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ORATION . - h or Jcly, 1808j o.t wiit'c time lias bro't round ,xhcr Anniversary of I American lcpendence. 1 wo uu r--Uie this ear finished, their course. United tat: in .solemn J alletr'iAr.ce t the v rTm 11 1 h.Li Tt. 17764 the dtcUraiicn was - "de ihtt thetr United States erf M of right cught t fret jnd ,n :Xnt. This decllrution led tbt unr!f nt it in this rt ofihe American con . comtituiitns and farms c-Voveroment, m which the -4 ma!ienah!e richts of . it fwtrtcd ar.I maintained. The Ame rican rcvoiutitn which commenced jjVrs manner, forms one of th; Pt imrorwnt xras in the political iitory of the world, and aSbrds a tltme so interesting that it can ne !cf lese its charms. On the subject c(indeindencc nothing r.r, n&thttig 4red that U not trite can now be ejected. The suhjttt, however, is cue that will always be listened to iih rapturous attention by ths Ame lcau Patriot, end one that ought crnstently to excite in his breast the tt lively gratitude to Heaven. The annual celebratioii of Ameri tin Independence we deem a lauda kk" praciice : pclitical coromemora- lions cl IMS Rinti, wnen conuutica ih propriety and gotxl order, arc Calculated to answer imponant and ncful purposes. They a fiord on por unities of acquiring and'd 1 iTasi ft ymtt pduic.nl knowledge, hve a icaccncy to promote philanthropy, rd a spirit of patriotism, and to sof j rr banish those political feuds 81 animoitie'. which arc 'always o h-considered as the mot dineious eMra:e of re public zn governments. Sxh we think, must be the natural cfstts of a suitable commemoration eftbe American Revolution. By looking back on this occasion U this Rcvolufion, and the causes tan led to i. ; by considering the taijcrntmle cf the object for which tat Aorrfian Colonies engaged in t amorous and blcody ver with a ptism f rtin power, by recol letting tit rumtroos and complicated dan. Itrs which we suffered or escaped duri-.c: the contest, together wiih tbeatuinmcnt of national freedom, ad independence, and ihe crcc i:?n cf government founded upon Jtasaa and the rights of mah ; by firter taking into consideration the ds:inj."tshingly free k happy situa tion of thy cmzens of the U.btites iie the concluiion orthe war ; and Lilly by comparing our present cir ccmsta icts vriih the condition of the Cibft ions f the world ; hi itch otiiccpUkons wc shall be taught to tsske a dus es:ira&ie of our national cdnUj;es and properly to appre ijt cvs civil pmikges. To trace minutely on this occat ion a!l tlitf c partictilan, would be a talk aicnet too treat for the pai;eoct of VS y dlence, atd for the abilities of rtt speaker. A short retrospect; l.wri r, of the caCies, progress and tpx! tit the imencan AtTOituuu, tTgethrr with a brief View of the pre stctsiiUAtion and prospects' of our cruntiy appear at this time to be tecvUarty reasonable and proper, , Sifter us then to obsen?, that the vir tha! led to this Retolotioh, wis, cn the part of G. D. a war of oppres sion ftiidcovetousness; mnny arbitra ry measures were aiopted, calculated tj trusli in embryo the liberties of the fcfant colonies, and tn-ry in the tomb c; depur the hope of a rising-nation. The Hritnh Ministry display ed on many occasions, the unprin cipled exercUe of- power over a na Vzn whtch was considered as.wctk tjii iitcapaule of making ttTectdal c;iKuton. And here wc have farl thrto remark, that the same, haugh ! and oppressire nation which tip- ndcf thirty yean ego constraui-1 iibc American colonies 10 me in ftf s ion to her tyrannical piea dn of lale yrars etn timing . -t r tucxetsivt b!6.vs at the tadt. fce ot thtsc Unusd 5mtcs-- STaumed the right of. M g- -.11 n IOC UI',"'WT " The Ministry and government of the same. Jltng of Uteat-untam who formerly attempted, wjihk cut .our consent, to lay duties and collect revenue upon teas, and oiher articlcl imported into this country, have been recently auempuuE i much heavier duty upon articles of our own pioduct and exportation. By their late orders ot council incy have attempted to levy a duty of nine ptnee sterling on every lb. ot cotton ttxnorted from this country to the continent cf Europe ; and indeed to dictate the sole channel tl:roDgh which the United States shair be permitted to enjoy any foreign: trade whatever in snort, tne same 10 refer! government , that , iormeriy airaed the right of taxing the Ame Hcan colonies in all cases waat soever, hai, in numerous late it ttnlB6?kifjtittrnost unprinci pled tjtercise of power, inimpressing some thousands of Our seamen, cap turing on the high seas, and con demning our vessels engaged in a hit and honest trade, blockading our cities and harbors with their ships of wai and even murdering oUr ci- rlz-ris. In these modern transac tions we may discern the agency of the same despotic principles, which at the comVuncement of the Ame rican Revolution alarmed the fears and aroused the indignstipn of the American Patriots, and stimulated them to endanger their lives and for tunes in defence of the liberties of their country. Indeed when we take into eonridcration the infantile state of the colonics, and the want of mi litary store and experience, it ap pears a matter of admiration that ihey dared to enter into the conttst ; under such circumstances to enter the lists vrith the disciplined armies and potent fleets of G. Ilrstaln, re quired ihe enthusiastic ardor, the mart! j courage and the united expr riens of patrio'ic and enlightened freemen : and these, happily for our country, were the most' prominent traitt in the characters of those il lustrious men, who planned and ef fected the American Revolution : Inspired with the Jove of liberty, and determined to preserve those rights which the God of Natute gave them, in defiance of the thandcr of British power they sounded the alarm of the dangets of submission, and blew aloud the blast of war ; the sound ufls hftard from St. Laurence to the Floridas, ar!d from the Atlantic to the Mississippi.' nd echoed back by the Universal murmur of indignation, nd the unanimous voice of the Ame rican people to conqueror die. Powerful indeed, and determined was the attack on the p.i t of G. Hri- tarn : but the courage una resolution with which the colonies met the shock is without a parallel in the an nals of nations. In circumstances apparently hopeless they were never in despiir. It is well known that during a distressing period of eight years, the interests of America were j tossed upon the ocean of uncertainty, and hope cc fear alternately held their empire in the breasts of fcef sons-: Till at length the bloody drama, which commerced by the slaughter of American citizens at Lexington, in Massachusetts, was concluded by the siege' and surrender of the Bn. ash army at xork-town m V irgtnia. Urratciul, lorcver, to the hearts ot Americans be the memory of those illustrious patriots who lest their lives in.the righteous cause ; War ren, Montgomery, Mercer and a bright list of their compatriots expi red without a murmur on the field ! of glory,aod sealed our independence with their bloc!. But their fame shall never die Their exploits shail annually be the theme of Columbia's Orators. , Their tames shall be en rolled in the page of historic truth, and the glorious example they ht've exhibited will e an excitement.to virtuous and patriotic exertions to the disiantJages of futurity. J V; V More than thirty years hare now elapsed since the 'declaration of In dependence. .Tfcis event has immor talised the mrae of Americans, and elevated them high among the na tions of the earth. In - this part of the American, comment the science f government has beerV greatly im- rorca: cna tne aocirne .ox equat rights 5xd .universal rcpreseAtation ! Ml : -' .. -. fhai been establ UniteuS States thf fair tree planted and nourished, and its.froit, is the happiness 01 minion. - . . In France a false specie of liberty and ' republicaniirh1 sprung . tip nd flourished for a. season ; hut ambi tious power has now .completely blasted the prospect and overturn-' ed the foundation Had the French nation discreetly improvcdjVthe,op portuhity they lately enjoyed, of es tablishing upon the ruinrj of monaK chy and despotism a frt-c constitUf ticn of government, modelled Upon that which has been sanctioned by American oxperience their situation and that of Europe might at this day be very! different. from what it is. But they have proved themselves to be very defective in political know ledge and virtue, and unworthy of the name of republicans. They have fixed an eternal disgrace upon their revolution by their sangCtn&ry and extravagant deeds. They have as sisted their political leaded in in flicting misery upon tbc innocent, and are now sufil ring punislperit in their turn.;; They have passively bewed their neck to the ambitious Bonaparte, who is rive tting, upon therrt the chains of despotism, and even making thsm subservient to his schemes of universal dominion. Hitherto the storm of war has been kept aloof frpm this rising empire. How singularly happy indeed has been the lot of Americans in this respect. We have enjoyed upwards of twenty years of peace whilsr Europe, and. all the , other quarters of the globe have been convulsed and agitated by the alarms and distresses ofwar j whilst fell ambition has betn stalking forwards in footsteps, of blood, hewing h:s way through in fancy & age, urging his infernal, tram to the slaughter of unoffending rnil lions, and ercctine the bloody stand ard .of his .trrjmpbTifW rains c desolated cities, America has been basking in the runshine of peace, free flourishing and hnppy. Under the fostering care cf a free and happy government, improve ment ia every branch of industry and mechanism has become as extensive as the bounds of our empire. . The forge, the plow and the loom have been introduced upon the banksf the St. Lawrence, the Ohio, and the Mississippi. Mechanic industry has pervaded "every partofthe union, and has even been introduced among the savage tribes on our borders. Our commerce was spreading her sails to thc .brcezes of every climate, and wafting our vessels into every harbour, when the late arbitrary, and tyrannical decrees of Britain , and France arrested their progress, and exposed many of them to capture' and condemnation. The unprinci pled and insolent conduct! of these belligerent nations has, indeed, pro duced at length a most serious crisis in our affairs ; and although we have already glanced at this part of our subject, yet a more particular expo sure of the causes which have led to the present gloomy aspect of our relations with these foreign powers; may be proper and necessary Ever since the ptacc of 1783, the conduct of G. Britain towards this country has at all times furnished just cause of complaint Her va rious and contradictory orders of council, violating the laws of nations and the right ot neutrals : herprac tice of impressing Ameflcan citizens oh board her ships iof war, together with the, insolent conduct of her.na val officers in ohr harbors and on bur coasts, have -for some years past justly and highly irritated the people of this countryBut by the orders, of council 'of November last," the British Ministry . Ijaw endeavoured to give a!finishwg'b!pT4 tttbnee ..ts. the commeice and rodependerice of the United Ktater. 'By thsjdrdpH tbey have attempted' to prohibit) ius fi o m tradi o g b any -pi ace but En pose a Heavy ' ta:tap all, articcs shipped rri .yh I Jpon the Injustice abd insojence cf these wdefit";U'.islpjle tbxbrb inen t in jtermsitob harsh. ; 'ptify are to ? be cqa sidered aVriii direct attack ".: 'v'-J' : '.'it".,"-- -V -5 "' ' upon ; tne sovereignty,; anu inpepen Jcncc cf the Unitcd.Sfatesa.gatiisf wn;cn tney arc prmcipajjy ieveueu . 1.7 the UaetlwB .4-W.B?C of Libert n as oecn j t ? , 7 .r " - f rest; crraricterii ttot;ier6ftensiy land intolerable, vis. thejattaek; :on thVAatiorial vfrigate Clieapeake.- Tbe portifcuiars pf thatitrarjsactiop no, couot, are sun ireso in-your rc cotleition Npv reparation has Jjeen tnad?VnQfeYC?r the national in- : $nii On htpntrarjrjn:i'te. cor esrndence? whicli: has Itakeh plaee between the twogovernmerisonuiar subjectr Vte" have beieh.'deaUithJcts. thougbwe had ben aggrsporf j And' the tfiockeW of makine 'Jrebara. tion to Xhl honor; and feelings of the. American nation, has at length closed with atl e'rn and by th e B ri tis h cbm m i s iionexs,that the President's, procla- British ships, of war, should be res- titvdexf ; a . demand wh'Oh . no nation actuated by. principles of iustice and honor, uncjer existipg circumstances , would haVe jprbfio.sed,' and which no free cne wUld cohdesceiid iterant; no yeiji unaer a xneserrepeaieaiq Junes anduiaujitsiiare.; to-ie found persons whor calf themselves American citizens, and - who hold high sittiatipns in tbeHiederai go-' vernmeni, wno appear aisposeoiame- ly t overlook all this contumelious conduct on. the part of ,G. Eritaib ; and seem highly oflenderied thai ef fectual roeasirts" should be adopted to checks such insults, and procure redress, J rlOw unworthy, are such persons of the name and privileges of free Americans ? How mean and degrading is their conduct' 1; What a stigma docs it hMipcn pur national character ! : V hat a contrast to the spirit of 1776 l' - . Surely every candid and impartial aian who has any correct informa tion on the subject; every person who has read with attention the com munications' so lately 'submitted to the inspection of thW American "peo ple, rjiust at pnce acjeoowjedge. the undisputed justice of our cause, .and rhe ' linitifit aim -wanton" ncfirrifin"4 , j -oo" " ' ! that have been heaoed unOn us.' I Thre appears, inned, tc be burone good rfeascn why the United States; such accumulated insults, should' riot proclaim immediate war against this insole nt, nation, and that is, that such a measure would' in ell probability . eminently forward the amb'uious designs of ihe despot who ! now governs ine conunent 01 r.u rope, fand whp is ytdsntly aimipglat universal conquest. , Acainst the de- crees and edicts of the Etnperdr:,iJo n a parte tne uniteq mates; nave also high cause of complaints af the in- juried and insults received frora;lne British government have been mere numerous than those; received from: Prance it is probably because . the latter has r.oj had: it.equally vhilher powet to treat us in such'a rfirtnrier With! Bonaparte, every spark ot na-j tional justice appearf 0 be lost tineuishtd iti his unbounded iustvfor powtr. 1 tie counincs ur nan con-, I qucred, have felt mojt heavily ' the- havejbeen marked by. phejgeneral sccn4 of rapine, couuibution Vand plunder. Hit has overtu t ried almost all trie governments, of Europe, 4nd raistd his own biotiers and minionS to tne ran& ox monarens upon tneir rums. Aiio nis conuucfc snevr s .uiauietfisDot for-ettheireat0U3ibiroittv with 'an unfriendly eye.;; In short '; tbe grea Author hippmesn an siich violations of ueutral rihts, and bte KUaseeupnUmercjaaa a national justice as France have been be! difficult to - find the world. The these nations tqwai gardd and enforced by "bur on pi- ti2en$,'. thcnei can tie no ;dOubr bux it rds IheyU.: Shas ' ,tne curreat ot.tuae..-.;.-; v, j?;:; . and :i fdunded.pon no ?ae : prmctple tuo &iil - of trepon orjuice. ; Howfar.thelj yirmes w;h1ch1ins itisepiraUly connect ' rritaVures bf , obrN gbverhmeatln lay- fred;f Ujijtheei& iq?t natiuaai aid ine ibe erhbar and yendnige the "commefaalvriniercburse; i ,t I ... ,v-;s' -''T 1 jaessxiji: 3cor eottatrf W-rtt-reoaia that -int 4 -nalroi yiacetbeni pf the; mpplicand.m- jrftmoe;WuioJftBa justice of tKeit brdeis bf coUncil;aii ; ."tbeend ol;iimer or CQfintrj AviUW : irieHat;4cer 'iiWtbat wiilWovr Ibdb'fedWtmiiied;j vwk'c u 'J Had the embargo bten Droaerlv, re- l l-xu - o .ii wpiild before; bow hVeresied'heaiJoVden osehjandidand aeWnti-sk 4oaf 3U.IJU$ASpct, ox - our matiQLi vrjj . , . 1 4 ' b( avVr;ce;and .seryityfM , Ibr;th6Hfapd5 ScAft Jbjs i Ihreatnipg' ahd ntRtlJ "tJeridclile V? it :rbe,deepl v hn pressed f upon the tens, ihat'in "order ro pfesirve tlicj great 4 piessmir, 01 nyo vaiinaepo." ; . dence.arid liberty, $aced a.dimpoe- i!.. taVt"datiereirnposed on'thctni?. Under the threats ami jnsults of Eu. . j " 1 '7. ' , 4, V I if - into a saie br&p6ndVny they are, for umeldepn ved, otome?.4 of theIuxiriiesdsijpeTM , life; bercioiore ehfoyeH) buCletlhcht . &nd -wretched situatibh of. 'th mha;,; bitanisif : Europe, , andTcheerfulIy1?3 dceWilljikPciidepc eives4vaia,t united tney-stana, pur. . fended- ineV : fall. (Wif, rfeUow-ci j . . main pillar in'jthere.duSce.of "our Iri-li dependences It J Will ; pe.,the; best supporMf .ourf.tranqyXiiytarfiome, ami oipufpeiceand rjespect abroad of oti? safety and p'rosperltyf pur , liberty land iappines?: ' i s o UDOii the.iutnds orVAmencaiy cut?; ' submit the temporary acrjiaces to wHicri-they awalfedtet rfetri: re"mxiber j tfiajf ' thevpiseHatipn of tbeirr lib'errvundei4 SDiVinfcvj?rovi- On' the other rhard,therc is n v; quarter from which we. have ; w mucf , v, to fear, as from patty spirianq' dis--. union among ourselves- "VYe ought C also especially to garda gainst the , insidious, wiles of foreign vftufnce'j;' " for alLhistory ahd experience prove? that'thii is thejmost baneful lcpfi ' reDvibli can ero vernm ent s-V lV K ; ' Ji Let'us also remembetheLt kbtttyfC ledge and religion. are fnitima;elytoin. . necteawun' pouucai. pvospeniy-- -Huwimportahttheri hat theie should beojcoiiragcd and projected ; -;hey;r 2re" indeed the jgrand columns which;" M support the fair, fabric ofcour; nde-c : j pendenceandj national happfnesi-rr - b Beailhm .dpwnfand tiie jstriiptm; ' throrje of despotism ": will be ertclUd -I Spun its ruins.' , - ' t '' LiClII Closed Ol iMlC lt.ail tlllX-CilU ;t theDf in t.hteventfui ano ijircatrfing ; .Jt cpsiyi. unite jh;j&upporttng theJrJde,: Vr pehdehce of their5 ; country j;Io ejosr-t ' . lion s to increase rnbraj .and religious light jf: by.Uu establishment of, lite rary and reHta in, Vncpuraging" virtue and Industry, and1 indiscouhtenancingluxury, indo- , TUudeT tlrese yie ws .f purcirturri- n stances and thedangers which threat- -en us, Iet,bs be united ,m our coun- srdjluiiin theWecm of the, j measures adopted by government ia order to enforceregpect' tootir neu v f Bt ;.u'cK cbnductwe shall concen trate'aii Lour, energies,-ana.oppose sucfaTt io't1niajbejfiroblds?ftni)f ab . pal our menacing and mtrjguing enc--mjes;lSuch union, and enetywilt ert'hTerenTeciv:peacer witli 'honor, or war LtVsuccesstf . . - - ?v ; -; i '2 V a this occasion,4 then, let u lookback 1 With pleasure on the pasty and anticipates the f ature1 happiness of our co in try i ; andS I j under the" receptpjf so nauyTnauurral - r.2-i r . i ' cutiful; ir ir ; 4 "s;-'-- oa the steckc both Britain and , ..-v.-j! r-;c'?Z. menf.!- wiU sweeten. "e.his.nT,t- if i t tudtyoti ould,-nrfft;,vMVK-'iv:.;.4Af.fc i in the history df Vwill sappoit individuals and TiaTkms uodtti ' condbct tof i bothi eVery ilisb-ess; aid gent watt thern dcjlwrt , i? t, to -4
The Weekly Raleigh Register (Raleigh, N.C.)
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July 28, 1808, edition 1
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