Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-10-12
A SERMON,

Preached IN Boston. .dhguSt ~. 1o1I.
the day Of Humiliation aad Pray
or, appointed by the President Of
the United States, in consequence
of the Declaration Of Har against
Great Britain.
By WILLIAM, ELLERY CLAIMING,
+ Geo eLUDfp
1T becomes us to rejoice. my friends
that we live under'a constitution. one
great design of which is-to prevent
the necessity ofappeaiisg to force
TO give the people All OPPORTUNITY of
removing, without violence, those
rulers from whom they suffer, Or ap-
nrehend an invasion of rights. This
is one of the principal advantages OF
a republic over an absolute govern
ment. In despotism, there is go
remedy for oppression but force.
The subject cannot influence public
affairs, but by convu!sing the state.
With us, rulers may DC changed,
without the horrors Of revolution.
4 republican government secures TO
its subjects this immense privilege
by confirming to them two most I'M
portant rights; the right ofsuifrage,
and the r. Et OF discussing with free
dom the conduct Of rulers. The va
loe of these rigntsin affcNiing peace
full method Of redressing public
grievances cannot be expressed, and
the duty of maintaining them, OF ne
yer surrcndering them, cannot be too
strongly urged: resign either of
these. and no way Of escape from
oppression will be left you, but ci-
vii cOmmOtion.
From the important place which
these rights hold in republican so
vernmeat, you should consider your
selves bound to support every citizen
in the lawful exercise Of them, es-
pecia!Iy when an attempt is made to
wrest them from any by violent
means, At the present time, it is
particularly your duty to guard, with
jealousy, The right of expressing
with freedom your honest convictions
respecting the measures Of your ru-
lers. Without this, the right Of e.
lection is not worth possessing. II
public abuses may not be exposed.
their authors will never be driven
from power. Freedom OF opinion, o!
speech. and Of the press, is our
most valuable priyilesc-the very
soul of republican iastitutions-the
safeguard of all other rights. We
may learn its value if we reflect,
that there is nothing which tyrants
so much dread. They anxiously
fetter the press; they scatter spies
through society, that tie murmurs,
ar:.uish and indignation of their OPP
pressed subjects Hlay be smothered
i'm their own breasts; that no gene
rous sentiment may be nourisiied by
sympathy and mutual confidence.
Nothing awakens and improves men
so much as free communication OF
thoughts and feelings. Netting can
give to public sentiment that cor
RICHNESS. which is essential to the
prosperity Of commonwealth. but
The free circulation CT truth, from
the iips ana pens of the wise ard
good. IL such men abandon tho
rich; Of free ,iiscnssion--if. aWed by
thsva;-. ;!,cy surp.ess thei" conric-
tions--!f rulers 5lccted In siienciRg
e,erY voice. b,:t shat which approves
,hem-if nothing reaches the people
but what Will lend Support to men
in power-f:,re~eI 10 liberty. The
fern of a free sovernmen; .aay re-
main. but the i;te, the soul, the sub
stance is fled.
ifthese remarks be just, netting
ought to excite greater Indignation
& aiarm than tie attempts whict nave
lately beea made TO destroy the free
dom OF the press. We have lived tohear
the strange doctrine, that TO expose the
measures Of ru! crs is treason: and
We have lived TO see this doctrine
carried into practice. We have
sees a savage populaee excited and
let !sose Oh men, whose crime cen
sisted i'll beariE.s testimony against
the present war; and let loose, not
merely 20 waste their property. but
to shed tlseir blood, to tear them
f-om the refuge which The magistrate
had afforded, to slaughter them with
every circumstance OF cruelty and
iSnominy / ia not intend TO describe
that night Of horrors, TO show 10 you
citizens. whn had fought the battles
of their country. beaten TO the earth,
t.vii;,,~n ur,ier loot, maa%led. Gisho-