Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-03-10

and nation. This duty is so thrown
upon US, and we will briefly perform it.
We think it duty, because Gov. EustIs
seems in his speech to consider his cleo
lion to have mainly depended on the
Is rising generdtion.'' We do not know
how well pleased the rising generation
will be with this compliment. But we.
feel that their fathers have thought bet
ter of the uses of public and domestic
education, than 10 believe that their
children have sought the supposed &C.
casion, to sully the good name of the
living, and TO reproach the fame of the
dead.
1.-THE "rising gsneratiOn' kno0D 1t not
they should know-that when the Ameri-
can colonies redeemed themselves from
British bondage by their own valor, and
the blessing of the Almighty and be-
came so many independent nations, they
proposed to form national union. The
federal constitution, under which we
now live, was framed and proposed to
the people. Those who were in favor
of union Of the States IN this form,
became known by the name Of Federal
lists; those who wanted no union OF the
States, or who disliked the proposed
form of union, became known by the
name of Anti Federalists. fhe first
succeeded. Washington, Adams, Ham
ilton, Knox, Strong, Cabot, and their
compatriots, carried this system of Gov
ernment into effect and the American
people, as if by magic, started into IA
great and powerful nation. The Anti
Federalis,s were dissatisfied. They
still continue their dislike, and spared
no exertionS to show their hostility to
the administration Of the government
General Washington was assaied by
anonymous publications; and attempts
were made 10 inspire belief among
the people, that he, Washington was
uoder British influence!
In this state ot things the French rev
olulion came in aid Of the Anti Federal
ISIS. They adopted lis wild enthusiasm,
and took the name of one of its Jealous
parties.
By means, which need not be emu
merated, the Anti FederaIists became
our national rulers and for period Of
sixteen years (untll the close of MIR.
Maaison's administration in 1870 contin-
ued 10 exercise the exclusive direction
Of our public affairs. And we would in
wife cur fellow citizens 10 follow US
while we glance very briefly over the
events of that period
The wars of Europe, which followed
the French revolution, grievously afec-
ted the Americans, as d neutral COM
mercial nation. Our national rulers
adopted variety of measures, some OF
which will not, probably, he repeated.
Whether there were mistakes and errors
in their policy, are points, on which
men may honestly difer.-Those who
framed, and those who first administered
the National Government, most sincere
iy though there were. But if the acts
of men, aud of parties in power, were
never Objectionable, we should be a re-
markable peopie;-a people too wise
and good, TO need any rulers. What
ever the acts of this period were, they
belong now, to history; and should no
otherwise be alluded 10 than for instruc-
tion or when eradication becomes an
indispensable duty, Miserable would
be the condition of human society, if the
errors and mistakes of dominant parties,
were never permitted to rest in the So
briefly of historical account.-While
these measures were in process, the
progress of affairs in Europe had been
such, that the French Emperor had made
all the Kings Of Europe his vassals but
those of Engtand and Russia and when
the Emperor of France was on his way,
with his prodigious armies, for the cap
ital of Russia, the American nation were
surprised with declaration of war by
the United States against England.
The American nation was not prepar-
ed for war,* A great majority of the
people oftae New England States con-
sldered il an unnecessary 5vur. Mr. Strong
was then Governor Of this State.--Gov.
srnor Eustls was then Secretary at war,
and we regret that we have not time TO
extract, from his official correspondence,
his opinion of the serrits.de, TO which
the free armed citizens otthis State are
liable. Che National Constitution and
the State Constitution were then for the
first tame to be explained, and applied,
in relation to the militia, and as to the
duties of the national administration 10
the States nj time . usar.
Goverhor STRONG aud his Council AMI
a great majority ofboth Houses of the
Legislature, and a great majority of the
people of New England, held this opin-
ion, viz. that the National Union is a
confederation of free, sovereign, and in
tdonnntant Stafao. thot Tho Ycoeocv,t;o,