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

fee, where then stood the rugged oak, now
rears its lofty dome among the clouds, display
ing for future ages the patriotic munifcence
with which free and polished people honors
the seat ofits national councils.
Nor is the happy condition of our country
more worthy of admiration than the benevo.
lent spirit which pervades her policy. IMAM.
bilious of conquest, she calmly pursues her
own happiness, without disturbing the repose
of others. What she needs of others she re.
pays by ample equivalents. Wrongs she in.
flicts on none; preferring, in every doubtful
case, rather to suffer than to injure: and, for
her own wrongs, seeking justice first by rea.
SON and persuasion. Though, when at last,
safety and honor compel her to strike, dread.
full is she in the hour of retribution. Yet even
then she seeks not vengeance. Though the
strength and bravery Of her arms would make
her revenge terrible; yet her wars are but
last appeal for justice: and if she seeks victo-
nv, it is only to maintain by the sword, those
rights which could not be sustained by reason.
But though pacific in her wishes, and mode.
rate in her character, she has, in the only two
wars that her short history contains-one for
her liberty, the other for her rights-estab.
lished for herself renown in arms surpassed
only by her fame in peace. The achieve
ments of those wars are too well known to re.
auire a recapitulation. They form part of
the moral wealth of each citizen among us;
they are the gems which he treasures up in
the casket of his memory; and which, on the
gala days of his country's glory, beam with all
their refulgence on his breast. From Lex.
ington and Bunker's Hill to York, in the FIST
war; and, in the second war, from the cap.
tlre Of the Guerrero, on one ocean, to the
capture of the Penguin on the other; from
Chippewa, in the north, to New-Orleans, in
the south; over land and over sea, wherever
foe was to be met, there shone the glory of
her arms. Yet, it is not in war, though there
so glorious, that she places her chief glory
It is in the happiness and in the affections of
her people, and in doing to all nations as she
would have all nations do to her.
rime is wanting to exhibit all the features
of that benign policy which she is striving to
introduce into the laws, and into the conduct
of nations Of these, among which the abo.
Etion Of the slave trade ranks first i'll impor-
lance, her statutes and her treaties are the
best record. Her internal policy bears the
same benignant impress. A government,
whose power is never felt by her citizens, but
when stretched forth for their service or pro-
lection people relieved from taxation;
great portions of the national domains set
apart for the support of educ alton large
sums applied from the public revenue to the
opening of roads and construction of canals
and the national mumfcence shown, not in
monuments of pomp and splendour, but, in
providing for the old age Of those who bore
arms in the sacred war of her Revolution, and
in restoring to affiuence the brave and good
man who risked more than atiluence in her
cause, and who, by his devotion to liberty, in
the new world and in the old, has lost all but
his own virtue and the gratitude Of the free.
With all this, she is surrounding herself with
ample means of security on both elements;
and, instead of raising great armies to endan-
ger her own or other nations tranquility, pre-
serving military knowledge in her schools and
her galrisons and for her chief safety, trust
ing, as she has most gloriously trusted before,
and as the martial and patriotic ardour which
now nlan!fests itself among her youth, assures
her she may securely trust again, to the only
true defence of republics-arms in the hands
of hcemen.
These, 0! Liberty, are thy works. These
are the fruits Of thy bengnant influence
Here, on the great day which we commend.
rate, was thy reign proclaimed. Here, alone,
thy starry banner. planted by thy hand Oh our
soil, waves over peace, virtue, freedom, and
happiness. 1t is here only that thy true attr-
butes are known to man. II, in other times,
and in other lands, the mists of ignorance or
passion obscured the benignity Of thy fea-
lures; if the brightness of thy eyes, sparkling
only with innocence and JOY, seemed to thy
too jealous yotaries the glory of passion; and
if, in the olive branch which graced thy hand,
they saw only the lighted torch, here hast thou
revealed myself in all thy charms, and in all
the mid radience of thy full glory. Here
mayst thou ever dwell; in the hearts of this
people mayst thou ever find pure and ferycnt
affairs.
But, in the midst Of our joy and of our
hopes, let US not forget, that, on the union
which binds us together asone people, and on
that national feeling which connects this whole
people in their affections, both our freedom
and our peace depend; that it is the diffusion
of knowledge alone that can preserve and per-
feet our social and political institutions; and
that, without virtue, liberty itselfis but curse
These sacred objects, then, let US cherish.
Here, in this, the chosen temple Of patriotism
and freedom, and on this their glorious jub-
lee, while our bosoms are warmed with the
consciousness of the blessings which we ENJOY
through the virtue, wisdom, and courage OF
our fathers; let us remember our solemn duty,
to transmit them improved to our children.
Here, too, in this hall, where the Represen.
tatives of free people make laws to perpetu-
ate freedom, and to extend their country's
happiness, and where are now assembled to
do homage at their common shrine, the Chief
Magistrate of the nation; the dispensers and
executors of the laws; the venerable patriots
of the Revolution; the gallant men, who, by
their exploits in the war just waged for our
rights and honor, have raised for their coun-
try and for themselves, an imperishable re-
nOwn; the martial bands who have voluntarily
enrolled themselves for the first dangers OF
future wars; the reverend ministers Of religion:
the dear & beauteous beings, who give lite It's
sweetest charms;the ingenuousyo youth whoform
their country's hope and this great company OF
free and enlightened and happy citizens; here,
Let Us all unite in devotion to our common
good. 1t is here that foreign nations, whose