The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-07-05
Sunnosed speech Of John Adams,

Great OO0 OUT KING
Sunnnsed spccCh Of John Adams,
Iron THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Mr.. Webster, in speech upon the life
and character Of JOHN ADAMS, imagines
some one opposed to the Declaration of In
dependence, to have stated his fears and OBJ
jecsions before Congress, while celebrating
on tina, subject. He then supposes Mr.. AD-
ANS to have replied in language like the
following:
Sink or swim, live or die, survive or per-
ish. | give my hand and my heart to this
vote. II is true, indeed, that in the begin
ming, we aimed not at Independence. But
there is a Divinity which shapes our ends.
The Injustice Of England has driven US to
arms; and blinded to her own interest, shs
has obstiuately persisted. till independence
is now within our grasp. We have but to
reach forth to it, and it is ours. why then
should we defer the declarations! Is any
man so weak, as now to hope tor recOncll-
iation with England, which shall leave Ell
Their safety to the country and Its liberties.
or safety to his own life, and his own honor!
Arc not YOU, sir, who sit in that CHAIR Is
not he, our venerable colleague near you'll
are YOU no, both, already the prescribed and
predestined objects Of punishment and of
vengeance! Cut off from all hope of royal
clemency, what are you, what can you be,
while .he power Of England remains, but
ottiers?
If we postpone independence. do we
mean to carry on, or to give up the war!
Do we mean to submit, and consent that we
shall be ground to powder, and our country
and its rights trodden down III the dust!
knou we do not mean to submit. we New
Err shall submit! Do We intend to violate
that most solemn obligation ever entered in
TO by men, that plighting, before God, OF
our sacred honor to Washington, when,
putting him forth to incur the dangers Of
war, as we'll as the political hazards Of the
times, we promised to adhere TO him in ev-
cry extremity, with our fortunes and our
lives? know there is not man here, who
would not rather see q general contagratlon
sweep over the land, or an earthquake 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, or TO be
raised for the defence Of American liberty;
may my right hand forget her cunning, and
nv tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth,
if hesitate or waver in the support give
him.
The war, then, must 60 on. We must
fight it through. And if the war must 60
on, why put off the Declaration Of lnde-
pendence? That measure will strengthen
us. l, will give US character abroad. Ma
tions will then treat with us, which they
never can do, while we acknowledge our
selves subjects in arms against our sover-
eign. Nay, maintain that England her
self, will sooner treat for peace with us on
the footing Of independence, than consent,
by repeating her acts, to acknowledge that
her whole conduct towards as has been a
course of injustice and oppression. Her
pride will be less wounded by submitting to"
that course of things, which now predestin-
ates our independence, than by yielding the
points in controversy to her rebellious sub.
jects. The former she would regard as the
result Of fortune; the latter, she would feel
as her own deep disgrace. Why, taen, do
we not, as soon as possible, change this
from civil to a national war? And since
we must fight it through, why not put our
selves in q state to enjoy all the benefits of
victory, if we gain the victory!
If we fail, il 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, audi will carry themselves,
gloriously through this struggle. care not
how tickle other people have been found.
] know the people of these colonies; and
know that resistance to British aggression,
is deep aud settled in their hearts, and can
not be eradicated. Sir. the Declaration Of
Independence will inspire the people with
increased courage. Instead Of long and
bloody war for the restoration Of privileges,
for redress of grievances, for chartered i'm
munities, held under British king, set be-
fore them the glorious object Of entire indie
pendence, and il will breathe into them anew
the spirit of life.
Read this declaration at the head of the
army; every sword will be drawn from its
scabbard, and the solemn VOW uttered to
maintain il, or perish on the bed of honor.
Publish it from the pulpit; religion will APP
prove il, and the love Of religious liberty
will cling around it, resolved to stand with
II, or fall with il. Send it to the public
halls; proclaim il there; let them see it, who
saw their brothers and their sons fall on the
field Of Bunker Hill, and in the streets of
Lexington and Concord, and the very walls
will cry out in its support.
Sir, know the uncertainty of human af-
fairs, but ] see, see clearly through this
days husincs. You and I, indeed, may rue
4. We may not live to the time when this
declaration shall be made good. We may