iCio
f
PY LVMS :IX.
PUBLISHED (weikit) XX ALWtAKD HALLU -TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1805.
No. 454.
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From the JBoston Chronicle,
AN ORATION,
Pronounced at the request of the : " Charlestswn
, Light Infantry" before the Republican CitU
. ens of Chariest own, on the Anniversary vf
American Independence" ' ,
'..,' By Bb njj ami G'le as'o.
VIRTUE is the soul of a Republican Go
: Vernment ; and truly great and glorious are.
hose spirits which feel and 'exercise the enal
I ted Principle. '-. ..'' :v
' Liberty is the birthright,' and Equalitt
" of Rights the incontestible privilege of M a I
Sacred io the Citizeos of our United States,
be all their blessings 1 " ' V- , r; . ;
Sacretf To the present generaliolii and" to all
( posterity,' be The Day "we celebrate ; be it
consecrated to the memory of former times ;
to the 'remembrance of mighty deeds';
and to the preservation of those Principles,
Which warmed the pure blood of our Fa
..." thers t to, be perpetuated down, through
the long lapse of ages, k'Jubilec of Joy, Uni
, on and Glory.
Our Republic the Fabric' of our Indepeic.
' denc k, still exists '.The Republics of the el
der world hare long since ceased their
continuance ;- all swallowed up, in absolute
power, or absolute min i y
Our several state governments, united in a
nationality politic, compose one grand con
federated Republic ; a . Union, which
s" stands unrivalled among all th systems of
government, throughout the habitable regions
oi the &arm ; ana we, us v,iuzens inaeea
Republicans not in fancy -but in fact, are
most supremely blest ! . -
The present occasion affords an opportuni
ty to elucidate, and substantiate this pleasing
p reality. Look through all AfRtCA j from
Grand Cairo to Tangier, and from Tangier to
the Cape of Good Hope .-r-thTo' all the diver
sity of tribes, from the Copts and Mamelukes
in Egypt, to the black inhabitants of Senegam
Ha; to the Hottentot, at the Cape; joufind
Ho organized Republic- no free-born Republi
tan of a free and distinguished Country.
Ixok through all Asia; and you behold
nil the mighty wheels of Empire, rolling at
large, like Comets, in boundless space, dis
connected with system, consuming and con
sumed, with their own fires ; wandering in
hordes, and preying on all opposing obstacles ;
' or walled n Cities, ever waiting the issue of
Battle '.Among the Clans of the former,
abject poverty and despotism ! Among the
Governments of the latter, despotism, opu
lence, avarice, indigence. and slavery 1
Europe presents an assemblage of character
a group of scents a budget of curiosities -a
froltxityoj tvents-a iictl'RE, hiciiisvarie-
gated, with almost every hue and colour of
diversified Life. .
Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Russia exhi
. bit, in the national and political characters, no
bright and glorious traits of Republicanism.
; 'I he Norwegian principle, is perhaps too
much incased in Climate every chieftain,
H Stockholm, is not a Gustavus Vasa ;
Copenhagen still points the csnnon of the Mole,'
to the exaction of tribute ; a Russian, num
bers his slaves, by the multitude of his roubles',
the Baltic washes all their shores, and will
perhaps for ages yet to come, never feel the
grateful breei.es of Freedom.
Poland was called a Republic, but in its bo
som, lives an hereditary Aristocracy. Its
Kosciusko sleep beyond the bourne of Life;
and the Suwarrbw spirits, already gorged, in
madncit and in blood, stand ready waiting at
Its portals', to rush in, at their grand festival
of anticipated Rebellion J '..
- The Cvclttof Germany, though composing"
a convention of great politic! Interests, in
their National Diet Imperial Cities, with an
, Imf rial Emperor at their head, yet fall short
of a firm, and free Republic,
What a.diffe rence between the peasant of
Hungary, and the Republican Farmer of New
England -between their keyduckt and hussars,
and the Infantry and Cavalry, in our great,
respectable, and invincible Militia !
Holland, since the great confederation of
Utretht, boasts itself a Republics but in it
$aff.Gfdfr there is more than a pure de
mocraticreprcentationof the United trctin
ce.U contains an hereditary St&UhoUer
ship I
Switzerland, whose Content, enriched by
the hand of Industry, smile with plenty j af-
fording s fit residence for a vigorous, free,
.and happy people. Smtttrland ever consi
dered a Republic, in the Helvetic Ution, is too
often subjected lo the controuling authori
ties of Aristocracy and Usurpation.
Geneva, once the ally of the Strut, Inows
butthe flnrtcating thrills of Lisas it ; not
the glory of beinj a permanent Republic,
Tha Government of the Genotst mors re
sembles their thitU executed by Vaccs,'
than the Republican Government, under
which, we hse the happiness to live.
fmVHsssid to be one of the most celebra
ted Rtpublitin the world, snd i perhspsone
ofihemot perfect snd powerful Aris'ocrs
citaon Earth! This fact has been well at
tested, by etentreir Doget thcmelet ; loo
ftn the devoted victims to thi inscrutable
PsiWns of the minisiernd Chintt I
I!, hewn up into si many staus I V'msc
corns, -,vh 9 ounj oppositci tonflittinj atd"
-complicated interests, can never become a n-
nited and lasting Republic. .. y :
Look at the Desnotie State of Sbain : their
CorteSy or Parliaments, are the most harmleai
things in Nature ; & mpre splendid etiquefteto ,
Royalty ; without power I without privilege I
fWithout pretention I . ,
Fortupal is a sister in the same connection,
and their Government, like the Government
of Spain, as contrasted with that of our Uni
ted States, is a standing monument of impo
verished Ostentation ; and pre-eminent In
significance !- '
France, after it had existed a monarchy, up
wards of 1200 years, was by the National As-
sembly, in a representation from its 92 depart,
ments, declared a Republic" .'. How true this de
claration is, in fact, you yourselves are jud
ges. A Corsicdn, absolute in Authority, and
nearly thirty millions of people to obey his t
periat pleasure A government hereditary I
. froflcenot a Republic .' v .
- It may have been said that Great-Britain
boasts a Constitution, which is, in its nature
and effects, the most perfect model of all Go
vernments i " Uie most stupendous fabric of
human invention:" - Grant, it bears the sem
blance it is not the substance ; it is but the
shading and outlines ;' not the full pif ture, the
perfect glory of a free and united Republic !
England, compared with the United States,
is much like the ark of the Covenant, in com
parison with the Temple of Solomon; - but in
its Works M&'Creeds, it has beeii much like the
Giant of the Philistines, iii competition with
the little ruddy Davio of Israel .'. Its whole
head is now sick ! it whole heart is faint !
its destruction, it is feared, is inevitable ! On
tbeir Lani, there will at soma future day,
Be reared .a Beacon, to warn against approach.;
es to that mighty Old England .' While Artie,
rica young, vigorous, lorious and hup,)y,
will afford Asylum to the persecuted of all"
Nations, and shield them ever, under the
banners of Liberty, Prosperity and Peace !
: Upon the Continent this side the great wa
ters Of the Atlantic, the devouring talon of
insatiable ambition, once usuvped the power
to
qu
Drev. ravage, waste and destroy. Earth-
ake. Tempest, Inundation and Flames have
been rivalled by daring and usurping men !
The blood stained traces of a Cortes and a
Puarro, cairying depredation in one hand,'' j
and desolation in the other, still are, and ever '
will be visibly dilinerted, on the charts of
South'Amcrica.
The altars oi a Republic can never rise, or
stand secure, on a basis of blood; but if foun
ded on the1 imperishable principles of Integ.
rity. Honor and Gloy ;' wheu the rites of
Freedom must be consecrated with blood,
its shrines are cleansed from all pollution, by
the potent fires of Heaven.
On such an imperishable basis, stand the
sltars of our own Country ; venerated by the
patriof and friend of Man 1 and having been
once consecrated by blood, they shall be defen
ded, though it he even by the blood of our
Father s's Children, t Children't Children
down to the remotest generations. -
No part of America, no part of the known
populated world, stands so ore-eminent in
Cltry, in Principles, in Republican Virtue, as
these our United Stites ; they are indeed a
Republic, and we Citizens of this free snd
happy Country, indeed Rppublicaks !
Be it ever our ambition to defend, presetve
and perpetuate the Constituted Rights of our
Country; to support our Constitution,
which is proverbially calicd the Palladium
el our Lilertitst" to respect our Rulers to
remember with gratitude, the exertions of
..... - :-S .-; TV ..' ?r "
our rairioit; ana io iraiiMim ummpjircu,
and laden with accumulating honors, the ex.
alltd Principle, which has immortalized their
Dames. .
On this all important Day, Memory walks
Us meditations round, among the multitude
of glorious deeds effected by our Fathers.-
" The Mind's Eye" contemplates with infinite
delight the unshaken firmness of the steady
virtues, the immortsl bravery of our sires, our
iii;es, anJ our heroes s and often pausing,
at the warrior's tomb, where sleep the great
snd good, all covered with laurels ;
" Oh! how beautiful is Death, when
eara'd by virtue'"
There stands the smiling Angel of Peace
Guarding, with holjr rites, the Hero's bourne,
Guiding their spirits onward, never to return.
The Guardian Angel of our Union hath
sto inscribed, upon the reenrdsof Eternity
Ettr sacred to posterity, be the temtmbrantt tf
Timet paitl end be Otis Day halhvtd, Mh
Life' l tublimeit sympathy I
In the retrospection of psst times, we be
hold a wonderful concltenation of Events,
which led on ultimately to the establishment
of American Independence,
White Jtftawrt' h.lds her mental seat,"
rosy we never forget those, to whom we stand
Indebted for our Fsp edom, with all its con
comitant advantages nd "hile Gratitude
warms the human breast, may our hearts
cherish ths noble principles of RepuhHee
Tirtvt, in connection with the destest a tac
tions snd felicities of Life.
May our lair S iters listen to ths taleiefoM
Ttmes, with plr asure ie a tear to departed
worth a tmitt lo merit t snd epf-bvj ith
generous he aits, tbs truly virtuojs senti
ments of those Times, which " tried men's
; souls" .as in crucibles of political affliction I
" May oar Fathers, who-still live, and who
this day witness oua grateful affections, our
ssalous attachment to the cause of Libertt,
and our resolution to defend and protect, the
Rights or Mam ; while they behold their
chi)dren around them, rising up " to call them
blessed ;' may they feel the assurances of a
blessed immortality lTAfy shall be immortal
tn the affections of their Children I !
"' While we retrospect therouglvvidssitudes
of War, and regard,-with due consideration,
the Scene oi Battle may the thrillings of
sublime sensation pervade the heart, vibra
ting to every tone of Recollection
Behold! Aggression followed on after aggression.
Prohibition after prehibitidn, The stamp-act.
The massacre, The tea-traffic. The u Bos-,
ton, port-bill." Impositions and persecutions.
T-These were the high-handed insults offer-'
ed the People of the United States, particularly
the State of Massachusetts, while yet a Colony,
by his Sovereign Majesty, the King ! defen
jder of the taith !'. 'and the Supreme authori
tieso the Court of Great-Britain .'And these
persecutions were answered by Remonstrance
' after Remonstrance ; petition after petition :
Kilt thiki m tr 1 1 itrAnaA mnnd! sn L. 1
r " V Stl w Will IllblbPU f 'JJJ" Jllitl III Til lC
I - Came a Right ; and resistance, Law ; then
courage Decame a nrtue ; ana resolution,
Gorjr .' k Arms become just and sacred to
those who have no other resource :" The
standards of Libertt were erected, on the
high hills of JIjiJjcAuieri(j.'-'.Thousarids
rallied around them in arms! Heavew at
tested the fact! and the " Goo of Armies,"
smiling complacent, bid America be free !
See ! a gathering storm appears at Leech
more's point- eight hundred troops have
landed ! They open their way to Concord, to
clesiroy our military stores, "and to secure the
proscribed patriots 11 ah cock, and Adams!
Then Lexington recorded a scene memorable
in the history of our country.
" Disperse ye rebels!" cries Pitcairn.
" Death or LiBKhfr," exclaim onr undaun
ted, patriotic Countrymen. The scene was"
cruel 1 Skirmish, confusion, and death pave
their way from Coiipard. Lord Piercy ap
pears, with a relief of nine hundred recruits ;
tur janhte brethren pursue them scatttringly ;
but yrith revenged havoc, to the very ground,
where now we celebrate our Independence.
The alarm is spread ! Gage trembles with
ha mighty men. of war in our metropolis !
I see the arms of our Citizens taken by a
ttilusion see their sufferings, but they
scorn to complain I heir prospects shall be se
rine! Their native town is now besieged,
"with 20.000 of their brave countrymen, -de
' Handing satisfaction for their injured rights.
Here, within a war-whoop call, satin pom'
pus state, the British Myrmidons, Howe,
Jurgotni, Clinton and Gage ; issuing
troclamations, and deciding upon the fate ot
ur Country, and the lives of our Citizens
The British martial laws are in operation!
0! think of the distresses ol those times;
all is lamentation, horror and distraction !
See I your brave countrymen throwing up
snlrcnchments on Bunker's Hill ! , 1 fie ene
my advancing with the progress of the Sun,
i-e is lost No '.livid Death rushes down
:heir ranks dreadlul and tremendous. They
'etrect ! Our Countrymen victorious ! No !
Tl.ey rally! They return! Again all is
confusion, shrieks and shouts again bravely
repulsed They retreat Victory ! No !
wrought up to a degree of desperation great
in numbers, pomp '.and power the y -furious
ly put forward! OS v.od temper, with
mercy, the preponderating scale of war !
Spare Spare dur brethren. Warrkk falls!
Relief 'ammunition fail ! Convulsed, our
Countrymen .make the last struggle !
CharUstown infldrtes ! Howe yet trembles io
dubious contest! 1 see the interest felt uni
versal, all round the hemisphere of viiitn
The Enemy have rtarcd the standard of vic
tory! but in eiajtation, iiiumph the Ameri
cans! Those take possession of the ;
but our Warren, our Covntrjmtn of im
mortal glory 1
, The neat war scene discovers the Green.
Mountain hyt, at Ticonderoga, under the com
mand of General Allen,. demanding a sur
render M in ths name of the great Jchovsh,
snd the Continental Congress." The key to
Canada is secired to the Americans. .
A regular army is now established, and its
Chief is the illustrious W ashiwctow
The next scene discovers the heroic Jnf.
tomiry, st the head of his troops struggling
against double the number of the enemy
securing the out pons, snd cities of refuge.
belonging to the Lnghh. lie fell glorious
in battle, fiRMing for I.iiiaTVl
Norfolk snd Falmoufl now lie smoaVing In
ruins! .
About this time, rose those sstonishing
hdtf.ts st Dorthesttr, Itcwt snd bis army
In trepidation, quit our Capital- they frar the
Invincible spirits of lbs Americans. Our be
loved WasumoTost enters Raiin triumph,
ant! Fsrcr.t, Brother snd Friend, sja'm meet
and art harcr !
Conrreas nuMish xt fl"!''0 efAt
than Indtftniemt, (July 4, 1X76.) which Utt
asunder tbe bond cf connection, snd srps
rated America, from Great-Britain
forever ! . '",. v-.
See ! next at New-York, Washinotok and
Howe in competition..'
See the American Soldiers driven from
York-Island, and retreating through the Jer
seys; disheartened .and almost hopeles!,
Rhode-Island is lostj taken by Clinton. Loss
es, defeat, sickness and death ; the four Fle-
ments of present misery, darken with conflic
ting tempests, the present dreary scene.
The Northern army reduced from 25,000 to
3000 men, is in a manner no more : to add
the last aggravation, by a straage impru
dence, Ceneral Lee is captured fy a party
of British Light Horse.
. It was on the evening: of the 25th Decern.
I, ber, 1776, that Washington, great in misfor
tune, as he was good m character, turned the
tide of War, and " revittd the desponding
hopes of America." He passes from Pcnn
sylvaniai' crosses the Delaware in a storm j
arrives at Trenton ; captures the Hessian
troops; gains a signal victory; laves his -Countrt!
The gallant Mercer dies, but
the patriot lives, in eternal remembrance !
Soon after Tryon carries fire and sword in
to Connecticut at Danbury, the brave Wooster
fell I
Practising the policy of the English, in ta
king Gibraltar,; the heroic Col. Barton takes
the English Gen. Prescot naked, from his '
quarters in Rhede-Island.
See ! the mighty championZJurMyne-.
now advances with 10,000 men; many were
the braye and worthy, who rose in powerful
opposition. Gates pleads on the Americans,
and Burgoyne's whole army, at Saratoga, yield
prisoners of Var. Thiswas glorious for
you, my Country. The 'tears of affliction -are
now succeeded, by the smiles of joy and
aniaciion. ...
See now the Endish forces, oroudlv sail.
ing up the Chesapeak ! . The heights of Bran,
dyvjirje are lined with a Washingt$nianQf.
(inn Kilt th. in.rii-An I - . . TM
ui.uv jiuivm.au3 1U 13 luteal, tTltl'
ladelpfiia and Germantown' witness similar
scenes ; the Biitiih losses balante it, preser
ving the equipoise of war.
The year 1771 is distinguished by a treaty
of Alliance with' France. .
Monmouth i rendered memorable by out
Soldiers successes. Rhode-Island the same.
Conflagration still maika the foot-steps of
the British.
At Stoney-hoint, our Countrymen, led on br
Wayne, are victorious ! At Penobscot, ther
are unforluaate. Again, at Savannah, i.in
toln and Count d'Estaing, repulsed with lofs;
here fcllthe 41 brave soldier," Pulaski ! Again,
at Charlestown, Lincoln taken t rgain, at Cam
den, Gates and his troops routed with loss.
The British marauders now ravage our Coun
try, like hungry tygers !
Rochambeau srrives I ten. Ureen takes
command at the southward, and is successful.
Guildford commemorates the best fought
action during the war i Green and Cornwallit
in opposition. The Eutav Springs are com- .
memorative of American successes. Mar
quis de la Fayette, be thy virtues in remem
brance while Ltatntr has charms !
Comwallis is now blocked uni at York
Tavrtiby Count dtGraste. Washincton ar
rives! Comwallis surrenders ! The contest is
decided ! America is free !
Peatt, rises to view, like the Sun emertrinfc
from the last wast'ings, and dssolatihg how
lings of a storm, and Litttrr is all our own !
The British evacuate all their posts. They
take their last stand at New-York, Guy Carle-
ton comes over their commander,- and trea
ties of Puct, ;FnDtuir and Aiiukci,'
(Use the tvent fid stent!
Thus, Gentlemen, conceiving it my duty,
I have passed with you mentally over the vast
theatre of the world. You have had a curso
ry glance at the various modes and forms of
Government, in their various relations, and o
pi rations throughout the Earth.
tou have seen the Republitt of Europe, as
they wow exUt, snd by contrast and illustra
tion, how glorious, how pre-e minect, the
Republic of the United States I resred by our
fathers, cemented with their best blood j and
lo be perpetuated, in republican unicn, tot
ever!
Thus hate we walked mnta'Jy over the tcr
rifle field of carnage, devastation snd death;
7i Dtr," we celebrate, is designed ever
to be commemorative of these great event
Oar subject is our Independents l snd it is
glorious for posterity on such a Day ss this,
to remember with grstitude the mighty
Deeds, by which, with the blessing of lies
ven, our Frttdtm was obtained.
The recital cao ntver fatigue the Pat rut,
the Republican, whose heart glows with love
to his fellow-man, to his Country, snd to his
Goo. No I Ui justice to elder times it Is
honor ! it Is glory 1 to bless the memory of
our fathers to drink of the fountain of their
feelings snd to feel within us a spirit, like
ihei.s, invincible I immortal I . .
ttatt, contrasted with War, now appears
likt the circuits of Elysium; contrasted with
the tronhic and carousals in the halls of R'
den, Tb daikeninr cloud disperse I the
brichtnettof FruLm't Doynrn forth, in
tenMJLiitrc!
Gotilnudtn th tctt tjgt.