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Literary
July 11, 1803
Jenks' Portland Gazette. And Maine Advertiser
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
What is this article about?
Patriotic oration for July 4, 1803, commemorating U.S. independence, urging citizen unity despite political differences, peaceful international relations with France and Britain, and gratitude for prosperity and peace under divine providence.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
From the Daily Advertiser.
A SHORT ORATION,
FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1803.
"In War enemies; In Peace friends."
Declaration of Independence.
Friends and Fellow Citizens—On this auspicious day, sacred to the commemoration of an event, which placed the American States among the political powers of the world—an event which was the corner stone on which our national edifice has been raised—which laid the foundation of our liberty, independence, and prosperity—permit an obscure orator thus to address you.
Far be it from him on this joyous day to open wounds that have long been healed; to kindle animosities that have long since subsided; or by unkind allusions, by harsh suggestions—much less by direct acrimony or foul imputations, to set brother against brother; to array one fellow citizen against another; or by party distinctions to dissolve that bond of union which should cement us all together as family friends. We differ in our notions of religion: are divided into different sects and denominations—yet we all agree to worship the same "Father of Light," from whom cometh down every good gift. We acknowledge the same Redeemer and the same Divine Spirit, whose agency pervades universal nature. So we differ in our modes and habits of thinking on political subjects. We are divided into parties, with different names—yet we all (I trust) love the country which gave us birth, or which provides us with "daily bread." In her prosperity ours is involved.
She is the vessel in which we must all either swim or sink. Whether navigated well or ill, let us not impede her course: but let each, in his respective place, in the place allotted by the GREAT COMMANDER IN CHIEF, discharge his private duty, agreeably to his best judgment, and leave the event of the voyage to the blessing of heaven.
Thus united among ourselves; thus animated by one spirit, by the spirit of amity and concord, let us also extend our regard to our brethren of mankind in regions far remote. With them may we continue to live on terms of peace and friendship—with them may we maintain a fair and useful commerce—keep at their rights, and with dignity and firmness defend our own.
From a great and gallant nation, once our allies, now our friends, we have received many benefits and many wrongs. The benefits, we are authorized to believe, were conferred not from dictated friendship to us, but from a wish to wound the commerce and resources of an ancient rival, and to enlarge, establish and protect their own. The wrongs were multiplied, aggravated and severe—They remain unredressed: but let them pass. Blotted from the page of memory, except as beacons to warn us of future danger, let them cease to corrode our hearts, or to awaken our resentments.
With another great and wise, and powerful nation, we are united by the ties of amity—of commerce—of laws—language—manners—religion—and more strongly by the cement of national and individual interest. They are the parent stock from which these flourishing branches, the American States, first sprang. At present they are the bulwark of the world: they form the barrier which checks the torrent of a wide wasting ambition, that would subjugate, pillage, and with a rod of iron, rule the whole civilized universe.
With this nation it is our interest and our duty to remain united. They are friendly, magnanimous and wise; they respect and esteem the American people; they will not wilfully do us wrong, and if through inadvertence, they will repair the wrong. Toward such a nation let us not then indulge unkind or illiberal sentiments; let us on the contrary cherish those friendly dispositions, which accord with our interest and produce correspondent views.
Finally, fellow citizens, on this day, when we look round and behold our harvests already ripe for the sickle; when we see our farmers filled with plenty, and our warehouses with the treasures of the world; when we see industry rewarded, business extending, population increasing, new sources of commerce opening, new lands settling—every where the smiling face of peace and plenty, of social order and domestic happiness—let us with united hearts, offer to the GREAT AUTHOR of all our comforts, the incense of a pure and ardent gratitude; and confessing our unworthiness of his unparalleled goodness, let us implore a forgiveness of our sins and follies, and a continuance of his mercy to the AMERICAN PEOPLE.
A SHORT ORATION,
FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1803.
"In War enemies; In Peace friends."
Declaration of Independence.
Friends and Fellow Citizens—On this auspicious day, sacred to the commemoration of an event, which placed the American States among the political powers of the world—an event which was the corner stone on which our national edifice has been raised—which laid the foundation of our liberty, independence, and prosperity—permit an obscure orator thus to address you.
Far be it from him on this joyous day to open wounds that have long been healed; to kindle animosities that have long since subsided; or by unkind allusions, by harsh suggestions—much less by direct acrimony or foul imputations, to set brother against brother; to array one fellow citizen against another; or by party distinctions to dissolve that bond of union which should cement us all together as family friends. We differ in our notions of religion: are divided into different sects and denominations—yet we all agree to worship the same "Father of Light," from whom cometh down every good gift. We acknowledge the same Redeemer and the same Divine Spirit, whose agency pervades universal nature. So we differ in our modes and habits of thinking on political subjects. We are divided into parties, with different names—yet we all (I trust) love the country which gave us birth, or which provides us with "daily bread." In her prosperity ours is involved.
She is the vessel in which we must all either swim or sink. Whether navigated well or ill, let us not impede her course: but let each, in his respective place, in the place allotted by the GREAT COMMANDER IN CHIEF, discharge his private duty, agreeably to his best judgment, and leave the event of the voyage to the blessing of heaven.
Thus united among ourselves; thus animated by one spirit, by the spirit of amity and concord, let us also extend our regard to our brethren of mankind in regions far remote. With them may we continue to live on terms of peace and friendship—with them may we maintain a fair and useful commerce—keep at their rights, and with dignity and firmness defend our own.
From a great and gallant nation, once our allies, now our friends, we have received many benefits and many wrongs. The benefits, we are authorized to believe, were conferred not from dictated friendship to us, but from a wish to wound the commerce and resources of an ancient rival, and to enlarge, establish and protect their own. The wrongs were multiplied, aggravated and severe—They remain unredressed: but let them pass. Blotted from the page of memory, except as beacons to warn us of future danger, let them cease to corrode our hearts, or to awaken our resentments.
With another great and wise, and powerful nation, we are united by the ties of amity—of commerce—of laws—language—manners—religion—and more strongly by the cement of national and individual interest. They are the parent stock from which these flourishing branches, the American States, first sprang. At present they are the bulwark of the world: they form the barrier which checks the torrent of a wide wasting ambition, that would subjugate, pillage, and with a rod of iron, rule the whole civilized universe.
With this nation it is our interest and our duty to remain united. They are friendly, magnanimous and wise; they respect and esteem the American people; they will not wilfully do us wrong, and if through inadvertence, they will repair the wrong. Toward such a nation let us not then indulge unkind or illiberal sentiments; let us on the contrary cherish those friendly dispositions, which accord with our interest and produce correspondent views.
Finally, fellow citizens, on this day, when we look round and behold our harvests already ripe for the sickle; when we see our farmers filled with plenty, and our warehouses with the treasures of the world; when we see industry rewarded, business extending, population increasing, new sources of commerce opening, new lands settling—every where the smiling face of peace and plenty, of social order and domestic happiness—let us with united hearts, offer to the GREAT AUTHOR of all our comforts, the incense of a pure and ardent gratitude; and confessing our unworthiness of his unparalleled goodness, let us implore a forgiveness of our sins and follies, and a continuance of his mercy to the AMERICAN PEOPLE.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Liberty Freedom
Patriotism
Political
What keywords are associated?
Independence Day
American Liberty
National Unity
Peaceful Commerce
Gratitude To God
Literary Details
Title
A Short Oration, For The Fourth Of July, 1803.
Subject
Commemoration Of The Declaration Of Independence
Form / Style
Patriotic Prose Oration
Key Lines
Friends And Fellow Citizens—On This Auspicious Day, Sacred To The Commemoration Of An Event, Which Placed The American States Among The Political Powers Of The World—An Event Which Was The Corner Stone On Which Our National Edifice Has Been Raised—Which Laid The Foundation Of Our Liberty, Independence, And Prosperity—Permit An Obscure Orator Thus To Address You.
She Is The Vessel In Which We Must All Either Swim Or Sink. Whether Navigated Well Or Ill, Let Us Not Impede Her Course: But Let Each, In His Respective Place, In The Place Allotted By The Great Commander In Chief, Discharge His Private Duty, Agreeably To His Best Judgment, And Leave The Event Of The Voyage To The Blessing Of Heaven.
With This Nation It Is Our Interest And Our Duty To Remain United. They Are Friendly, Magnanimous And Wise; They Respect And Esteem The American People; They Will Not Wilfully Do Us Wrong, And If Through Inadvertence, They Will Repair The Wrong.
Finally, Fellow Citizens, On This Day, When We Look Round And Behold Our Harvests Already Ripe For The Sickle; When We See Our Farmers Filled With Plenty, And Our Warehouses With The Treasures Of The World; When We See Industry Rewarded, Business Extending, Population Increasing, New Sources Of Commerce Opening, New Lands Settling—Every Where The Smiling Face Of Peace And Plenty, Of Social Order And Domestic Happiness—Let Us With United Hearts, Offer To The Great Author Of All Our Comforts, The Incense Of A Pure And Ardent Gratitude; And Confessing Our Unworthiness Of His Unparalleled Goodness, Let Us Implore A Forgiveness Of Our Sins And Follies, And A Continuance Of His Mercy To The American People.