Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-07-11
o Z d TT O n.
Gentlemen ofthe
Washington Sociefys

BEFORE GOlHfiiChSS VIZ Tr.ss.
riie1 favor has assigned me, permit me % ~
licit that Indulgence to which youth aau i''S =
peiiercc have 50 Just claim.
10 add one new emotion TO inc nuiluei -
those which are already awakened by the re-
er,hrance of our national nat'slty--to unite
to9tbe accuracy Of fact the elegance OF ex-
nressoa. or the beauties of arrangement, are
objects 10 wi.;ch ingenuity and eioquence can
ALONG aspire. How then shall ayouth'ul ORA
tor attempt the performance or task SO ar
duous wheresshould he find confidence
but in that liberality which has been UNIFORM
~ extended TO his predecessors, and to when
,,,spula urge as an additional clam the al
~ A1~S'ey liar.
History, fellow-ci,izens, records but fa*s e
vents SO we'll entitled to the admiration ofthe
world, as that whichw we are assembled 10 com.
nlemoratc. The acquisition ola territory, or
the subjugation of an empire, may excite a
transieAl plaudit,a lnonieDtary admiration but
The triumph OF sirtuous peopls contending
for the inherent rights of nature. will be re-
naen,bersd with delight, when the victories of
ambition are forgotten, and the proud nouu-
H.snts of wealth and splcndor are viewed only
with abstract curiosity or cold Indifference.
The history of revolutions, is too often 4
recital ofthe vices Of mankind; and in tracing
The progressive steps wi,icn have led to the
zbolistion Of one government and to the es-
tablishment Of another. Thc hear: sickens at
! g the huge saorsnity Of crime on crime accu-
nulatins --that marked the reign of syran7;y,
rather than the progress of h6e,sy. To this
Ssneral reProach, the revolution which gave
birth 20 our independence, forms q happy ex-
ccpsion We fought, not to ertermiasts, but
TO save---noi to e6rigsss the rights of naa, but
20 sos~kAsA ei,e1n
so tong as tic mother country evincedat-
tention to the interests ne hal. caias,;os .,sa,.
ncqulesced in her authority; but wnen that
attention ceased they reHounced an allegiance,
which lost its obligation when it failed to
command a correspondent II, election. Eng
land regarding us only as the ministers tc her
appetite, the mine from which she could oc-
sasionally replenish her exhausted treasury,
forgot that the duty ofthe sovereign and the
subject was sscitsDcsl. Lost in the golden
dreaips Of sinecurc revenue, she never once
, remembered, that people. who in the spirit
of enterprise had reiinquished country, en-
dcared by the ties of birth and affinity, to &C
quire new possessions in = remote and uncul-
tiYated land, would imbibe spirit of indie
pendenee which could not saneiy submit to a
deprivation Of its rights.
Ours was not the mad contest of am5itio1s,
or the sudden eSuilition of re5eiiious s,liya.--
When petition and remonstrance were alike
disregarded. and oppression grew with sub
mission, it Was time sor a more cogens ap-
peal. Arms alone could give redress. The
oIive-branch had been rejected, and the pride
of britain loft us the painful, but Necessary al
ternative, ofthe sword.
The appeal to Grass had been preceded by
every effort for consolation, consistent with
the spirit of freemen. We ,ecounted the va
rious acts OF oppression and injustice under
which we suffered. We examined with bold
ness and impar,iallity the rights Of nafare and
, of aafioas. These representations were tisre-
gartied-this examination, bold and conelu-.
sive, was treated with a eon.emtfuous silence.
Twas at this period tina, tic people of a.
.merica rose to resist the cncroachments of ty-
ranny, and to offer to the world the novel spec
sncle IF an infant nation contending for its Ii
berry. in opposition to people bound by the
most sacred obligations TO cherish and trotees
1t. We, have seen the anxiety of nations ex-
cited, when two contending armies have met
to decide the fate of a city, or the extent of
5oundary-what then must have been their
sensations wheat they heheld this great and In
teres,ing contests To an army accustomed to
the discipline Of war, and Injured to Its hard
ships. were opposed an assembiage of men,
whose habits and pursuits were all ayersc to
bloodshcd and devastation. But though infe-
flor in numbers and in discipline, we exceed
ed cur ~invaders in pirtne and in patriotism.
When an oppressed people, animated by
! the resistless spirit of liberty, rise to assert
their rights--whcn private interest is immolat-
ed on the altar Of public utility, and every
arm nerved by the sense Of impending dan
ger, discipline cannot sustain the shock, or
annhsEs isHpede their progress 60 .xuccess.