Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-07-31

The following IS an cxtraCt Noan ..
ration delivered before the Washing
\ ton Benevolent Society Of the Coun-
y of Burlington. N. J. BY John l..
Nugent, esquire. on Monday the sth
day of July, at the Episcopal Church
in Mount Holly.
After adyerting to the principal scenes
of our revolutionary contest and portray
Ing the characters and policy OF our en-
deared Washington, he endcavored to
impress on the minds OF Americans the
Invaluable legacy which the father OF
his country had bequeashed In his fare
well address--he then proceeded:
ut is peculiarly osetul at Crisis
like the present. Engaged in war
with naughty and powerful Ice, one
who for years has singly withstood the
gigantic power Of the Frcnen dcspot !;
our frontiers tnenaced with savage e.
nemy-our commerce annih;lated, and
agricultural interests impaired-our
ports and ha, bors biockaded, and our
scacoasts infested with the fleets Of the
enemy-where amid the general gloom
and dependency that persade our coun
tty shall we descry one ray OF hope, one
pleam of consolation Our armies in
the North and IN the West, want not
that bravery which is characteristic OF
Americans but they are destitute OF
that discipline and suberdinatioD which
are equally inseperable from military
organization. To this circumstance Is
to be attributed the painful defeats, the
humliatipg disasters, which have at.
tended them. May. God in his infinite
mercy avert from them further and
greater calami,ies; restore them once
more to the converse of their families Il
friends, and convert their weapons OF
war into pruning hooks and plough
shares
There is yet, however, some glim-
mering of comfort fatterins to the pride
| of Washiugton's children. 1t Is to be
found in our Spartan band-our Infant
navy-rhe child Of Washington's adop-
ton, and nurtured by those who follow
ed him in principle, until novel theories
and untried systems had nearly caused
| il. annihilation Who is not proud to
rank as hi. country man Hull or De
tur, Jones or BAinbridge, not more
| DISTINGUISHED for their skill and valor
| in combat, than for their noble magma
! mimi y. after victory. They have Great
ed for themselves trophies OF endless
| renown-fDr their country, wreaths OF
glory which can never fade From
this scene of partial and transient con-
graduation, JerseyS,en, toHte and res
hectrd audience, does no bosom expand
| with sensibility /? no eye moisten! NO
tear minsle with tear ? Al the destiny
OF the n,rcpid-.he disinterested Law
| renee Noble, generous, amiab'e young
man deserving of better tate-you'
hove ufcountry surnounted "the wroaSs
and coatumely" which were heapcd up
on you-you boldly dared var favori'a
| element-you nobly fought, you nopiy
! conuuei ed, and as nobly died. Yes
yes, It shall be some slight. some trivial
| consolation, to a bereaved anu widowed
| wlfe-to the prsttiing oHspring. who
are left behind, to learn that In this sec
ton of our country, In this portion vi
| our union, his wrongs were Indignantly
! felt, his v4Ior and masnaai'r!ty justly
| appreciated, and his unii.neiy doom u
| Universally dcplorsd. Perhaps at this
aon.ent. the fond ard anxious partner
| of bis bosom, his tolls, his dangers and
his p,ories, waits his re urn-His chill
! dren lisp me name Of tather'-Aias !!
he returns no more-biS spirit has fed
| to kindred regions, where in God we
trust he ranks with the Just made hap
~. With s al gratitude, my brethren.
| ae return 20 the principles of our plous
md revered parent-They constitute the
foundation of our society, and are the
basis of that harmony and friendship,
that benevolence and clarity, which
s6ould at all times exist among the dis
cip!cs of Washington.
"As period like the present when
our political horizon Is oTerclouded' and
= por,entious storm threatens the deVas-
,a,ion Of property aud the destruction OF
life, we recur with svicily TO the coun-
.els OF our sage. Should We hnd that
an abandonment Of his sacred and dying
miunc,ions has en,ailed upon our coun.
try the miseries and calamlties which At
endures, poignant indeed must be our
reflections. Have we pursued the lair
and liberal system of neutrality which be
recommended Are We engaged n
war in defence of oar hearths and Ere
sides the protection of our wives and
children Genius OF my country, an
swer. Offensive war was not within the
political or religious creed OF Washing
ton. Policy required not the agsran-
dizement Of Our country by the exien-
sion OF its territory nor did the mIid *
sacred doctrines OF Christianity teach The
sacrifice of human liie-Spirit OF Wash
ine;on! hover over the destInies oil thy
once favored cline teach US Is cling
10 the constitution as the rock OF our p2.
al