Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-07-06

the revolution. Calculated OF them
selves to make deep and lasting I'M
preston on the mind, the continued re-.
petition of them, " like twice told talk" "
must cloy without amusing, mus. fatigue
without adding to our stock of intorma
ton. Time, too, may be more proh'a-
bly, employed in investigating ITS charse-
ter. than in dwelling OF its incidents, IL
drawing wisdom from its example, than
in commemorating its details. To the
friend Of liberty however, we may OBJ
serve, that for liberty We fought. The
friend Of humanity must be told that our
cause was then the cause OF mankind,
and to the world at large we feel an no.
nest pride in procIaining the glorious
result of our labors, the honorable ter
mination Of our tolls.
No false aad visionary principles bad
led Us to the field /; no vain sol'cliude
for military fame, or territorial acqulsl-
ton had impelled as 10 the conflict
Oar grievances were many our ven
gcance was slow but full and the sword
that was drawnin defence Gifts country'S
rights, yielded not again TO tha touch Of
the scabblrd, ere its suriac@ bad rehsc'-
ed the full orb OF its coun,'s's inGepcnd-
ence. A nation was emanciDIted-iY-
rasny shruDk abashed t. ~ nat've Elonn
-and beam Of tranquility penetrated
even 10 the lonellcst reccsses ct ovr
western willis. Such were the happy
results of the earliest efforts Of Amerl-
can valor
In considering the character OF the
revolution. the first feature thst atres.s
our attention, IS It's extreme simplicity.
We search It's records ~ vain tor tlsol
species of incident, on which the mind
is nos accustomed TO dwell with the
gre9le=t interest. They abound not in
wonderful events, In the conflicts OF
mighty armies, in the overthrow Of
vast empires, nor in rapid succession
of uncxamplsd vlcioric, and de'eats.---
CO. sldcred simply in relation 10 the
numbers engaged, the variety 2nd mag.
uitude of their cvoluIlGns, or 70 the con-
sequences more Immediately resulting
from them, the greatest achievements
Of our ancestors sink perhaps into insie.
nihcance, when compared with the BRILL
aDt events OF European warfare.
Blu, in the superficial mnd alone will a
comparison thss untavorab!e TO America
DC Instituted. The philosopher and he
statesman, who look bevond the linn;ed
horizon which bounds the sphere OF or
binary observation, while they gaze with
wonder and astonishmcnt on the events
OF the prcsen, day, will tnrD with delight
to the page on which are recorded the
less dazzling but equally important Incl
dents OF the American revolution. Its
authors will be compared, nos with those
wild and romantic advcn:urers who here
and there appear, like cnmets to terribly,
or ike plaques to desolatc, the tairest
portions of the world but with the he
roes Of old, whose names, like sncIsnt
land marks, still remain to point with
unerling exactness TO the limits OF their
coun,yy's prosperitY-with Mililades no.
bly, ard successfully contendins against
a host OF Persian invaders-wl,h LeonI-
das and his Spartan bald voluntary VIC
Tins to their coun'ry's safety-with Pc
lopid.s aid Epaminondas, brethers in
renown, brave, virtuous and dlsiEterest.
ed--with the Roman Sclplo, turning the
tide oil Carthagenian success, and be-
friendng his country in the hour Of its
greatest need-and with Cincinnstus
loyfuiiy dive.ting himself Of the robss
OF power, and returning without sigh
to the humble occupations ct his CARRIER
days With these, the names 81 War
rem, Montgomery, Mercer, Gates and
Green, viii enter into honorable compe-
,il;on wailc Washiagtos, elevated IN
dca,h as he was in life, above all comna-
risoa, must still command the Undivided
admiration OF the world.
Nor vet is are the military incidents
Of our revolution entirely without their
interest They do not, it is true. excite
in general such sublime and variega'ed
Feelings, as resnit from contemplating
the evolutions Of armies, composed OF
4" countless thousands" CT headed by
chieftains, who, like Charles and Gnsta-
yus OF Sweden, are almost fitted 20 be
heroes OF romance. But 10 the patriot,
and scientific warrior. they abound alike
in Interest and instruction. They IN
spire hope in the midst OF despalr--they
d.aw consolation from the very bosom
of adversely -they teach the invaluable
art of surrounding every dihicu'iy; at
main aiming armies with physical re-
sources Of the most limited nature; OF
contendiEg at the same moment against
insurrection a: home, and aggression
from abroad; and OF conducting ma
ton to happy independence, not th'o
the Aowery paths of victory * triumph
but over a rough unbeaten track, bsset
on either side with dangers and with DIT.