Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-08-03

tuGe enough to support my family and wis, il
OF more importance, 10 support the dignity os
that exalted station 1t is TOO high and tiled
up for me, who delight in nothing, so much as
retreat, solitude, science, and ohscurity. In
private life, no one has right to censure me Tor
following nv own nchnations in retirement. in
simplicity and frugalityi but in public lite every
man has right to remark as he pleaseS, at least
they think SO.
Yesterday the greatest question was decided
which was ever debated in Americs; and 3
greater, perhsps, never was, or viii be decided
among men. a resolution was passed, without
one dissenting colony
'Thatthese United Colonies are, and OF right
ought TO be, free oipd INDEPENDENT stctess and -
free and independent states, they have, and Of
right ought to have. full power to make war,
conelude.peace, eatsblish commerce, and totiu
all other acss and things which other states may
lawfully do'y
You viii see, in few days, a Declaration, set.
ting forth the causes which have impelled VS. 10
this revolution, and the reasons which win u.s.
tity ii in the SIGHT OF God and Man. plan Of
Confederation witl &c taken an 10 few days
When look back to the year l76l and re.
collect The argument concerning writs OF assist
aace, IN the superior court. which have h,her.
to considered % the comm enc emeat os the con.
and run The Whole period from that time to chs.
and recoIlect the series OF political events, The
chain oi causes and effects, ! am surprised az
the audiences IS well as greatness Of the reyo
luton.
Britain has been filed with Folly, and Anne.
riea witt, Wisdom---st least this is my judgment
lime must determine; II - the Will of liea.
ven siiat the two countries should be sundered
forever 1t mas be the will q lieaven that Ame-
RIGA stall softer csIamities still more wasting
and disiresses still more dreadful. Ii ths is TO
be the case. Will have this good effect al least.
Fit will inspire as with many virtues which We
have not, and correct many errors, iolhes and
wees, @hich threaten 10 disturb d,shonor and
destroy us. The furnace Of affection produces
rcnoeoentin states as we'll as Individuals And
The new governments we are assuming in every
part, will require pnriiics,ioh from our vices,
and an augmentation oil our virtues, or they will
be no blessings The people viii have anbound.
ed power; and tie people are extremely addict
ed to corruption and venalay, as well as the
great. am rot without apprebensions from this;
but must submit all my hopes and Tears TO an
over.ruling Providence, III which, uniasbion-
able as it may be, firmly believe
Mrs. ADAMS JOHN ADAMS.
sOffce Of Chief Justice of fhe Superior
Court of Massachusetts, to which Mr. Adams
had been appointed but which he declined, pre-
ferFing his seal in the Old Congress, to which
lie had been reelected.
PHILADrrPBra, faly 8, l776
Had Declsration OF independence been made
seven months ago, it would nave been attended
with many great and glorious effects. We might,
before THIS hour, have formed alliances with
foreign states We should have mastered Que
bee, and been in possession of Canada.
You will, perhaps. wonder bow such decla-
ration would have influenced our affairs IN Cana
dh--but, i could write with freedom, could
easily convince you tnat It would, and explain
10 you the msncer how. Many gentlemen in
high stations, and OF great influence, have been
duped, by the ministerial bubble OF commits
sioners, 10 treat-and. in real, sincere expecta-
ton of this event, which they SO fondIy wished,
they have been slow and languid in promoting
measures for the reduction OF that province;--
Others there are in the Colonies, who really
wished that our enterprise in Canada would be
defeated--that the Colonies might be brought
into danger and distress between two hres, and
be thus induced to submit: OtheIs really wished
TO defeat the expedition to Canada, lest the con-
quest OF it should elevate the uinds Of the peo.
pie too much " hearken to those terms otreeon-
citation which they believed would be offered
Us. These Earring views. wishes and designs.
occssioned an opposition to many saiutary mea-
sures which were proposed tor the support OF
that expedition, and caused Instructions, EN-
narf2ssments, and studied delays, which have
finally lost us that province.
All these causes, however, in conjunction,
would not have disappointed us, il II had not
been tor a misfortune which could not have been
iofeseen, and perhaps could not have been pre-
yented--I mean the prevalence of the smallpox
among our troops. This falai pestilence com
pleted our destruction. It is frown upon US,
which Se ought TO lay to heart.
But, on the other hand the delay of this de-
claration to this time, has many great advsnta-
ges attending ii. The bcpes OF reconciliation,
which were tondly entertained by multitudes OF
horest and well meaning, though short-slShted
aud mistaken people, have been gradually, and
at last to,.1ly, extnguished. Time has been
given for the whole people maturely TO consl-
der the great question Of independence, and
to flpen their Judgment, dissipats their fears,
and allure their hopes, BY discussing i IN the
newspapers aud pamphiets-by debating 1t ~ |
assemblies, conventions, committees Of safety |
and inspecton--in town and country meetings
as web Is in private Conversations so that the
Whole people, 10 every colony. have BOW adopt |
ed i az their own act. This will cement The |
union, and AVOID those heats, and perhaps con- |
WILSON'S, which might have been occssi0nsd by |
such declaration six months ago.
But the day Is past. The second day ofJaly, |
1875, viii be memorable epocha IN the histo-
~ of America. am apt 10 believe that i will |
be celebrated by succeeding gene Fatious, as |
the great Anniversary Festival Il ought to be |
as the day Of deliverance, by |
solemn acts OF devotion to God Almighty.--It /
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