The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1822-10-21
D2. THoRNTON,s ADDRESS.

.o"hnS copy OF the auurSsS delivered Dy
DIR. William Thornton, superintendent
of the patent Office OF the U. States, } at
the town meeting in Westinghouse We'd
nesday evening last Nat. Inf.
( Gentlemen al am happy to find SO
many respectable individuals assembled
here this evening and solicit the honor
of your indulgence for few minutes,
that l may explain the subject Of this
meeting which is no less important than
the emancipation Of The Greeks, whose
recent sufferinss have excited the sym
paihy Of all Christendom.
Fellow Citizens-There was time
when the sacred FIRE Of, liberty blazefi
throughout our land when the father of
the tender family entered into solemn
league to assert the rights of man, re-.
commencing his innocent babes to the
protection of the Most High. AT that
time, If an unhalIowed tongue had dared
to treat with levity the feelings of the
patriot, a general. burst of indignation
would have blasted the mockery; but that
time has passed--for we have gained
our independence we res. at ease and
| in safety we read with listless apathy
| of the heroic deeds of those noble spirits
| who toiled through blood and danger, to
! obtain the boon that we now enjoy No,
wonder, then, that in this supine indul.
gence, many hear with Indifference oil the
| slaughter OF the brave Greeks, of the
| cold blooded murders OF the innocent
women and children, Of the violation of
the beautiful virgins, and of the sale of
| their persons TO the msst abandoned, the
most brutal of the human kind /; whose
| barbarous tenets teach them that all the
| lndignitIes which the most cruel can in.
| hict upon the Christian, is like incense
| offered to Mahomet There was time,
| when all the chivalry of Christendom,
under the banners of the Holy Cross,
waged war with the enemies of our Sa-
viour but the mercantile spirit, which
prostrates every thing noble which engros-
SEES every idea Of the modern ace,teaches
them to speculate on the blood of nations,
| with cold, calculating cruelty, and alb
serbs every noble idea in seif>interest.
In this wide country there are, never
theless, a large portion of most noble
minded spirits, who spurn the idea of re.
gulating their moral agency by those mar.
row trammels that end in sinister or
selfish views. 10 you, brave and exalted
offspring OF the generous race who will
ed freedom TO your country, | address
myself. To you will plead the cause
| OF the Greeks. Let the man who can
read, without elevation Of soul, of the
great and noble actions of the ancient
Greeks throw aside this address to him
| speak not; for he will hear of the ar.
dor OF the modern Greeks, whose reno
sation has been decreed from above, with
that lifeiess negligence that defeats every
vIrtuous emotion. address the true
American, who feels for he oppressed of
every nation. With such men this coun-
try abounds. call upon you, noble,
valiant, and generous, men, to aid the
| Greeks in their sacred cause. Read their
eforts--read the accounts Of their late
battles on sea and land, and say if the
world possesses more daring and active
men, men more worthy of the elevated
rank that freemen always assume
We hear, unhappiiy, that they have
been guilty of destroying some prisoners,
and have in some instances forfeited their
promises but whence do these accounts
| come? From the minions of the holy
alliance, who, to gain the trade of the
Turks, would sacrifice the whole Greek
nation doubt its truth but if true,
| when the brave Greeks witness the viola
ton OF their wives and daughters, what
can say the fury of the man, who, broken
! hearted in his affections, becomes indeed
| terrific lie sweaTs destruction to the
race of Mahomet; for neither the cries
! OF the babe, nor the feeble voice Of the
| aged, can check the ravages of the scimi-
| tar. The war is now become a war OF
determination, and nothing is wanting 10
sustain the great cause of Christian wars
| fare, but that support which we can east
| lY give. The Greeks are in Immediate
want Of warlike stores and ammunition.
If every generous hearted American
give pitiance, it will be to the Greeks a
boon which will Gil their souls with
new anc glowing ardor. 1t will insti! into
them new life. They will teach their
| babes to cherish,in their hearts the name
Of American-that name rendered sa-
cred in the annals Of liberty-that name
that is now invoked in the cause of re
generalion-that name which fills with
fear the cruel and despotic-that name
which has become a passport to every
generous nation and which every gene
rous and ardent soul cherishes You
my beloved countrymen, address, and
I know I shall not address vou In ,,a;n