fottttd it only in st land covered with sztveges; zmd those, whom fttrnilne and the tomathztwl-:5; of the ittdiatt ltztcl spared, at length acquired the glory of spread-- ing civilization through at wilderness. «A few years Saw the infant colony ir1crea,se to the size of at nation ; and the parent country irtfl return ) for the protection she extended, waslttsetisfiecl With the “ monopoly of“our trade. But, when infatuation so far possessed the BI‘ltiSl11'I1Zlnl:§~ try, as to nmlte them persist in the project of raising a revemte in America, and the contest became so 1"EmCOI‘OUS, that the alternative was freedom or sttbjttgatiott, tl1en,lthanl;:s to Heaven, the fathers of our revolution severed the ties; of our colonial clependenee, andproclaimecl 1.1:?-5 f:o;‘:<=:, ’ tsovereign ancl irtclepenclettt state-5. Here, let us not attempt to arouse feelings of revenge by recounting the deeds of cruelty which marked the progress of our enernies.--m The conflict naturally had all the ferocity of ci-- vil war. But to us, who were conquerors, is reserved the glory of extending the mantle of forgiveness over the injustice of the vanquished. The spirits of our fallen heroes call not irorn; it their tombs for revengoegw do they require us to renew the contest, and ‘appease tliem by the slaughter of thousands. But theyyydp yteonay jure us by all the horrors of our revolution, by the conflagration of our towns, and the ravages of ourfields, by the sufferings of the captive, and the torrents of blood which flowed for our sakes, not to abandon the principles of national independence. ‘We are not required, like young Hannibal, to approach the altar, an.r.l vow ,eter-- nal hatred to a rival nation ; but we will repair to the neighboring heights, at once the tombs and everlasting monuments of our heroes, and swear, that as they did, so would We rather sac:-«- rii-ice our lives than our country. The quality, which in those days distin- guished our countrymen, was their sensibility to the invasion of the public irmnunities and honor. They were not impelled by a spirit of disloyal- ty; for they did not assume the la1wt1ageofi1i- dependence, nil they had erzhausted that of Stip- M C fl fl H ‘ ‘ G’ K'% plication. They did not renounce their allegi- a1tGe5 till their monarch became their "enetny. When this connection was dissolved, they re-- joiced to become peaceable citizens of a free governrnent, enjoying the tranquillity of subordi- nation without its oppressions. Vi/‘lay then is the character of our revolution disgraced, by be» ing compared in its principle with that of the French 9 Theirs was commenced by usurpation of the rights of a monarch, who was willing to cooperate with his subjects in any species of rea- sonable reform ; it was continued by rival par-« ties, who drenched their country in blood; and it was ended by a man whose pastime is deso-» lation, and Whose government is dread. In our revoltttiott the rays of royal authority with th1~eaten.i11g'aspect gradually descended in the West ; and though darlmesst island convulsions succeeded, We were at lengtlt‘ cheered with the dawnittglllitgltt mriliherty and joy. l But in France there sttcceedecl "the blackness of polar darl:-» ness, illurnitted only by the coruscations of tran-» stient factions, till at length the Whole hemisphere gleatned with the blaze of a comet, which has since been “ shaking from its horrid hair yestim A4 lence and War.” t Thouglt the achievement of our indepen- dence was arclttons, yet the principal labor wttsy M n — n a A hung the iiorrnstion of EL government, which would pm... serve our union and confidence. Happily for our republic, tl‘reWltet'o who led our armies to in». dependence, was the statesman who taught us how to vetlue its blessings. So unparalleled a, rise ot'n2ttion2tl cltamztcter and prosperity, was the eiiiect of an ztcltnitiistration ixnpttrtial and ener- getic. And VVAst-ttnoron seems to have been tlestined by Providence to exhibiteto his sttccesw sets, on tZi‘K£L‘mpil€1”lO'C only of defending, but of governing his tc01._1ntry. But while it is our duty on this anniversa» ry, to connnernorztte the feelings and principles, which edected our revolution, the present alarm-» ing crisis commands us to impress them as essen« tial to the preservation ofonr independence...---- ‘When we View military despotism spreading over the l3ltt1'opez-111 continent, and the Bnnbition ofcozn-~ quest compelling nations to resign their rights, or to figltt for tltem, it beeornes an £111XIlO11S inquiry,» how our liberty is to be protected. The policy of our government relies for its ititertnal defence on the brewery and. nnrnbers of a, patriotic rnili-~ tia; arid it is honorable to us, that no nation so well ‘unites in the citizen the qualities of ci- vil and tnilitziry life. But the history of War, ’ has in.strncted us, tlmt however a patriotic mi- litia may display their brewery, they cannot res» U fl I u H u and fpel the orgemized attacks of I‘Eg'L'llEt1"‘ forces, tili they are drilled into discipline by contimted dis-v aster. ‘We live in an age, which ridicules the doctrine, that reason and justice extend security" to an unoffending 1'1a.tion. It is St doctrine corin- tmdicted by the cries of the strfferiiig WO1‘”ld..---~= Heroes have bled, republics have bee11p1'ost1~at« ed in vain, if we are still to be tetuglit, that to be respected We must be feared. The Cl;'ll11€S€3l.1l’1- able to resist the agg1~essio11s of the Tztrttrurs, 3;" dopted the policy of i1'1co1*po1*s.ti11g them into the body of their etnpirei A Bttt for the honor o'lfour COL11'lt1""y, let it not be said, tlisttt because We had not spirit to resist the €.l1C1“O£1Cl'l1TlCn’[E‘> of the Spaniards of Louisiana, We condescemlecl to pur» chase their friendship emcl. uriion ; and coiifett on ‘them theblessirigs of our l1’1Cl€i‘p(31'1(lCI"lC€, tvliiclt tlftjiy lmew 1”t0ttl‘iOW to sppretiste. hscltlie Pre- sident sigiiifietl 3. request, tliousaiicls of the brave yeomsnry of ‘New Englrmd would have t1”'£5t_‘V(31“£'~3(3Cl.‘El’).(3 Aststes, forthe purpose of reselling the Spaniards to respect our rights ; sand that, as 21 satisfaction for the iliabitttsl violtttiorr of them,, ell the Wild land of Lottisiztna would be rejected it with clisclain‘. In at period like the present, Wl‘1C1‘1tl1C belli-» gerents in their imttual rage lizwe clisregsi*decl. the l.‘;1W'E2‘» of11ttti.om, attci .:~tt*e trespassirtgort. 3*tetr- it A A l wuumfmwfl t1'2tlgtonnd,‘ it would have been expected tltat out govetittneitt would prepare some force, at least for tobsetvzttion. Whiletwe claim the mattitintel tights of sni11depe11cle1tt nation, and yet submit without tesistztnce to be driven from the t seas, esn we this day boast much of our independence? ls it possible, that wherever the American flag is tliscoveted, it is asigtual for pursuit ancl aggres- sion; zmcl still all the resentment we can express,“ l)y1”10t«SU.fl”l3I'l1’1g‘ joint" vessels tO:2tClV£31'1’£UI‘C on the ocean? Have we been tzsoetzpeditious in sink- ittg to the lowest point of political ittilsigfnifioantce, tlmt foreign nations are permitted to forget that We ‘l1a,ve+ rights, which Irltzty be violated? Yes; ! tllttt commerce, which has hitherto fnrtatishedt the t'“t3SOtH“C€S« of our government, has been obliged to abandon the ocezm 5 and for protection to dc-2» pend on the partial fortification of 0L1li'pO1‘tS.—-~—- Tlte fleet of fflneas was secured from the enemy o by being transformed to sea-nymphs; but the age ofptocligy is past 1;, and American commerce tleft clefeneeless by the g~ove1*1'm1e11t, cannot ex-~ peat the interposition of the Gods. If the embzwcro be a measure metel of 1e--- 6:: V ea.ntio1t1,wl1y is not revenge threatenecl for the in» jtt ties to out co1nmet'ce? Ettt, if it be the mode of expressing our tesentment, l‘10W insignificant ~its effect exce “t that alltsvin one Whi.eh it blows 9 _ ,, 9 s on the spi1*it and enter-prize of cor citizens Sm Whilewe aim the blow with this torpedo, be» fore the stroke is ioflicted, the pololic arm is lye?» nutttbied and void of energy} An independent nation clisdainsi to hold its rights by sufferance. At a time wl1enAmeri- can comrnerce was as u:orer,tricted as the ocean, theifecleral administratioii comzmenced a navy for its future protection. Titis force coulcl e:-ta. hibit no terrors to those, who recoil at the name of a etatiding army. Its station is on the deep; and should a traitor direct its tl1um:iers., liberty could retire in safety to l1(i'1‘1"I10L11Ttai11S.. Tlctits its the manner in whiclt commerce would protect itself; foritwot1.1d demand from thetreasury, but _a small portion of the iimde it therei deposits. Had the present administration pttrsuecl tile same eyetem; and while they received the pro» fits, paid reg;a1‘d to the cleifettcetof ournaviga- A tion» slmlda bcfortt tltit time c hm/‘<= mctecl navy, Whose ca111to1'i ivivould tell to fot“eignet'S the rights. of the United States .;A would have prevented the unauthorised Violence on the Che» sapeake; or else have given some dignity and effect to our proclamations. Yet such is the um»- happy prevalence of prejudice in the national council, that while our suffering arid defencelese commerce was loudly Ltpbraiding their neglect ; antlitlte season of calamity was calculated to »,:'3_~~ ‘ u u m n - n on us 3 impress with more force the lesson of Wisdom, the proposition for a navali armatnent was over- powered by triumphant acclarnations in favor of the embargo I ‘We have thus proclaimed tothe, World, that amid the greatest provocations and alarm, this will be the exteztt of our preparation, and the mode of our ‘revenge. And tho they may deny us the glory of acting with national spirit, they cannot deny us the praise of stiffer» :ing with humility. But we stillanticipate the day, when our country’ Willtear frotniiherfacei the tnask, in which she has been made to exhi- bit thefeatures of pusillanitnity ; when the winds, Wlticlt now Wave the oaks on our tnountains, shall waft them on the ocean; to redeem the A» rnerican eharacter'fro1n disgrace: and by im» pressing foreign nations with respect for our power, compel them to recognise the rights of our independence. i A As it is resolved that we shall have no com-i tnercial connection with the belligerent nations, let our country in her diplomatic negotiations, ob-4 serve the duties of honest neutrality. ‘While in the act of bowing in silent submission to the in- solence of France, it answers no purpose to cast hattg-ltty loolz; at Great Britain. ‘When We €X-- A hihit our spirit, let it be directed where there is cause ofapprehension. The subject of our tlread is that vortex, which is daily eateltding; . z t . - ‘ ‘ > t ‘ ‘ " WI1Cfl‘CHH its circles,st1d absorbingy in Paris the spoils of Europe ; andwhich, by its attractive force, has 3.l- ready destroyed the cohesive union Ofdt1I'1"ep1'1l3«« A lic. If omens could alarm, Providence has eXhibi-~~- . tecl ‘ portentous signsimporting cha.ng~e to states.’ We see Napoleon trztverse the continent 5 and nei- ther mountains nor armies resist his progress.--- He tnakes the tour of Europe, and scarcely passes the limits of his own clominions. To him, like death, the palaces ofkings. and the cottages of the poor are ecptally accessible. But it was not want of resources ; it was the corrupt and tent»-» porising policy of COL11"CS, which lT1aS lost the cause of Europe. The ancient Germans vanquisheci the legions Ollfit1gL1.StLlS, and hnmblecl the pride of Rome. But when the king of P1“L1SSlEt had it t in his power, by one stroke to do justice to the violated rights of linrope, 2tnclt1n.anl:.:intl in the enthusiasm of hope believed his ztrrn was uplift» A ed ; What was the motive which arrestecl it 9 Tire possession of Hanover, which Frztnce ltacl no right to trttnsfer ! The fate he receivecl‘l1as sat-my isfiecl the resentment of the World. ‘Our aclmin»- istrzttion also has been appeased by the apparent possession of 21 disputed territory ; and ii We es- cape the same destiny, such is the will of Hero Ven, anclttnot the disposition of the conqueror. Wltile Po1'tt1g2tl.W2ts at liberty to pursue tlmt commerce, ‘W'l‘l‘l.Cl'1 her 5-1ltit‘i.£t‘i.l_011 l’€.‘}'“t(l.t::1’”tf“t(Tl ne- UIQIICIGGG eessary, she made the greatest sacrifices to pre- serve he1'neutrality. In the last resort, she was as Willing to discontinue her connection with England, as were the United States with the go»- vernrnent of St. Domingo. But the pacificator of Europe, in testimony of his respect for the rights of peaceable neutrality, has driventhe For- tttguese court from their territory, and obliged. them to take refuge on theocean. l Like the ad-— ventnrons survivors of Troy,rtheyflytterrifiec:l,at the approach of this Polypahemns crimsonediwithr V carnage; and seei: protection on that element, rrhiclt liappily for mankind, has hitherto arrested - the progress of the giant. ’W'itl1 these instances in View We M suffer '.~'fi'rance to violate our treaty at discretion ; with Etigiand we dare not ratify a treaty, The for- mer, who is overwhelnting the world With terror of her power, We behold with unthinking admi- ration ; and even exalt in those victories, each of which quiclteiis the march of tyranny over our- selves. In the latter, who is struggling for the i existence of freedom, We feel no interest ; or cal- cttiate with tI‘it.11't1pl1 the probable period, when the pressure of her present sufferings will how l her neck to subjngatioii. Indeed, it would afibrd a some satisfaction, if our country should prostrate herself Without even the show 0fresistance,tl1at England, whosefall ttriilhe glorious, will not be - M -n -. ‘ r;, m i K W Q H fi # K E able to raise her headfrom the dust, to upbraid us without disg1~ace. i I-Ie,whohas so soon become the sovereign of the continent, already begins to assumethe temper of a sovereign of the earth. He addreswt ses the embassadors of his friends in the tone of command ; and treats his enemies as those who rebel against his authority. His conduct has de- clared plainer than language can express, that t he will endure no neutrals ; and that too, under a. persuasion, that We dare not become his enentyt Ifwe are thus summoned to take our side in this momentous contest, which will in a few years de- termine the political destiny 0Il‘Rtl’1(‘:*"€llV:iliZ(3(l; world .; let the alternative be decided by the inteiiigence? the virtue and patriotism of the country. While thelegislature are assemblied for the common good, let the rays of executive informatioii dwell equeiiy on all ; unintercepted by i any medium at" p1’(’.‘jU.-~ dice not coiicetitratedhwithinla favorite circle ;, or reflected as may suitiitheviewe ofa party. The A diplomatic secrecy may require that the doors of congress should be closed, and the public minti beheld in suspense, yet should the people have confidence, that in abody, Where the constitution supposes the collective Wisdom of the C0t11"tU‘y” resides, the measure adopted will be the itnpar-~ tial result of ingenuous communication and ra- tional debate. Yetthe patriotic C}s.it1>tm1eti,alai~itt~ 9'" H Q C U M B X‘ ed at the effect of an invisible principle, tjvhici-1 hurried Cotigress on to action, Without. delibera- tion, and was felt, but not explained; as a repre-~ sentative of the people demands investigation. He cntreats the legislature not to suder themselves to be deluded by a secretagency to the precipice of destruction. The language of monition is an-- swered by that of calumny ; and he who second. ed the voice of the public, is reduced to the ex-- tremity of exposinghis shoinor or his life. Tho it was disgraceful in the tirneof Nerot, yet in these days of intolerance it seems necessary to the safety of our senato1*s, that they should also unite the character of gladiators. Our country has principal cause to mourn, not that her commerce is prostrated, and thou»- sands deprived of their support; but that in this <31'l1»8t’g€Zt“tC€ public confidence is banished, and hope langttislies without eaciteineiit. VVe'he””a1“ the inenace of approaching War; but We look round insvain for preparation. The administra-~ tion indeed describe the melancholy condition of _ t our republic ; but the recital of our complaints produces not that temper", which. when We were 1 colot1ies,hurst out in the tone of independence. It rather calculated to «quell the emotions of patriotisni by motives of resignation, and appease hostility lay philosophic endurance of dist1'css.---- Titottglt the usual sources of our finance have tfztiltztt tTtZ:“», ea:-mt adtttittist1~atip11 had atreasury of t1a.tior~11a,t S:[)il"i’t.; whzleh ttotttimg but Voltttttary hum tttiliatiott could exhaust. And should our gov»- e1*m‘:«fte11t GW’-311 ttew taise itself A to the attitude of t*es0htti0tt, and dating to meet the visage of the c0nqLtet'ot', address to him the ehdetettninatien of f1°€t3111C1"t.., patty’ d1tsct*imi.1tati0tts would be forgot-~ ten, and those vetetzms ttr1t0t11W'ashi11gton taug“ht athe “tactics ofvictoty” woudd again protect the standard ofout country from disgrace. But We rejoice there is a “ redeeming vita me” in the people, which, when they are delum ded, sufl"e1"sthem not to be ruined. This reign sf e.t<:pe1*in1e11ts has con_vinc.ed tltem, that the na-- tional resources ought to be appmptiated to the mai1‘1te11a1‘1ce of the national character; that a forxner admitflstration, which for this purpose in a period of alarm had 1"€COU.t:'S€ to direct taxa» tiomtvas not less Wise than the present, which 11€g‘1(2Cti3.1g otI1e1~exped1ents, has imposed an em-- batggo, the 1naXi1m11n of taxation, producing not a cent of teve11L1e. The veil is withdrawn; and the people seedinsetibed on the walls of congress, ehatacte1~s, t€t‘t‘ifiC as those which dismayed Bel- shazzar, btttwhieh it t:eq_uites no second Danie}. to itttetpret. That powet“ttd1ich they gave, they will soon. tesutne ;, and by their St1‘fft’agCS?tt.1“'1i1].fl1l€11.C€d by C" NJ’ U9 ‘ C % fi G fl Cfl any saTt2z”sz‘m* 6J7“7‘a7Zg€7fi2€7'7Z‘, will i'1£tVt3 an opportu..,. nity of recalling into their service the patriots, who achieved their liberties. Thus will theys second time acquire independence for their coun-» try. Those immunities which are now distre. garded, will be enforced; that cl1s,rscte1* which has been prostmtecl, Will be exztltecl; end our country again ascend 'fI“”C)1nIl1C hztbit of colonial submission to the spirit and power of save. reignty. . t 5 Our republic is p't“‘iV*ilCgCd by I"-leztven, in being the only one spared from the t*avages of ambition ; let it not fall by the hands of its ovvn citizens. History presents the melancholy spec- taclc of those ’Wl'llCl1 once flourished ; may we not read in the frag-tnents oi’tl1eir ruins the prediction of our destiny. .1’-‘tinericetns haves no cornrnon motives to interest them. The political senti- tnents they should espottse, are those of the savior of their country ; and they are bound by gt‘:-.1tltL1ClC and ]')a.tt‘lOlii.E5fl1 to respect them. Could we feel the OlJllg€t‘tiOn, posterity would imitate the CX8.1l”}:t‘3»i.€. Agesafter this scene of things shall ltave V£~J.1‘llSl1€Cl, future Arnericztns would mtclsitn ; our country was rescued by W'ashing- ‘ton, and we will defend it ; the cotistitution of our fathers was rztised l33*lVssli.ittgtot1, ztncl We will support it ; the aclmintistrzttion 0l'iO1‘tI‘g*0VC1‘n;.. intent We will cherish,, for it ewes. the sclttt.ittistttt» flan ofWas11i11gt011. And W11e"n“cimc~: shall mi]; .2311 its viraves the Wfmcks 03’? European kiilgdolu 5;? our 1*epub1;Ec shall tower her '1e:2».d above time flood, as permanent and i1np1"egnab‘e as Atlaac N0 TEA. _ _. .. -Thc E11.lTm.C.nI?".0(iH fleafltz. of We Ucéwn. }';7'.”§’_i?§‘H.¢§_§IR. AM E3 Zh.:1.Vfiing' berm: m'mm1%m;:¢3Li to the zltmiixor it show: Mmue 1):» few: the rfioz-livwy M’ ihv (Ma‘€.ioz1. zmztl after his ni¢m11%1s;crip.:£ was prepza.n‘ed for the pmss; Rm n01;i.ced it in the %fif€¢;rum.h }3.mg2;e, all ‘I101’ tim ‘pcglfiafl <‘;*.1%1"1';l.i.x1‘.-gi, “ [(36 N16 r.1I£c”7Vv2(x[z.’2.vc¢ be u%~rc:'27a’c%:':fT1’;§V2/ z"}’zc 522/6*!/z';;‘¢:=r2cc:3 Me '.:7z'2'z?2u:* and }7(z£~2"z'0l2,'.<~:99‘z of tin? c0z.:2*;»1'»;r;.y,” in me f<)E§l0wing_;#; nm,nnc1'. But z1,lz1x.s.! Theix.”1?1m01't.z1.l AiV_M’_1I£'5E'a, who,‘ Alflcc hgr-1U1maL was cminmissioxmd to disscovarl‘ the insidinus foe, and Join! 0m.0urdz1n<:r<2r has liHmIt‘a'nfzric1. zaccmn §)UShC*(l}liS 33:’: 7 I ‘ V é ;cn’1bzas;.~av ; and on {hm l'l'iOl‘flfiI‘W‘ of our 1nd«’%=‘3e;rn(:fic1u:<3 has 11.3%“ v C;(‘.'l1d(?siii1f"()h(?i1V'3Il. Splflt of D<;nnosth%c+n0s! Lo11!dstt.hou}1zwc bee11zx%siLl¢:_:$nt and invisaibie z1udii:<;>r, how wouldsi: thou hzureir ‘ bean ¢;1c:1ig3;In:C:d to hem‘ from his lip.c;., th.o.*5:<3s!;rz1,ir:s of eIoqa.1c%11ce; iw11.icI%1%0:‘1c§e fzmxx thine”, e11c}1zxn%tcd;%t1%1e assemblies of G!7€(3(?fi.