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BRATIUN:

DELIVERED BEFORE

THE CITIZENS O17" NORWICH,

On the Anniversary of the National Independence,

JULY 4, 1838,

BY

ASA. @EEJILD.

NORWICH:

PRINTED BY M. 3. YOUNG.
1838.

ORATION.

 

The recollection of the events, which we this day commerno.
‘rate, must inspire the Patriot with the liveliest emotions. As we
cast our eyes upon the innumerable blessings---—-moral----political----
social,—--which surround us; and look back upon t.he trials, and
sacrifices, and blood, with which they were purchased; and, look
tfO1'WflTd upon our probable destiny,—---ten thousand associations of

~ :1 character intensely interesting and variegated, cluster along our

path. The scenes at Lexington and Bunker’s Hill---on the banks

of’ the Brandywine, and the plains of Camden and Monmouth,

«rush upon the mind, and in strains of pathetic eloquence, proclaim

:the value of American Liberty. As we open our eyes upon the

-dawning light of this consecrated day, a tribute of gratitude,

athanksgiving and praise, is first clue to the Almighty Ruler of N a-
tions, for the protection and guidance which we have experienced
.--at his hands. In looking around us, we see but here and there a

man, who has any personal recollection of the great events which
we here contemplate. The whole generation,----whose blood was

-spilt,—-whose treasure was expended,-—-and whose wisdom was

exercised, in the establishment of that liberty which now shines
upon us, has almost passed away, But the achievements of the
American arrns,—--the consecrated name,-—--the incorruptible virtue,
»---the commanding dignity, of that great and good man, by whom
runder-Providence they were successfully directed, have come
«down to us from our fathers as a rich inheritance which it were
sacrilege to disregard. The monuments to Liberty---to happiness
and the rights of man, which the Father of’ his Country and his
compatriots erected----stand forth as prominent mementos of the
patriotism--«and integrity----and moral firmnessof former days.
When in the capital of that State which bears the name of the
great American philanthropist, sixty-two years ago, this day, a
little band of patriots, t-he last of whom now sleeps with his fa-
thers, put their hands to that sacred instrurnent, which has just
been read, and pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred
honor to the support of its principles,----the corner stone in the
temple of liberty was laidwtlre grand experiment of self-govern.
ment was commenced. i ’

On the annual return of such a day, it is good for us to ‘come
together, to recount our common blessings»--—to warn each other

1



"of"'con1n"1onrdangersa--to forget the asperities of life, "and to con.

‘template our common destiny. It is good for us, to turn our backs

:upon our common pursuits,4--to'cast theveil of oblivion over the
I errors--—-the differences and thefconiflicts of the past—..-to mingle

ourcongrat-ulations with each o?t‘he1', and here, on the altar of our

 country, to remember, that We ‘have one bond of Union ; the bond

of American citizens. _ 4 V
In the discharge of the duty ‘"assig"ned me, I might dwell upon
the incidents of our Revolution} “upon the character of the promi.

Wnentactors in its scenes; upon "the perplexing anxieties which

attended their struggle for liberty. I might refer you to their
manly resistance to the encroachments of power; I might point
you to thebattle fields scattered ever these Colonies, with their

commingled glories and woes; to the thrilling eloquence and
burning patriotism of the Council Chamber, and to the corroding
difficulties with which the sinews of war were provided. But in

doing this, I should butpursue the path which thousancls have
trod before me. I’ selectanother theme--.the dangers, and the du-

“ties which lie before us. “-It would be derogatory to the occasion,

and ‘repugnant to everyfeeling of my heart, to prostrate the exer-

I -cises of this day, to thepurposes of any mere political party. It
I is for my country, and her institutions, that I would direct the
I feeble efl'orts which I may now make. Icannot become the -pan-

der to the tastes ofanyrman, or set of men. With -all due respect
for. the opinions of tithvers, I must express my own opinions fear.’
lessly, and unreserveclly,’ whether men will hear or forbear. ':I

I‘ "cannot bestow unmerited praise, nor withhold deserved .censure,

at the expense of truth. I mean to speak of dangers~and‘of duties
with the freedom of a Republican citizen ; and if there be any
present who are so much wedded to their party, as to be unwilling

to hear any thing but its praise, althoughl do not intend it, I can.

not promisethat I shall not give them offence. In the spirit of

I tifrankness, which is due to so respectable an assembly, I avofw
I my sincere and unalterable attachment to the principles‘ of Repub-
I Iicanism as promulgated by the fathers of the Republican faith. It

 is upon these principles alone in my judgment that this govern-

ment can be wisely, or safely, or permanently administered ; and
it is to a departure from these principles, that al1,the.errors'1'nto
which our government has ever fallen, may be directly traced.

I i'The name of i that illustrious sage, who, with a master’s hand, {drew
up this charter of freedom which we have heard to day, under the

name of George iWashington, should be written upon the door-
posts of every American dwelling. And whenwe» contemplate

‘the virtues of whoiwas it first in"war, first injpeace, and_ first
5-‘in t~he*hea‘rts 'of'his countrymen,” we should not‘« forget, the"-'rn~flu-



"lence of Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison,,in developing and
4 giving effect to those great principles of liberality and toleration,
on the maintenance of Which, our institutions most essentially
depend. Here is the standpoint from which We must take
-our course. Here is the platform on which we must plant our feet.
-Here is the fortress, within which We must resist the errors and
the follies, and the partyrashness to which we are exposed. I
speak of Democracy as indicative of a class of opinions, and not
has the catch-"word of the Demagogue. I know there are those
‘in the moral world, who have “stolen the livery of Heaven to
serve the devil’in,”"and there are those in the political world,
who under thetassumed name of democracy, have sought to es-
tablish a tyranny of the most odious form. Equal and exact jus-»
tice to all men’; the "high and the low ; the rich and the poor;
the bond andlihe free; unrestrained liberty of speech, of con»
science and the press; resistance to tyranny in all its forms; es—
pecially that’ tyranny which enslaves the immortal mind ; encour-
a.ge1"ue11t to iiclornestic industry, public improvements and the me.

llchanic arts g” the tl1orougl'1 education of the whole community at the

public expense, are the inscriptions on the banner which every
Republican should bear.

One or the prominent dangers to which we stand exposed, con’-

sists in the ‘undue influence and importance which is attached to
‘the l*‘er;leral. power. . .

The 'l‘hirteen Colonies, which the Declaration of Independence
severed from the British Throne, at the termination of the war,
became thirteen sove1~r:ign and independent States. For all the
purposes of ordinary legislation, the preservation of individual
and social iriglits, and the promotion oi human happiness, the State

“Governments were invested with adequate power. But so inti-

mate vvcre their relations to each other, that the system of‘ Self‘.-

" Government. which they soup;l1t to establish could not be complete,

without a common agency for the promotion of these common
objects in whicli all were interested. In the organization of the
l'.iFe-deral (3‘rovern1'nent, this agency was created; and its action was
limited to two classes of objects ;—--—the rolationstof' the States to
foreign nations, and their relations to each other. The means of
’ defence and the regulation of foreign Commerce, comprehend the
first class of objects; and the difi"usion of intelligence, and the
regulation of domestic commerce, comprehend the other. This
system, as it cainefrem thehands of its founders, human Wisdom
cannot improve. Its beauty, and har-m‘ony,"~anc_l usefulness consist
in confining the action of its‘seve‘ra1‘parts,within their appropri-
ate sphere. It" dangers trorn “without assail us ; ‘we are a nation
of citizen sol.diers. In the formation, and protection, and regula-

6

tion -of a foreign commerce; we are a nation of merchants. In
the establishment and unshackled use of the public Mail, and in
the regulation of a national Currency, uniform in its value,
throughout all the States, we are a nation of American Citizens.
Who can contemplate these separate Governments, the creatures
of freeman---moving along in harmonious concert, in their respec.
tive orbits, diffusing light, and heat, and happiness among the cit.
izens of the several States, and by a common attraction moving
together around a common centre, exercising their appropriate in-
fluence upon the citizens of’ the United States, without being
struck with the grandeur, and glory of the institutions of this
country? But it must be remembered that the usefulness of the
system is as much impaired by the denial of the action of one part,
as by the unauthorised use of another. In the denial of the hi-
therto acknowledged right and duty of the national government to
provide and regulate a national currency, we as essentially im-
pairthe rightful action of the constitution, as in the usurpation
by which the sedition laws were passed. If in the organization
of this Union, there was any one object which stood out more
prominent than all the rest, it was the procurement of a national
currency. The subject came home to the feelings, the happiness,
and the comforts of men. The country was flooded by irredeem-
able, depreciated, paper money. Many a war-worn veteran, who
had poured out his blood liltewater, and worn out his constitution,
in the service of his country, lcould speak feelingly on this subject.
As he bid his commanding General farewell, he received the small
pittance allowed him for his services, in a currency so deprecia-
ted, that he paid the wages of a whole year of toil and suflering,
for a pair of shoes, to cover his bleeding feet, as he travelled from
the battle field to his home. Wlio that knows the character of
the men who framed this constitution, can believe that a subject
of so much interest, could have escaped their notice? The Com-
mander of the disbanded army, who was now transferred to the
Presidency of the Convention, was the last man, who would fail
to present it as an object of‘ paramount importance. The power
to regulate commerce among the States, and of course to regu-
late the indispensable ingredients of commerce, was granted to
Congress in specific terms. During a period of almost fifty years,
and amidst all the changes of political, and party relations which
intervened, this right was never doubted. The fact stands out in
bold relief, that in the whole history of this Government, the first
time the obligations of Congress in respect to this interesting
subject, were ever called into question, under the sanction: of any

responsible name, has been ‘within the last sixteen months. With

the names of Washington, and J efferson, and Madison to sustain

7

me in the opinion, I hesitate not to say, that without the exercise’
of this power, the constitution is scarcely worth preserving.

a While this power has been denied, the action of the Federal
Government, in respect to a variety of other subjects of doubtful
import, has been most streneously enforced. Such has been the
importance attached to the national power, that it has almost
swallowed up the rights and the influence of the States. Men
seem to have forgotten, that for all the great purposes for which
civil government is established, our reliance is upon State author-
ity. Where is protection to individual rights---to personal secu-
rity--—-t.o private property. to be found? Where do the guards
which are thrown around our domestic and social relations, origi-
nate ’!---where—--but in the sovereignty of the States? The Fed-
eral Government in respect to those general objects to which 1
have referred, is supreme, but in respect to all other objects, it is
the mere auxiliary of State power. Yet in almost every matter‘
of public interest, we are subjected to the touchstone of national
politics. Therqualifications for the most unimportant stations,-
even in our municipal corporations, are made to depend upon the
opinions of men respecting some measure of the national Govern-
ment. It is in this encroachment of‘ governmental influence upon
the freedom of the popular will, that I see cause for the greatest
alarm. Opinions, which spring up in the hot-bed of official pat-
ronage, are usurping the place of the unbought judgment of Re.
publican freemen. In goodold Republican times, the principles
of Democracy were supposed to originatewith the people, and to
control the action of their public agents. But in the degeneracy of
our own day, democracy seems to be transferred to the seat of
power, and its principles to come downto nus, -“tmanutiictured to
order,” through the channels of official stations. “I amrithe State,”
said Napoleon Buonaparte, when drunk with usurped power.   “ I
am the Democracy,”.say thetselficonfident Demagogues of mod.-
ern .times, as they sway thesceptre of intrigue, and taunt the peo-
ple with ignoranceof their own best interests. a

With some men, the great business of life seems to consist in
making Presidents of the United States. N o sooner has one can-
vass closed than they start ofi", like refreshed blood-hounds, upon
another. But their prospects, their joys, and their glories, are all
in futurity, and they seem to act upon the principle, that the anti»
cipation of pleasure, is more precious than the reality. It is now
almost three years before this office becomes vacant, and yet the
whole. country is agitated, from one end to. the other, with the
perplexing question, not who shall occupythe stationrat a future
day, but who,~among many distinguished men, shall be the candid-
ate for the place. i In the enthusiastic zeal with which these 3 men

e

pursue their vocation, an-dine tlre eloquence .wi1thj wirielr-,th'ey. speak,
and write upon..their"t'avorite* theme, they. seem ,,to... anticipate the
speedy consumrmation=*so~f7' their‘ desires, when thetwo grand armies
of office-holders, and office-seel:ée1's, cousins german... to each other,
shall be seen countermarching through the country, for what they
regard the patriotic purpose of(taking..each.o.ther’s places. If er.
rors intervene in the adm;i'nistration of, public affairs, the only re...
medy in the judgment of these men, i:s,.a change in the appointing
power; and a liberal eXe1'cise of that power, is the grand panacea
for all the evils to which the country may be exposed. No matter
what measures may be proposed, or adopted, the language of their
hearts is, 4‘ all this availeth me nothing, so long as Mordecai my
enemy sitteth at the King’s gate.”

There are other men who seem. to act upon the vulgar adage, ,

that “a bird in the hand is ,wo1'th;two in the bush,” and in the ar-
dor of the zeal with which» they. always worship the rising sun,
they take to themselves the confident assurance, that “ Whatever
King or Prince» may reign, .I"ll be the Vicar of Bray, sir.” Such
men are always the eulogists. of power. It is by their influence,
that the popularwill is so often, and so alarmingly, set at defiance,
It is the thirst for Aofltilcsewv--+-oflice not for its honor, but for its emolu-v-~
ments--——the spirit of " avariceywhich? is rvburningrup the ‘moral sensi,
bilities of man! The laws of‘ ho1:1o1'-——+-the precepts of christiani.
ty—---the common ceurtesies of life, are trampled down by these
devotees toihighstations, as they drive towards the national tree.
sury. . Consistency of opinion, integrity of purpose, are with
them, practically; objects of’ derision. The -hand of patronage
moulds their judgment. Orthodoxy of sentiment, with them, is
the will of their-,:patron. Who that is not smitten with judicial-5
blindness, can fail to see, in the signs of the times, the corroding
influence of federal power ?“ Measures of tremendous import, are
denounced today, as subversive of the whole system of our Gov-
ernment. The same measures, under the stamp of oflicial .appro—
bation, are sent forth to-morrow, as promotive of the prosperity of
the country ;. and ten thousand men, who professoto wear the livery
of 3 fi'eer-nen, and who yesterdayrwere loudest in their denunciations
efia-~measure,,at the soundof the Bugle, come forth as minute-
men to-vday, andwith opinionsmhanged as in the vtwinklirig of an
.eye,pron_ouce the same measure to be the highest act of political
wisdom. Who that has one iota of the old fashioned Republican
notion of’. State rights, and State rhonor, left in his bosom, does not
feel mortified, at the scenes which have passed before him? ‘We
haveseen the Chief Magistrate of one sovereign State,.clescend
from his high station to .,a subordinate post in the seat of customs ;
and the Chief lMa,gistrate_vof ‘another, pass from the proudvemine

 

9

ence to which frecmen had elevated him, to that of a sub-subordin-
ate, at the Federal Capitol. Tell me, my f'ellow.citizens, you who
have the feelings of Republican t'reemen—-—-you in whose bosoms,
on this hallowed day,'the fire of patriotism and independence is
kindled up—--you who can break away from the restraints of party,
and look upon the destinies of your country-—--tell me, if we are
not in danger from the undue influence of Federal power? ‘
Another danger to which we stand prominently exposed, is the
violence of party spirit, and the tyranny of party discipline. ‘We
are embarked in a single ship, upon a common voyage, and in
pursuit of a common object, our own happiness, and that of the
generations who are to come after us. If good weather, prosper-
ous winds, and a favorable tide speed our course, we all partici-
pate in the joyful result; but if the mighty storm overtake us,
and We are driven upon the rocks, andshoals, and quicltsands,
upon which other Republics have been ruined, and this splendid
vessel, fitted up with so much skill, and manned with so much
care, shall founder, we all go down together. In a free Govern-
ment, diversity of opinion will prevail, and if it be marked by
franlmess, sincerity, and independence, it is not to be regretted"...
But when reason is dethronod,and selfishness takes possession of the
souls of men, and personal bitterness is generated, and the waves
of Faction roll over the community, there is just cause for alarm.---
In the scenes which are passing bcfo1'e us, there is enough, and
more than enough, to excite our strongest fears. A dark and an-
gry cloud, of portontous import, is hanging over us, and the pelt.
ings of the tl'n~eatenin,g storm btogin to be felt-—-it is the violence of
party oonflicts. Patriotis:rn, public morals, private virtue, and the

public interest, are thlliiig btefore the car of this archienemy of all t

Republics. With the political zealots, who sway the destinies or
contending fhctions, , the lirst question is, what will benefit their
party, and the last question is, what is for the interest of their
country. The riglit of private judgirient has become an obsolete
term, and the exercise of tlie ancient democratic privilege of acting
from the conviction of’ an honest mind, is the consummation of po-
litical heresy. “ The King can do no wrong,” is a niaxim of roy.
nlty. ‘With some men, an unqualified support, right or Wrong, of
the men in power, constitutes political orthodoxy; while with
others, an unconditional opposition to every act of the govern-
mental agents, Without reference to its cliaracter, or its tendency,
is a display of patriotism. The mere partisan, Icare not by What
name he may be called, or what professions he may make, cannot,
and will not, be an independent man. Shall I become your enemy
it‘ I tell you the truth’! ‘Within our own borders, We have seen
promiinent partisans goading ontheir reluctant and more i scrupu-
2

10

lous associates, to assail that great principle of constitutional law,
which rests upon the platform of the moral law, the inviolability of
contracts, under the shameful avovval, that the interests of their
party required it. We have seen the same men making war upon
those institutions, which are the creatures of democracy, and which
have been the grand instruments of abolishing the distinctions of
wealth and rank among freemen, under the same paltry avovval.-————
We have seen the leaders of another sect, professing better
things, vvithhold their countenance, and hold back their partizans
from giving encouragement to objects of commanding interest,
from a cowardly fear of its effects upon their party prospects. We
have seen the wants of eight hundred unfortunate human beings,
who now exist within the limits of this State, and who, in the
mysterious Providence of God are deprived of their reason, set at
defiance, under a base, but unconcealed pretence, that to aid them
might injure a political party. We have seen those great public
enterprises which are destined to annihilate space---to promote in.-
duscry--¢to increase the means of intelligenceu-and promote the
glory of our country, receive the frown of political sullenness,
while amidst hypocritical praises, they have been turned away
from public favor, with the impudent insinuation, that to aid them
might revolutionize the position of parties. I allude to these
things, not to reproach others, but in pursuance of the design with
which I started,—--to impress upon the minds of the intelligent, in-

dependent, thinking men, who hear me, the dangers to which we r

are exposed. ‘We are trustees of the liberty of the world; the
cause of self—government----the cause of human freedom---the
cause of liberal toleration-——-is in our hands. If the sun of Re-
publicanism, which has risen in its meridian glory, upon our na.
tion, shall pass by us, it Wlll. set in eternal night. The eyes of
the universe are upon us, and the exhortation is borne to us upon
every breeze, from the condition of millions of the human race,--—-
let not this last experiment, in favor of the rights of man, perish
in your hands. It is our country which demands our efforts; let
us not talk of liberty, while party tyranny sways our judgments,
and enslave our minds ; let us not talk of liberty, while in
every motion We make, is heard the clanking of the chains which
bind us to the chariot—car of some political leader.

Another enemy to Republican institutions has invaded our born
ders,--—and is spreading ruin in his path——it is the licentiousness
of the political press. There is no one privilege to which an hon-
est republican--—-a true friend to civil liberty, should adhere with
more persevering firmness, than the liberty of the press. Wl1er-
ever education prevails, this liberty is the unconquerable foe to if ty-
ranny. Well did the founders of our government reason, when

11

they provided‘, that no law should ever be passed, restraining or
abridging this sacred privilege. We should, however, remember
that its abuse is fraught with danger of an alarming import. The
sentinel on the watchutower, may unlock the gates, and with a.
traitor-’s heart, welcome the enemy within the walls of the city.-—--—-
It is the sober conviction of my mind, that the cause of republican.
liberty is in imminent danger, from the abuse of one of the most.
valuable chartered rights of Americans. Our government is, em»
phatically, a government of opinion. The public voice is the pub,
lic law. Even the strong barriers of constitutional sanctions,.
cannot resist the torrent of the popular will. How solemnly im.
portant then, that men think soberly——-—think correctly----think inde-
pendently. In the formation of public opinion, the public press
must, and does exercise a controlling influence. It is a melan...
choly reflection, but it is not the less true, that there are thousands
of the community who enjoy the high prerogative of electors,--
who are invested with portions of the sovereignty of the State,----
yet, who on subjects of the highest interest to the Commonwealth,
have not bestowed a passing thought. Upon such minds, who
can estimate the influence of the public press? Their opinions---
their thoughts--~——their prejudicesm-will be the results of the efforts
of other men. Directed by integrity--intelligence--indopen-
denee, and the moral law, our public journals may elevate the
characters, and stimulate the virtuous efforts of the whole com-
munity. But under the influence of" mtriguing selfishness—-—--un.
blushing f'alsehood———a base disregard of the rights of others----the»
press may be made an engine of the most mischievous character,
and, like the outbrealcings of a volcano, may spreaddesolation and
ruin around it. In this honorable and useful? profession, there

are men of as elevated patriotism--of as commanding talents---ot"'

as unsullied virtue, as are to be found in any other department of
life, a But the fact cannot be concealed, that those of an opposite
character are numerous. I speak of no one party, but of all par-
ties. Depravity, selfishness, and fraud have invaded this honorau
ble calling. The cause of constitutional freedom-mof ‘public mo-
rals---of‘ civil liberty itself; are suffering, through the degradation
of the public press. Editors of‘ public newspapers.--the van-
guards of f'reedom.....with shameless protligacy, even in Republican
America, have exposed themselves, as objects of barter, and have
been bought and sold as merchandize, at a public fair. _ Public men

are hunted down, as the sport of some mercenary slanderer. Nei-.

ther patriotism.....nor public services.---nor private virtues, will ex-
empt men from the attacks of these panders of envy and revenge.
When Cataline attempted the destruction of the liberty of Rome,
his first etlbrts wer-eato~ corrupt the young men. But the young;

12

men of America, have hitherto, proved themselves beyond the
reach of such influence. In the efforts of the Catalines of our

country, to obtain power, their first object has been to corrupt and

control the public press. The Demagogue, who has marlted out
the object of his ambition, stations his sentinels at these points of
public instruction, as so many fawning sycophants to proclaim his
unknown merits, and manuf'acture opinions in his praise. Men,
whose real characters, or talents, or public services would never
have raised them from the dung—hill, by means of these pensioners
upon their bounty, through fraud and falsehood, have been elevated
to posts of honor. But it should be remembered, that the reward
of undeserved merit, will be of" short duration. The eloquence of
Cicero, moving upon the young men ot'Rome, drove Cataline from
the city, and saved Rome. Let the young men of America break.
the chains which selfishness has forged-—let them spam the poison-
ed chalice which the demogogue presents to their lips---and like

the young men of Rome, standing by the side and following the

councils of good old Cato, let them take counsel of the wise and
the good, and drive every Cataline beyond their borders. Let them

resolve, that they will in deed, and in fact, be free, and the institu-
: tions of our country will be safe.

Among our neglected duties, is that of cultivating an honorable
pride for theinstitutions of our own State. Amidst the encroach-
ments of Federal influence, we have, almost forgotten the claims,
of our own ancient Commonwealth. As we pass through our
sister States, and witness the onward march of their improve-
ments---_-and the enthusiasm of State pride, which is lighted up in
the bosoms of their citizens, the question forces itself upon the
mind----has _the glory of Connecticut departed forever? ‘When
in connection with objects of great national interest, we have
heard appeals to the State honor----the State policy-—-and the State
interest, of one, and another, and another of the members of this
Union,  does not feel a pang of deep mortification, at the va-
cant silence, with which, in modern times, our own State is pass.-
ed by‘? The insignificance in which we have been involved, re-
sults from our own want of selflrespect, and a failure in the devel.
opeinentof our own resources. It is with communities, as with
individuals, ‘it’ we do not respect ourselves, we shall not receive
the respect of others. ‘Where can human blessings be found, if it

be not here’? The light of Heaven, shines not upon a people, on‘-

dowed with the means of higher happiness. than has fallen to our
lot. Human Liberty runs down our streets like water, and the
means of intellectual culture, like an overflowing stream- A rich-

er legacy never descended to freeman, than the sterling integrity, 4,

and «moral firmness of the Pilgrims, which ‘are stamped upon the

13

outlines of our institutions. The physical advantages «twhielr
Providence has laid in our path---the sources of comfort, and com-
petence, are without a parallel. Our -ancient University, pre-e1n~
inent among all others, with her two promising daughters, in any
other State, would be hailed as the nation’s glory. a Our common
schools, neglected, criminally neglected, though they have been,
are living monuments of the Wisdom of our fathers. The latent
talents, which lie buried beneath our prejudices and party strifes,
in a State proud of her own sons, would be called into use, and be-
come bright among the brightest of the polished gem-s, ofourcoun-
try. Is there not a spark of State pride in our bosoms, Which, by
the scenes before us, may be kindled into a flame tondayl Let the
matches be applied»---let the fire increase, and burn brighter and
ln~igliter---let no ezrtinguishing element approach it, until the ac.
cr.unula.ted rubbish of selfishness, and prejudice, and envy, and ig-
norance, and party strife, shall be utterly consumed. ‘As we
praise our Creator thr the blessings of our home, let the language
of our hearts ho, Connecticut! with all thy faults, I love thee
still ! 1 ' Let this be the clay—-mandtliis the liour-—---and this the place,
from which the resolution of frceznen shall emanate, which shall
elevate the character of this Commonwealth. Here, on ‘the na-
tion’s birth-day-~---on the altar of our country, in this sacred tern.
ple---—let us give to each other the pledge, that so far as we are con-
cerned, Connecticut shall stand, where she has a right to stand,
unsurpassed arnong her sisters of the Union.

Obviously connected with this duty, is that of exercising more
wisrlorn, and more candor, in the selection of our public l'1’lC‘31'lu*f""'
l’uhiic ox’licox's. are the agents of the people, for the accornplish-»
ment of the ends of government, and should be selected with ex.-
clusive 1'efe1:cx1ce to that object. The detestable ‘doctrine, that
public stations are to be subjected to the changing contr‘ol«‘ot,pa1'-

, ty triurnpl L3, is at "war with the first principles of freedom. It was

wcll1'orm:u'lted by Mr. J etl'erson, that in the distribution of official
patronage, the only question in respect to any man should be, “ Is
he honest»---is he capable---is he thithful to the constitution ’!”----
Could this precept of this great man, be impressed upon the whole
community, how great and how glorious would be the change ’!---
Power would pass frorn the selfish, the time-serving, and the in-
competent, into honorable, independent, and capable hands. The
loathing spectacle of‘ freernen, wallowing in their oWnVdegrada-
tion, and crawling at the feet of the profligate, soliciting popular
lhvor, would he seen no more. Under that system of caucus dis-
cipline, which has been adopted by all parties in modern times,
we do not enjoy the privileges of a free government. -A corpo-
raI’s plattoon, orderetl out by some drill-sergeant, congregate in

14

the darkness of night, and amidst the solicitations, and fawning‘
sycophancy, of ambitious _aspirants, select a candidate for oflice,
and put the mark of regular upon his forehead. The whole party
Brigade, oflicers, and men, in solemn pomp, now march up to the
ballotébox, and like faithful soldiers, withouta scattering fire, rati-
fy this nocturnal order. .And__ in doing this, which the slaves of
Carolina might do as well as we, wet-alk about the glorious priv-
ilege of the elective franchise ll So strongly are these chains
fastened upon the minds and consciences of men, that a man’s-»
political_ character is estimated, not by his known opinions, or his
conduct in life, but by his fidelity to the orders of some primary
caucus.. ,

I speak, my fellow citizens, what you all know to be true. If

freemen can thus trifle with their engagexnents to Heaven--if' the
trustees of the treeclorn of rnan, can thus prove recreant to their
high trust, who can wonder at the servility of’ public men ! We
are called upon to ponder’ well these things to-day. Between
mere partizans there is noperceptible ditl'erence.

It is not in the Raclicalism, the absurd theories, and changing ex».
periments of one ])a7*ty,1'1or in the cowardice, the time.-serving hy~
pocrisy, and niggardly meanness of another party, that Connecti-
cut will become right side up. Itis time for freeman to speak,
and to act. The insult, which,—in a scrub-race of‘ penuriousness,
has been given to thecitizens of this connnonwealth, must be re-
sented. The libel upon our , character, that a timid disregard to
all the great interests of a free State, will secure the approbation
of’ intelligent men. must be blotted out. Degrading meanness, the
loathing disgust of honorable minds, must be banished from our
Legislative Halls. The blighting influence of public distrust in
the great enterprises of our citizens, must be superseded by cheer-
ing confidence. Men must be taught, that it is an independent
discharge of duty-—--the manly performance of what is right, and
not a debasing servility, which will secure public favor. We must
this day, unite our hearts and our hands, and give one more pull
at the lever, and wrest the government from the hands of all 
partizans, and place it at once and forever, in the hands of un-
shackled, unbought, intelligent, independent, republican freemen.
The chains of party tyranny must be broken----the yoke which has
been placed upon the necks of freemen, must be taken off,-.-.the
tyranny of party discipline must be given up---T-the laws of God
and our country, and the demands of conscience, must be the only
bonds by which we will be bound. The innumerable and con-
stantly changing tests of orthodoxy, which the selfishness, the ig.
norance, and the fanaticism of men have sought to establish, must
be rejected.

15

The spirit of “ ultraism,” which is spreading its malign influ-
ence around us, must be subdued. This demon is now stalking
through our land, destroying the beauty of our blessed heritage.
It has scaled the walls of Zion,-wit has invaded the temple of Je-
hovah,-—--it has impaired the consolations of Hope. Leaving our
moral fabric in ruins, it has fastened its death fangs upon the con-
stitution of our country, and our cherished political institutions
are tumbling beneath its feet. The freedom of" the will, the unre-
strained exercise of the judgment, the equilibrium of a well bal-
anced mind, Fall palsicd before the noxious vapor of its breath.
Christian morality, the offspring of’ Divinity, comprehending‘ in
one perfhot intelligible system, the whole duty of man, by the in.-
finitude of‘ divisions, and sulnclivisions, to which it has been sub-
jected, is losing its appropriate influence upon human conduct. A

species of monoinania, has seized upon the minds of men, and dis» .

turbed the harmony and proportions of relative duties. Every
command of the decalogue, has in its turn, been taken from its ap-
propriatc station, in the entire system of the moral law, and com-t
mitted to the guardianship of some special apostle. Amidst these
disturbing scenes, we are greeted on the one hand by the lying
words of selficonfidence, “ The temple of the Lord, the temple of
the Lord, the temple of the Lord, are these,” while the boasting of-"
some murderous Jchu, is heard on the other, 4‘ come see my zeal
for the l7.,.ord.” This spirit has ditlhsed its influence through eve-
ry department of life. It is the undue importance attached to
particular opinions and measures, which has disturbed the order of‘
our political, as well as our moral system. In the prominence
givciri to sornc particular duty, and in the extraordinary measures
acilopted, by its enthusiastic advocates, to enforceit, all other duties
are involved in clrilling neglect. Republicanism, cornpreheiiding
the various parts of" a free gove1*nment, ‘wisely ‘titted together and
forming onc- perfect system, adapted to the promotion of human
happiness, sinlrsiinto insignificance, before the ultraism of some
newdlcdged partisan. The great principles of" freedom are swal-
lowed up in a blind adherence to some visionary theory. The un-
conditional support, or unqualified condemnation, of a particular
measure, in its character alike indifferent to the subject of a mon-
arch and the free citizen, is made the test of the soundness of a
man’spolitioa1ti:tith. Let these dogmas be rejected--“let us be
what we profess to be.-“the free citizens of a free Republic.

It would be an interesting theme to contemplate the progress
of" science and the mechanic arts, in their influence upon the so.
ciall state. They have poured upon mankind the comforts and
conveniences of life, with a liberal hand. But their is one event,
tvhicb, in its probable effects upon the world, should not escape

16

our: notice today. A new era in the intercourse of‘ men with
each other, has commenced. The Atlantic Ocean has beenvcom.
pressed into a narrow Bay, and Europe and America have been
placed by the side of’ each other. The migl'1ty deep is no longer‘
a barrier between nations. The grand experiment of crossing the
great waters by the power of steam, has proved successful, and
the merchants of Liverpool and New York are now bi‘oug'l1t to-
gether. Well may the majesty of the event ezigzuge our contem-
plation to..day. As American citizens, we have the proud satis-
faction to know, that the glory of this achievement, in some good
degree, belongs to us. It was the genius oi" our own great Fulton,
which developed the principle by which these niighty WOI‘l§S have
been accomplished.

Hot * should such an event stimulate us to the fulfilment of the
great purpose, of opening channels of intercommunication bo-
tweenidift‘erent sections of our own country? "When we liave
become neighbors to the inhabitants of aforeign land, shall we
remain stra11ge1's to our own brethren’! The means of b.1'i1‘xgi1ig
every section of our extended dominions in close coi1tigrii‘ty with
all-the rest, are within our control. The work has been common-«
cede; success has attended everystep of its progress. Hiclden resour-
ces of wealth, have been ‘developed---new channels of business have
beenlfopened---tl'1e products of‘ the labor of tens"ot' thousands of
American citizens, as in the twinkling of an eye, have been
placed at the seat of a ready market. The mechanical pro-
fession has been" elevated, and is now adding gem after gem to
the crown of American glory. As we see what other States
have done, and are now doing, as citizens of Connecticut we may
well blush at our own position. ‘With that great avenue which is
to connect Boston with the Lakes, passing by us upon the Nortli---
with the facilities of intercourse which exist beyond our eastern
and ourulwestern borders,—.--Connecticut sits “ solitary and alone,”
anisolated portion of the country.

Thankstoiindividual enterprise, Works of public improvement‘,
which are destined at one day, to place this beloved common»-
wealth first, among the foremost, of her confederates, have been
commenced.‘ Left to private efi"orts, they may falter, but they can
never fail. Public improvements are a part of our nation’s honor.
‘-‘- The Union must be preserved,” is the noble sentiment of a no-
ble mind. When inthe hour that “ tried tnen’s souls,” the prof?
fered bribes of the British monarch, were spurned by fireeinen, the
ensign of our country, was changed, from a plain red banner, to
that of‘ thirteen stripes-—-——emblematical of the union of thirteen
States. As this banner waved over our battle fields, surmounted
by thirteen Stars, it here the pledge of American patriotism, that
these stripes were emblems of the scourge which in all future

17

‘time, in the hands of united Americans, shouldbe applied topthe
enemies of the Union. The Union will be preserved---not by
force...‘--but by the law of interest and the law of love. The suc.

cessful prosecution of our works. of internal improvement, is writ. p

ten upon every patriot’s heart. They are so many bands of iron,
binding together the ldifferent parts of our common countrym-
Wlien the immortal Washington, like Moses from Mount Nebo,
surveyed his country for the last time, with the benevolence of
parental affection, he left his dying injunction to his countrymen,
to avoid all sectional jealousies which might array one portion of
the country against another. In the spirit of those counsels, the
patriotism of our fathers, regarded it as moral treason, to calculate
the value of the Union. In the political and moral degeneracy of
our own times, there are men who have not only calculated the
value of the Union, but, in their crusade against phantoms, have
threatened its dissolution. Men seem to have forgotten that this
Constitution was the result of a spirit of concession, conciliation,

and compromise. It embodies the labors of unadulterated patri.

otism, and incorruptible virtue, and was consecrated by the
prayers of fervent piety. ‘With the peculiar institutions, and lo-
cal customs, and internal relations of one State, the citizens of
another State have no constitutional concern. This principle
should have an abidiiig and cont1‘olingintluence upon our minds in
all our intercourse with other men. ‘ While we admit and respect
the rights of others, we are called upon by the spirit of this mem-
orable day, to demand and enforce a reciprocal respect for our own
1-ights. The supremacy of the law, the unrestrained freedom of
speech, and of the press, the untrammelled use of the public mail,
the sacred right of petition, the right to combat in error, and vindi-
cate opinions by free discussion, are all important parts of the
ioiindationrwall, on which  this «government rests. Take away
one of these parts, and you essentially impair the strengthand
beauty of the whole fabric. The supremacy of the law, is the
corner stone with which all the others are connected, and upon
the firmness of which, all the others depend. it was. hewn by
the guardian angel of liberty; it was polished on the alter of God ;
it was laid in its base amidst the glories of the American arms,
and the shoutings and hallelujahs of disenthralled freemen. Tear-
up this foundation stone, and this splendid edifice tumbles in scat.
tered ruins. The supremacy of the law, should be the “watch-word!
of tlireemeng it should be engraved on your jewels; it should be
written on posts of marble at the corner of every street ; it should‘
be worn a upon the trontlets of every public man; it should be
consecrated hy the prayers of every minister of the living God.
The supremacy of the law ! 3 ! lt comprehends all the glories and
3

18

blessings which pass before us today. As the feeble mother, look-
ing upon the trials of life, clasps her little infant to her bosom, and
commends it to her Heavenly Father, she raises her ascriptions of
praise for the supremacy of the law. As the old man, tottering
upon his stafi", casts his last look of affection upon his offspring,
the pang of near separation, is alleviated by his confidence in the
supremacy of the law. As the minster at the alter, executes his
high commission, and reproves men for their transgressions, his
confidence in duty strengthens, as he rejoices in the supremacy of
the law. Look upon the faces of these venerable men ; the little
remnant, who, in the Providence of God, are spared to rejoice with
us to-day, and whose scars proclaim the scenes tl11'ough which they
have passed. Let them tell you the price of that liberty which
they achieved, and which we now contemplate, and you may es-
timate the value of the supremacy of the law. Oh! the guilt,
the damning guilt of that American citizen who encourages evil.
doers to invade the supremacy of the law ! I That man alone can
appreciate the rights of others, who knows how to appreciate and
defend his own. In this spirit we should remember our oblige-
tions to the Union. ‘ r

in the great subject of public improvements, this Union finds its
strongest safeguard, and in those who promote them, its guardian
angels.---«Intersect these States by Rai1ways',---anniliilato the dis.
tance between Carolina and Connecticut,---by rapidity of motion,
place Georgia and Massachusetts by the side of each other,”--—ancl
the citizens of these States, can never be enemies. Perfect this
mighty scheme, and Richmond and New Yorlt, Charleston and
Norwich, New Orleans and Boston, St. Louis and Poltsmlouth,
Cincinnatti and Portland, will embrace each other as atfectionate
sisters of one united family;---and our sons and our da1..1ghters,wl1o
have gone out from the old thirteen States, and added thirteen new
Stars to the banner of our country, amidst the facilities with
which they can return, will never forget the home of their Fathers.
Our prejudices will recede, as our proximity to each other shall in-
crease. New bonds will be thrown around the Union, which will
grow stronger and stronger as we pursue our onward march,-—---
they will be the bonds of mutual confidence».-«of increasing in-.
telligence-mot‘ a common christianity, and a united hope. If you
would break off‘ the manacles, which hold a part of’ our race in
bondage, and abolish a system which regards their bones, and sin-
ews, and“ flesh, as merchandise, open these avenues of internal imm-
provement, and the work is done. If you would diffuse the b1es—~
sings of christianity, throughout the waste places of our land, ac-
complish these mighty enterprises, and “ the wilderness will bud.

19

and blossom like the rose, and the desert will become vocal with
the praises of the living God.” i P
And has Connecticut no interest in such a cause‘! In the de.
gradation into which we have fallen, there are those who regard
our own Commonwealth, as without the pale of the blessings
which are in store for every other State. In the debasing little-
ness of their souls, while they afiect toappreciate the importance
of "public improvements, they pronounce them wholly inapplicable
to our "own condition. The blighting spirit of illiberality, and
sordidness, has shed its influence over this favored portion of the
land of the Pilgrims. Men of intelligence, and personal honor,
in their thirst for the favor of the ignorant, and the selfish, have
fallen victims to its corroding power. Qfall other portions of this
extended country, Connecticut stands pre-eminent in the impor-
tance which she will derive from the successful prosecution of the
cause of internal improvement. The three sweat valleys which
intersect our territory, at equhdistances from each other, are
marked out by the hand of the Almighty, as avenuesof’ communi.

cation, between the whole of the Northern, and Eastern, and

Western sections of the Union, and the great highway of nations
upon our Southern borders. Complete the one hundred and eigh-
ty miles of Railway, which have been commenced in this State,
and which are in a state of forwardness: and New London, en»
riched by the treasures of the ocean, with her unsurpassed harbor ;
Norwich, pre-eminent for her manufacturing and mechanical pri.
vileges, and the beauties of her scenery ; New Haven, “ the Athens
of America ;” Hartford, enterprising amidst a surrounding country
of unsurpassed luxuriance; B1'iclgeport, strong‘ in prosperity and
enterprise,--the youngest, yet the boldest of’ our sister cities ; by
a continuous line of intercommunication, will be connected with
each other, and with Boston, and Portsmouth, and Portland, on the
one hand, and Albany, and Bufi"a1o, and the Ohio river, and the
flourishing cities of the West on the other. The immense water.
falls along these channels of rapid motion, will become auxiliary
to the industry of man, and hundreds of thriving villages, scatter-
ed over our eastern and our western counties will proclaim our pros-

perity. The mineral treasures which -in inexhaustible quantities,
lie buried, along the valley of ourlbeautiful Housatonic, will be-,
come sources of‘ increasing wealth to our citizens. Our agricul—_
tural interests will be promoted. The products of our mechanical;
skill, with the facilities with which they can be transmitted to.eve—_

ry section of the country, will secure an increased and increasing,
demand. As our means of intercourse increase, we shall know.

each other better, and love each other more. The spirit of party,’
will give way to the spirit of patriotism, and the public good. Will

20

the citinens of Connecticut sufl'er such enterprises to falter? Will
they commend the men Who can seenothing of public interest in
their promotion? Will their approbation rest upon any political
party which stakes its success upon its hostility to such an object?
I envy not the man, nor the set of men, who have proved them.
selves traitors to such a cause. They are enemies to the Union,
to human liberty, to the rights of man. The voice of insulted
patriotism, will break upon their devoted heads ; the lash of indige
nant freemen, as the stripes are displayed upon the waving ensign
of their country, will pursue them, and unless works meet for re-
pentance are exhibited, their opening graves will be the only spot
at which their chastisement will cease.

Finally, to secure the permanence of our institutions We
must pursue the path of virtue, and thllow the precepts of our
holy religion. It is not in the spirit of those who cry =4 Lo ! here,
and Lo! there,” but in christianity in its purity, as it came from
the throne oi Jehovah, ‘G peace {in earth and good will to men,” that
we must cast the anchor of our hope. Let the Bible be our com.

a pass, and thehonor of its Divine author, be our polestar, and we
‘shall never fall. '1‘ Then shall we flourish like the palm tree, and

grow like the cedars of Lebanon. Then shall our sons he as plants
grown up in their youth, and our daughters as corner stones, polish.-
ed after the similitude of apalace. Then shall our garners be
full, affording all manner of ‘store, and our sheep shall l:;ii'iririg; “forth
thousands, and tens of thousands in our streets. Then shall our
oxen be strong to labor, and there shall be no h1'eal£ing in, nor
going out, and no complaining in our streets. Happy shall we
then he, yea thrice happy is that people whose God. is the ll;.«:>rd.”