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prime; our mighty rivers, descending in vast torrents through wild and shaggy mountains, or gliding in silent majesty through fertile vales; their numerous branches and tributary springs; our romantic scenes of rural quiet; our simplicity of manners, yet uncorrupted by luxury or flagrant vice; our love of knowledge and ardor for liberty-all these served to convey the idea of primæval felicity to a heart which he had taught to beat unison with the harmony of Heaven!

He therefore chose America, as the field of his future usefulness; and as soon as the blessings of peace were restored to his country, and duty to his sovereign would permit, he took his leave of the army; and having soon connected himself, by marriage, with an ancient and honourable family, in the province of New-York, he chose a delightful retirement upon the banks of Hudson's river, at a distance from the noise of the busy world! Having a heart distended with benevolence, and panting to.do good, he soon acquired, without courting it, from his neighbours, that authority, which an opinion of superior talents and inflexible integrity, never fails to create.

In this most eligible of all situations, the life of a country gentleman, deriving its most exquisite relish from reflection upon past dangers and past services, he gave full scope to his philosophic spirit, and taste for rural elegance. Self-satisfied and raised above vulgar ambition, he devoted his time to sweet domestic intercourse with the amiable partner of his heart, friendly converse with men of worth, the study of useful books, and the improvement of his favoured villa. Nor from that happy spot did he wish to stray,

until he should receive his last summons to happiness more than terrestrial.

But when the hand of power was stretched forth against the land of his residence, he had a heart too noble not to sympathize in its distress. From that fatal day-in which the first American blood was spilt by the hostile hands of British brethren, and the better genius of the empire, veiling her face in anguish, turned abhorrent from the strife of death among her children-I say, from that fatal day, he chose his part.

Although his liberal spirit placed him above local prejudices, and he considered himself as a member of the empire at large; yet America, struggling in the cause of Liberty, henceforth became his peculiar country; and that country took full possession of his soul; lifting him above this earthly dross, and every private affection! Worth like his could be no longer hid in the shades of obscurity; nor permit him to be placed in that inferior station with which a mind, great in humility and self-denial, would have been contented. It was wisely considered that he who had so well learned to obey, was fittest to command; and therefore, being well assured of his own heart, he resigned himself to the public voice, nor hesitated a moment longer to accept the important commission freely offered to him; and, with the firmness of another Regulus, to bid farewel to his peaceful retirement, and domestic endearments.

Here followed a scene of undissembled tenderness and distress, which all who hear me may, in some degree, conceive; but all cannot truly feel. You only

who are husbands and fathers-whose hearts have been intimately blended with the partners of your bliss, and have known the pangs of separation, when launching into dangers, uncertain of your fate-You only would I now more directly address. Give a moment's pause for reflection! Recall your own former feelings, your inward struggles, your virtuous tears; even on a transient separation from a beloved family! Here bid them again freely flow while you listen to our hero's parting words

Ye scenes where home-felt pleasures dwell,
And thou, my dearer self, farewell!

"Perhaps the cypress, only tree

"Of all these groves, shall follow me*".
But still, to triumph or a tomb,

Where Virtue calls, I come, I comet.

"I COME, I come!" Nor were these the words of disappointed ambition; nor dictated by any sudden start of party zeal. He had weighed the contest well, was intimately acquainted with the unalienable rights of freemen, and ready to support them at every peril! He had long foreseen and lamented the fatal issue to which things were hastening. He knew that the sword of civil destruction, once drawn, is not easily sheathed; that men, having their minds inflamed and the weapons of defence in their hands, seldom know the just point where to stop, even when they have it in their power; and often proceed to actions, the bare contemplation of which would at first have astonished them.

Hor. B. 2. Ode. 14. L. 22. 24.

These lines were set and performed to music, which gave an opportunity of a pause, in delivering the oration.

It was therefore his desire rather to soften than enflame violent humours, wishing that America, in all her actions, might stand justified in the sight of God and the world. He foresaw the horrid train of evils which would be let loose by the stroke which should sever the ancient bond of union between Great-Britain and us. It was therefore his wish that such a stroke should never proceed first from the hand of America. Nor did it so proceed.

The resistance made at Lexington was not the traiterous act of men conspiring against the supreme powers; nor directed by the councils of any public body in America; but rose immediately out of the case, and was dictated by self-preservation, the first great law of nature as well as society. If there was any premeditated scheme here, it was premeditated by those who created the dreadful necessity, either of resistance or ruin. For could it be expected that any people, possessing the least remains of virtue and li berty, would tamely submit to destruction and ravage -to be disarmed as slaves; stripped of their property, and left a naked prey even to the insults of surrounding savages?

Was this an experiment worthy of Great-Britain? Where was the wisdom of her counsellors? Had their justice, their moderation quite forsaken them? Could they possibly expect obedience in such a case as this? Would they themselves, in a similar case, even under a legislative authority of their own free choice, submit to laws which would destroy the great end of all laws, self-preservation? Human nature says,

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no. The genius of the English constitution says, no. The nation itself hath heretofore said, no; and a great oracle of its laws has given his sanction to the verdict-" In cases of national oppression," says he, "the nation hath very justifiably risen as one man, to "vindicate the original contract, subsisting between "the king and people." And-" If the sovereign 66 power threaten desolation to a state, mankind will "not be reasoned out of the feelings of humanity, "nor sacrifice liberty to a scrupulous adherence to political maxims."

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If the case of America does not come within the above description, there seems to be no equity left upon earth; and whatever is exacted by force must be yielded through fear. But if justice be any thing more than a name, it is surely a solecism in politics to say, that one part of a free country has a right to command that which the other " cannot obey without being slaves, nor resist without being rebels." Yet to such a sad dilemma does the parliamentary claim of a 66 right to bind us in all cases whatsoever," reduce America; involving in it a total surrender of our liberties; superseding the use of our own legislatures, marking us with such a badge of servitude as no freeman can consent to wear; and subjecting us to burdens laid by those who are not only unacquainted with our circumstances, and bear no part of the weight, but ease themselves in proportion as they load If this be law, if it be equity, it has no example

us.

• Blackstone

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