Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-28
Congress- and then the pross, or pledge in the follow

ing words:
In consequence Of e resolution Of the Continental
Congress- and to show determination In Joining our Anne
rcan brethren in defending the lives liberties aud properties
Of the inhabitants of the United Colonies: We, the ubscr
the utmost Of our power the risk Of lives and fortunes
with arms oppose the hostile proceedings Of the British fleets
and armies against the United American Colonies.
IN the mountainous State Of New Hampshire, and
fmone the highest its mountains then containing only
few scattered settlements the township OF Sails
bury The Merrmac river, now so pleasant in scenery
and with much richness ana industry on its banks
was then roaring and foamng stream seeking its way
amid immense forests either sde from the White Noun
ans to the The settlers collected and the pro-
mise pledge proposed by the Continental Congress OF
life and fortune presented TO them All us the record
saws freely signed, except two"
In looking to this record thus connected with the
Of nv own birthplace, confess was gratfed to find
who were the signers, an who were the dssentients
Among the former was he from whom am Immediately
descended with all his brothers. and his whole kith and
kin This sufficient embazonry for my arms, enough
Of heraldry for me*
of those who called true Wings and then comes what
is called the list of Tories and that list there was one
name. s.e,e, !,
to initiate the spirit their ancestors, who wish to live
and breathe in that spirit who desire that every pulsa
ton of their hearts and every aspiration OF their amp
ton shall be American, and nothing but American Let
them master the contents Of the immortal papers of the
first Congress- and fully Undue themselves with their SEN
timents. .
terms which have my heart to thrill and my eyes
to be moistened whenever recoect Them from my first
reading of them to this present hour.
"When your ordhps look at the papers transmitted US
from Amercawhen consider their decency frmness,
and wisdom you but respect their and wish to
make it your own For myself must declare and that
in all my reading and observation and has been my fla
vorte sfudy have Thucyddes and have studied and
admired the States of the wodthat for sodity OF
Of difficult circumstances no nation body
stand in preference to the general Congress at Pha
delphia, trust obvious to your ordships that all at
tepts impose sevitude such men, to establish des
potism over such mighty continental nation must be vain,
must be fatal We shall be forced ultimately reract let us
retract when can, not when we must"
This first Congress- for the ability which it manifested,
the principles which it proclaimed and the characters of
those who composed it, makes an ustrous chapter in
our American history It's members should be regarded
not only individually, but in group they should be
viewed living pictures exhibiting young America as
it then was and when the seeds of its public destiny
were beginning start into life, well described by
early motto as being full Of energy and prospered by
Heaven.
"Non sine Dis, animosus infans."
Some of the members of this Congress have lived to
time and have had the honor of seeing and knowing
them and there are those in this assembly doubtless
who have beheld the stately form of Washington and
looked upon the mild and intelligent face and heard the
voice Of John Jay.
For myself, love to travel back in imagination to
place myself in the midst of this assembly this union of
greatness and patriotism and to contemplate as if had
witnessed its profound deliberations, and its mastery
exhibitions both Of the rights and Of the wrongs of the
country.
may not dwell longer this animating and enchant-
ing picture Another grand picture succeeds it, and that
is the Convention which framed the Constitution the
States upon its adoption and finally the organization of
the first Congress- filed by the men of the
revolution and younger and vigorous patriots and lovers
of liberty, and Washington himself in the principal
chair of State surrounded by his heads of departments
selected from those who enjoyed the greatest portion of
his regard and stood highest in the esteem of their
country.
Neither Xenophon nor Thucydides neither Sallust nor
Iivy presents any picture of assembly of public men,
or any of history which, in its proper grandeur
its large and lasting influence upon the happiness Of
kind, equals this.
Its Importance indeed did not at the moment strike
the minds Of ordinary men. But Burke it with
intuition clear the light of Heaven. Charles Fox
saw it. and sagacous and deep thinking minds over all
England England how would thy destinies have been
altered if the advice of Chatham, Burke, and Fox had
been followed
for the better for England herself probably she is stronger
and richer this than if she had listened to the
UNDECIDED words of her great statesmen Neither nations
individuals always oresee that which their inter-
Ast and happiness require
four greatest blessings often arise from the dsappont
>men of most anxious hopes and most fervent
wishes
Let us know
Our indiscretion sometimes serves us WELL
When deep plots do fall and that should teach US
There's a divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough hew them how win"
Instead Of subject colonies, England now beholds a
mighty rival rch powerful intelligent like herself And
may these countries be forever friendly rivals May their
power and greatness sustaining themselves be always d.
rected the promotion of the peace the prosperity the
enlightenment and the liberty ofmanknd and be their
united destiny in the of human events that they
shall be called upon in the Of humanity and in the
cause of freedom to stand against world in they
are of and of blood to meet that crisis without
shrinking from danger, and without quang in the pre-
of earthly power.
Gentlemen, must bring these desultory remarks to
Close terminate them where perhaps ought to have
begnnnamely with few words the present state and
condition Of country and the prospects which arc be-
fore her.
Unborn ages and visions Of glory crowd upon my soul
The realization Of all these however, in the hands and
good pleasure Of Almighty God But under His Divine
blessing 1t viii be dependant the character and the yr
tues Of ourselves and Of our posterity
If classical history has been found to be- is now and
shall continue to be- the cencomitant Of free institutions
and Of popular eoquence what field opening for
another Herodotus another Thucydides, (ony may his
theme not be Peloponnesan war and another Livy
And let say, gentlemen, that il and our postery
shall be to the Christian religion if and they shall
live always in the fear Of God and shall respect his
sentmets and such conscientious convictions of duty
shall control the heart and fe may have the CHEST
hopes Of the fsture fortunes Of country and II we
maintain those institutions Of Government and that political
unon exceeding all praise much exceeds all former
examples Of political associations we may be Of
thing that while country furnishes materials for
thousand masters Of the historic art 1t will afford no topic
for Gibbon 1t will have Decline and FALL 1t will
go on prospecting and TO prosper.