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'». -H 
 
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 NC3STON. ONTARIO 
 
TL-f^.'/ia, I/, 
 
 s^.4. 
 
 AN 
 
 APPEAL 
 
 TO THK 
 
 GOOD SENSE OF THE DEMOCRATS 
 
 AND THE 
 
 PUBLIC SPIRIT OF THE FEDERALISTS. 
 
 # 
 
 BY A CITIZEN OF MASSACHUSBTTS. 
 
 BOSTON : 
 PRINTED BY JOHN ELIOT, NO. 5, COURT STREET. 
 
 1814. 
 
 
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AN APPEAL, &c. 
 
 All the energies of a nation were never more im- 
 periously demanded, than are those of this country at 
 the present crisis. But these energies, if excited, will 
 have but a feeble and irregular operation, without uni- 
 ty of design, organization and concert. It is impos- 
 sible in the present confusion and fluctuation of af- 
 fairs, to determine on a long course of proceedings. 
 Wc must feel out our way step by step, take advan- 
 tage of occasions as they occur, and adapt our conduct 
 to varying circumstances. The first step is to deter- 
 mine under whom to act ; the next to bring ourselves 
 into proper system and subordination, that we may 
 act with effect. Till these are taken, it is futile to 
 think of any general plan, or prospective system of 
 operations. In regard to the first consideration, the 
 choice of conductors, I think that no sensible man 
 can now be of opinion, that those, who have hitherto 
 guided the affairs of this country, are any longer to be 
 depended upon. It seems to me, that a recapitulation 
 of some of the facts, which are within the recollection 
 or observation of all, will force this conviction upon 
 the mind of every man, and suggest to him the only 
 alternative that circumstances admit. 
 
 We well remember the time when the affairs of 
 this nation were in other hands ; when the great men, 
 who had learned wisdom in the school of experience, 
 who had been educated in scenes of difficulty and 
 danger, whose virtues were the hardy growth of ad- 
 versity, possessed something more than the steril re- 
 spect of the public, (for of this you cannot deprive 
 them;) they were consulted, their opinions had au- 
 
 96836 
 
thority, and ihcir influence was felt. It was not sur- 
 prising); that the nation should be willing to be preserv- 
 ed and pfoverned by those to whom it owed its exist- 
 ence. Those were days of happiness and pride ; wc 
 were not then subjects of wrong and insulting op- 
 pression at home, and when abroad we were not 
 obliged to assume the character of Englishmen, to 
 avoid insult and contempt. We have all at length 
 come to have the same opinion of those times, and 
 they are recollected with regret as well by those whose 
 wickedness and folly so soon put a period to them, as 
 by those who used all their means to make them per- 
 petual. But times have changed, and the nature of 
 the change was early pointed out by the men, whose 
 public services have been rewarded by the ingratitude 
 of the nation. They advised, they warned, ihey con- 
 jured the people not to lay violent hands on them- 
 selves, not to be made the willing instruments of their 
 own destruction. Virtue, interest, gratitude, and 
 common sense forbade the wild and waywaid derelic- 
 tion, and tlic malignant persecution of acknowledged 
 bcnetuctors. But madness ruled the hour. An in- 
 fatuated people saw all objects distorted and reversed. 
 Ingciiious and cruel iniquity knew how to profit l)y 
 this delirium ; it humoured the phienzy which it had 
 inspired, and with which it was partially affected. Its 
 yielding subjects, having been long charmed with fic- 
 tions of magTiilicence and luxurious repose upon a bed 
 of roses, begin now, though too late, to be brought to 
 a perception of their real situation, by die pain of ihc 
 burning coals upon which they have been reclined. 
 How short a time since our great and patriotic Ames 
 was reviled in abusive language, as a madman, for as- 
 serting what none but mad men now can doubt. Ac- 
 complishments have too faithfully followed piedlc- 
 tions ; it is no longer necessary to quote the authori- 
 ty of the great and good men, whom wc ought always 
 to have believed, to prove the depravity and folly of 
 our betravers and destroyers. The evidence is before 
 us all, too clear to be mistaken, and too demonstrative 
 
i 
 
 not to produce conviction. Look at the pitiful offi- 
 cers of government, by uhom we are cverv where sur- 
 rounded, betraying and disgracing the public, wasting 
 Us resources, mju.ing and insultine- its citizens and 
 mutually accusing each other of fraud and lolly • 
 while all impartial men ratify the mutual criminations-- 
 look at our finances, concerning which so many pom- 
 pons, silly things have been said and believed amoiiP- 
 the people— look at the armv, if indeed we have any 
 thing which deserves the name— look at the records 
 of chicanery, duplicity, and meanness, which our gov- 
 ernment would fain pass upon us for stmiethiiu^re- 
 spectable, under the well sounding name of negocia- 
 tion— look at the inventory of your own proijcrty and 
 your means of employment— look at the capikil. 
 ^ But, say the architects of national ruin, the federal- 
 ists have contributed to this accumulation of calamity 
 and mfamy, by withh(jlding cooperation from the 
 government, and embarrassing its measures by oppo- 
 sition. io what instance do they refer us of this sin- 
 ister mfluence of Federal activity, or Federal apathy ? 
 1 heir members of Congress have displayed a heady 
 extravagance, and wanton perversity in deliberation • 
 they have deprived sober men, of the rights of free 
 public debate. This was certiunly thcir^ own u ork 
 and for the consequent disgraces and blunders, they 
 may thank themselves. Thev have abridged the in- 
 dependence, and impaired the respectability of the iu- 
 diciary. The credit of this they do not wish to share 
 they doubtless deem it part of their glory. Many of 
 their treasurers, collectors and agents, have proved 
 rogues, and defrauded the public. Were these men 
 approved, have their characters and conduct been 
 passed without animadversion, by the Federalists 9 
 1 hey have enacted laws destructive of commerce and 
 industry ; they have authorized their bailiffs and catcli- 
 polls to intermeddle in the private concerns of well- 
 disposed citizens, to violate their property and per 
 sonal liberty; and not content with enacting absurd, 
 tyrannical, and pernicious laws, with the ordinary sane- 
 
tlons, they have annexed to their breach, enormous 
 and unheard of penalties. If they have been mstipt- 
 cd to these measures, by the opposition made against 
 them by the Federalists, then the latter have so far 
 been the cause of our sufferings. They have appomt- 
 ed a'J f(jreign ministers, men whnse mmds were too 
 narrow to embrace great national interests ; men, who, 
 i.:ilc:;d of representing the nation with dignity, were 
 only -u.ilificd for bickerings and submissions. But 
 ton' idoriPg an embassador as a representative of his 
 government, tlic choice of ours, in many ^stances, 
 riur-t be alluxved to have been very happy. What 
 does our government discover in Federal policy, to 
 iustif} its conduct to\vards Spain ? Have the Federal- 
 ists instigated them to the seizure of West Florida, 
 and while the " supereminent man" was stabbing the 
 Spaniard on one side, to pick his pocket on the other ? 
 If a war with that nation is the clftict, we shall not for- 
 get its cause. What measure of the opposlvion suggest- 
 ed to our rulers the dissolution of tl;e national bank? 
 The treasury is exhausted, and pablic credit can 
 hardly be said to exist ; yet they have levied aid col- 
 lecttd taxes with.out any obstacle. It is true, that 
 men, who undei stood their own interest, have reiused 
 to lend them money; men of public tpint have dis- 
 suaded others from doing the same, thinking it but 
 just to prevent the meai s of mischief from eomingin- 
 to the hands of the mischievously disposed. The 
 event has justified the cautions which they gave, and 
 it is not much to be regretted, that those who have 
 preferred their profits to their principles, in defiance 
 of the warnings given them, are likely to sufier for 
 their sordidncss. But suppose they had raised great- 
 er loans, the only consequence would have been, that 
 we might now have reckoned up a greater amount of 
 losses. It is neither safe nor honourable to lend mon- 
 ey to gamestt-rs, and instead of complaining that they 
 have not been able to squander away, in their despe- 
 rate throws, the whole fortunes of their friends and en- 
 emies, they ought to think themselves very successhil 
 
to have taken in so many. They liave driid up the 
 sources of profit, let tlmt suffice ; and let them not be 
 angry though some reservoirs of stagnant \\ tnUh are 
 left untouched. Finally, do they suppose Federalists 
 in any way responsible for this war, with all its dis- 
 graceful and rumous consequences ? They were often 
 told at the commencement, that this war had neither 
 motives nor justification. 'J'heir pretended motives 
 have long since ceased to exist ; and no reasons could 
 justify a war, carried on as the present has been. 
 The idea of hostilities was deprecated by us, befrrc 
 their declaration, and they have taken all the pains 
 possible, to prove us in the right, by their miserable 
 management ; tkey begin, indeed, to sigh for peace 
 no less sincerely, than they raved and clamoured in 
 the outset for arms. They invite and conjure us to 
 join them, and fight for the peace which they now 
 think so desirable, but which, three years ago, they so 
 lightly rejected. They blame us that it lias not been 
 already cbtained. This was to be expected. We 
 remember when they undertook to hold the balance 
 between France and England, to regulate the laws of 
 blockade, to starve the English poople into insurrec- 
 tion against their own government, and the West In- 
 dia islands into dependence on ours. The failure of 
 all these magnificent projects was attributed to Fed- 
 eral reluctance and evasion. Now they are dragging 
 us after them i? a war, in which disaster is so blend- 
 ed with weakness and folly, as to render even misery 
 ridiculous ; and the authors of this evil and disgrace, 
 pretend to trace them to Federal counteraction. In 
 what part of the long tissue of ills and follies is this 
 sinister interference interwoven ? It was for the gov- 
 ernment to have made preparation for a war which itself 
 declared, and which it has accompanied with so much 
 gasconade and bombast. Yet they had at best no 
 more than the rudiments of a navy, their army was 
 small, mostly composed of raw troops, without disci- 
 pline, almost without subordination, and commanded 
 by generals, who had little reputation for experience in 
 
Ihc art of war. still lc^s for a knowledge of llic science, 
 or the talciUs necessary to its attainment. Ihesc 
 commanders were not forced upon them they were 
 men of their own choice, many ol them the^r conh- 
 dential friends and particular favourites ; and this in- 
 deed accounts for the result. They were promoted, not 
 for their ability to till the places to which they were 
 ^.pointed, but 'because Mr. Madison & Co. delight- 
 cd to honour them. Such wr.s our army, and such 
 were most of its commanders, at the commencement 
 of a war for conquest and glory. Other things were 
 answerable. No arsenals and magazines were formed 
 on the frontiers, near the scene of action ; ships were 
 still to be built on the lakes, though the command of 
 those waters was so important, as a part o. « ^^X'^tem 
 of offensive warfare. Many of the towns on the At- 
 lantic shore were defended by >^'fks, which deserved 
 the name of saluting stations, rather than that of forti- 
 fications. Of the strong mrts, some were wretchedly 
 g-arrisoned, and others not garrisoned at all. bucn 
 v-is the state of this country, when Mr. Madison be- 
 ^an his war, and at a time too when Great Britain had 
 tn interest in peace, and discovered a great desire for 
 its preservation. It is not wonderful then that the 
 desperate enterprise was opposed by the federalists; 
 and even treated with levity by many, vvho thought the 
 government could not possibly, be senous in propos- 
 fnn: it. Having precipitated themselves into dilhcul- 
 tiel and the couitry into peril, they have discovered 
 all the imbecility and inconstancy, poverty and profii- 
 gacy of resources, which are the usual attendants of 
 temerity. They began by lavishly spending the small 
 r^sures that lid been collected. They th«n resort, 
 ec' to loans, double duties, direct taxes, and loans 
 again, at enormous premiums, till at length ever^ 
 source of revenue is exhausted.- Commerce is anm 
 hilated, and with it are lo3t its duties ; direct taxes are 
 with difficulty collected; lo^"^.^^" "° ^^^A" ""l 
 eociated. What part of this disproporfon of means 
 TyXakings, this profligacy, and bankruptcy, has 
 
been derived from Federal opposition or concur- 
 rence ? Most of the taxes, Y.kh they have proposed, 
 have been voted without division, and raised without 
 insurrection. And mark the contrast ; the very man 
 at whose sugj^estion these taxes have been thu:. 
 peaceably voted and raised, was one of the fomentors 
 of an insurrection, in 1798, on account of a lighter 
 tax, levied in better times, and for much better pur- 
 poses. So far indeed from being disiippointed in their 
 resources, they have received, by loans and reven- 
 ue, many millions more than Mr. Gallatin estima- 
 ted, on the tenth of January, one thousand eight hun- 
 dred and twelve, would be necessary to execute all 
 their extravagant designs. Yet with these means, 
 more ample than they professed to need, instead of 
 effecting one of their purposes, every instrument they 
 have used has recoiled vith ten-fold force against 
 themselves. This is one of the thousand instances in 
 which they are convicted, upon their own showing, 
 of incapability to manage any affairs of war or govern- 
 ment. In short, the resources of this country have 
 been as accessible to its government, as ever those of 
 any country were to any just government; it has le- 
 vied what taxes it pleased, and negociated what loans 
 it could ; and if, as some complain, it has not been 
 able to avail itself of means to their full extent, it has 
 been because it was incapable and unworthy of using 
 them, and because that incapacity was, from the be- 
 ginning, known to many, and is now, I may almost 
 say, expressly acknowledged by all. No ; it has not 
 been for want, but by misapplication of resources, 
 that our govtrment has disgraced and ruined the 
 country ; and if any Federalists have discouraged loars 
 or taxes, they are to be applauded for the calamities and 
 disgraces they have prevented, not blamed for those 
 they have caused. Our government, and the com- 
 manders of our armies, have taken their own time for 
 every thing. They chose their ov/n time for declar- 
 mg die war ; and after it was declared prematurely, 
 and without preparation, still our ships and armies 
 2 
 
10 
 
 might have made their preparations unmolested, had 
 the former remained quietly in our ports, and the lat- 
 ter in their quarters. But how absurd, you say, to 
 proclaim hostilities, and delay their commencement ; 
 thereby giving the enemy time to prepare for his own 
 defence, or the annoyance of us. How much more 
 absurd, I reply, to do one rash and headlong deed, in 
 pursuance of another, merely to maintain a consisten- 
 cy in folly ; and to hurry an army into an enemy's 
 country, before its force and equipments were ade- 
 quate, because hostilities had been declared before 
 there was proper occasion. If our army had consisted 
 of eighty thousand men, could not the hands of seven- 
 ty nine thousand have been tied by an armistice, while 
 the enemy were cutting up the eightieth at their leis- 
 ure, as was the case in the beginning of this prepos- 
 terous conflict ? Under the conduct of such men as 
 those with whom this country has been cursed, the 
 feebler the armaments, the fewer the probabilities of 
 disaster ; and it seems that they themselves, sensible 
 of this, have done every thing on a small scale, and, 
 notwithstanding the magnitude of their enterprises, 
 have made contemptible preparations, that chey might 
 contract the subjects of their direction, to the narrow 
 limits of their own views and capacities. They have 
 been prodigal of revenues, which, though greater than 
 they at first asked, they may now aft'ect to consider 
 small. Would they have been economical had their 
 funds been more ample ? There has been a total 
 want of system, design, and harmony, in the opera- 
 tions of a small army ; is it then to be supposed, that 
 they would have *'ound place in one more numerous ? 
 Want of disciphne, and insubordination have prevail- 
 ed among a few, and two generals have been compell- 
 ed by the demands or votes of their troops to pass 
 over into Canada and be beaten. Would a multitude 
 have been more tractable ? If those, whom they have 
 affected to call Tories, had surrendered all their prop- 
 erty to the disposal of such a government, and taken 
 \ip arms and placed themselves under the command of 
 
11 
 
 such leaders, what would have been the consequence, 
 but that a hundred millions Avould have been wasted 
 instead of sixty ; and for one soldier that has been 
 butchered, died from bad accommodations, or rotted 
 with disease, there would have been a return of five ? 
 What could the Federalists have done to prevent the 
 bickerings, reproaches, criminations and recrimina- 
 tions which have taken place between our government 
 and its officers, among the officers themselves, and 
 between the officers and soldiers ? Statesmen of the 
 Boston stamp have had no concern in appointing gen- 
 erals, some of whom have been condemned as unwar- 
 worthy, and one as worthy of the gallows. The 
 members of the British faction have made dinners and 
 held festivals in celebration of Russian victories ; but 
 they have never solicited the Russian emperor to set- 
 tle a contest in which they had boastfully engaged ; 
 nor implored him to protect them against an adversary 
 whom they had voluntarily defied and professed to 
 hold in contempt. These are not the men, who, in 
 defiance of all law and right, confined forty-six British 
 officers and soldiers, with a hundred pompous formal- 
 ities and declarations, in pretended retaliation of what 
 was no injury, and then pusillanimously and incon- 
 sistently released them. It ij true this was an act of 
 justice, and for that very reason our chief magistrate 
 contradicted the general tenor of his conduct, and 
 especially and pointedly all his declarations on this 
 subject, wl jn he did it. 
 
 We should never have done, were we to go on to 
 enumerate all the instances of dishonour and suffer- 
 ing, which have been brought upon this nation dur- 
 ing the last six years. Among all these I find none 
 that is to be charged to the party of sober and sensi- 
 ble men. Those who have stood first in their ranks, 
 have uniformly opposed the pernicious designs of the 
 government, pointed out its errors and weaknesses, 
 and warned us of the evils whicii were impending 
 over us. While the government, seconded by all its 
 abettors, as well the corrupt a? the deluded, has been 
 
12 
 
 annihilating Bommeree, they have brought to its de 
 fence all tlie.r reason and their eloquencl. W fie ii 
 has cnnged to one foreign nation and crept on in 
 humble cooperation with its nefarious designs thev 
 have made ,t hear the language of honou S juZ 
 t.ce_>vhen ,t msuUed another ibreign non-er, thev re 
 monstrated-when it has wantonlytacHl.cu thTia' 
 ttonal mterests, they have protested-^ hen t has va 
 poured and threatened, they have replied in firm and 
 dignified language-vvhen it has enicted absurd a"d 
 tyrannical laws, they have given their negative-when 
 u ha. announced its,nagmficent projecis, Aey have 
 given notice of its slender means-'-a,^,ids profligacv 
 and waste, they have advocated cconomy-when in^ 
 capable and corrupt men have been elevS and 
 rusted, they have not failed to describe their chame 
 
 mirt"s:v:d"'"" ^-V" danger, they told tw U 
 mignt be saved—now it is m temporary ruins =^ is 
 under their conduct and counsel, and thJirs ato \vl 
 hope to restore it. Thus have the FederaUs s W 
 
 .■ii^v r ir ?s t ^ii«4-s^ve i!^ 
 
 .hey l.ve prevf l"." idd .^^^-^'^^ 
 than those they have assuaged. Though we^are a 
 degraded and miserable nation, vet law has sSl some 
 authority, and rights some respect. Th,rvvould ™ t 
 now have been the case, had not the partizans of Mr 
 Madison had more respect for those who I ave sm, 
 ported justice and order, than they have had for i us" 
 tee and order themselves. How often have we K 
 che threat, roi.i the bad eminence of misrule ".W 
 opposition diouid be put down ;" in other woi'ds that 
 no citizen should be allowed to express his d saDDm 
 banoii of the measures of the government "^Pr" 
 threat has been repeated by all the^echoes rf'idm.nu' 
 ration, Irom all the depths and recesses of the mrtv' 
 
 ot htcdom, It h:is been permitted the cid^ens to op. 
 
 i- 
 
IS 
 
 pose the government by censuring its nrore^^mn. 
 and shewing their error or their WeVnLs^ B„tT' 
 exercise of this right has, among us Sved^^ de' 
 
 iiz.i; ssz feS B 
 
 for soR.cthing more. At one time th^n '"'^"^'^<' 
 part of the Senate of MassaX «s, whiSTXenlv 
 one of the manoeuvres of thp Ip«h^.<c r ' ^^ 
 
 friends so zea buslv enirf^H ar,^ " '"^n ne and his 
 
 admired. Tlie cuulg off of head? ^ndr '"*='"?; 
 understood what heads w»« =,„.'■ ^. " """^ «''^" 
 
 toplck of open" ottatr ^o" ^Te 'dLrr""". 
 *ndK; b'e" ti'r li^hTnl ''^ ''^'' '^^^ an"^ 
 
 scenes of BaLt'sh'ut '^Jt:r:lT"^Xt ''" 
 vated atrocities, in all narN of Tkf f ?' • . „Sgra- 
 
 And why have they no! bC? ° TWs ,v^ owe fT'' 
 citizens to the firm and dignified conduM if th?" 
 men whose worth entitles them to the hatred »L '^ 
 
 7T^. '"^ '^'' -^ ^^ -fide^-^dTute 
 
 edth=tlS:;^t^-ti^-^^^^^^ 
 
 and disgraces bv a hnri.r «r "'"'^=*' aangers, folhes 
 
'V 
 
 14 
 
 are often to be found at the head of a party ; men 
 whose only faults, for it is the part of human nature 
 to have them, have been, m the estimation of their 
 friends, too great moderation and forbearance. With 
 these their enemies at least have charged them, though 
 they have given them other names. We have at 
 length arrived at a period most difficult and trying, 
 one which demands all our wisdom and all our ener- 
 eies. While our government hired volunteers to go 
 and fiaht for honours and plunder on the waters of the 
 atUntic, and in the snows of Canada, it was for us to 
 censure the extravagance, pay our part of the cost, 
 share what of the reproach we could not avoid, 
 and be cmiet. But those times have gone by. 1 he 
 folU and treachery of our government has brought an 
 enemy into our dwellings, it is for us to give an ac 
 c. ant of him. This we are to do, not because we 
 are called upon by the man who was chosen to be 
 chief magistrate of the United States, who st U ad- 
 dresses us in the heroics of imbecility, and talks of 
 the high destinies of a country which he has done his 
 utmos! to ruin. We leave him to wander over the 
 desolate site of his palace, and contemplate m the ashes 
 of the capitol, an emblematic monument ot his ad- 
 ministration. The government which we instituted 
 for protection, has abandoned us, therefore we shall 
 be safe. True we here and there witness the med- 
 dinj^ interference of inflated littleness. But let it 
 busf and fret .tself, till it is lulled asleep by its own 
 senseless humming. Meantime let us set about the 
 great work before us ; let us find in this chaos the 
 elements of order, and in this iniamy the seeds ot hon- 
 our. We hear the voice of our own yenerao le chief 
 magistrate ; let it animate us to yield something ot 
 ™ur services to that public, to which he devotes every 
 thina. A regard for our own persons and property 
 poinl out our^ourse. Let us sacrifice part of our 
 Lods in manly defence, rather than all in ^isgracefu 
 capitulation. If our persons are to be bruised let it 
 be in Uie field, not in bearing burdens of plunder from 
 
15 
 
 our own stores, to gratify invading rapacity. Hon. 
 our, pride, local attachments and public spirit second 
 the call of our governour, and bid us guard our me- 
 tropolis from contamination, and prevent the enemy 
 from leaving in it marks of his triumph and signals of 
 reproach to ourselves and shame to posterity. 
 
 At the same time let us understand ourselves well 
 and be explicit. We are called upon to strengthen 
 the hands of government. To this call 1 believe 
 most of us are deaf, if that government be meant, the 
 energy of whose hands we have never felt, except in 
 attempts to strangle us. We devote our services to 
 the public good, and have no hope of their being di- 
 rected to this object, but under die direction of the 
 government of Massachusetts. Of that other author- 
 ity, whose baleful control we have so long deprecated, 
 we only ask that it will not encumber us with its in- 
 terference, and palsy our strength by its benumbing 
 touch. If it furnish us with all the facilities in its 
 power, in munitions and implements of war, and the 
 cooperation of its forces, we shall be content. But 
 even these let it withhold, rather than bestow them ac- 
 companied with its counsels and commands. We 
 have had too full an experience of these already, and 
 I am persuaded that I express a very general senti- 
 ment, in saying that, as far as moral evil and pecunia- 
 ry sacrifice are to be regarded, it would be better that 
 Boston should be treated as Alexandria has been, 
 rather than be subjected to two years of such misgov- 
 ernment as that under which this country has of late 
 suffered ; just as one would prefer to receive at once, 
 a deep wound, rather than have his marrow eaten away 
 by a slow poison. We wish to do nodiing which 
 may prolong or strengthen that deleterious power. 
 
 They call upon us to forget party distinctions, and 
 bury party animosities. This we have always been 
 ready to do. They invite us to act on the broad prin- 
 ciples of public spirit and national honour. This we 
 always have done. Our politics a.. . .lur patriotism, 
 are but different names of the same thirig. Wc should 
 
 V 
 
I 
 
 16 
 
 be the basest of men, to act in contradiction of our 
 principles and opinions, and tliese we have no rea. 
 son to change. Every event is a new confirmation of 
 them. Do they say the same on their part ? How- 
 then came we into this deplorable condition ? But 
 they do not say it. All who have any sensibility to 
 truth and sinceri^.y of expression, begin to give testi- 
 mony against the men whom we have opposed, and 
 the o'^inions which we have combated. The more 
 insenuons are loud in the execration of their betray- 
 ers, and frank in the acknowledgment of their errours. 
 They triumph in a victory over their prejudices, and 
 elory in the discovery and promotion of the general 
 lood Many have set this noble example, and many 
 more* ought to have imitated it. They will do it. 
 You will, my countrymen, acknowledge the secret 
 convictions, which do you honour, and which will do 
 you still greater honour when they cease to be secret. 
 You will again be what you once were. You will 
 ao-ain repose confidence in such men, as it was once 
 your pride to respect. We have long tried them, and 
 cordially recommend them to your support. You 
 have lon^ observed them, and must, b} this time, 
 cease to distrust their integrity. To whom else can 
 vou look for the salvation of your country? Ihose 
 conceited things, which, in the sunshine of easy times, 
 were so ostentatious at parade, and so flippant at cau- 
 cus where are they now, when the sky blackens, and 
 the' thunder begins to roll? The greater part have 
 skulked into their hiding places, and but for their 
 whining and carping, it would be forgotten that they 
 exist. Some remain in the scene to gather up the 
 plunder which confusion always exposes to unprinci- 
 pled cupidity. A few of the most desperate, still af- 
 fect to act, and giddily hurry to and fro, at their wits' 
 end without method, purpose or effect. None but 
 weak and infatuated men, will continue to follow such 
 leaders as these. Forsake, at length, those of the im- 
 posters, who have not already done you the kindness 
 to desert you. We have suifered with you long 
 
17 
 
 enough on their principles ; it is for you now to co*. 
 operate with us in saving the country upon ours. 
 
 For ourselves, we have no doubt concerning the 
 first step to be taken in this business We have long 
 acted under the auspices of such men as Caleb Strong 
 and Rufus King. It is our purpose still to be advi- 
 sed by them. We have long lamented, that our sense 
 of duty and love of country prevented us from ma- 
 king an active effort, to parry the disgraces and ills, 
 of which we have been the subjects and witnesses. 
 Our hands arc, at length, unbound. We may now 
 oppose one enemy, without strengthening another. 
 We are ordered to take our arms. This we do cheer- 
 fully. Our purpose is to grapple the enemy when, 
 ever he comes within our reach, and drive h'im from 
 our soil. It is a question of honour and not of ex- 
 pediency. It requires no deliberation. We are sta- 
 tioned at a post, which to abandon, without a vigo- 
 rous resistance, would be foul disgrace. 
 
 We well understand the immediate object of our 
 eflforts, and, in general, the men under whose direc- 
 tion they must be made. At the same time, let us be 
 sensible to the difficulties of our situation, that we may 
 encounter them with fortitude, and the sooner over- 
 come them. We have yet to arrange ourselves in 
 snch system and subordintvtion, as may give our ex- 
 ertions the greatest effect. There are many in all 
 parts of the United States, and of all parties, with 
 whom we would gladly cooperate in the service of 
 our country. But we have no regular communica- 
 tion, no common council and authority. Our only 
 bond of union is a similarity of sentiments and wishes. 
 We must wait patiently then, till some combination 
 can be made of the resources, talents and patriotism 
 of the country. If such a combination be possible, 
 we expect of those, whose proper office it is to form 
 it, not to be idle. But though, by the weakness and 
 fatuity of the general government, the individual states 
 have become, in a measure, isolated from each other, 
 it is not at present a great misfortune to Massachu- 
 3 
 
18 
 
 t,ett«i. All the embarrassments which we shall at pres- 
 ent feel, in our separate system of action, would not 
 be less if we were part of a greater system. We have 
 probably men and resources more than sufficient to 
 meet any force, that the enemy will immediately send 
 against us. And if our exertions were as intimately 
 blended with those of the other states, and had such a 
 dependence upon them, as we could wish, still it is 
 probable that more of the general burden would fall 
 upon our shoulders, than, in present circumstances, 
 we shall be obliged to bear. 
 
 Our disorganized condition affords the only reason 
 tor not wishing the enemy to land in our neighbour- 
 liood to-morrow. A degree of confusion and pertur- 
 Ijation are unavoidably incident to new circumstances, 
 ;md these it is the duty of every man to apply all his 
 activity and influence to remedy. The legislature will 
 soon be assembled, and if it, as we expect it will, pos. 
 hess a dignity and spirit worthy of Massachusetts, it 
 will be a powerful agent in the diffusion of vigour 
 ;hu1 introduction of order. But we all have our of- 
 fices and functions, as well as the representatives 
 ilieirs, and we may enter upon them as well before, as 
 ..fter the fiich of (October. 
 
 If the public resources are inadequate, we can aug- 
 .ncnt them, by voluntary contributions and services ; 
 and it is the concern of superintendants, to see that 
 these are procured, in a manner the least burdensome 
 K) individuals, and the most useful to the public. 
 
 A very numerous body of militia is collected, and 
 collecting, in the neighbourhood of Boston. They 
 ui-e not collected for pastime and shew, as they are 
 wont to be ; nor as a sort of supernumeraries, as mili- 
 tia commonly are. If they act at all, (and there is little 
 doubt that thev will be required to) they must act 
 against veteran 'troops ; they must answer the purpose 
 of a regular army, and therefore ought, immediately, 
 to be converted into something as like regular soldiers 
 as possible. Instead of being encouraged to indulge 
 the hope, that we shall not be molested, till their three 
 
It 
 
 months* service is expired ; they should be niatlc to 
 think of the encmy» to expect, to wish to j»ee him. 
 And this they will do, when they are properly prcpar 
 ed to meet him. 
 
 The first measures for forming an army out of these 
 materials, belong to the governour and council, and 
 the commanding officers ; and we have no doubt of 
 their understanding and doing their duty. Meantime 
 it is our part to regard their conduct with the greatest 
 candour and liberality, not expecting them to be 
 changed in a moment, from peaceable civil magis- 
 trates and retired gentlemen, into consu in mate marshals 
 and generals, any more than they are to expect from 
 us, to be transmuted in a twinkling, from sober 
 husbandmen, mechanics and tradesmen, into <vell dis- 
 plined ::oldiers. Let us all be active, vigilant, public- 
 spirited, and liberal-minded, and our aftairs will go 
 well, every thing will come in its proper place, and 
 affairs will be transacted, at first as they can be, after- 
 wards as they should be. 
 
 There is no doubt that, as soon as it is practicable, 
 the militia will be called out in such portions, and for 
 such periods of service, as that only a small part shall 
 leave the camp at once ; and then those who take 
 their places, will soon catch the spirit and discipline 
 of the great body which remains. 
 
 Doubtless every exertion is making to establish a 
 commissariat, that all articles of necessity and conve- 
 nience, may be procured at the cheapest rate, and of 
 the best kind. Barracks are erecting, tents preparing, 
 hospitals providing, and surgeons *.o be appointed, and 
 precautions taken that the wages of the soldiers may 
 be regularly and punctually paid. This I do not state 
 from a particular personal knowledge, but because I 
 know it to be expected by all who are called into ser, 
 vice, and because my confidence in tliose who pro\ide 
 and direct, does not permit me to doubt, tiiat proper 
 attention is given to these subjects 
 
 Though we have a high opinion .of the ability, mer- 
 it, and patriotism, of the men under whose guidance, 
 
26 
 
 U'c act ; it is useless to conceal from ourselves, that u 
 lonj; interval of comparative inactivity, has left us des- 
 titute of the personal confidence, and enthusiastic at- 
 tachment, which are the soul oi discipline and pledge 
 of v^ctoty. We cannot leel towards each other, like 
 those who have suffered and triumphed together. 
 'J'hough many of our commanders knew something of 
 service, during the revolutionary war ; it was a long 
 time ago ; "nd the sight of their countenances does not, 
 like that of veteran generals to veteran soldiers, awa- 
 ken in many of us, the recollection of past, and desire 
 of future scenes of danger and glory. But we know 
 that they have talents and courage. When they have 
 come together, they will mutually operate on each 
 other ; talents will be disclosed, and character strength- 
 ened by exigency ; and each one will soon assume 
 the rank and influence, for which nature and educa- 
 tion have qualified him. Let them show themselves 
 to us, who are in ihe ranks, and do every thing to ex- 
 cite personal attachment and respect. Let them teach 
 us our duty, encourage obedience, discipline and skill, 
 by noticing them, and bestowing such distinctions as 
 are in their poM'er ; and the first time they lead us in- 
 to the field they shall be more than rewarded for their 
 labours. 
 
 A great obstacle to the conversion of militia into 
 efiective soldiery, arises fiom the relation in which of- 
 ficcrs and privates stand to each other, as citizens. 
 Before general orders were issued, the captain may 
 have been a partner in business with the colonel, and 
 the common soldier, on a committee with the captain. 
 It is difiieult to render them, to day, passive instru- 
 ments in the hands of those, whose equals they were 
 yesterday, and expect soon to be again. There is 
 however, in the character of our people, a remedy for 
 this evil. Though they have a great repugnance to 
 any thing resembling arbitary authority, and yield a 
 reluctant obedience to persons ; they are willing to 
 obey laws, and submit to general regulations, that are 
 properly established. It is better to" humour this dis- 
 
21 
 
 position, than attempt to overcome it. There is the 
 strongest reason for doing this, since their military 
 service is but a short digression from their general 
 habits. It is on the whole, a favourable circumstance, 
 and may be taken advantage of, to render them more 
 tractable, and combined with their characteristic 
 shrewdness and intelligence, may be improved to 
 teach them by instruction, what it would require 
 much longer time to learn by mere practice. This 
 may be done, by instructing the officers minutely in 
 military laws and rules, that they may communicate 
 them to their soldiers ; or manuals nwy be distributed 
 among the officers and common soldiers, who may 
 well enough devote to the study of them, part of the 
 time which they would otherwise spend in the peru- 
 sal of newspapers. 
 
 A musket is necessarily, at first, an unwieldly im- 
 plement in the hands of one, who has been accustom- 
 ed, all his life, to use a sickle, a planing tool, or 
 yard- stick. And those who have never gone oflf their 
 own grounds, except to market or to meeting, will 
 not immediately assume a very martial air. To 
 give them the balance and prompt management of 
 their arms and bodies, minute and frequent drills, in 
 very small bodies, are requisite. Many of the officers 
 have little more skill than their soldiers. The officers 
 themselves might be drilled, and thus taught to exer- 
 cise their men. Or if this be thought a derogation 
 from their dignity, there are, in and about Boston, 
 many young gentleman well skilled in the manual ex- 
 ercise and military evolutions, who would doubtless 
 be ready to communicate their knowledge to the 
 militia companies, if any method of doing it were pro- 
 posed. Ey severe and exact drilling, a raw soldier is 
 not only enabled to use his limbs and weapons with 
 greater agility ; he is insensibly inspired with a mili- 
 tary spirit and pride in obedience. Unless by this 
 and other means, you awaken the ardour and confi- 
 dence of the soldier ; reviews and mock-fights rather 
 damp than animate his courage, since they give him 
 
32 
 
 an idea ol the tenors oi' war, uitliout uny sentiment 
 of its ^loriest , 
 
 Tiic excitement of a spirit of emulation, from the 
 competitions of regiments, down to those of individu- 
 al' u»a\- be rcndeicd one of die most powerful instru- 
 ments in forming; U\is mass of labourers and men of 
 business, into creatures of war. 
 
 There is g; i.at danger of disease, from crowding 
 together so many men, who have not been accustom- 
 ed to prepare thi ir own food, or take care of their own 
 persons. Besides the exertions of th^^ officers and 
 surgeons, much may be done to prevent this by the 
 inhabitants of Boston and its neighbourhood, by mere- 
 ly nuiking suggestions to the odicers of companies 
 with whom they may chance to be acquainted, or by 
 furnishing such little conveniences as they are able. 
 And if any thing can be done by the women, dieir 
 public spirit and benevolence may be calculated upon 
 with still greater confidence. It will only be neces- 
 sary to intimate to the ni any service they can render. 
 
 Licentiousness, and all the other vices bred by in- 
 dolence, will of course be p evented by military exer- 
 cises, labouring upon the fortifications, beating to 
 arms at unusual hours, and the like, as frequently and 
 as much as the zeal and discipline of a temporary 
 army will permit. If these be not sufficient, it may 
 not be inexpedient to encourage such active and 
 athletic sports, as tend to keep up die spirits of the 
 soldiers, and give suppleness to their limbs. 
 
 I have been insensibly drawn into this detail, some- 
 what beyond my original intention ; and though I 
 might proceed much further, I am aware that plausi- 
 ble objections are not wanting, to some things I have 
 already said. I'hcse I shall not anticipate for the pur- 
 pose of answering, but rest satisfied, if I may have 
 done any thing towards rendering every man responsi- 
 ble to the public for the performance of his duty, and 
 calling the attention of men, of more experience f^nd 
 better judgmtv.tj to those subjects upon which I have 
 ■thrown out my v'■'^cle r^^d inii>erfect thoughts. 
 
 
 

 23 
 
 Finally, let us bear in mind, that however it may 
 be with our own safety, and tiiat of Old Miisjiacim. 
 setts, our honour, at least, is in oiu- huud.^, and this 
 we may vindicate in spite of fate and the general gov- 
 ernment. Mean while, let us not \ ipour and boast, 
 more especially, if in any individual uistance or two, 
 we may be worsted. If Mr. Madison, by one of his 
 masterly military manoeuvres, converts more d( feats 
 into victories, let us brace our muscles and be grave, 
 while the English laugh. If there shall be a battle of 
 Boston, let as fight it as becomes men, (to say nothing 
 about yr^^", bravej mvincible, and all that stuff;) and 
 when we have done, not imagine that it will make a 
 greak. figure in history, than the battle of Leipsic, 
 but be contented with considering the buttle of Lake 
 Erie equal to that of the Nile. 
 
 
 and