A NATj [No. 122 AN ORATIO N, Pronr>unred July 4t'i, 1793, at the reqneft of tae Inhabitants of the Town of Roston, ill coouncinoratiiM) of re A n-n verfjgry of American Independence. By JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. O NOMEN DULCE IIBERTATIs! Cic. YEJhaiu oj ancient,hcroc 1' Yt vko toil'd, 7~hrpttgh longr fiiciejfivt aget to buildup ji labouring plan qJ JUu ; behold at rtnrtf The wonder done ! Thomson At a .meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Js>fton, duly qua ified and legally warned, in ptibli© Town-Meeting, aflembled St on Thttrfday the 4th of futv, A. D. 1 /05 : •VOTE I), ' " THAT the S?leftmen be and hereby *ne appointed a Committee to wsit.an w JoHN Syixcx Adams, E r q. aijd in the ilxnf* of tins Town to tharfk him for the eff gant <)*ATron, tliii Tiav deliWieil tiy Mm, at tnc ut tie I s up->ti Annivcjaty *f the biic[tndcn'.t vf At O*xit4 Swei tf Amtrka, }n which, according "to the Inftitiititrn of the Town, he considered the Jeelmgs, niaruiecs;- *ndprinciples which led to that great National Event—and to request of him a Copy thereof for the Press. Atufi, WILLIAM COOPER, Tewn-CUrk GENTLEMEN, IN compliance with the polite Requefl cf my Fellow Citizen-, the Oration ytfleiday •delivered, again folieits the Indulgence of the public. I am, Gentlemen, With sincere Refpeft, Your very humble Servant, JOHN Q. ADAMS. $oJlm, J%ly $th, 1793. AN ORATION. IT has been a custom, fan&ioned by the uni versal pa ft ice of civilized Nations, to ce lebrate with anniversary solemnities, the re- by events the mod important to the happiness <?f the people. In co.unt. ies where the natu ral dignity of mankind has been degraded by the weakness of bigotry, or debaled by the miseries of dsfpotifm, this cuflomary celebra tion has degenerated into a servile mockery of feftivity upon tbe birth-day of a fceptered tyrant, or ha: dwindled to an unmeaning re vel, in honour of some canonized fanatic, of whim nothing now remains but the name, in the calendar of antiquated superstition. In those more fortunate regions of the earth where Liberty has eon del tended to reticle, t!>e cheerful gratitude.of her favored people to innocent gaiety and i.fcful re laxation from the toils of virtuous industry, the periodical revolution of those days which fcave been rendered iiiuftrious by the triumphs of freedom. AMERICANS ! Such is the nature of the in stitution which again caJIV yoijr attention to celebrate the establishment of your national Independence. And fin ely fihee the creation of the heavenly or§ which fepa rated the (lay from the night, amid the unnumbered events which have diverfified the hiltory of the hu man race, none has ever occurred mure high ly defer ving of celebration by every species of ceremonial, t'lat can teftify a lerife of grati tude to the Pmty, and of happiness, derived from his rranfeendent favours. It is a wife and f'aiutary institution, which forcibly recalls to the memory of freeflwn, the principles uppn wheh they originally founded their labouring plan of state. It is a facrifice at the a tar of Liberty berfe'f* renewal of homage to the Sovereign, who alone is worthy of our veneration a pro fcfUon of political fidelity, expreflive of our adherence to those maxims of liberal submis sion and obedient freedom, which in these fa voirecl clime*, have harmonized the long eontending claims of liberty and law. By a frequent recurrence to those fentisrieMts and $&ions upon which the glory and felicity of the nation reft Purported, \ve are enabled to renew the moments of biifs which we are not permitted to retain ; we secure a permanen cy to the exaltation which the Constitution cf has rendered fleeting, and a perennial fxiftente to enjoyment? which the lot of hu manity has made tranlitory, The 44 feelings, marr.Cis avd principles" which led to the Ind pendente of our Coun try ; such, m> friends and fellow citizens, is the theme of » nr present commemoration The fir Id i« extensive ; it it fruitful t but the eppiom treasures of its fragrance have alrea dy gathered by the hands of genius; and now reinav:s for the gleaning of mental Indigence, nought but the tbinly Scattered sweets wh eh have e leaped the vigilance of thfi induftrv. T'icv weie the fame feeiing", manners »rd principle*, which ciiiuluficd «nr venerable £or<£sj troui tUc flimtj of up 'BMSHKD WEDNESDAYS ANI) SATORDA 01. IV.] p"C.TSo;? ; • .J |bem with the ftib • lims purpose of c-.; >verting the forefts #»fj? a wilderne<s inf~» the favourite nianfion of Li »?rty; of f*fa*ncw world, i a refuge for the vi'&im*; of perfctufion in lie; old. The ieeiings />f injured freedom, the manners of social equal ty, and the principles of fteriMl justice. Had the Sovereigns of England purfiiec? the policy prefenbed by their interest, had tr-ey not p ovoked fire hostilities of their Colonics against the foebie fort re fs of their authority, they might perhaps, have- retained to tivs Ha> an Snip}ie which would have been but th< more rlurab'e, for reiting only upon the.ioun d ition of immemorial custom, and nation# affection. Incumbered however with the glorv of a fuceef.ful war, which ha:i enriched the pride of Britain, with the fpoiis oi 1e v owp opulence, and replenished the arrogance in proportion 39 it had eKhaufted rf e resources of the nation; an adventurous miuiftry, catch ing at every desperate expedient to fnpport the ponderous burden of flic national dignify, a*',d n.ijnu'a*6d by the perfidious mitigations of thi\r dependent" ; ; ' s. the profitable commercial policy of their pre d?ceflors, and fu/)era<!ded to the lucrative system of monopoly, which we had always to- ! lerated us the price of their_ protection, a sys tem of internal taxation from which they hoped to derive a fond for future corruption, and a upply for future extravagance. The nation eagei I.y grasped at the proposal. The situation, the the Sentiments of-tbe colonies, were futjefts upon which the people of Britain were divided between igno rance and erro'-. The endearing ties of con sanguinity, which had connected their ancef tori, with those of the Americans, had been gradually loqjened to the verge of di/Tolution, by the ilow but ceaseless hand of" time. Jfa ftead of returning the Sentiments of f aternal afFection, which animated-the Americans, they indulged their vanity with prepoilerous opi nions of in*ulting superiority : they considered us, not as fellow-fubje.cts equally entitled with themselves to every privilege of' Englishmen ; but as wretched outcalfa, upon whom they might fafely load the burden, while they re national grandeur, it has been observed, that the nations the most highly favoured with freedom, have not always been the most friendly to the liberty of others. The people of Britain, expected to feel none of the op pression which a parliamentary tyranny might impose upon the Americans; on the contrary, they expelled au alleviation of their buulen, from the accumulation of ours, and vainly hoped that by the ftvipes inflicted upon us, their wounds would be healed. The King—Need it be fa id, that he adopt as the atfVjirtug of hi* own affe&ions, a plan f<? favorable to the natural propensity of roy alty towards arbitrary power. Depending upon the prostituted valour of his mercenary legions, he was deaf to the complaints, he was inexorable to tiie remnnftrances of vio lated freedom. Born and educated tp the ufuaj prejudices of hereditary dominion, and habitually accustomed to the syren-song of adulation, he was ready tp believe what the courtly tribe about his throne did not fail to afhire hini; that complaint was nothing more than the mm mur of {edition,and reiponftrance the clamour of rebellion. But they knew net the people with whom they had to contend. A people, sagacious and enlightened to discern, cool and deliberate to difi ufs, firm and resolute to maintain their rights. From the fit® appearance of the system of parliamentary opprefflon under the fo-m of a stamp ast, it wps met, by the de termined opposition of the whole American Continent. The annals of other nations have produced instances of fuccefsful struggles to break a yoke previously imposed ; but the records of Hiftoi y did not perhaps furnifli an example of a people whole penetration had anticipated the operations of tyranny, and whose spirit hud diltiained to fuffer an experi ment upon the ( ir liberties. The ministerial partizens had flattered themselves with the expectation that the A& would execute it feJf; that before the hards of Freedom could be raised to repel the they would be loaded with fetters; that the American Samp Ton would be shorn of his locks while asleep ; and when thus bereaved of his ftrengjb, might be made their f'port with impunity,— Vain illusion !—I; ftantarec us and forcel ; b as an ejeftrip spark, the fervid spirit of re finance pervaded every part of the country ; aijd at the moment, when the operation of the system was intended to commerce, it was indignantly rpje&ed, by three millions of men ; high mil ded men, determined to fa crifice their exigence, rather than refjgn the Liberty, front whigb, all its eijoyments \vere derived. It in unn:ce(Tary to pursue the detail of ob stinacy and cryeltv on the one part ; of per severance and fortitude on the other, until the period when every chord which hod bound the two countries l.igether, was deftoyed by the violence of reciprocal huftilitiei, and tie Wednesday, July 51, 1795. [Whole No. 444/, 484- * ... 4 w-p - - • *« •■'—-- - 5 BY JOHN j -cpre'entarives of adopted the I measure, which was already dictated by the S wifhe<; of their conftitucnts ; they declared | the United Colonies free, sovereign and iuue- J pendent States. An\ericans ! let us pnu/e for a mojnent to consider the fitnation of our country, at that eventful day when our national exigence commenced. In the lull pofTeffion mid en j joymrnt of all those prerogatives for which I you then dared to adventure upon 4i ail the [ varieties of untried betysL't the calm andiet i tTed moderation of the mind, is scarcely com j peret)t to conceive the tone of heroism, to which "the fouls of freemen were exalted in tliat .hour of perilous magnanimity. Seven teen times has the fun, in the progress of his 3nn.ua 1 revolutions, diffused his prolific radi ance over'the plains of Independent America. Millions of heats which then palpitated' with the rapturous glow off patriotism, have al ready been translated t.o brighter worlds ; to the abodes of m >te tlian mortal freedom. Other millions have arisen to receive from t'leir pa-etits and the :neftrma bie ■r<- , compen'e of their archil vements. A ne-volence is at this moment Kfteinng to the speaker of the day, like him were at that 1 pe riod too little advanced beyond the threshold of life to partake of the divine enthusiasm which inspired the American bosom ; which prompted her voi-ce to proclaim defiance ! to the thunders of Britain ; which confccra ted the banners of the armies ; and finally ereftfd the holy temple «»f American Liberty., over the tomb of departed tyrapuy. Jt is f 'om thoG? who have already pasTed the meri dian of life ; it is from yon, ve vene able af ferters of the rights of mankind, that we are to be informed, what were the feelings which swayed within your breads and impel led you to action, when, like the {tripling of IfneaJ, with scarce a weapon to attack, and without a shield for your defence, you met, and undismayed, engaged with the gigantic greatness of the Britifli power. Untutored in the difgraceful science of human butchery ,; deftituteof the fatal materials which tfoe in genuity of man has combined, to sharpen the fcyth? of death ; unfnpported bv the arm of -TV,*--'. J } ► ~ L V nf ten on reletting ebe~ mfj you did not hesitate at that moment, when your coasts vc/c infefi.ed by,a formida ble fleet, when your territories were invaded by a numerous ?nd veteran army, to pro nounce the sentence of eternal feparatinn from Britain, and to throw the gauntlet at a power the terror of who'e recent triumphs was almofi: co extenGve with the earth—The Interested and felfifli propensities which in times of prosperous tranquility have such powerful.dominion over the heart, were all expelled, and in their {lead, the public vir» tnes, the spirit of perfwnal devotion to the common cause. a contempt of every danger in comparison with the subserviency of the country, had aflumed an unlimited controul. The paliion for the public, had -absorbed all the reft ; as the .glorious Iwminary of heaven extingu'fbes in a flood of refulgence the twink ling fpJendo'r of every inferior planet. Thole of you my countrymen who weie altars ill those interesting scenes, will bed know, how feeble, and impotent is the language of this description to exorefs the impaflioned emo tions of the foul, with which you wert then agitated: yet it were injuilice to conclude from thence, or from the greater prevalence of private and motives in these days of calm serenity, that your sons have dege nerated from the virtues of their fathers. Let It rather be a fubje6t of pleasing reflexion to you, that the generous a»d, disinterested energies, which you were summoned to dis play, are permitted by the bountiful indul gence of Heaven to remain latent in the bo soms of your children. Fro;fl the prefect prosperous appearance of our public affairs, Wf may admit a rational hope that our coun try will have no oecafion to require of us those exraordinary and heroic exertions which it was your fortune to exhibit. Eut from the common versatility of all human destiny, fliould the profpeft hereafter dofken, and the clouds of public misfortune thicken to 2 lem peft ; ibould the voice of our country's ca lamityever call us to her relief, w swear by Ihe precious memory of the (ages who toiled, and of the heroes who bled in her de fence, that we will prove onrfelves not un jrbkt&y of the prize, which they so <lea»!y pur chased • rliat we will ast as the faithful dis ciples of those who so magnanimously taught us the inflru&jye leflpn of republican virtue. Seven years of incfieftual hcftility, an hun dred millions of treasure frnitlefsly expended, and uncounted thonfands of human lives fa> crifjeed to no purpose, at length taught tie dreadful lesson of v ifdom to tie 13ritifh Go vernment, and compelled them to relinquish a which they had long since l>een unab e to maintain. The pride of Britain, tvlu*_h fhc.nld have been humbled, was only mortified. Willi fallen impotence, she yielded to tie pressure «,f accumulated calamity, &».d closed with reluctance an inglorious war. in whici) ?, No. 34, NOPTH FIFTH-STREET, PHILADELPHIA. > ;} 4S, I <V had often tho objefl-, a-;! rxxly the a&or of a tviiimpli. The various ocru-rc-ces M" onr national hiftorv, finte that period, are u irhin the re collec'ritw of«s myhes • e-r, Tn* relaxation and (lability <>l tTie political body, which 'iic ceeded the violent potion* it barf made du ring the- war : the total metfic.uv of fke're commcndatorvfedera! system, which had Ue.i formed -a the hofbm of coiit? ntitfn } the peaceable and deliberate adoption of a mors effectual national Cefrfl-.tiitign by the people of the union, and the proFperfHj', administration of that government, which has lepaired the (hattered fabric of public confidence, which has ftren;;thened the salutary bands of nation al union, and restored the bloom and vigour of lHijMrtial jultice,to the public countenance, afford a fohj-ft of pleasing contemplation to tie patriotic mind. "The repeated unanimi tv of/he nation l,a<! placed at the head of the American councils, rhe heroic leade , whose prudence and valoor condnfted to victory the arm es of freedom ; and tlie two fi'-ft otiice* of rW< Commonwealth, (li;i exhibit the vir tue'; and employ the talent* of the vrt'e'aWe prir-ots, wliofe fi'-ro a d diftiiffetefted devr fion to the cau r e of Llbe- ry, wai rewarded bv the honorable drftinftion of a Br'nTh -p'o cription. Am?) 'tans ! the voice of grates ul freedom is a ftran er to the language ofadu lation. While we' w 1(1) tbefc- iljnftfftm* sa ges to lx? alTu ed that Hie memory of (heir ser vices is imprejfed upon id] our hearts, in clraiafters, indelible to the latest pe i<,d of tiine, we trul that the rn .ft acceptable tr . but-• of refpeft winch can-be offered ro 'heir vrtnes, is found in the confidence of their countrymen. From the fervent rrfinii,-t-ion ol luture ages, when the hiflorir.ns of Ame rica, lb all -trace from their examples the splendid pattern of public virtue, th. ir me its will receive a recompense of much mo it pre cious estimation than can be conferrcif fr the mod flattering teftinionials of ion tempo ra neoii* applauTc. Tlw itoajn'rhut? ni'fl importance (»f the great event which we derives a vast t acccifeon.fruru its influence upon the affairs al t!>e wprjc!, and its operation upon fh" h 'Vrr r»<;-r ffll "Vi l |4 It has already teen volution beai's a different from that of any civtl C<Wtt?ff, thai had ever ari sen among men. It was not the convuHive ftrnggle of tlairftry to throw off the bu»den of accumulated opprefTion but the deliberate, though enei petic effort of freemen, to repel the insidious approaches of tyranny. It was a contest involving the elementary principles of government, a question of right between the sovereign and the f'uhjeft which in its pr«>- greflj had a tendency to introduce a:iux: £ the civilized nations of Europe, the difcu£an of a topic the firft in magnitude, which c<:ti at tract the attention of mankind, but which for many ctnturie-, the gloorhy (hade-; of defpot i'm had overspread with impenetrable d.vik* ness. The French nation cheerfully Uipport ed an alliance with the Uni ed Stares aid a war with during the courle of yi.icb a large body of troops ai d confidtrablc fleets xveiefer.t hy the French government, to a£t in conjunction with their new allies. The un on which had at firft been formed by the coa:ef cence of a common enmity, was soon si en tb ened by the bond* of a friendly intercourse, and the inhjefts of an arbitrary prince, in fighting the battles of freedom, soon learnt to cherilh the catife of Liberty itfelf. By a natural and eafv application to tbetiifelves of the principles upon which the Americans »f ---ferted thejuftice of their warfare, they were led to inqui-e intothe nature of the obligation which prescribed their fiibnvflTon to their own sovereign ; and when they discovered that the consent of the people is the only legiti mate sou ce of ?utho iry, they neceifaril/ drew tlie conclusion that their own obedience was no more than the compujfive acqu'ef cenre of fervitnde, and they waited only for a favorable opportunity to recover the pbf Jeflion of rhofe enjoyments, to which they had neve? forfeited t;ie right. Sentiments of a si lilar nature, by a gradual and impercep* tible progre.s, fecretiv undermined all .the foundatio- ft of their government ; and when the neceffit-ies of the sovereign reduced li m to the inevitable expedient of appealing to the bene vol. nee of the peop'e, the magic taliP man of despotism was broken, Hhe fpeli of prefcrjptive tyranny was diflolved, and the pompous pageant of their monarchy;, instan taneously c turn bled to aronis. The fub'equent European events winch have let flip the dogS of war, to prey upon the vitals cf humanity ; which have poured the torment of over thefaireft harveflj of European fertility.; which have unbound the pinions of desolation* ai d Pent her forth to feat tec peftiiente and death among the na tions : the I caffold, smoking with the Wood of a fallen monarch; the corpse-covered freid, sphere agonizing nature flruggles with the pangs fct' dilloTtftion; pe nric me my lappy countrymen, to throw a pall over ohje&sl ke fhete, which could only spread a gloom upon the face of our Let us rather in r V y-. 'v -f
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