Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-16

sacrifices, their tolls, and their example.
Whether as a philosopher, or as statesman,
it is with swelling bosom that an American
looks back to the origin of that republic OF
I which he is citizen. Of his high ancestry
| beyond the seas, the unfading verdure Of Bri-
fish fame justly makes him proud. Yet, when
he reeollects the circumstances under which
/ his forefathers sought to create forthemselves
freer country in the wilderness of this new
and distant continent, he sees, in their high
sense of right, their strong love ofEberty, their
daring spirit of enterprise, their hardy con-
and the promise of a higher destiny. But it
is when he approaches nearer to his own
times, that ne feels all the glory of the race
from which he springs; when he finds his ia
theirs, after resisting with firmness and mode
ration the encroachments. of power upon their
rights, casting off with dignity the authority
under which they had been born and had
lved-not because it had lost its force, but
because it had forfeited their respect-and
then, instead of suffering the social fabric
to fall into anarchy, or placing it under
the protection of other rulers, calmly investi-
eating the elements of civil society, and the
true object ofpolitical institutions, establish
ing for themselves system of self-govern-
ment, and identifying the foundation OF their
state with the promulgatisn of the eternal
principles of political truth.
In honoring, therefore, this glorious epoch,
il is not alone the foundation of our republic,
great and dear to us as it is, that We now cele-
brate. We celebrate the triumph of right over
force. of patriotism over ambition: we cele-
brate the liberation of whole people from
| political bondage, and we celebrate their still
more GLORIOUS emancipation from moral thral-
dom For what thraldom can be more degra-
ding to the human mind, than the belief that
man is incapable Of self government Man,
4 whom the Deity has formed after his own i'm
are. whom he has placed at the head of the
created beings of this world, whom he has en-
lowed with soul so lofty, so great, and In
comprehensive, as to be deemed al emana-
ton of the Divine essence; man, who is here
after to dwell with God in eternity-that be-
| ing so constituted, whose origin and whose
destiny are so noble, even withal the aids de-
rived from the Revelation of the Divine Will,
is incapable of selfgovernment! Monstrous
and profane dogma If the acquisition OF ma
tional independence, or the triumph over po-
litical oppression, be objects worthy OF CRATE
full and proud remembrance, what honors are
too great for the epoch of that glorious liberty
which restored man to the dignity of his ma
ture. And, if to have achieved that indepen-
dence. and that triumph, confer honor and re-
nowp. what cause have we not to be proud OF
our name and our country, since 1t was by the
American people, by our venerated fathers,
that glorious liberty was proclaimed and es-
tablishcd; not for our benefit only, buttor the
benefit of all nations, kindreds, and tongues
As the foundation of this Republic was il
lustrious, so was the struggle for its establish
ment glorious. Their battles on the land and
on the sea-battles which have immortalized
MANY a hill and plain, many town and viii
hge, many stream and lake, and honored
many nameless spot on the desert ocean,
battles which have decked the page ofhistory
with many gallant name of heroes who no.
bly conquered, and of champions who not less
noblv persisted in the unequal fight-these
have given to our fathers renown i'll arms,
which the most distant posterity will honor
Nor was their fortitude in suffering less gene
raj or less exemplary than their bravery was
brilliant. During the many long and gloomy
| wears of the dread contest against their nigh
| ty adversary, amidst the slaughter of fathers,
husbands, and sons, the desolation Of wives
and children, the destruction of their dwell
ings, the ravaging of their fields, amidst the
povertv and ruin that pervaded the whole
land, never was the thought of submission On
tertained. And, thoughbu a nominal submis-
sion would have restored peace and plenty to
their homes, every burthen was borne, every
sacrifice made, every toll encountered, every
suffering endured, with fixed resolution to
triumph or to perish with hope in God whe-
ther for life or for death. But, it was not
more in their bravery and forttude than in the
higher moral qualities, that they excelled.-
Amidst all the dangers and suferings and
death on the one side, and all the allurements
of wealth and power on the other, but soil
tary traitor could be found;no peculator dared
to enrich himself from the Golfers of his SUI
fering country, and no selfish ambition appear
ed. either in the council or in the field, to
seek power at the expense of the public IL
berries Though civil war called forth those
passions which belong peculiarly to itself, the
cruelties which have stained the histories of
other nations, were here unknown; and tho
society was resolved into its simple elements,
no country, where even the wisest laws main
tanned their fullest authority, ever exhibited
fewer crimes. And if in her Washington,
greatest of all great names, her Franklin, her
Hancock, her Adams's, her Jefferson, her
Warren, and Green, and Gates, and Montgo-
merv, and the whole high host of patriots, he
roes, and sages, whose names will live forever
in her heart and in the worlds history, she
presented to mankind bright examples of
greatness, so, in her citizens, did she exhibit
whole nation, not less worthy by their viz
tues to share the triumphs than the tolls OF
the illustrious contest.
From such a struggle, in such cause, and
with such people, there could be but one re-
suit. An honorable peace, founded on the &C
Acknowledgement of that independence which
our fathers had asserted, crowned their heroic
efforts. Wise institutions followed; and pub.
| lie prosperity and private happiness are the
rich fruits.
Oh We Patriots of the Revolution, nobly did
YOU redeem the pledge, which, in the day oil
peril, and in the fervor of selfdevotion. you
made, before God and before men, of your
lives, your fortunes, and your sacred honor
The tolls which you endured, and the free
l Sho ,at