The Wilmington Gazette

              wilmington gazette vi lump ix published weekly by allmand hall tuesday august 27 1805 a'o 451 from ihe boston chronicle as oration • fronounccd at the ie.pi st of the " ckarlestown light infant iy before the republican citi zens oj chariest own on the anniversary of american independence ily ht*.nj.i'ii.v gleason virtue is the soul of a republican go vernment ; — and truly great and glorious are those spirits which feel aud exercise the exal ted principle complicated interests can ncverbecome a u i nitcd and lasting republic ' lonk at tbe despotic state of spain ; their ' cortes or parliaments arc the most harmless i things in nature ; a mere splendid etiquetteto royalty ; without power 1 without privilege 1 without pretention 1 portugal is a sister in the same connection and their government like the government of spain as contrasted with that of our uni ted states is a standing monument of impo verished ostentation 1 and pre-eminent in aignificance fiance after it had existed a monarchy up wards of 1200 years was by the national is serr.bly in a representation from its j2 depart ments declared a republic 1 how true this de claration is in fact you yourselves are jud ges a corsican absolute in authority and nearly thirty millions of people to obey his tie penal pleasure ! — a government hereditary 1 france — not a republic ! ll may have been said that great-britain boasls a constitution which is in its nature and effects the most perfect model of all go vernments : " uie mo-.t stupendous fabric of j human invention grant it bears the sent blance — it is not ihu substance ; it is bul tiie shading and outlines „• noi llie full picture the perfect vo>"y of a free and united republic 1 england compared with the united stales is much like tbe ark of the covenant in com parison wnli the temple of solomon j — but in its ivtrks and creeds it has been much like the giant of the philistines in competition with i the little ruddy david of israel 1 its whole i head is navv sick its whole heart is faml ! j its destruction it is feared is inevitable ! jn i their land there will at sonii future day be reared a beacon to warn against approach es to that mighty old england while ame | rica young vigorous | lo.'ious and hap.iy i will atl'ord an asylum to ihe persecuted ol all ' nations and shield them ever under the banners of liberty prosperity and peace upon the continent this aide ihe great wa ters ofthe atlantic the devouring talons of insatiable ambition once usurped the power to prey ravage waste and destroy earth quake tempest inundation and flames bavj been rivalled by daring and usurping men ! the blood stained traces of a cortes and a i pizarro cairying depredation in one hand j and desolation in the other still are and ever ' will be visibly dilineirted on the charts of i south-america j the altars ol a republic can never rise or i stand secure on a basis of blood ; hut iffoun i ded on the imperishable principles of integ ■ rity honor and glory t when the rites of freedom musi be consecrated with blood \ its shrines are cleansed from all pollution by | tbe potent fires of heaven \ on such an imperishable basis stand the • altars of our own country ; veneravecl by the patriot and friend of man ! and having been once consecrated by blood they shall be defen i ded though it be even by ihe blood of our i fathers's children ik children's children down to the remotest generations no part of america no part of the known populated world stands so pre-eminent in gi'.ry in principles in republican virtue as these our united states i they are indeed a republic and we — citizens of this free and happy country indeed republicans ! he it ever our ambition to defend preserve and perpetuate the constituted rights of our country to support our constitution ! which is proverbially called the *' palladium ej our liberties to respect our rulers to remember wilh gratitude the exertions of our patriots ; and to transmit unimpaired and laden with accumulating honors theex a.'ted principle which has immortalized their * names i on this all important day memory walks ' its meditations round among the multitude ', of glorious deeds effected by our fathers i " the mind's lye contemplates with infinite delight the unshaken firmness of the steady virtues the immortal bravery of our sires our sages and our heroes : and often pausing at the warrior's tomb where sleep the great and good all covered with laurels ; — oh how beautiful is death when earh'd hy virtue 1 there stands the smiling angel of peace • guarding with holy rites the hero's bourne , guiding their spirits onward never to return the guardian angel of our union hath also inscribed upon the recordsof eternity — f . r sacred to posterity be the remembrance ef times past i and be this day hallowed with , life's sliblimest sympathy 1 i in the retrospection of past times we be hold a wonderful concatenation of events i which led on ultimately to the establishment of american independence " while memory holds her mental seat i may wc never forget those to whom we sland indebted for our freedom with all its con comitant advantages -, and while gratitude warms the human breast may our hearts j cherish the noble principles of repub'ican '■ virtue in connection with tbe deaiest airec c tions and felicities of life may our lair sisters listen to thu lalet of old times with pleasure ; five a tear to depai i id worth , a smile to merit ; anil applaud nth im-.-nts of those times which " tried men's souls — is in crucibles of political affliction ! may our fathers who still live and who • this day witness our grateful affections our zealous attachment to the cause of liberty and our resolution to defend and protect ihe rights or m.u ; while tliey behold their children around them rising up •• to call them blessed ;" may they feel the assurances of a blessed immortality ! — they s/u/l be immortal in the affections of their children 1 ! while we retrospect the rough vicissitudes of war and regard with due consideration the scene ot battle may the thrillings of sublime sensation pervade the heart vibra ting lo cveny tone of recollection behold ! aggression followed on after aggression prohibition after prohibition the stamp-act the massacre tbe tea-traffic the " bos ton port-bill impositions and persecutions these wers the high-handed insults offer ed the people of the united states particularly the slate of massachusetts while yet a colony by his sovereign majesty the king i •< defen der of the laith !" and the supreme authori ties ca the court of great-britain .' — and these persecutions were answered by remonstrance after remonstrancs ; petition after petition but the evil increased ; opposition ilr-n be came a right ; and resistance laws then courage became a virtue and resolution glory .'. — '• arms become just and sacred to those who have no other resource — the standards of lidi.rtt were erected on the high hills of massachusetts thousands rallied around them inarms hf.avkn at tested the tact and the ion of annies smiling complacent bid america be free 1 see ! a gathering storm appears at l.eech nvire's point — eight hundred troops have lanued ! they open their way to concord to desifoy our military stores and to secure the proscribed patriots — ii mjcock and aoams ! then lexington recorded a scene memorable in the history ofour country '■ disperse ye rebels cries pitcairn " death or lrneh-fr exclaim onr undaun ted pitriotic countrymen the scene was cruel 1 skirmish confusion and death pave their way from concord lord piercy ap pears with a relief of nine hundred recruits cur jar.l.se brethren pursue them scatteringly ; but with revenged havoc to the vety ground wnere now we celebrate our independence the alarm is spread ! gage trembles with his mighty men of war in our metiopolis ! i sec tbe arms ofour cilizeus taken by a tjlusion — 1 see their sufferings but they scorn to complain — their prospects shall be se rine ! their native town is now besieged with 30,000 of their brave countrymen de nandingsatisfaction for their injured rights here within a war-whoop call satin pom pus state the british myrmidons howe luitootne clinton and gage ; — issuing proclamations and deciding upon the fate oi cur country and the lives of our citizens — he british martial laws are in operation — 0 think ofthe distresses ol those times — nil is lamentation horror and di-druction ! see your brave country men throwing up mi'.renchments on bunker's hill 1 1 he ene my advancing with the progress of the sun | all is lost 1 — no i — livid death rushes down heir ranks dreadful and tremendous they retreat 1 our countrymen victorious 1 no ! — they rally i they return — again all is confusion shrieks and shouts — again bravely repulsed '..— tliey retreat .'— victory !— no !— wrought up to a degree of desperation great in numbers pomp and power they furious ly put lorw.-nd !— o ! god-*-temper with mercy the preponderating scale of war — spare — spine our brethren warren falls relief ammunition fail ! convulsed our countrymen make the last struggle ! — charlestojvn in fames ! howe yet trembles in dubious contest !--•! see the interest felt uni versal all round the hemisphere of vision — the enemy have reared the standard of vic tory •* but in exultation triumph the ameri cans!—those take possession of the hill bul our warren our countrjmin of im mortal glory ! the next war scene discovers the green mountain boys at ticonderoga under the com mand of general allen demanding a sur render " in the name of the great jehovah and the continental congress the key to canada is secured to the americans a regular army is now established and its chiefs the illustrious washington the next scene discovers the heroic mont f ornery at the head of his troops struggling against double the number uf the enemy securing the out posts and cities nf refuge belonging to the english he fell glorious in battle fighting for liberty ! norfolk and falmouth now lie smoaking in ruins ! about this time rose those astonishing heights at dorchester ftcwe and his army in trepidation epiit our capital they fear the i invincible spirits of the americana ourbc loved washington enters boston triumph ant ! parent protherand friend again meet and are happy ! congress publish their declaration of ame rican independence july 4 1776 whichc.it i rated america from great-britain 1 forever ! i see ! next at new-york washington and i howe in competition | see the american soldiers driven from j york-island and retreating ihiough the jer '■ seys disheartened and almost hopeles rhode-island is lost taken by clinton loss es defeat sickness and death ; the four 1 le nients oi'present misery darken with conflic ting tempests the pie.se t dreary scene i the northern army reduced from 25,000 to 3000 men is in a manner no more : to add ■ tbe last aggravation by a straage impru dence general lee is captured by a party oi british light horse it was on the evening ofthe 25th decem ber 1776 that washington great in misfor tune as he was good in character turned ihe tide of war and " revived the desponding hopes of america he passes from penn sylvania ; crosses the delaware in a storm • arrives at trenton ; captures the hessian troops ; gains a signal victory t saves his country ! the gallant metcer dies but the patriot lives in eternal remembrance ! soon after tryon carries lire and sword in to connect rui at danburj the brave wooittr fell ! practising the policy of the english in ta king gibraltar .- the heroic col barton takes the english gen prescot naked from his quarters in rhode-hlaud see the mighty champion burgoyne now advances with 10.000 men ; many wero the brave and worthy who rose in powerful opposition gates leads on the americans and burgoyne's whole army at saratoga vield prisoners of war this was glorious for you my country tbe tears of afflict ion are now succeeded by the smiles of joy anei satisfaction see now the english forces proudly sail ing up the chesapeak 1 the heights of bran dyivii.c ar,p lined with a ivashmgtonian opposi tion but the americans loss is great ; phi ladelphia and germantown witness similar scenes ; the british losses balance it preser ving the equipoise of war the year 1778 is distinguished by a treaty of alliance with france monmouth iu rcnd-.ied memorable by on soldiers successes rhode-island the same conflagration still mai ks the loot-steps of the british at stoi.ey.pcinl our countrymen led on by wayne are victorious ! at penobscot they are unfortunate again at savannah lin coin and count d'estaing repulsed with lo's here fell the -- brave soldier pulaski .' again at charlestown lincoln taken : pgain at cam den gates and his troops routed with loss the british marauders now ravage our coun try like hungry tygers ! rochambeau arrives ! — gen green takes command at the southward and is successful guildford commemurates the best fought action during the war ; green and comwallis in opposition the eutaw springs are com memorative of american successes mar quis de la fayette be thy virtues in remem brance while listnrr has charms ! coniwallis is now blocked upi at york town by count de grasse vv ashinctov ar rives ! cornwallis surrenders ! the contest ia decided ! america is free ! peace rises to view like the sun emerging from the last wastings and desolating how lings of a storm and libkhvt is all uur own ! the british evacuate nil their posts they take their last stand at new-york gut carle ton conies over their commander and trea ties of pracs fkiehdsmp and alliascz close the eventful scene ! thus gentlemen conceiving it my duly i have passed with you mentally over the vast theatre ofthe world you have hud a curso ry glance at the various modes and forms of government in their various relations and o perations throughout the earth you have seen the republics of europe u tbey now exist and by contrast and illustra tion bow glorious how pre-eminent the republic of the united slate 1 reared by our fathers cemented with their best blood and lo be perpetuated in republican unicn for ever ! liberty is the birth-right and ecojality of rights the inconlcstible privilege of man 1 — sacred to the citizens ofour united states be all their blessing 1 sacred to the present generation and to all posterity be ihe day we celebrate ; — be it consecrated tu the memory of former times ; tothe remembrance of mighty deeds — - and to the preservation of those principles which warmed the pure blood of our fa thbrs : — to be perpetuated down through the long lapse of ages is jubilee of joy uni on and glory our republic the fabric ofour indkpek df.nck still exists — the republicsof theel der world have long since ceased their continuance ;• — all swallowed up in absolute power or absolute ruin 1 our several state governments united in a national body politic compose one grand con federated rkpublio *, a uniok which stands unrivalled among all the systems of government throughout the habitable regions ofthe earth and we its citizens — indeed republicans — not in fancy — but in fact are most supremely blest i the present occasion affords an opportuni ty to elucidate and substantiate this pleasing reality look through all africa ; from grand cairo to tangier and from tangier to the cape of good hope thro all the diver sity of tribes from the copts and mamelukes in egypt to the black inhabitants of stnegam bia to the hottentot at the cape you find no organized republic no free-born republi can of a free and distinguished country look through all asia ; and you behold all the mighty wheels of empire rolling at large like comets in boundless space dis connected with system consuming and con sumed with their own fires ; wandering in hordes and preying on all opposing obstacles ; or walled in cities ever waiting the issue of battle ! — among the clans of the former adject poverty and despotism ! — among the governments ofthe latter de>polism opu lence avarice indigence and slavery ! europe presents an assemblage of character — — a group of scenes a budget of curiosities a prolixity of tvents a picture a hich isvarie gated wilh almost every hue and colour of diversified life norway sweden denmark and russia exhi bit in the national and political characters no bright and glorious traits of republicanism — 1 he norwegian principle is perhaps tuo much incased in climate — every chieftain at stockholm is not a gustavus vasa ;— . copenhagen still points the cannon ofthe mole to the exaction of tribute ; — a russian num bers his slaves by the multitude of his roubles the bailie washes all their shores and will perhaps for ages yet to come never feel the grateful brees.es of freedom poland whs called a republic but in its bo som lives an hereditary aristocracy its kosciuskot sleep beyond the bourne of life and the suwarrow spirits already gorged in madne*;s and in blood stand ready waiting at its portals to rush in nt their grand festival of anticipated rebellion .' the cvclcs of germany though composing a convention of great politic.il interests in their national diet — imperial cities with an impfrial emperor at their head yet fall short of a firm and free republic what ii difference between the peasant of hungary and the republican farmer of neve england — between their htyducks and hussars and the infantry and cavalry in our great respectable and invincible militia holland since the great confederation of utrecht boasts itself a republic but in it states-central there is more than a puce de mocratic representation of the united provin ces .*- — il contains an hereditary stadtfioldcr switzerland whose cantons enriched by the hand of industry smile with plenty ; af fording a fit residence for a vigorous free and happy people switzerland ever consi dered a republic ill the helvetic union is too often subjected tothe controullng authori ties of aristocracy and usurpation geneva once the ally of the swiss knows but the fluctuating thrills of lis hit ; not the glory of being a permanent republic the government of the genoese more re sembles their shield executed by vacche than tho republican government under which we have the happiness to live venice is aaid to be one ofthe most celebra ted republics in the world and is perhaps one ofthe most perfect and powerful arisiocra cieson earth ! this fact has been well at tested by even their doges themselves ; too often the devoted victims to the inscrutable lie-rations of the ministerial cabinet '. thus have we walked mentally over the tcr rifio field of carnage devastation and death " inu d.tr we celebrate is designed ever to oe commemorative of these great events our subject is our independence and it is glorious for posterity on such a day as this to remember with gratitude the mighty deeds by which wilh the blessing of hea ven our freedom was obtained the recital can never fatigue the patriot the republican whose heart glows wilh love to his f how-man to his country and to his god no it is justice to elder times ! it is honor ! it is glory ! to bless the memory of our fathers ; to drink ofthe fountain of their feelings ; and to feel within us a spirit like ihe -,, invincible i immortal .' peace contrasted with war now appears like the circuits of elysium ; contrasted with the troubles and carousuls in the halls of tl'j den the datkening clouds disperse the brightness of freedom's day beams foi lb in tenfold lustre ! goittinjsd on the hit pare italy hewn up into so many states u king doir.-j with so many opposite conflicting and generous hearts the iruly virtuous scntl sunder tbe bond of connection and sepa