National gazette. — Philadelphia [Pa.], 1793-08-10 00:00:00, page 1

Nomb. 82 of Vol- I!.] SATURDAY, August 10, 1703. [Total Numh. 186]
[/■//ertr.l by rej'ie/l-]
AN oration,
Deivcre;! o;l the i n-.irth of July, at Chef
tertowu (VU, viand) bv Citizen Ribert
Wright, pnbli ieil at the requell of the
Citizens who celebrated that Day.
Citizens, .
r-po a candid audience, want of time, to
■A redice to Ivltcin the prefeut obf."v lo
tions. will b ' a nihcient apology for a.l
their imperfections.
Citizens we have alTembled to celeJi ate
t'ie Jny, tin- aufpici >us duy to A nenca tli ■
tl iy vhiVli announced the 'ti ■■f Ma",
and eriaalidv-d the ,V, vertig'Hy <>f the Pen
pie the day which num ill luiieler the
a ulin.r lhackles of Brititii tyranny, and ce
lt vered us son po itical bondage, the
great day which pave birth to the empire
«•'C"lu.nbia. and gave her an exalted raiiK
am > lg tne nations ot the eaith.
We a e then n •turally led t« review tne
causes which induced it- to contemplate
with reverence the patriots who declaie,
it; to admire with fraternal attentionthe
he;oes, who fought, bled and died ro eltab
li ti it ; and w-th gratitude acknowledge
the nappv effects wuich have 14 -wed ho.r
this memorable event; ail event wilier
adorns the molt brilliant page ol hdtory.
written eve i w'lth the blood of our heroes
ail eve.it which altoniliied the d nnmij
world, and ettablilhed our national greav
jieC,; an event which is reco deil on iht
he >rt ol every American, with grati m.e,
for her heroes (lun, never, never to be
forgotten.
The revolutions of other emp res have
ge lerallv been the tlt-'ct ot reltlef, aiilbi
ti in.thirlt ofdonination.or Inft of power,
anil the simple change of on.- tyrant tor an
other.tlie Rig it iol .Vlan be.ug difregat ded.
and their governments re eiving little oi
no aUera'i'JO —ejovernnie -t-. toundcel it
the times of Egyptian darkness; in tin
times of fup-Tltiti in au.l p iellcratt, hi
the when kings were held to be oi
divine authority ; when every principle ol
goyernm nit led to the ellablithment of an
loelite dominion in the tyrant, not lii c
glory ; and the pi 111 v e obedience and .ion
reli'lance ol the people, not their hap
piness.
Happy, thr'.ce h 'pay Americans ? our
revolution was effeiicd at an enlightened
period of the world ; at a period when
tile Rignts of Ma i were perfectly un.l r
flood, and the tovereignty of the people
reco.rnifed Our revolution was fouiuiecl
on thepnreit principles of liberty and equa
lity ; it was no' a revolution oi t■ i ,nt ,
but a revn irion ot principles ; wh rebv
the fovereigntv of kings was overturned,
and the fovereijnty ot th people eft ib
1 iiheel on its rui i-. It •is not the product
of relllef ambition, tnirll of dominati
on, or lull of power, but oi necessity aid
genuinep atriotii'm, inculcated by Common
Sent'e, under the invincible r-iflue ice o
unerring Reason, that American Idol, a
gainlt whose empire all the tyrants or the
earth have confederated and war in vain,
at whose llirine Defnocs tremble.
Citizens, when, m the course ol hnmai
events, it becti nes ncceflarv tor one
pie to difl'olve the political bonds,
h ire connected them with another, and ti
ta.ee their Ita'.ion among the nations of the
earth, to which the law of nature, and ol
nature's God, equally entitles them ; a de
cent refpeil for the opinions of mankind,
requires, that they Ihonld declare the
causes which impel ihem to the reparation.
This truth is felf-evident, that all mei
are by nature eq lal, that they ire endowee
by their Creator, with certain imprescript
ible, and unalienable rights ; amongthefe
are life, liberty, and the pursuit of hap
piness ; that, to secure those rights, go
vernments are instituted among men, de
riving ail their power from the fovereigi
will of he people: that whenei er any lorn
of government becomes definitive o
thole ends, it is the undoubted right, i
is the indifpenf ible duty of the people ti
alter, or, to abolifli it, and to iuflitute :
new government, laying its foundation or
such principles, and organizing its powei
in such form, as (hall bed secure theii
fafety and happiness. Prudence dilates,
that revolutions Uiouid not be attempted
on light or rranfient cases, and the expe
rience of all ages proves, that mankind arc
more disposed to bear, while evils are fut
ferable, than to rij.ht themselves by abo
lilhing forms to which tlieyhave long been
accuftomt d
But when a long train ot abuses and
tifurpationsj pursuing, inan iably the- f.iue
r.v P. FRF.NEAU: (at N0.' 2 0 9 , Market Street) PuUi/ktd Weekdays and Saturdays, [Fh*« kDo l lars per
object. evince a deliberate design to e lab
iiili abfofiite defpotifin. it U ngV, it
.stheii duty to throw otfTuch domination.
Mid co provide new guards lor their fu
ture fafety. , rir
Citizens, such was the p t.ent ln..er
anc«? of these colonies ; filch was the ne
cessity which conltrained them to abolifli
their former governments. Ihe hiltor)
of the present king; of Great Britain is a
uiftory of repeated injuries and ufurpa
tions< all having in ilirecl: object, theeltab
lifhmcnt of absolute tyranny over these
■states. To pr ve this let fact be substi
tuted to the candid world.
He refu fed his alient to laws, the Itioft
wholesome and necefiary, for the public
good.—He diff'ivedreprtfentative houses.
repeatedly, lor oppoling, with manly firm
ness, his invaflons of the rights o) the peo
pie—He obitructed the adminiltration ot
ja'tice, by refuting irs 'llTeiit to laws, foi
eltabli hing judiciary powers.
He among us landing armies in
time of peace, and p« uedeo them, by
mock trial, from pimiflmient for minder:
committed on the peaceableinhab tants o
these* itaies —He irapof d taxes on us with
out our cot Ccn;, a d claimed th right u
m -ke laws to bind us, in all cafe 9 w Int; -
ver, without our being reprefentcd —H-
abdicated the government here b> cleti
ring »»s . >ut of his protection. a id waging
war against us—tie plundered our sea .
ravaged oflr coast** bur.it our tow ns, am;
murdered our ptople —He hired foreign
mercenaries to complete the works of
'eath, desolation a »d tyranny, already l>e-
with circumftani c sot cruelty and
perfidy, fc;ircely paralleled in the nnit
b trb.u ous ages, and difgracelul to the
heads of a civilized nation.
H. enticed our people to take Op arm"
ap.ainti their native country, and b .fely to
murder their brethren ; whereby ad tiiof
who escaped the fevord and gibbet, like
f > ma«y Arnolds, live the monuments ot
their own disgrace.
He compelled our fellow citizens taken
captives on the feus, to iir.brue the«
hands in the blood of -.their countrymen.
excited infurrettions among us, and
allured the Indian savages, wnoieknowl
rule of warfare is the indiscriminate de
(fruition of all ages, sexes and conditions,
to deltrov our aged and venerable p<ireiirs,
our tender wivej, and innocent childre 1.
In every ftaj,e ot t ir fe oppreilions we
pet tioned ' r redress in the molt humble
terms, and our repeated petitions were
pnfwered only by repeated i ifults
Nor were we wanting in an attention tc
our Britiih b.etliren; we warned them
from time to time, of the attempts made
by their Legiflattire to extend unwarrant
iDie juriidiction over us : we reminded
hem of our emi. ration fn'.ni their country;
%ve appealed to their native juflice am!
magnanimity, and we conjured them bj
lie ties of our common kindred, to ilil
avow such usurpations ; they too were
;e if to the voice of juitice and confangtii
|ity-
I'hefe were the caiifes that impelled out
Delegates in Congress aflembJed, to de
clare, in she name, and by the authority,
>f the good people of these Itatcs, "* That
' these United Colonies are, and of right
4 ought to be, free and independent Itates,
* that they \\ ere absolved from all alle
* giance to the Britiih crown, and th t
ls all political connexion between them
•* and the state of Great-Britain is, and
' ought to be, totally diflolved, and that
4 as free arid independent states, they
• 4 have full power to levy war, conclude
14 peace, contract alliances, and do all
fc4 other ads and things, which independ
-14 ent Itates, may of right do.'* And for
the support of the fame declaration, rely
ing on the protection of Divine Provi
dence,they mutually pledged to each other
heir lives, their fortunes, and their sa
cred honors.
Citizens, this was the ast that broke the
chains of Britiih tyranny, and delivered
us from worse than Egyptian bondage.
This was the a£t that declared the Rights
of Man and eltabldbed tbe sovereignty ol
the people ; and this is the auspicious day
011 which it was done! a day which
ought lor ever to be held sacred by Colum
bia !
Citizens, this declaration of independ
ence was an a£t of reason, of reflection,
and lung deliberation, but, like a-t elcdrii
(hock, with heavenly fire, llruck all A
mer.ca at once, the civil, the military,
and all ranks of citizens, like one n an
co-operated in supporting it, conceiving
Tfcey had pledged ihciv iheu' foi tuuedi
andtfeir facrrd honors to defend it, a
(übftantially hy their reprefentaf.ves ii
Conrfl", as if they had done it individu
ally bv theinfelves. Nor was the wifdon
and pcuetr tion of Congress more cemfpi
cnoUb in . ny avt of their tit liberations thai
in the ap; o ncinesit of our Commander in
vihief. who fuems lo have been felefted iiy
Heaven.as tlie Saviour of his counti y;um!ei
whoso happy uifjiiies we are not only ii:
poffelHun ol the independent empire ot the
tinetkcountry upon tne g obe ; a country
-vhoi'c forefts are crow net! with timber fni ■
iciei.t to supply all the navies of the world:
i country w nose foils, in an improved Hate
if cultivation, would fumilli bread enotigl
;o feed half the old world; a country
liofe waters abound with si h enough t>
uppt ' all the markets o Furope ; a conn
ay si led " ith minerals of the nioft Valuab.e
I i ility.t'iifficiei.t for all the tlfeful purpose:
if fife—but also in pofleflion ol the be lt or
,anifed form of gover nient—a government
i w rich the e: ergy of a monarchy, witl ■
>ut e pomp of kings, the wifdoni of ai
n'llll.ci acy, without the baneful poison oil
itibiity. a d :he v rtue of a democi ,;cy a e
nod i.ap, ily united ; a government found
d oil tne pin eft pri icipies of Liberty ant
r" ,|uality, Ifecuring eVe y mail in the (hade
it hisowa Kig free, and in the fruits o
11s Own Vi e ; a p,overnmeiit which carrit
II it a civn remedy tor all its def^ifi.
t ail W ashiNGl on !•* may thy
ibun s be Clowned with fuccef ; lo;:j.
11 lyil th'iu live the favorite of thy conn
■ y ; may thy great n me be eterniUd b>
.ne honelt historian, when the monument
:o be e. feted to thy memory fha'.l be de
Iroyed by the hanei of time.
li.!. 1 Warren, Montgomery, and Mer
T, Ve ily, Bracco, and Walters,, Ander
•i.i, Pol ■ lisi. and Wilmot, Dt Kalb, Cjold
nd Thorn,t
Haii all ye holts of f'eparted Heroes 1 ;
:t *•:. the treal's) e y.isi lf.vilhed .in you.
onntry's cause, .nd prevalent the priet
/oil paid for her liberty, and nothing bu
i ivenimeiit liice this, in such a country
have ever fljnchee! the bieedin.
,i. uiu!s of tne tender unc, ".he a:~tciionat.
lollie r. daughter, fitter, tor ijufoanils
;hi,father , brothers 11 in, whoft
iie'iHOiiable a.lines, ever clear to Anieric i
nay tlie Inlloi .c page hand down tei la'e l
with in mortal honour. O! n ;
iley si urifli in eternal day.
\ e more fortumie -son- of America,win
"urVived our contelf for Liberty, and w i
petl'ne. long may you live the gfcardbii'
f our lihei ties, the ornaments ol l'ocie ty
may your Country n»ver forge: your u.ire
mil crated ferviees, but gratefully rewai.
ii t in . ami may your viituou* labours bt
.rownetJ with pre.fperity
Citizens, in contemplating the otithor
if our Independ.nce, let Americans nevei
iorj,et, that it was not all the work of then
town hands, and that it could ot l ave beei
i'o loon eltabliUied by all their biootl anc
treasure ; but let thein remember,-and le
them teach it to their children, that mi cl
of the merit is due to France | and, thai
dui warmed acknowledgments ought toi
ever to flow lo that generous nation, win
rarly taiuht in not to defjiair, a d lornui
an alliance with us on terms of the mod
«?rfc£l reciprocity, gave us renk alrmni
:he nations of the earth, ftirnilhed lis w itl
leets and armies, money & military (tores,
ivhofe gal,ant ions braved the peril' of the
eas) erofled the Atlantic ocean, fought,
lied and died for our country, and enablec
America to | ut a speedy and a splendid pe
riod in the glorious revolution.
Cit zens, this the voice ot jtif>ice bid;
lie lo confefs. t is gratitude commands ine
ai declare, anel tliis the feeling,, of my our
le art impels me to inculcate on every A
m eric an i
How explicitly then ought we to confe-P
aur obligations to France ; how cheertuliv
leclare our gratitude for fueh unboilrider
jenerofity» such unparalleled magnanimity,
i he present i evolution of France, as yet.
hath fufnifhed Hs with an opportunity, onlyi
:>t wifhingfuccefs to their Arms, confufioi
to the Council of their Enemies, and tii a;
they may ettablith their government, found
ed on the Sovereignty ot the I'enp.e.
Our moll grateful acknowledgments are
i hie to De Grass, aid all the Heioes of the
French Army and Navy, who fought, biei
and coneiueTcci with us.
Revere nie to the iliuftri iis Wafliingtoi
and onr virtuous : riuy, who. with mine
(ban Roman valour, defended cur country
ind rllahlilhed i lir national military cha
* t J Atth-Je vr.tci a panje axd r?L
on the (Wan:-
rifter : who taught Britons tiiat th s oil
was adapted to the growth ot man, & t, at
Americans had not degenerated but rege
| nerated by their emigration ; & convinced
[ the world, that mercenary hirf lings, and
| tools to tyrants, are not equal to men fight
ing for their liberties; that the fp rk 11 li
berty n.ore firmly braced the human ai m
than a.l the gold of Britain.
Profound refpeet to those venerable pa
riots, who. in Corgref, declared Ame
rica independent, who tilled our ( onm iii.
ai d conducted our affairs ihnwigh th-fc
tempelluous times, which try mens fouls,
and who with the wildow of a Lycurgiis,
the vigilance of a Hauiden. and thi ii. m
ef» of a Sidney, planned and vat.hed our
ffairt ot llate ; and ultimately fecund us
11 advantageous, juff, and hunoui .lile
peace.
A tender refpfif i due to the fair tl; ugh
.ers of America uh fj u-lied the gilded
>:iit, the poifo::ous Te i, intended 10 be
guile thcni, a d preferred the Liberty of
■ lieir country to an tlu luxurit s of tin ope,
~d no.ilj bine the loss of hnfbandu, fotn,
id brothers D.iin, aril with Amazoniai»
valour ioug t tilemfelves,* to revenge tile?
iiifuit on tneir sex.
A decent ret| ett is due to ail orders of
ilizens, who firmly aided in their rcip.c
----r \e Itations in the completion of ihis great
a 01 k
And; above all. a religious gratitude t«
>ur Heavenly Be ntfacfor, who, fining on
our righteous cause, protected us with his
utftretched arm, and crowned im virtu
ms labours with fuecefs.
* At the White plains a'ld Monmouth-
From the New York Journal.
r HAVE for fume time part observed, in
tue pt.blic pr ills, a fanes of logics 1 <e-
am puces, or number:-, nailer the
ugi.aiure ot L'acifictts. Tilis \\liter ap
p -its so intent «n »< lei g out a neiarii>u«
purpose, iliat I cannot compare him to any
;liing better than a woif iu fiicep's cloa
thii'i;. Tl e I'atrial, (a book w i itten by
tJocior Johnfoii after He had defcaiec! the*
-alife ot lib, ry, and efpoufeci that oi the
iinnii.ry) tra so rds Pucificut. lince the
in: -i> uto Co iy to d- pi els the patr ot
fmof th people, not to involve the nation
ii a war a itu it> ou i, 'il.ti j and Uie vo
li,imuetf> jiol.u.a: a.g< bru of f.dmund
riuike is more ex i l bit. as he con;r otic
:.pe"iily and tells the N-l.on.ii Conventioit
win: He really ji earn. ; but the pi'ol'X
t acificuS tlii'.es to hide bis great 01-jeft
unoe. a loi g tra,n ot far fetched f.-ph'fti.
ial reafoni/.g, ip'tlyd figneii to persuade
Us to be political rafcuis ar.d republican
blockhead* It no; my intention t'>
t: ace hi in through ail h s .erpentine m< ;>u
deiings, (ijce, while his enigmatical fo
(hifins are exploded, his inipilh i■ • ii>.ti
i mis would derive fume confequenct si am
then" being noticed ; but to unfkteen his
cloven foot affords me a high degree of
I'.ti laffion. In the fecund number ot'jhis
redoubtable luminous writer, he urges,
v, ith gi eat energy, that the French nation,
by acting offenlively, have fofeited evtry
claim Of succour whick. by the treaty,
they are entitled to. This is a falfe affec
tion and a base anticipation. 111 the fit ffc
place, the king, in conjun&jon with the
t migrant princes, infligated ih« courts of
Anuria and Pi tiflia to acl lioftilcjy against
tile people of France ; and the Duke of
Brunfuick was the fiilf invader. ]n re
gard to the oilier powers, their co dust
compelled the French to take a decided
p..rt : Afl: common sense, whether a peo
-1 le, whole internal, political trai quiiity
was noi ye reflored, would wish to in
vite the forces of all the fui rounding na
tions to at! agninrt them? In ilie feconitl
place, the anticipation is as villainous as it
is unfounded : Vv h„t cause have oui brave
friends, and allies, g \en lis to lo 111 a
conjeSure, that they intend to den aii4
succour fruiii . mtrica? Has not cii:zen
(ienet eXpielsly declared, that Fr: ace is
lenliblje Ihe can receive no reJ affiilaiice
lrum u», lince the theatre of the war is nit
the other continent, and therefore does
not aik it; and that Ihe does Tiut wjlll to
involve us in t!:e druggie—V. hat can be
more friendly. i> ore noble ! Alter erect
ing this head, or ground of argument, anil
fuppoiing it in.pieg able, Pacificus fays,
■■ 'i here may be cnules which will juflify
an offenfive war ; such rs the ill-treaimenc
if the aitiballitdors ot a prifce— pluuderiiic
nfhis fi.bjecis, &e.'' To refeni this greac
inl'u't, ai>U repair svil, Ui9H«