Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-09-14
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER IA, 1926.
Communicated.

which have been delivered IN the ulHereht pdftS
of the Union, you will crafty perhaps all your
readers by inserting the following, taken from
Mr.. Websers elegant and appropriate eulogy
on the death of the two patriots. 1t would be
difficult to find any faul. with his splendid pro-
duction, and in fact we find that it has been
highly spoken Of by all the editors who have
had the pleasure of its perusal. The orator,
after mentioning The probable arguments that
were urged against adopting the Declaration
which made us free and independent, gives the
following as the substance of the remarks which
the great apostle Of liberty, JOHN ADAMS, most
likely made And, indeed, so congenial are the
sentiments here expressed, to those which he
held; so similar the doctrines advanced, TO those
which he maintained; the fire and strength of
the language so like his, that we can hardly
persuade ourselves that we are not reading the
very words which he once eloquently poured
forth in behalf of our dearest rights and privi-
leges.
"Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish,
j give my hand, and my heart to this vote
Itis true, indeed, that in the beginning, we
aimed not at independence. But there's a Di-
vinity which shapes our ends The injustice
of England has driven us 10 arms; and blinded
to her own interests for our good, she has OBJ
stinatey persisted, till independence is now
within our grasp. We have but to reach forth
TO il, and it is ours. Why then should we defer
the declaration, is any man so weak as now to
hope for reconciliation with England which
shall leave either safety to the country and its
liberties, or safety to his own life and his own
honour? Are not you, sir, who sit IN that chair
is not he, our venerable colleague near you, are
not both already the prescribed and predeStin-
ed objects OF punishment and OF vengeance?-
Cut off from all hope of royal clemency, what
are YOU, what can you be, while the power OF
England remains, but outlaws? 1t we postpone
independence, do we mean to carry on, to
give up the war! Do we mean to submit to
the measures of parliament, Boston port-bill &
all! Dow mean to submit, and consent that
we ourselves shall be ground to powder, aud
our country and its rights irodden down in the
dust!E | know we do not mean to submit. We
never shall submit. Do we intend TO violate
that most solemn obligation ever entered into
by men, that plighting, before God, of our sa-
cred honour 10 Washington, when putting him
forth to incur the dangers of war; as we'll as the
political hazards Of the times, we promise to
adhere to him in every extremity, with our for
tunes and our lives? | know that there is not
man here, who would not rather see general
conhagration sweep over the land, or an earth
quake sink it, than one jot or title of that
plighted faith fall TO the ground For myself,
having twelve months ago, in this place, moved
you, that George Washington be appointed
commander Of the forces, raised, for the de-
fence of American liberty, may my right hand
forget her cunning, and my tongue cleave TO the
roof Of my mouth, ii hesitate or waver in the
support give him. The war, then, must go
on. We must fight it through. And if the
war must go on, why put off longer the Decla-
ration Of Independence? That measure will
strengthen us.-lt will give US character abroad.
The nations will then treat with us, which they
never can do while we acknowledge ourselves
subjects in arms against our sovereign. Nay, |
maintain that England, herself, will sooner
treat for peace with as on the footing of indie
pendence, than consent by repeating her acts to
acknowledge that her whole conduct towards
us has been course of injustice and oppres-
sion. Her pride will be less wounded, by sub
hitting to that course ofthings, which now pre-
destinates our independence, than by yielding
TIC PoiHtS III CONTROVERSY 10 ntF TeOeillOuS SUD-
jects. The former she would regardas the re-
suit OF fortune; the latter she would feel as her
own deep disgrace Why then, why then, sir,
do we not as soon as possible, change this from
civil to a national war? And since we must
hghtit through, why not put ourselves in state
to enjoy all the benefits Of victory, if gain the
victory?
FIVE fail, it can be no worse for us. But we
shall not fail. The cause will raise up armies;
the cause will create navies. The people, the
people, if we are true TO them, will carry us, &
will carry themselves gloriously, through this
struggle. / care not how tickle other people
have been found. / know the people Of these
colonies, and l know that resistance to British
aggression is deep and settled in their hearts *
cannot be eradicated Every colony, indeed,
has expressed It's Willingness to follow, FIVE but
take the lead Sir, the declaration will inspire
the people with increased courage. Instead OF
long and blood . AZ for restoration of privi-
ieses, Tor redress of grievances, for chartered
ammunities, held under British king, set be-
lore them the glorious object OF entire indepen-