National Gazette

AN ORATION,

Delivered at the request of the Ciceronian Society by their President, on the Anniversary of American Independence.

Continued from our last & concluded.

OUR brethren, the French, are at this moment engaged in opposition against all the horrid wars of superstition, ignorance and blind credulity: they are struggling as the American patriots of '76 struggled, and the issue of their arduous conflict is liberty or slavery! Heaven alone knows the event, and our destiny is blended with theirs. If France conquers we are still free, if her efforts fail, we are undone.--- Heaven seems to have leagued these two nations for some great purpose, and as the measures of men succeed or perish, according to the will of the Supreme Law-giver, we have no reason to doubt of the equity of this important decision.

Gentlemen, upon this occasion, convened as we are, in testimony of our thankfulness for the favours bestowed by heaven upon our country, believe me, my situation cannot but be extremely irksome in speaking upon a theme which sets eloquence itself at defiance. Great and majestic in itself it can receive no additional lustre. For who can interfere with success the radiance of the sun? -To picture the glorious effulgency which blazed upon this country seventeen years ago, were a vain attempt at the present period. But in the course of time, when the records of the nation shall be dusted over with age, when the witnesses of the proceedings of '76 shall inhabit the silent grave, & when the splendor of the 4th of July shall dwindle into faint descriptions, then, for the day shall never pass unnoticed, then shall the orator dwell with enthusiastic fervor upon the subject, and kindle into rapture the applauding throng. Every heart shall throb with admiration, and every breast must pant with warm zeal in support of the cause in which their fathers bled. Then shall the orator bring to view the various scenes of the revolution, and bid the youth of that day aspire after glory. He shall draw with the finger of Fancy the statesmen of '76, defining the powers of the rulers and the indefeasible rights of the people, fixing the Rubicon of authority in the letter of the law,- opposing the arm of oppression by the precepts of Nature and of reason, and establishing the happiness of mankind upon the eternal maxims of justice and equity. He shall pull aside the dark curtain which then shall have veiled past scenes from light, and display the heroes of the war marching triumphant over their vanquished enemies; tears of gratitude shall flow in remembrance of those martyrs whose patriotic zeal afforded a victory death was ashamed to acknowledge-while the memory of the Fabius of Columbia, who then will be no more, shall live in the panegyric song and his patriotism and moderation shall be held up as a model for the imitation of his successors: virtue and republicanism shall be echoed from every side while social converse and the gentle arts of peace shall realize the happiness of the whole community. These scenes the future speaker shall paint to his crowded audience, and impress those sensations upon the minds of his hearers. The anecdotes of magnanimous worthies who marked the 4th of July as the jubilee of America, will be preserved by tradition forever and shall animate all posterity. Then, shall not we of the present day arriving to maturity but a few years posterior to the great revolution, shall not we glow with the mighty theme and repent with transport the sentiment of gratitude? Shall we let this day pass unheededly, suffer the panegyric strain to remain unfounded, and offer no prayer to heaven in token of our acknowledgment of the unparalleled blessings we have received?-God forbid! ungrateful indeed were the people of America if, at this time, the sufferings and services of the patriots of '76 were forgotten. Ill deserving were they of the blessings of peace and independence if they already disregard the memory of those who acquired them.-But, my hearers, freemen cannot be guilty of ingratitude. It is a crime of so debasing a nature that slaves only can possess it. At this period of time, when the wounds our gallant countrymen received in the late arduous conflict are yet unhealed, when the swords of our officers lie sleepless in their scabbards, and while the soil on which we tread is moist with the crimson dew which first nourished the plant of liberty, the sensibility of Americans needs not the animation of an extrinsic monitor to rouse