REESE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 711, ,U,-,U, ,11, ..Ur.U^U.-Uj ,U, U AN ORATION, DELIVERED AT RAYNHAM, (MASSACHUSETTS,) MAT nth, 1804, ON THE LATE ACQUISITION OF LOUISIANA, AT THE UNANIMOUS REQUEST OF T&E REPUBLICAN ClTIZEN* OF THE COUNTT OF BRISTOL. BY DAVID A. LEONARD. NEWPORT, (R. I.) PRINTED BY OLIVER FARNSWORTH. 1804. : In convention of the numerous Committee appointed for the day, RESOLVED, That the thanks of the Committee be pfcftnt- edto Mr. LEONARDjfor his Pertinent Oration, this day deliv ered, and that a copy of the fame be requeued for the prefs. Reply of the Author, GENTLEMEN, Could I be perfuaded that its publication would be of any fervice to the public, yvit would have my cheerful cenfent. However , knowing that publication is cuflomary onfuch occa- fiens, and expecled &i the prefent, I reludantly render the ORATION, &c. i <$ FELLOW-CITIZENS, E have come to felicitate each other on the late ac- quifhion of Louifiana. We have corns to celebrate con- q u eft, not of arms nor of artifice, but of principle and un- /dl {Tumbling policy.. For the folemnization of this day, we are indebted to the noblefi of gratitude, the gratitude of pa- triotifrn. Yes, my friends, your devout affections have de creed to JEFFERSON a fplezjdid triumph. While the laurels of (he mod celebrated conquerors, modern as well as an cient, are weeping with the blood of thoufands, the wreaths that entwine the temples of our political chiefs, who have effected the conqued of this valuable territory, are interwo ven with the fmiling olive of peace. The Roman conquer- ers who returned in triumph, from their vanquifhed provin ces, heard with horror, above the acclamations of joy, the fighs of the widow and the cries of the fatherlefs. But we celebrate a triumph, where all citizens whofe fouls are fuf- ceptibl* of tb-mkfulnefs, cordially offer their tiibute of praife and unaiFeQed benedi&ion. The trophies of our be neficent negociators are the inviolate hearts of a people who rejoice in fuch an adminiftration and the blefiings of fo free a government. Their honorable fpoils are the gloomy ab >r- tions of an unprincipled ambition and the demolifhed hy- pcthefis of an infatuated policy. To grace their triumph, the \var-infpiring principles of Rofs and Morris are led in chains and expofed to ihe honed raillery of a gratulant people. And this day clip our national jubilee ihall confecrate in the temple of fame a monument more lading than the braze.u mfcnptipa or the marble (tatue, [ 4 ] In contemplating the iubjeft of Louifiana, the mind is alternately affe&ed with a variety of conflifting emotions. Vary the pofitiqn ofthe fubjet, and.it (haM reflect a va ried appearance fometimes pleafant and infpiring with gratitudeand fometimes ludicrous, marvellous and ap proaching theridiculous. It mud be truly aftonifhing to every honed American, that an attempt fhould be made by any of our native citi zens, to poffefs themfelves of any territory of other na tions, whatever may be the exiding circumftances without firft attempting, either ior the fake of equity, humanity, or politenefs, to adjuft tie differences by fair negaciatioa. But ftrange as it is, fuch an attempt was made, not by a downright, unambitious yeomanry, upon whofe fhoulders the hardfhips of the conteft would fall, &ut by a clafs of men, who would have exempted themfelves from military duty, and whofe characters, unconnected with politics, are fair and reputable, and who view themfelves as file leaders of a refpe&able fedion of American citizens. This tnuil be a ilrange departure, not to fay from Rtfubllcan^ but from American principles. When our country firft began to talk of the oppreffion of Great Britain, and to embrace for herfelf a fyftem of political axioms ; ihe totally exclud ed from her conftitutions, every fen tence that remotely comprifed offenfive operations. Tne mod uadifguifed ob- jedlion againd .thefe was then deemed the mod prominent feature of a republican government. Offenfive wars \vere then deemed a difcriminating ehara&eriftic of rnortarchical cdablifliments, ! where private caprice and ambition coald flrangely abforb the feelings of the public and the wills of a few become the refolutions of many. Thefe were doc trines unrefervedly embraced by all, except the avowed ad- herents to the interefts of the crown. A proportion of di- vcding any people of their rightful poileffions, woi^ld have filled our .patriots with adonifhment, and the fpeeches ot Rofs and Morris would have been, to the revolution, a pro- phanation equally ignominious, abhorrent and unpardona ble. It was natural, at that time, when every mouth was [ 5 J filled with execration? againfl the arrogant meafures ei Britain, totally to abjure her vices. Ambition, when enlift- ing volunteers in her cauie, will ever imprefs to her flandard. the auxiliary of religion. Hoiliiius, when impelled by neceffity, could revive the facred rights of Numa, which he had long neglected. It would ieeni more natural then for ambition to difcard thole vices, the adoption of which would arraign her conduct and fix upon her votaries, the ftigma of a flagrant difunion of principle and pradice. But the peace of a nation violates her repofe. It is the troubled (late of fociety that tempts her operations. In the defultory fcenes of national diiliculties, it is plain to the difcriminating obferver, that ambition, whatever may be the fcope of the Drama, will ever occupy the fore ground of the peiipediye ? and infligate for htrfelf thofe als which become moft interdting to the whole : War therefore has ever been her mod Iticcdfsful engine. i{t. Becaufe, in drafting her fubfidies and fele&ing her alliances, fhe improves an opportunity of relaxing or invigorating thole local and national prejudices, as (hail beil fuit her policy. She courts the fmiies of foreign Courts whofe polities and interefts are in concert with her own, and avails herielf of the movements of war to direct to the fame end the prepofTeffions of the foldiery and populace. But ail, nder her influence, mud be taught to execrate thofe whofe governments are adtninii- tered upon republican principles, as enemies not only to their happincis, but to mankind in general and every po litical good. When the great deep of national alliances are broken up by war, (he caufes, by a new adjuftmerit of public relations, her dry land to appear in fituations more flattering to her pride and more favorable to her interclh. sd. War allows the people no leifure to deliberate and enquire for thernfeives, wlrea the country s danger is founded from every quarter ; vhen the people are habituated to diftruft the friendfnip of ail, except thofe who .are the frank allies of their own nation, or thofe whofe policy is avowedly oppofed to that of their enemy. Thefe obfervations are exemplified in the habits of Brit- ;[ 6 ] ifh fubje6b. Thoie who afTum& their political tuition, have heretofore .exerciied a more diligent attention to their tyros, than the nurfe or the fchool-mafter. to their refpedtive charges. In trie military academies they imbibe ihe rudiments .of national prejudices. Thefe are nur tured by continual complaints .of wrongs^ impofitions and violations of faith and treaties. Finally, in the field ar*d navy they are brought jo jpatuiily, and become irradi- cable. As their ambitious nobility, who languifh in time of peace, live like the vampyre QH the blood of mankind, real or imaginary incidents are translated into iblemii pretences, and the people are plunged again into 4C una voidable" war. 3d. Open hoftilitics furnifii ambition .with a variety of pretexts of patrictifm. She makes it eafy for her vota ries to believe that all her projects are for the country s good. It is natural, fhe thinks, for the people to infer that it Js for their own defence when an enemy is oppofed, as ic is hard to believe that the dangers and fatigues of war ihould be productive of any individual good. Now fhe feels a dictatorial decifion attached to all her projects. She ap proaches the people, with a tender regard for the public welfare, in theprefent emergency of affairs : That the im pending crifis calls for a new arrangement in all the depart ments of State. Her legifl:i; ! ve proceedings (while die fmiles to view them as popular intrenchments of her own wealth and grandeur) are echoed as the difpenfations of an aufpicious providence. All her alliances, as well nup tial as political, ihe would fain make us believe are the ten der pledges of our national lory. in returning to our own country, let us bear with us the application of the fubjeft. In the old Canadian wars the humble limplicity of our infant flate repreft the growth pf domedic ambition. -As yet there were found none djf- pofed to Tally put in qnefl of adventurers, of fame and ag- grandifement. Our regiments were officered by Britiih chevaliers, and the foldiery, like loyal fquires, were jt^gfo to fight ior the fceptered Quixote. But in our revolu tionary war, the ftate of fociety had fo far advanced, as to . C 7 ] fiave furni flied a fpheie for the intrigues of ambition. In the very womb of the revolution/, ambition and patriot- jfm, like the twins of Rebekah, ftruggled together. Tho 9 the native voice of the one was fcarcely diftinguifhed from the crocodile cry of the other, flill the characters of that r> fleeting tragedy were actuated by two opponng interefts, /is glorious as that era was, yet we fee in it, as in the BE- i ,ov LD of the faered paftoral, a company of two armies. No (ooner was the fmoke of the revolution rolled away by ilie favonian breeze of peace, and the a"61ors expofed to the view of the people, out it was well determined who they were, that had been prefenting vain oblations upon that altar, that was fliiiwet with the blood of Warren and Montgomery ; who had fung the war-fong of patriotism to the harp of ambition ; who had mourned for public grievances, to procure redrefs of perfonal embarrafTments ; \vhohad been bold to repel foreign invafion, to er eel: a tyranny at home. Alas ! who would have tho t the revo lutionary fhock, which broke the tie between us and a cor rupted government, ferved alfo to breat the egg-fhell of the cockatrice, and give a premature growth to the viper of asnbilionl As political corruption is too often the confequence of war, fo it feems ever inclined to hoftilities, as to a part ner of its own fpecies,by which libidinous embrace,it engen ders and perpetuates corruption in the world. Thus am bition had affumed appropriate operations and became diftinguifhed by a (tandard of her own. It afforded her no doubt a moment of regret to reflect, that fhe had been compelled to vie with a power, whofe policy was fo near ly allied to her own. They are in tete-a-tete however to forget old prejudices and enter upon a new alliance. To declare war therefore with Great-Britain would be an out rage upon themfelves. Tho the unwarrantable infults of that nation had furnifhed many of the American people with ample pretences for open hoftilities, yet as it would debilitate or diiTolve their young alliance, they be came more affiduous than Britifh fubjefts themfelves, to extenuate thofe repeated impoiitions : They evaded the [ 3 ] force of popular refentment and fatiated the predatory cupidity of England by ratifying the treaty of Mr. fny. A war then with that nation, upon fo juil an occa- fion, would have been too patriotic for that policy. But no fooner had France, difaffedted with the ftipulated pro- v.ifions of the treaty aforefaid, begun to act the Harle quinade of Britifii depredation, but all- their Gazettes vo ciferated for war, and the fates embargoed were forbid den tointerpofe. Now France is menaced with all the vengeance of patriotifm. Expectation is now fanguine that the alli ance with England will be confummated, and the two countries embrace in eternal friendfhip. Now is about to open a new fcene for Ariftocratic fpeculation. Alrea dy is prefented a happy opportunity, not only for war, but war with the enemies of Britain. A war of exter mination is projected. Every man, . woman, and child is to be armed againft the poor Franks, who are deftined for annihilation. Our fentiments of honor, of courage and national dignity were arraigned at the tribunal of a prejudicating policy. No effort was left untried to forti fy our coafts with ramparts and our minds with prejudic es. Thus ambition vainly imagined that all our revo lutionary prepoffeffions in favor of that -nation would be inftantly difiblved ? that an alarm of foreign invasion would unfcrupuloufly effect a unanimity at home ; that our faces being ftedfaftly fronted towards public calamity, our backs muft be turned upon all dome (lie oppreiTion. There is fomething, my friends, to be thrown up by thefe troubled waters. What do we fee? The organiza tion of a (landing army. Troops are Rationed in the inte rior of a country of patriots, to oppofe the defcent of a tranfotlantic enemy. A large armament is formed to ena ble us to join with honor the embattled line of a favorite ally. Executive authority is extended ihat the prefidential power might afcend to a dictatorial fovereignty, like that of the Romans which was abfolute and irrefiftible in the dangerous extremities of war. Aft alien-bill is paifed to prevent the introduction of republican principles^ and reg- L 9 ] ulate the enliftments of political recruits. The revenue and the monied interefts muft be arranged anew, under pretext of defraying expences of defeniive preparations, to controul the jealoufies of patriotifm and facilitate the management of an unpopular fyftem. But this project, however nicely calculated and affid- uouHy executed, did hot realize its ultimate view. That patriotifni equally ready, to arm againft the menaces of an enemy, and to guard againft plunging into a precipitate war, could not be perfuaded to embrace the delulion. That ambition, which was ever feeking for a war of fpeculation, foon found occafion to call up her former refolutions. A right of depofit at New-Orleans, to which we had no claim by any decifive authority, was, from fome adventitious cauf- es, withheld by the Spanifh Intendant. This event, to thofe who were acquainted with circumftances, prefented nothing hoftile. The whole affair refulted naturally from thofe re lations, which exifted between the American and Spanifti governments. Indeed ? a catholic politician might admire, that fomething of the kind had not occurred before. This however amounted, by the colouring of FEDERALISM, to mfult and impending hoflilities. It is eafier^ from ground- lefs pretences, to perfuade a people that they are injured, than that they are benefited. This incidental fufpenfion, therefore, was reprefented as a barbarous rape upon Amer ican liberties ; and they endeavored by all the buffoonery of argument, to roule the United States to a declaration of war, and inftead of recovering the right of depofit, to pof- fefs themfelves of the whole ifland of New-Orleans. A few hiftorical obfer rations are briefly thefe. When by the treaty of Paris, in 1763, France ceded to Britain, Canada, Cape Breton and a part of its pofleffions on the eaft of the Miilifippi, fhe referved to herfelf the ifland of New-Orleans, which, together with the province of Louifi- ana on the weft of the river, me foon after ceded to the king of Spain. By the fame treaty, Spain ceded to Great-Bri tain, Florida, St. Auguftine, the bay of Penfacola, with all her pofleffions on the eaft of the MiiTifippi. Great-Britain, by the treaty of 1783, conveyed to the United States, all B C o ] her former pofFeflions eail of a line drawn along the mid dle of the Miffifippi, to the 31 ft degree of north latitude, Thence on the northernmoft part of faid degree and oth er intermediate lines, till it falls with St. Mary s river into the atlantic ocean. In the treaty of Verfailles, in the fame year, between England and Spain, the former ceded and guaranteed to his Catholic Majefty, Eaft jand Weft Florida. Not long after the peace of 83, when the weftern wilder- nefs became fettled and population and agriculture advanc ed* difientions arofe between the United States and the Spanifh Government, concerning the right of navigating the^waters of the Mifiifippi, and the boundary line between Weft Florida and our fouthern territory. Thefe differen ces, which occafioned at that time ferious agitations, were at length amicably adjufted by the treaty of San Lorenzo del Real, in 1795, and the boundary between the Spanifh colonies and the United States was confirmed agreeably to the definitive treaty of 1783. At the fame time ? the free navigation of the river in its whole breadth, from its fource to the ocean, was fecured to our citizens. Spain alfo grant ed us a right to depofit and export our produce and mer chandize, in the port of New-Orleans, for the fpace of three years from the date of the treaty. She alfo engaged to con tinue the grant, in cafe no injury accrued to her own inter- efts, or afSgn a fimilar eftablifhment on fome other part of the Miflifippi* The late Intendant of the Spanifh colonies, obferving that the faid term of three ySars had expired, and of courfe no defined right of depofit remaining at New-Or leans, took occafion by the authority of his office, to fufpend that right, without ceremony or enquiry on the fubject- This ad, perhaps, theJntendant viewed no more than fidel ity to his fovereign, being bound by his allegiance, to act up to the laws and faith only of exifting treaties. Fortunately for the U. States,he called up the fubje&,& reminded the parties of a negligence not commonly indulged between two gov ernments. Affairs were immediately put in train to fecure to our nation a moil ample right of navigating the Miffifip- pi ; and the refult is,the ceffionof theifland of New-Orleans* together with the almoft boundlefs province ofLouifiana. But previous to the acquifition, it was urged by fome C 3 co make a ruffian-pu(h and acquire it by force. As war is the mod fuccefsful game that ambition can play at, a mo tion was made to raife 50,000 men and 5 millions of mon ey to defray expences. We would not mention the names of gentlemen to hold them up to public contempt, though fuch propofitions, made by public agents, will appear un- pleafant to a virtuous people. But we mention them for the fame purpofe they did themfelves, in order that they might be heard and examined by an enlightened public. While founding the war-hoop, they could ken with the eye of a prophet, what great advantages would refult to the na tion by poffeiling New-Orleans and the right of neighboring territory : And as they fortunately had truth on their fide, we are bound to believe them fmcere. It is requifite on this occafion, my friends, to mention and record fome ex tracts from thofe encomiums to which we alhide. Mr. Rofs declared that the mere right of depofit involv ed " the bed intereds of the country." "As the right of the river, the trade, &c. was not at all fecured by the treaty, of eourfe a new one or war mud be reforted to." He declared that " the country on the eaft bank of the MifTifippi would give compa&nefs and irrefiftible flrength to the United States, for which we mould be courted and reflected in future European wars j that if France got it, me would either anni hilate our trade with her Ifles, or impofe duties of 15 or 20 per cent." The commercial intereds, then, of the north ern States mull be favored with incalculable advantages from the ceilioti of Louifiana. Mr.White,of Delaware,franklyexprefTedhisconvidions, that we could " never have permanent peace on our weflern waters, till we poffefs ourfelves of ^New-Orleans, and fuch other territory as may be neceflary to give us the complete and abfolute command of the Miflifippi. 1 All thefe and far more we have honorably acquired. Thefe objects appeared to him fo inedimable that he dared not to hope for mem but by a war. Though he deprecated fuch a meafure, yet he viewed it as an unavoidable alternative. He con fidered it as the " duty and intered of the nation, to make the fa- crifice for the object, becaufe he deemed the country around New-Orleans, to be the only key to immenfe regions wa- c tcred by the Mrffifippi, which he ftated to be larger all Europe, furpafled by no country in fertility and climates and mod of it a paradife." Mr. Morris." With the Mifiifippi country in our pofifeflion, we have means ot defence, more ample, more important, more eafy, than any nation on earth. In a fhort time, all the Weft-India iflands, fed from our granaries, mud depend upon our will, and in confequence all the powers of Europe, who have colonies there*, muft court our friendfhip, Thofe rich fources of commercial importance (the foreign colonies in the Weft-Indies) will be, as it were, in our hands. They will be pledges for the ^mity of others, in feas and dominions far remote. It is a defence, which, though it cofts us nothing, is fuperior to fleets and armies. But let the refources of America be divided (which mult happen when the French are mafters of New-Orleans) and a|l this power and influence are gone." This, my friends, is the Senatorial affidavit of Mr. Morris : And can we fup- pofe that were he now in the fenate, he could fo perjure himfelf as to unite with his party in their afperfions againft this glorious event. I (hould too far tranfcend the limits which I have pre- fcribed for myfelf on this occafion, to recite the many enco miums made, not only with apparent candor, but with faith and enthufiafm by th*2- chieftains of federalism on the fub- je& before us. They appear tranfportcd beyond them* felves, and the powers of rhetoric are too feeble to defcribe the felicities of that enviable country ; to obtain which, the expences, the time, the effufion of blood, fo unavoidable in war, would have been but an inferior facriflce. But a war with Prance and Spain, in co-operation with England, was their ultimate view.tFor the moft prominent feature of their oppolition to the pacific policy of the Prefident, was an alliance with Britain, in preference to negociation. If was not a forlorn hope, that hoftilities, with the dreaded and inveterr^te enemy of that nation, would naturally increafe a reciprocal attachment. Thus I have attempted a fair reprefentation of that importance and utility which gentlemen of the oppofi- tion attached to the poflcffion of New-Orleans and the C 13] navigation of the Miffifippi, which could not fail to in^ fpire a zeal like theirs for precipitate war. But opinion^ uttered with fuch apparent deliberation and candor, ferve only as a foil, to fet the inconfiflency of their fubfequent conduct in more expreflive point of view. Though the ac- quifition realized, exceeds the utrqoft extent of their pre dicted importance, yet the malignancy of their oppqfuion tq the policy of Mr. Jeflferfon, is not afTuaged. The moment In which was felt the impoffibility of inducing a war, the acquifition of that country was treated as a vifionary proj ect. No fooner was the fuccefs of Mr. Monroe s million confirmed, from a paradife, Louifiana degenerated into a defert. The fame territory, which it was declared unwor thy America to fpare any pains in obtaining, has firangely become a nuifance and an evil. As the glory departed from antient Eden, when warring lufts were introduced, fo when war was banifhed from the mind of Federalifm, the value, the beauty, the luxuriance, the glory of that " garden of the world" fled like a vifion. Thofe beautiful " prairies," thofc fertile vales, in which the annual fun beholds a " double harveft," have fuddenly put on the dejected appearance of the " wilds of Lybia." Alas ! thofe delightful regions, un- flamed with human blood, had no charms for ambition. Such diftrafted inconfiftencies, muit arreft the admiration of every candid mind, and fully demonftrate the defperation of that policy, while faft retreating from the advances of truth. Thefe difconcerted manoeuvres are but the length ened and diftorted fhadows, thrown upon our profperous country, by the fetting fun of federalifm. When intelligence of this aufpicious event was firft re ceived, it was hard for a difpaflionate mind to difcover at xyhat point of attack, this important rneafure could be af- faild. It was to be expected that it would meet with the cordial approbation of every party. It required more than ordinary ingenuity to " conjure up an hypothecs" againft the negociation. It was hoped that it was poffible from this unexpected " coincidence of fortunate circumftances" to reconcile the jarring fpirit of oppofition. "But all calcu lations are fallacious 3 when combatting the perverfe paffion$ qf the heart. * t 4 ] Myfterious it is, that the fubjed of war, in this country, fhoul J be treated with fuch deliberate indifference war ! that has ever been deemed a curfe upon the people, in the moit unenlightened ages of antiquity. The antient He brews, with the denunciations of famine and peftilence, were threatened with wars and captivities. cc Wars and fight ings * are exprefsly declared to be the refult of that crimi nal cupidity which operates againft the felicity of man. The blinded ages of barbarifm prefented nothing to dimia- ifh its honors, but the boafl of valour, the renown of pat- riotifm, and the promife of glory in a world to come. But In this illumined century and literary nation, it is to be con templated with thofe awful reflections, which the fubjecl fo naturally infpires. Befides the lofs of our citizens which no confideration could expiate or repay, the expences, with the ftndeft econ omy, would exceed the refuit of the mod accurate calcula tions. To obtain a view of the direct effeds of war in im- poverifhing a people, let us turn our attention to the prefent unhappy ftate of Old England.* In a debate in the Houfe * The late war between Great Britain and France i (aid to have ad ded, by the general reduction of national refourcea And ilrength, to the pub- Jic debt of the former 1 1 thoufaod 461 millions 987 thoufend daliara. To their annual taxes then it added 666 millions 390 thoufand dcllari. The population nf Great Britain is eftimated at 1 1 millions. Thus by the late war, fuppofeeach perfon to pay equally, every man, woman and child, hys contracted a debt of io$2 dollar* ; for which in taxes alone each has to pay an annual intereil of 63 dollars and iz cents. Let this fchedule furnifli us with a fcale by which we may calculate the great amount which probably rauft have been expended, in the projfcled pcnqueft of Louifiana. We will now caft a figure upon the refult of that pacific negociation which we have fo gladly celebrated. The population. ci the United State*, by the late cenfus, is upwards of 5 millions. The price of the purchafe of Louisiana, of New- Orleans, and confequently of the great river Miffifippi, is 15 | millions of dollars. Let the furplus of millions of population pay the furplus quarter of a million in the purchafe phoney, and we find, that for 3 dollars each, we have acquired a right to a ^erhtory of prodigious extent, and have added to our population half a million of people. It will not, I hope, be deemed an illiberal refleclton, if \ ftate it as my deliberate belief, that the aggregate of the expences incur* red under the laft adminiftration, are more than fuflicient to pay the con- traft for that exrenfive country. It cannot then, amount to invecYwe to fuggeft, that the frnitlefs attempt to enflave 5 millions of people, exceeded, in the expences, the fum that is to be paid to make half a million of fla?cs free and accepted citizens* of Commons, Mr. Nichols, fpeakingon the conduct of Mr, Pitt, in his late admininration, declared that " by the inju ry of paper money, by the rife of provifions, by reducing the ttadefmen to poverty, and by filling the poor heufes With the wretched, the inhabitants were doomed to periih, he would not fay by hundreds, but by rhoufands." u To any gentle man," fays he, " who doubts my accuracy, I pledge myfelf to prcduce fitch damning proofs as jhall make his hair ft and on end" The melancholy perfpective of enibarraffment, pov erty and wretchedaefs, which the (late of that nation this moment prefents, is diftreffmg to the feelings of humanity, I need not invite your attention to our own coutitry, to be hold your happier enjoyments, for ere I exprefs myfeii, your glowing fenfations would anticipate the affecting contraft. But notwithstanding the efforts of ambition to involve us in this exterminating evil, we have not only been faved from a war, but we have greatly extended our empire U is true 15 millions muft be paid for it. But the additional revenue itfelf will a faired ly accomplim it. For that, reve nue, by the rapid increafe of population and fetdemcnt, will be aftonifhingty enlarged by the time payment is to be made, You, good people, will find the remittances made and bonds difcharged, without any burthen or caufe of conu plaint. But mould an extended expence be brought to public view, by unfriendly calculators, it would exceed the powers of arithmetic, to prove it a poor bargain. Federal- ifm itfelf had predicted that Bonaparte would not part with it but for an exorbitant confideration. It has alfo fines been fuggefted, that it was by fome over-reaching policy, that our negociators obtained it : And yet abrupt at tempts are made to prove that the reful.ting inconveniences will tranfcend the amount of profit. But, my friends, I will unrefervedly pledge myfelf, my honor and poffeitions (what ever they may be,) as did Mr. Livingflon, when he firft contracted with France, that a company mail be produced, of the fame defcription of politics with our miftaken friends, who mail bind themfelves, their heirs and affigns forever, to make good the payment of thirty millions, for what we have purchafed. The affectation of fome has lightly efteemed the pur- chafe, oh account of vifionary difficulties* and tne time that hiay elapfe, before any confiderable fettlement fhall be effec ted. But a mere ftoic might afk, is this hard to be acconv plifhed by the fame or fimilar caufes which have raifed A- inerica to her prefent flate of improvement ! Survey the regions of North and South America, contemplate the mil- lions that inhabit her champaigns, and reflect that three centuries only have pafled, fmce the firft difcovery of this hew world. The period is much fhorter, fmce thefe Unit ed States, whofe harvefts are fufficient to fupply the grana- nes of the world, thefe flouriihing plantations, around you, were but uncultivated wilds. We will therefore hazard the aflertion, that, had it not been for this recent acquifition^ our agricultural and enterprifmg citizens would fhonly have found themfelves limited in their fpeculative intereds. But how they are prefented with" bound lefs refources of fpecula- don, wealth and profperiiy. What are the difadvantsiges of the acquifition ? To this queftion, whatever may have been the envious and f buftling objections made by aa abortive policy, the anfwers, Vou obferve, have ever been vague, problematical and eva- iive. Thofe who attempt a Replication^ always fumble over the fubject, aad meeting with their own antecedent encomi ums, which recriminate and confound them, they feramble for objections, and fighting, with a retreating fire 3 abandon the ground under the feint of fubterfuge. What are the advantages of the acquifition ? Much in every point of view. It gives us the enjoyment of that varie- ty of climate fo propitious to our national commerce. It throws into our poffeflion a country, not only within the tropical latitudes, but adjoining our former jurifdictions. From this country then, we may bring, free -of duty and war-iniurance, all thefe articles, which we are taught to de nominate, neceffaries of life. Of this priviledge we have hitherto been deflitute. But where we view other nations of like habits and luxuries of living, we find but few, who cannot boaft of their factories, colonies and pofleflions, either in the Indies of the eaft or of the weft. Thofe infular gar dens of the Weft-Indies are diftributed,as it were by the lot of fate, between the Engliih, French, Spanifh, Dutch, Swedifh r >7 ] and Fortuguefe. And who among the citizens of America, will impiouily deny, that it is the hand that rules the def- jJnies of the univerfe, which has allotted to us the fertile province of Louifiana. For fo hath the great event been greeted by feveral eulogifls of Europe. This extenfive country exceeds in quantity, the whole of the Weft-India I Hands, and is ftated to produce fugar, coffee, cocoa, ginger, pimento, cotton, gums, turmeric, rhubarb, and probably teas. Thefe no doubt will be foon Clipped in abundance, free of duty, &c. to the eaftern, northern and dther Atlantic States. From this circutn- ftance, therefore, no fmall advantage will arife to our coaft- ing bufmefs, which being fecured from foreign reftriftions, is deemed the moil valuable branch of our carrying trade. For thefe articles, our produce, but principally our manufac tures, mud be returned ; and chiefly in our own v^ilels. Thofe rich planters, poffeffed of fuch eafy means of affluence, will never leave their plantations, to be concerned in the fifheries, (hip-building and manufactures, which are profe- cuted with fuch induftry in the northern States. The acquifition affords us another advantage. It re moves every apprehenfion of danger from a foreign colony in that country. This was a favorite argument to effect by force the feizure of New-Orleans. This confideration, tho* nothing to the purpofe for which it was adduced, is greatly flattering tp the peace and fecurity of the United States. For had any preponderating power of Europe have gotten poffeffion in that quarter, they would have held a command ing authority over all the bufmefs, that was connected with the navigation of the MilTifippi, and, if difpofed, would have injured the trade, in all our v^eftern waters. H~ad Great Britain fuccee^ed in that notorious con- fpiracy of the governor of Canada", the Britlfh minilter and Mr. Blount, to fccure to herfelf the Floridas, our public affnirs would have ever been contaminated and harraifed with Bi him intrigue. Had me alfo fucceeded iu a purchafe of Louifiana, or acquired it by the fuccefs of that expedition, which (he mediated lad year, when fhe renewed her hof- tilities srgainil France, would me not have challenged the exclufive right of that important river^ as fhe now does that C t 83 fSt. Lawrence? Would (he not as infolently retain the right of depoiit at New-Orleans, as fhe once withheld the pofts at Detroit and Niagara ? Would it afford a pleafaM refle&ion to any one, to have the French or any other na tion to obtain a (hong foot-hold there, and carry on a vigo rous ftate of colonization ? The recognizance of our own wifhes, and the recollection of the anti-pacific argument s 5 banHh at once the idea. It has been obferved by fome, whofe candour we re gard, that the expences and impediments in maintaining a government in that extenfive country, will rife to the amount of all the benefits received. But I recoiled no flatement or analyfis of the fubjeft, which authorifes me to pay any refpet to the hypothefis. There is no fhadow of reafon, why a government, completely refpondent to all its purpofes, may not be maintained, with equal facility, as in any State of the Union. But the impracticability of fup- porting a temperate and effective jurifdi&ion there, as ad vanced to the public, by the anonymous ftriclures of Fabri- cius, is to be reje&ed as barely plauiible in theory, and di ametrically anti-federaL This votary of Ariftocracy bat open hoftilities with the very exiftenc^ of a confederacy of the States. We are not to revert to the Hanfeatic league, to the Grecian and Swifs republics,and then exult in inferences as feeble as our prem- ifes are abfurd. Difdaining the hypocrify of fu<:h anti-re publican theories, our recourfes fhould ever be to fads which are inflexible to- experience which is orthodox. That fyftem of government now in ** fuccefsful operation" may be fafely extended to embrace the wide province of Louifiana, with ail the population which it may hereafter fupport. The ceiTion has furnifhed the enemies of the con- ftitution, with a preamble to their declaration, that the en largement of our empire mud neceffarily affett the genius as well as forms of our federal government. " To impel the current of power (fay they) from the centre to the circum ference of fo wide a circle, it is manifeft that the momen tum or moving force of the power mull be proportionably augmented/ This language clearly miilakes the unnat- pral mechanifin of a delpotic government, lor the phyfical C 9 3 w/ principles of a federal republic. The fortunate operation of a good government depends not upon the geographical extent of dominion, but upon its own technical conftitution. I am fond of comparing fuch an one to a moral being, hav ing a fymparhy in all its parts, and difcharging its fuadious by its own vital and inherent energies. The blood is pro pelled from the fountain, by the elaftic motion of the lungs., through all the arteries to its afligned limits, and returps by its own cohefive attraction to render a fupply for its own difcharge. So, by the combined and reciprocal energies of Jaw and patriotifm, our federal republic will ever preierve a natural motion, harmony and equipoife, in all its phyfical and geographical departments. But where the love of country exifts not, this political equilibrium is deftroyed, and muft be reftored by revolutionary percuilions, as n-^ceffary, though as dreadful, as the difcharges of the elecirie fluid, and the explofions of a volcano. Defpotic inftitutions have but the exiftence of a fum- rner s day, becauie they never poffefs the quickening forces of patriotifm. A fyftem of mechanifm, however ingeniouf- ly contrived and fmimed, hath nothing of the lively opera tions of a vital organization. The primary movements of fuch a government are folely the effect of fome dead weight fome inert and arbitrary power, which being counteract ed by the very laws of nature, muft foon be exhaufted, and ? ^jfiblution enfues. It is as vain, therefore, to look for a permanent ariflocracy, as to attempt to develope the prin ciple of perpetual motion. What though thefe eftablifh- ments may, for a length of time, put on the appearance of Eden, and feem to flourifh from their own intrinfic virtue rifing, like the rocket, to great afcent and fplendor, yet their artificial powers are foon exhaufted, the final explo fions are produced, and they defcend like the ftick. Ambi tion, therefore, in order to create thefe unnatural fyftems of policy,; will feek firft to marfhal the interefts of fociety againft each other, and the moral elements are thereby put into fuch commotion, that here a vortex may abforb the floating liberties of the people, and there a water fpout of defpotifm be forced up from the powers, that may be ab- ftra&ed from the rights of mankind. But, the more politi- E ao ] cal eftabliiliments are indebted to violence for their prop erties, the more temporary they are. Political bodies, therefore, whether hale or fickly, owe nothing of thefe circumflances to their bulk of population or magnitude of territory, but to their original conftitutioa. and general management. It is farcical to pretend that the Government of Louifiana cannot be creeled in feparate eftaBlifhments 5 and ail with the reft be affociated under one federal compact, whofe leading features mail be purely re publican. This confederation may as well be maintained between twenty zsf event een independent States. But there are confiderations which induce a belief that the annexing of Louifiana to our empire, will beget a more natural, more intimate and more permanent Union. The interchange of commercial contributions will not fail to convince both the North and the South of the fpeeial advantages of each, ari4 endear and bind them to each other in a conjugal tie. If this relation has heretofore been fenfibly felt be tween the northern and fouthern States, much more will it * e acknowledged, fince we can receive all our tropical necef- fro .11 a fifter State. To talk then of a partition of i :l % is to urge an unnatural and ruin HIS divorce, jriuc why mould politicians of New England, except it be from a niggardly and ambiti&us policy, commence the du ty of feparation ? In a houfe of merchandize, it is common for the partner, who is confcious or laboring under a difuJ- vantage from the firm, to propofe a diffolution of partner- fhip. Pofitive I am, that were a divifion to be executed 5 the Southern States, holding a greater variety of commer cial materials, would dill exift a far more integral and in dependent government : While the Northern States, re- greting too late the wantonnefs of their policy, would be hold themfelves exifting a fractional and feeble jurifdi&ioiu J hade to an end, by a more appropriate addrefs. Citizens of the County of Brtftol^ Once more I have accepted the invitation of your com- mittee, to addrefs you upon fubje&s afligned me of a po litical nature, and intimately connected with the current times. Though grateful for the honors and refped you have - mown rne, yet I accepted indeed this lad affign- with backward deference. Reluctant, from a view of its aovelty and relation to the politics of the day, I felt afc iirft refolved not to expofe myfelf before the camp of thofe who were decidedly oppofed to me in political opinion. I had truly tho ? t that a private enjoyment of public fentiments would be far more felicitating, than a feeble attempt to difcufs a fubjeft that might irritate the feelings, though of a retreating, yet of a refpeclabl-c oppofition. A fenfe of du ty however prevailing, I embrace it perhaps for the lad time. I was determined at firft to purfue the fubjecl upon my own ground, without employing thofe allu- lions, which however ferious, might occafion a blufh upon any, who had configned thofe unpopular tranfa&ions to the general oblivion of paft events. But foon I difcovered that the way I mud purfue, led through the difputed ground of party politics, which fupports my claim to the moft liberal candour. The fubjecl:, in my leifure, I have attempted to elu cidate, and now freely refign it to your cenfure or your ap- plaufe. The time, in which I have lived in this county, embrac es the two diftinguifhing seras of our federal adminiftration. But a few years years ago the times were perilous indeed. The very heavens were hung with omens of mifchievous deflinies. The aged patriot, who looked back upon the caufe of America, law the young empire, tho* a flill fplen- dent luminary, yet retrograde in her orbit. Awed into filence from the painful retrofpec~t, he could only heave the folitary figh, while the youthful politicians around him, will fully enquired the occafion of his grief. Thofe were days of triumph to delufion of glory to ambition. While re- pofmg in our lethargic loyalty, me entwined us with her webs of oppreffion, till in the joy of her heart ihe viewed her conqueft complete, and the fliout of her vi&ory awaked us from our flumber. As Sampfon in his withs from the lap of Deliah, fo rofe the people at that time from their political repofe. With facred refentment they demanded redrefs, and the omnipotent voice of their fuffrages intro duced a new world of profperity pardon the metaphor, a new heajift and a new earth, wherein we hope dwells politi cal righteoufnefs. The happy event, which has dedicated in America an eternal monument of experimental republican* ifm, we have this day, my friends, convened to celebrate. C ] Notwithstanding exertions to traduce the characters />f our rulers and hurry our government into contempt, it xs an incontestable fact, that the United States have never been more refpeded by the powers of Europe, than at the prefent moment. Our nation appears great in the view of old eftablifhments, which ought to bepoffefTed of all that im provement that experience can beftow. At foreign courts our minifters are received with the mod cordial attention. By their political observations, they announce their convic tion to the world, that the resources of our national wealth, honor and greatnefs-are daily increafmg. They behold our revenues unembarrafled and copious ; our public faith dig nified and fupported ; our militia difciplined and formida ble, and our adminiftration element and energetic. Thg alacrity of the Britlfh cabinet in fettling our claims on that country ; the eagernefs of the Spanifh government in remov ing every caufe of complaint anting from the affair at New- Orleans ; but above all, the ceffiori of Louifiana and the con vention for the payment of the claims of our citizens by the government of France, are circutnflances of honorable and convincing proof, that our alliance is refpec]ted and our friendftip efteeined. Let the candid, of every defcription of party, recipnv cate the queflion, To whom do we owe this national digni ty and happinefs ? Is it to the wifdom and patriotifm of that fet of men, who have been proclaiming to the world that our adminiftration has been committed to an election of men, without principle or policy, and to whom they have attempted to impute the mo(l indecent and fcandalous vices ? What would have been the (late of our nation, had the ef forts of that mjftaken. policy prevailed ? Inflead of a reftora^ ition of the right of depofit at New-Orleans, with tendered ^flurances of Continued friendfhip, we mould have feen our country, before this time, embroiled in a war with Spain* * bleeding at every pore," to recover by force what ha4 never been officially denied. Inftead of obtaining, by hon orable contract, that " garden of the world," we fhould have feen our military armament mouldering in,|^ dud on, |he banks of the Mifiifippi, and our fea-port tovius-^biock- [ 233 aded with hoftile fleets. Our fhips would have been " difi mantled in every port, or (hiking to the cruifers of France and Spain/ Had the advocates of war fucceeded, our government would have foon witneffed " that di%race and downfall," by which its enemies expe&ed to reafcend to power and public efteem. " But how glorious the reverfe ? and how grateful to all who delight in the profperity of our country." But ftill, my friends, there exifts in this State the fame infuriate fpirit of opposition, tho* condenfed into an un- dreaded cohort, called the " EJ/ex Junto." From this ren dezvous of Federalifm> every meafnre, that affumes to itfclf a political form, whether it be as clearly rational as a mathematical axiom, or fubordinate to the diverfified judg ments of men, is fure to be aflailed with all the malignan cy of calumny and condemnation. Among the many that have been marked out as victims, is the late propofed amend-* rnent to the Conflitution. The plain Englifh of all their objections to this amendment is, The Conflitution of the U. States is, in every feftion and article* divinely per f eft. Com- pare this language with the avowed opinions and practice of the fame denomination ot men, in the ^ear 98. Aets were then pafied, totally repugnant to the fpirit and meaning of that facred compa6t ? without an attempt of reformation in the letter. While proud in domination, they could talk oF its" contemptible imbecility" & " want of energy." But an honeft ef&y being made to correct that inftrument, in a mode provided by itfelf, a forrowfal exclamation is raifed againft the rneafure, as eftabiiming a contagious precedent for wanton innovation. Another meafure, which has afforded a delicious occa- fion of Federal reprehenfion, is the late impeachment of Judge Pickering and Judge Ghace. Some dear friends of law and order, have by every diftortion and falfe colouring they could apply to thefe cafes, endeavored to pra&ife upon all the excefs of private tendernefs, that any mind may poflefs over a veneration for juftice and the honor of government, to excite an alarm and call a deluded frater nity to behold the downfall of the judiciary ! It is infmuat- ed that ihe adminiftration has not fo much in view the repu tation of juftice, in chafliiirig the malcoridact of rheie jiidg* cs, as to impair the independence of the Judiciary. A na tion, indeed, rnuft be found in a diftreffirg dilemma, uho had neither power to repeal a ufelefs and embarrallmg limb of the Judiciary, nor priviledge to puniihits officers for no torious abufes of truft, becaufe it is faid thefe officers were to hold their feats during good behaviour. .But the argu ments againft the one and the other are equally invalid ; and unwittingly decide, that our adminiftration have taken a pofition beyond the imputation of blame. The Britifh gov ernment, which the opponents profefs to venerate, would have duly noticed the itretch of power in the one, and the breach of truft in the other, and made the offenders fignal examples of condign punimment. But, my friends, the penfive politician, who has kept tally of ail the fhifts and evafions to which a difappointed ambition has reforted,to ca lumniate our rulers and immolate our national honor, would not admire that thefe occafions alfo are impreft into her fervice. Let the good people of this State remember, that while the enemies of our adminiftration are profeffing fuch tender regards for our Conftitution, they are ftili cherifhing a delu- five hope, that they mail foon afcend the rotary wheel of fortune,and bafk in as great parade and power as that from which they have fallen. At that time (mould it ever arrive) you will fee them fo far abandoning thefe affectionate at tachments, as to exert every nerve, to introduce a monarch-, icai form of government. Though this beloved instrument pointedly interdicts any title of nobility, yet you would fee them gradually ellablifhing an ariftocracy, whofe various branches, like the cancerous humor, would foon rankle in every part of the community. Then would fociety be thrown iato unnumbered grades of authority and greatnefs ; -the houfes of your " Auftins," your " Hewes," your " Gores," &c. would be erected into patrician orders, and you, poor people, defcend to a ftate of plebeian fubmiffion. But that propitious providence, which has hitherto de fended our nation from foreign oppreflion and domeftic cor ruption, will ftill direct the deftinies of our growing em- pire, and caufe the American republic to become the glory C *5 3 of the world. It is a grateful truth, that fmce our fathers firft colonized this weftern wildernefs, a peculiar fortune has attended us. Heroes and Statefmen have always beeft raifed up with energies of mind adequate to the iiifiaiit emergency of our caufe. We have yet living among us hoary patriots, whofe fouls, tho* whelmed in years, are yet filled with the chafle fpirit of the revolution and parental yearnings for the -American people. Venerable Statefmen, who, having confecrated their meridian funs to that facred caufe, have known the intrigues of ambition, can detect the fallacy of ariftocratic collufion, and minutely defcribe what government will bed feCure the felicities of the nation. But tho* we are now bleft with thefe political prophets, yet the days, in which we (hall be indulged with their com pany and counfel, will foon be pad. " Our fathers, where are they, and the prophets, do they live forever ?" Warn* Ington, whofe piefenceonce to our nation was patriotifm, and whofe counfel was wifdom, is no longer numbered with the furvivors of the revolution. Long fince, the laffc obfequies have been paid to the immortal Hancock. The weeds of mourning for the venerable Samuel Adams are juft laid afide. In the funeral proceffion of the two latter, we, as fellow-citizens of the fame State, were the firft of the mourners. And now, my friends, our bofoms are (till heaving with a folitary figh for Hancock dead, and the tear of patriotifm, twice diftilled and copious for departed Adams, is yet undry upon our cheeks. We have duteoufly committed their dear remains to the bofom of that foil, which they faved from the forcible entry of an encroaching foe. And it is a confolation that that foil, which intrea- fures their duft, can never fupport a race enflaved to the luft of ambition. Thefe were the twin-patriots profcribed by parliament, fo offenfive to the eye of corruption, that even Britim-amnefty could not embrace them. Thefe were the Harmodius and Ariftogiton of America, whofe joint ef forts roufed and fupported the foul of patrotifm and thus, thro* the deepeft gloom of hope, opened a way for the de- ivera nee of thtir country. Hence thefe names have be- D [26] come odious and terrible to our modern Pififtratidce. as odious as they appear in their view, thefe indeed are names covered with glory. They will ever beam in the ef fulgence of the fun, while the mod fplendid of their oppo nents (hall be feen only in the parhelion of fame, and muft at lad, like a falling meteor, defcend to oblivion. From the earlieft hours of my remembrance thefe names were dear to the inhabitants of Maffachufetts. In thofe dubious times, when the American caufe flood trem bling on the margin of uncertain fate, the very mention of them, gave confolation and firmnefs to the intcrefls of the revolution. And I will prefume to declare, that the names of Hancock and Adams (hall be venerated by pofterity, as long as virtue, moderation, philanthropy and republicanifra {hall appear lovely to our citizens, and rational freedom find an abode in the States of America. While our revolutionary worthies are annually depart ing from the ftage, it muft be grateful to the penfive vete ran to fee young men come forward, wearing their mantles and emulating their virtues. And indeed, my friends, our hearts muft be confoled in the profpe&, that our country will ever be bleft with political prophets, who will faithful ly announce the veteran doftrine, that Republican rigbteoiff- nefs exalteth a nation^ but the fin of ambition is a reproach unto any people. This moment there are among you many a young patriot, of genius, principle and integrity, who ar dently afpire to the merit and fame of their grand-fires ; who are ready to efpoufe the caufe of liberty ; who are pre pared to meet the vanguard of defpotifm, and eager, at their country s tall, to confecrate in the temple of honor, fome early pledge of future ufefulnefs and glory. To thefe, my friends, tho I blufh that I have done no more for my coun try, I cheerfully commit all the joy, all the duty, all the anxiety of addreffmg you on fuch public occafions, Tho for a fubject, a defence of the liberties of my country has been given me, tho the theme has been congenial with my very foul, and has often quickened within me the ennobling fire of patriotifm ; yet fuch is my predilidion for quietude, and without that, even folitary obfcurity, that my feelings C *?3 have enjoined upon me, no more to ftand forth as a mark .& victim of democracy, toward which, the finger of a latrant and expiring oppofition may be directed. I have fo far availed myfelf cf thefe ufeful oecafions of enquiry, as to be deeply convinced of the defigns of an indefatigable party, who have for their ultimate view the overthrow of our re publican government. I have gained a plenary fatisfaction that all this audacious invective poured upon the adminif- tration ; this pufilanimous imputation of private vices in our President, when they could not get public ; this pretend ed alarm of the downfall of the judiciary in the late repeal and impeachments 5. this confounded tortuofity of conduct in the affair of Louifiana, &c. all demonftrate the impoten- cy of their caufe, and ought to be viewed by a candid pub lic, as fignals of diftrefs and approaching ditfolution. Let us rejoice then for the abounding profperity of our country. AH things we believe are in felicitous proceflion. Happy Republicans ! heaven has predefined a triumph to your principles. To the omnific energies of truth and rea- ion, afcribe all the glory. Let temperance, moderation and firmnefs characterize all your proceedings ; and remem ber, from domeftic virtue refults the greateft boaft of na tional honor. Let us generoufly cultivate the education of the fucceeding generation, and leave examples worthy their imitation. Let us make the rifmg world believe, that in order to ameliorate the condition of fociety, we muft correct the difpofitions of the human heart. Be no more anxious for your caufe than to convince mankind, that re publican principles are capable of embracing every purpofe of law and government. That fyftem of politics, which we have adopted, muft be genuine, for it has not only been af- failed, in all ages, by a virulent oppofition, but it has been tried and approved by the teil of experience. Rejoice, that the time is on a rapid wing, when the governments of the States will act in concert with Congrefs, and move like the celeftial fpheres, in harmonious orbits, around the centre of the fyftem. New-England, though obftinate the ftand fhe has taken againft the prefent admin- iftration, muft foon acknowledge their policy, and unfurl C ? 8 3 in Hartford and Bofton the Republican banners. Rhode- Ifland and New-Hampfhire have glorioufly emerged from political delufion, and are now, in the concert of thankf- giving, rejoicing with their Mer States. Mafiachufetts and Connecticut are fuffered a moment longer to refift the po tency of truth, that they may grace the rear of her viclory, and make her triumph more complete. Thus will princi ple and candour finally obtain a happy afcendency in the public mind. But many hard things will yet be faid again ft the caufe, but not more than the world hath faid againfi our divine religion. Our worthy Prefident will flill be buf feted, but more, if polfible, hath been done before to the holy fon of Mary.* To juftify our own feelings, and do honor to the exer- cifes of the day, we turn our addrefs to the American fair. Amiable Friends^ With grateful fenfations, we welcome you to partici pate with us, this joyful feftivaL As Adam without his * We unclerftand tjiat fmce thii Oration wag delivered, a gentleman, who fuftaini no mean grade in the fcale of Federalifnr, exprefTed much //:/* griff thai any (hould be fo " ftrangely democratic, a to compare Thomai JefFerfon to Jefus Chrift." To which we reply, i ft. Had the gentleman any fractional portion of that boafted acumen, good fenfe, or faculty of criticifiu, which his party has affefted to sngrofsj he Would have difcovered that there is not here intended the leaft compari- fon between our SAVIOUR and our Prefident. The comparifon is perfpicu- oufiy between federalifm and that daring fptrit of the devil, which has at tempted to exterminate chriftianity by the fcorpion-whip of obloquy and perfecution. Does hiftory compare Galileo to the FOUNTAIN OF TRUTH by declaring that he was perfcCuted for the fake of truth ? I trow not. 2d. It has been too frequently the misfortune of TRUTH to be perfecut- ed in the world by thofe who have affumed an oppofition to it* hypothefis, Vv-ithout regarding whether it* effecls have been injurious or beneficial to civil fociety. Weaffert that the malignancy of thofe, who perfecuted our SAVIOUR, without making his divinity a queftion, was excited greatly on account of the republican fentiments which hi^ gofpel contained. The candid will a moment revolve fliis idei before they proceed to deciQon. 3d. If we may judge from a fynoptical view of federal condoft, we are obliged to confiderthe "pious grief" of the gentleman alluded to, occa- oned not fo much for fear diihonor might be reflected upon our SAVIOUR, as honor ihould be afcribed to our Prefident. We (hail therefore enroll the matter us afreflu inftance of that " whining hypocrify * with which the ct oppofition 51 approach the people upon the fubjeft of politici, w religion can bs icnpreffed co ferve their occafiOBo 1 *9 11 Eve, could not, fo gladly, have celebrated in Eden his in fong of praife, fo (fhould we be indulged the companion) without your attendance, this public testimony of our grat itude for the acquifition of this modern " paradife" would be too folitary and jmperfefit. What event of national concern more affe&s our cjomeftic fenfatiops and interefts, than that we this day celebrate ? Not a continent difcover- ed, but an Smmenfe region acquired : Not by wafte of blood and ufurpation, but by negociation & honorable purchafe. The important event furely furnifhes a fubjeft of entertain ment and difcqurfe, in which female delicacy will not blufh to take apart. " Yes ; in your fire-fide amuferrjents, in cir cles fequeftered from men and fojdiers, you may realize in this a rich theme for interefting obfervatiqn. Your bofoms are not, as in the triumphs of ambition, torn with the poignant refle&ion, that though the national weal has been augmented, it is by the unhallowed facrifice of many a love ly youth to whom your tender hearts were fondly attached. Though an incidental chafm may have taken place in affairs between the United States and Spain, yet our more propi tious deflinies have not called for young Curtius, the flower and pride of America, to yield himfelf a victim of patriot- ifm to reflore the capricious breach. Inftead of mourning, the death of a kind huiband, the affectionate wife may meet his evening return with propofals of future fettlement for her riling, numerous family. The tender mother, inflead of deploring the lofs of a favorite Ion, may now be felicitated with the tidings that the young adventurer has enjoyed in that fertile and falubrious country, all the profperity which his elated hopes had promifed. In the celebration, therefore, of our NATIONAL JUBI LEE, you have, with propriety, taken a diftinguilhing and interefting part. We do not wonder that you alfo have rendered a rich tribute of gratitude, and enlivened this fef- tival with fo general a: tendance. Heart". like yews, fofren- ed with benevolence, ientimcnt & philanthropy, cannot but glow with a feeling ackno\frkdgment for our national prof perity. All that is lovely rnuft bear a part in the eulogy, that is beflowed upon our prefent adoiiniftrauon. Tho you I 3 3 j*iay have been complimented as "the only real fovereigns in America," yet fuch are the relations of your fex to fociety, that you cheerfully venerate, with our benevolent politicians, republican eftablifhments. Thofe heavenly virtues, which you hold fo dear, will not countenance in men, thofe un principled defpotic ariftocracies, which too often open the flukes of bafenefs and immorality ; which too often level the entrenchments that facred honor has thrown around the dignity of your fes, & which ever enlarge the fphere of lawlefs paflkms, to pradice on unfufpeding innocence, the fhamelefs fedudion of which, the blood of a Lucreth could fcarcely expiate, and againft the violation of which, the life alone of chafte Virginia muft be a deprecating facrifice. Under a free government, your beauties and charms, like other brilliant attributes of our national charader, muft fiourifh in greater lovelinefs and perfection. Thofe illufive honors, which ambition proffers you in the gilded titles of queen, princefs, dutchefs, marchionefs, &c. lofe all their faf- cination, when you look around your friends, and fee no where exifiing thofe partial diftindions, which, though they may favor an individual, yet degrade and defpoil the many 5 when you do not, as in other countries, fee them compelled to incur the difpleafure of fome proud dignitary of the family, and turn their backs on hereditary greatnefs, by ratifying, at the altar of Hymen, the elections of their hearts : When you look into the perfpedive of futurity and behold a numerous poflerity, increasing in the world from the blood of your own families, enjoying each other as fellow-citizens and afTociates, undivided by that exotic pol icy, which commits to a few a barbarous authority over the left ; when ye fee them all entitled to the favors of hon or, according to their refpedive merit. Surely, my friends, a view like this, tenders to your hearts a more purified en joyment, than could ever refult from the vifionary pomp and glory of a Cleopatra or an Elizabeth, THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY WILL INCREASE TO SO CENTS ON THE FOURTH DAY AND TO $1.QO ON THE SEVENTH DAY OVERDUE. MAR 14 19 QCT 2S1041M MAR 2 6 1948 LOAN DEPT. IC7 : fi J6SO ELflW- - -. ._ MOV S8 19M SEP 2 11988 LD 21-95wi-7, 37 YB 37748 333 3.1-1990-