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111 , . V , , :' ... 1 , - .: .. r- j .: ,' ; : : TOTlfn? nOTrr TD rh- : like BrocbcH.1 Vol. XV FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 181 -- t 1 1" ' ' Outer ttitllMtt rttr.'.AElUfctr.l Pmm. ' i- 'r - ' - ' ' : -l . ' V . . . v '' ..'I' HOU!CSrt ORATION. -rtT thing vKchenet frwnlhit Gentle---n o? sf cHinjfvmlae, we cannot "withhold tz our readers this excdltnt Oration t ORATION", royxmczn zr joa!f noi.xx, no. av r: rovjitn of jult zisr, AT AtmF.D, MASS ftl!awCitizens!-'$ln.u reflects with fTjiorc on the daj rifhis birth. To con foplate our prosress from infancy to rinhood, our weakness, wants and es Jces from danrer $ the solicitude of Mentis, and 'the a flection of parents, .,Vte our tenderest passions. The effect U not different, when wej r?fect on the birth of our countrr.- j oernment?, like individuals, " are ; fcrn, progress, become stationary, de- j ax and die. They have their infancy .nd manhood, fren?th and debility,: innocence and depravity, health and ! licine; and they have their old age.! Tkvhave friends to instruct, and pa- ttr.U to protect thcra; traitors to de- trire, and assassins to destroy them. TVir infancy and inexperience expose tf.em to infinite hazard, from weak! iaj porters, ignorant advisers, treacher-j cui friends and open enemies. Tliei dlffculties, therefore, wjth which a tonntrv has, in its infancy, been oblig ed to contend,the danger it has escaped, the progress it has made, and the glo ry it hA arquired, 'are subjects, upon "Mch it friends will dwell with pecu Lir interest and delight. " Other cooiitrie, with litte reason, vlcbrate their origin. A conquest, a cvin2C of masters, the substitution of re dunce for another, are hailed as 55jicioueve'nts. Thebirthofa Pnncc U role and oppress a people, to ride c: their shoulders or tread on their teds, is a source of extreme delight. Aral shall we, who J)oast of our title to fteiloin, be ilenlon that day when tepKorLF. of America decreed that thru would goxern themslves ? A day Wk m-d. tiMnf tr?hhl and htima- rtv rejoice ( A day when the sun of ; sition assumed a brazen front ; the e libertv rose in- his stren-th, dispelled i! nemies of the revo ution were unmask- the clouds of prejudice arid superstition ihich enveloped him, ana cneerea anu mnitnatcil oppressed and desponding tan ! , . .- On the 4th of July. irT,f, the united folonies abiurcd allallcsiance to Great Britain, and declared theinKelves "free asri indencndcjit states.'; Un the 3d crHeptember, Great Britain ac- tnoulcdged their independence ; and, in 17b8. the States ratified the federal c institution, which, without impairing their right, united their strength, in crrssetl their power, & confirmed their lerties. i ' By this last cveut the rights for Mch we had contended seemed per raeently secured. A constitution, trboc object was to provide for the common defence, and promote the gc ten! welfare of the United States," to te administered ban executive, dcriv inhi election from tYc people, with legislature, most wisely constituted, well the guardians of 'the stat'S as 'c people, promised a triumph over tHft enemies of popular governments, Tn&,e, who imaned tliat they saw, tl.e American states progressing to a ate of anarchy, which would end in k?potifn, were confounded. The a lirnw and jealousies of the people sub st'Utl, errors u err corrected, weak & vi cious men were removed by the pro te of popular election, &. unilerthoe iiluatriou character?, who, in succes 'n, hare administered the 'juvcrn ent, we enjoyed an unexampled por tion of prosperity and pcacc- During a periwl, w t 'were surrounded with jolations and conquests. The enc of republics haj witnessed ,dan in i all governments butours. Com ations"of " legitimate; "sovereigns" ta depose u usurpers ;" these "ustirp actually detiironing those combin tu legitimate sorcreics and the Jerrion of kingiloms and empires, following in quick succession, were a rctty good comment upon the stabi ,lty of raonarchy,,rand the 11 actuating jeofail republics." . Bat it was said that the experiment not been fairly tried ; that it was or the stren;h p( a government Jt be testwl, and iU dcfcc eiposed. r m .t-Tocates of" ancient and vene y 'e t"st:tutions" abroad, and many at jne, were solicitous to provoke hosti- upon which tlicy predicted a Section cf our government. The J opinion and belief that our rulers dart j not hazard the experiment, that they " could not be kicked into a war," bro't upon tlie nation fresh and asrravated insults and aggressions. AVhatwas to be done ? Submit to th4 seizure of opr property, the impressment of our citizens, upon the most frivolous- pre texts; or venture upon the hazardous and untried' experiment of war, was the alternative. We had, with little interruption, been thirty years at peace. Qur. feelings and habits, were pacific. We trembled at the thought of shed dine: human blood. The heroes of the revolution were gone ; the art of war was forgotten ; officers and soldiers were to be created, and we had none who knew how to create them. Bri tain, the greatest aggressor, was pow erful ; . she was mistress "of the ocean, inured to war and plunder; and. her friends, amon;us, were numerous, faithful and active . In this crisis, this conflict betwee'fk duty and inclination, ?ovfrnmpnt decided a.thv- rraerht. regardless bf their popularity, they de , termined to resort to arms. There is a national pride which is al lied to virttie. It is the guardian of the national honor. So powerful is this sentiment, that even barbarictns have suspended their inveterate party feuds, and united ajainst a common enemy. And, surelv, it would have tbeen uncharitable to have suspected, ; thatrrr, civilized Americans, were so destitute of national feeling, as to j I sow disscntions in time of war, seek safety from the partiality of an enemy, or m, press to power at the expense ol their country's honor, and rights. It was less to be apprehended, from the example of the enemy, which, in other respects.the opposers of the government j had felt proud to observe, j But no sooner was war declared, ! than the administration were assailed ; with the mst outrageous abuse. The I war was denounced as wanton, . unjust , and murderous ; and numbers, who I voted for it, were personally insulted and subjected to violence, lne oppo- eti, anil i:ie sireugui aim uesigua ui uic British faction exposed. In this state of agitation, the gov- ernmePt were met with embarrass ments. A principal object of the fede dcral constitution wasi the" control of tlie national strength, for national pur poses. To meet an enemy in the field, and perform the d'J ties of active and oRensive warfare, it was proper that Congress should have power" to raise and support armies." But as large standing armies were deemed danger ous, in a republic; thin power was a subject of much debate, aud excited considerable jealousy, at the . time the constitution. was adopted.-. To confine. its exercise within reasonable limits, it was deemed safest to provide a nation al militia for imiiannl defence. It was important,' as well to the dt fence as the liberties of t!ie union. From these men, being citizens, no danger could be. apprehended to the republic ; and their bein? oficered bv the authority of.ti c state in which they were raised, j seemed a'su.Ucient pledge, that they wotifd not he disposed to invade that authority. Tbey were to be detached bV congress, who represented, as well tne states as the people, and to be com manded by the President, the executive representative of both. The constitu tion was explicit. It gave, expressly, to congress, the power -to call forth, organize, arm ana discipline tlie mili tia, and to employ them in the service of the United States ; " to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrec tions end repel invasion." " To pro vide for the common defence," and to have no discretion in the application of that defence, nor of the extent of the danger, was an absurdity, from which KAVramrs and suDnortcrs of the con- stiturion concluded they had nothing to apprehend, i nc unequivocal tenor of the instrument itself, the doctrines 'advanced in its support, and the prac-n tice", after the organization of the jnv- crnment, sccmca a surucieni guani a jainst t(uch an outrageous construction But to the utter astonishment of every friend of the unbn, it was decided in lassachosctts, that the United 'States had po control oVer the militia, but at the pleasure of the states ; tnat these were exclusively the judges of the dah--r, and ichen and torAnt extent the militia should be employed, Had this construction prerailedV we shoull have been reduced to the singular and mortifying crisis, bf eighteen states, in . that when entrusted with this power, time of war, eyieA deciding for itself, thet had seldom used it in favor of the when the United States Were in dan- liberties of the people; The tryth is, ger, and what was necessary for their the clergy. are ; like' other nen, &f sub defence and safety. Happily for our I ject to fikepusiotiip.'9? Possessing the country,; it was too raonstrous, to pre means of gratifying tlieir ambition, vail--Ohe or two of the small states 'they o not fail to improve them Hence followed the example 'vr I dictation of, the most cruel - and vindictive! wars Massachusetts ; but the doctrine' was have been waged, and the most barbar generally tejected as a most dangerous otis, tortures 'and murders fnfiicte'd, in perversiQh of the constitution. :, - ! the name of that relisioii, whose ;"lad Instead ofcompelling Massachusetts to. obey their requisition the United States permitted her to practise upon her own extraordinary principle 5 to incur the responsibility ofjudging of' the danger, and, of course, the exvense ' j of providing against it The result j was, what was expected; and what it, j probably, always will be, when men as-; sume a power and discretion to which they are not entitled. The state was ! invaded, and we found no protecti6n from our friendship for the enemy. A feeble, ineffectual, and disgraceful re- sistance was made,' and the enemy' were, permitted, quietly to occupy a large portion of the territory of the state, until tlie close of the war. And ; Massachusetts remains a . standing proof of the provisions of the constitn-r tion, the folly of opposing them, or off requiring the general government to ' provide for the common defence, and. of denying them the mparts essential to accomplish the end. Another embarrassment was expe rienced from theAnercantile class of, our citizens, in the Eastern States. ' Of the most respectable of these are j man v distinguished and patriotic -sup- poitcsol the government ; and though : most of the rest were hostile to the ad ministration, it was hoped and expect- ' ed, that they would have lent their aid in support of those rights,, which, at different times, they had been so loud to defend. But it was found that "or ders" and " impressments" were not otherwise offensive to them, than as thejr affected their speculations, or di minished their pront. These gentle men had assume! to be the exclusive merchants of the United States, and had imagined that JVeW England was the only part, which was interested in commerce. It was urged thatthe war was waged against commerce, and that could the Eastern States be permitted to manage their own concerns, they might be prosperous and happy. This brought up a most delicate and unplea sant discussion. " The father of his country" had predicted that factious men would, in troublesome times, find a pretext to excite j local jealousies, which might endanger the union of the States ; and had warned , his country men'to be upon their guard. The peo ple of New-England are exceedingly jjealous of their rights. To make Xhem 'i believe that tlipir P-nvmimpnt intended t to oppress them, is sufficient to rouse them to resistance. In this $ase, the leaders of faction, -who were pressing for power, even at the expense of their country's honor & safety, took advan tage ofthe credulity of this description of merchants, excited their alarms and jealousies, and addressed their interest and their cupidity A merchant of li mited information is but an indifferent politician. His attachments are often strongest, where his speculations are most profitable. Where his treasure is, there we shall most generally find his heart. We have, therefore, less to ex pect from his patriotism, than from those whose attachments are at home. TJiese men, therefore, were the Jirst and most easy dupes. They were in duced to believe that their rights were attached, and that resistance was es- J sennai to liie interests oj commerce j But upon investigation, it .was found ; that the commerce of New-England j was entirely dependant upon the other States. Upon the score 'of interest,; therefore, these merchants doubted, suspected that they had been deceived,; made their calculations,, found that re- ' sistance was unprofitable, compromised i with their consciences, and engaged iri : the practice of privateeplng, which II thevhad oeiore aenouncea, as incon sistent with honor, morality and reli gion, 1 ft , Opposition n$se .from another riuar ter. In other countries, a priesthood have had a powerful, and qften a per- mcious ei;ect in uic civil aaroinisira tion of the State. -Having," in some measure, the superintendance-of educa tion, the control of consciences, and the custody of the divine oracles, they had become dangerous to the civil pow er. It had been found, by experience, r" 'tidings" were " peace on' earth and o-rtnd will rn'tnn." In uils country, the clergy had been v; i i x 1 1 . i j theT had felt, or affected to ree!,:tlt humiliation, -whidi'l well betame jtht in v r-wj cruf nrirn n n TumnnrQ i Till iv r mi 11 disciples of " the meek and low y J sus.'f Whether fom fear of becomingly subject to an episcopal hierarchy "pr of I s1 .1 i K y.l ' losing their HyingSj by opposing pr re- j straining the indignation of the people, i or from honest or patriotic motives, i certain it is;, that4r the battle of Lexington, most of tnem became zea lous advocates of the American cause, U and contributed essentially to its sup A f J 1 ' Si J ' 1 port. Yrom their Conduct in the re volution, their patriotism was not sus pected ): Possessing the avenues to the hearts of their hearers, their popularity was extensive, their power and ioflu ence increased : many of themigreiv wanton, and aspired to the controul of tnei civil power, rouea in tneir ar- tempt&y and d nation so extensiv free, as the United States, the most distinguished of the order projected the establishment of ahierarchyotvnr a section, to be severed by foreign .and domestic exertions. T? he moment, therefore, that war was declared, they took their stand in favor of the enemy, magnified his progress, complimented his magnanimity and forbearance, eu logised his justice,, arid pronounced him "the bulwark of our holyfreligion." Tlie leadets of the order were mpst in veterate, wanton and abusiye. Their coarse vulgarity, their insolent denun ciation of the government, their gross calumnies against the legitimate rulers I of the American people, and their un ! disguised recommendations of open re-; sistance, polluted the sanctuary, effen- j ded thet christian, disgraced religion, and insulted the Dei tv,: .They had j made peace with thePope, their form er Anti-Christ, and all tlie pidus curs es, which they used to invoke upon this " man of sin,"rwere tiow transfer red, with tenfold vengeance xand malignity,-to the President of the United States ! Say not that we attack religion when we denounce those who pervert it. Say hot that we are hostile to the body or the clergy, when wej discrimi nate against those I who disgrace tlie profession. Our remarksCare intended to apply to those, ana those, only, who have . prostituted their sacred duties to purposes of opposition to the govern ment. L v . ' ,f We Venerate the man rho hfintt U warm. i Vhose. .hinds are pure, whose doctrines ami whose, life, i ; Coincident, exhibit lucid proof That he is honest in the sjicred cause To such vre tender more than mere respect, Wliose etions .say that they respect them selves." But when they use their; offices to cover the vilest and- blackest designs, when they wound and insult the feel ings of one parjfof their flock to grati fy the spleen antl raucor of the other. A when they attempt to scandalize ; the only government on earth, which would tolerate their scandal, we jmust and will doubt whether thev cap be disci ples of him, whose knigdora was" not of this world." Point me to a word in all he said, which recommended or licensed opposition to the government, wnere ne was, and I consent you take it for your text, to justify -all the yiru- Uence ancl abuse, which have disem bogued from the polluted lips o4be vilest incemliary that ever' disgralcetl the pulpit. No. Your divine master lid no stirup the people.?' " He went, about doing good." i His doc trines and his life I were respect and submission to " the powers; that be.". And by his precepts and examplehe proved that " tribute" eyen to a most odious1" government, was f lawful? when he himself was ,so,poor and per? nyless ; that he was' obliged jto work a miracle to pay.his tax. .Ye hypo!cites, who neither say as '.He sxtif,(norfo as he did, who neglect -..your duties ti& a buse youMjlers, ye cannot ehiit disciples." ?Y neither "render) to' Csesar the things that are Icisarfs, nor "o God the things that are God's.55 For your own .akes, desist. Think not to feed your flocks with political feuds, wheii icy are starvingfoi: ? tf.eg; bread of , liCe, lest -pious chridtian shall b,e offended and urntheirJcksjl on those sdactuaries "whichypu; sHallr have de&led withJyMr 0rrrO)lalphe; mies. - :; ,. '-Vvv'"--;V'.i.--. A Bat .' he'dhTosliib-''to f the iwajf. did h: I not top iiere.. A- most bold addar I ins measure was devised and adopfed h oy ijyiassacnusettSi v rapei es-. sion of the Legislature, summned'un- ; on xaepretei 01 cieience, juuu tt no (lefensiye measure, whateyci: was 1 maxureti. aeieiraies wvrv 'acauiuicuf m f'ViTtt i rest '11 " T' , r t n as. .k m i . . , ' i . " 1WI ' ,3 1 ff xeSM ' J-I?TBZ V tv withm these States. and of nrenarintf U the jvay of i'tL palepartiotiiis -. project was resisted, and itejfectf ;0 tendency exposed llie.peoplcj becarhe p alarmed, the enemy e ncoiiraged ; and strong appfehensio'hs Tere etertain ed that Massachusetts,' at least, tftrM g, throw hers wholevlweiglit intoitihesca'e y of the" enemy .. 'jfiu"J that liejn who f:, has so often interposed in behalf of our country, did not forsake us ill this? ex- t itremityi ' Theosession .'which, autlions- ! ed the converaionw i ummoieoi ajt zr ; the capture of ailiirigtbn, ;an the public mind was depressed, and in I ! ness of pat-ty wotild have driven this deluded state. But the loss of the ca- i,v. nitol was succeeded ' by 4he"mosi bril liant triumphs. J This deprefsr ed the e- nemy, and discouraged thoppoHition. i The convention met: resistanceras I poszpunta r ana several alterations to y . -, i ' i f. . . ,:-::: -ai km the constitution were proposed tend- ing to impair; lis energy unii auriwgc the people pf their fights, having no bearing on the then state ofaflirsand the fate of whieli is now viewed with the most profound indifference. Upon the acceptance of the report of her (le- " legates, -Massachusetts appointed three f commissioners to act as a committee of lu i .J .3 grievance, yi uie seui. ui goveriiuieiii, ?,y to nskrwhaf thft.lTnitttl Staffsh.id nrtt H right to give. These tlisconsolate en- ;; tlemefi, after meeting with muteh tnbu- j lation, ridicule, contempt, andnty& j hearing tlie mortifying arid rrriwelcome i fc 111 Itl I V f.',IIJ M.I'l litlVV,, UI U ved at Washington ;..were afraid or an shamed to make riowa thoiij, errand, returned as secretly as possible, and idtalliiranpo nr trirrnpir ond Viala 4rt i here the tarce entled I ' J Thus have I eriumerated someof the engines, by which theronstittion was attacked while she was tniftetircr the storm vof war. Biit e, wid watches m over the destinies of America, shiehl- fe ed her from the storm, protected her from the tempest and brought" her to her haveriirrpcace, safety and;trijimph.. In spite of ihese and other embarrass ments, you see this infant refcirise" from itscradley' an4hu.mbbr thc mis tress of 5 the ocean. . YonVse ?f:cn tre Lakes,' two British fleets of sujperi'ir force, strike: to the matchless skill aria unconquerable J bravery of Aihericans. You see our young-and inexperienced officers and soldiers at Chipjiewa, and Bridgewater, tylteldfghi', meet and repel a superior torce of the veterans of the Peninsula, 44 the cpnquerdrs of t' e conquerors -of Europe." l Yoki soe. at New Orleans, the most powerfurBri tish army hateyer stepped- on Amcri catf grn'fcyan vatMe structionof tlieir officers and nicn. by "the Back-rrpods;yJarrti: Who can doubt,, but the Gotl off a(tes' es poused our cause, and.not only co vered our heads intheday ofdanger,' but. covered emr as a mantle Jand orifusion as a gar- m?nt?" . . ;V, ...! ' And yolijpllo w. citizen?, are parta kers 6featepIojts- If tfie- rulers of your Btelhayelendcavored sti fle the mme of oupatnotism,' and ously fought and bled 6rjieir;Con h , try.. '.jUany-officers and rsoldire from this State can v boast f-Jonora'lile.J wounds, received at Chippewa, BrHIsl; raier, JCine, i -lansourg anu ?ie,wiere Yet up starts one of .your calcul in it sentry, and asks, "Piraywhat have you gained by the warr?. I an 4h detencc of out cbuntry's honor anrt i its rights ; arid many a eallani tar from If vntti native soil, has heroed id the dons t t pf St Qtolrge's crossl td the stars and strives of America j - ; . - f I I. II 4' -t Ft a. i 4 4 ,1" -! 9 "it 1 if r f I .-4 .4 V1 y l-
The Weekly Raleigh Register (Raleigh, N.C.)
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Aug. 18, 1815, edition 1
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