The Delaware Gazette

FOURTH OF JULY.

This auspicious day, so dear to every real American, was observed by all descriptions of citizens with a patriotism, harmony and order becoming the occasion. The Wilmington Light Infantry Blues, in honor of the day, assembled at an early hour, and, after performing the evolutions adapted to the occasion, repaired to an elegant retreat in the vicinity of this town to join a large and respectable assemblage of their fellow-citizens, and with them partake of an elegant repast prepared for the occasion. The company was honored with the presence of a number of the veterans of our revolution, who, we are happy to state, had no cause to be ashamed of the conduct of the rising generation. Dr. James Fulton was chosen President, Captain Frederick Leonard, Vice-President, and Mr. Charles H. Haughey Secretary. At the request of the president, Mr. Haughey read the Declaration of Independence and delivered an Oration of which the following is a copy. Justice to Mr. Haughey obliges us to state that the oration was hastily prepared, and only suffered by him to be published in compliance with the wishes of the company present--that he was obliged to leave home the next day after it was delivered, and consequently prevented from paying that attention to correction which a little more time would have enabled to have done. After dinner the succeeding toasts were drank, accompanied with the discharge of cannon from the Revenue Cutter, which lay within signal.

ORATION.

Fellow Citizens,

The present day, which we have assembled to celebrate, is a day ever to be respected by the American people. On the 4th of July, '76, the people of America first took an honorable stand among the nations of the earth, and, ensured to themselves those liberties so peculiar to the western world. Destined by Providence to taste first of those blessings, tis still incumbent upon us to keep alive that day, which, was one of the first towards our becoming a great and independent nation.

The patriot and sage, who penned the famous declaration of independence, and since, whose life has been that of a great and wise politician; has not long since retired from the busy hum of a capital. During the space of 33 years has our late president, devoted his sole attention to cherish and cement more firmly our infant republic. He has with the aid of men great and good, with minds expanded like his own, been still able to preserve from foreign and domestic foes, that government, which, he has had so great a part in placing in the hands of those who have the right.

'Tis unnecessary on the present occasion, to dwell long on a subject, the merits of which are so well known to all.

It may not be amiss on this occasion to express our feelings relative to the successor of our late beloved president. James Madison, a man distinguished from his early youth for virtue and talents, was hailed by his country to fill the presidential chair. Born in the land of liberty, reared under the banners of men equally famed for every thing that is great and distinguished, he is still beloved by the friends of freedom, notwithstanding all the artifice of base and designing politicians.

Fellow citizens, if we contrast the situation of our country when the famous articles of independence were made, with the present, we shall all agree, that the present is a time that requires the greatest exercise of the talents of our leaders, aided by the support of a great and magnanimous people. 'Tis for you, fellow citizens, to appreciate those rights so dearly but justly obtained. 'Tis for you to step forward at this time, in aid of your country's cause, when assailed by the tyrants of the world, and convince your enemies, both at home and abroad, that you are to be independent and free.

Though at present our country is experiencing in a considerable degree, the baneful effects of the devastating wars of Europe, we have still those means left in our power to ensure our present and future happiness, if properly appreciated by the citizens of our country. Our republic is in its infancy, and I believe we can find few instances, if any, recorded in the annals of history, of one of its standing becoming a prey to foreign or domestic faction. Indeed, the wide spread of useful independent knowledge in every part of our country forbids the idea. If we advert to the astonishing changes made here, in every respect as it relates to the society of man, we must feel astonished, especially those who lived in the arduous times, as the patriots express it, that tried men's souls.

It seems a kind Providence has placed us in this remote part of the globe, for great and wise purposes. 'Tis here in this fertile part of America the standard of liberty was first raised, upon those pure and sound principles that never existed in any other. The arts and sciences have progressed among us beyond example. The flood of new inventions, exhibited daily to our view, would lead us to say with Virgil, Jam redit et Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna: Jam nova progenies cælo demittitur alio. Indeed, if we recur to the gloomy and awful state of nearly all the world, we are led to believe that changes are taking place far beyond the conception of man.

Fellow citizens, to bring the matter home, would ask any one present, were he in the act of supplication, what he could ask more of this world, than he has absolutely in his power. Do we not here enjoy political and civil liberty, in a greater degree than any other people on earth? Have we not a more extensive country, abounding in all the varieties of climate, to a greater degree than any other people? If this be the fact, what lengths ought we not to go, great and good, to preserve those inestimable blessings? We are so situated and secured by the laws so wisely adopted by the legislatures of our country, that, in scripture language, every one can sit secure under his own vine and fig tree, and none to make him afraid.

Citizens, enquire for yourselves, and consider your free and independent situation in its proper light, attended with thousands of blessings unknown to the people of other countries. In America no hereditary distinction is known--merit is here found in abundance, without which, a citizen can never rise in the estimation of the people.

It has been the opinion of a party long opposed to the present government, that, there is a want of virtue to ensure its safety; though we can venture to say upon the most approved authority, that there is no government so well calculated to ensure the liberties and happiness of a people as a federal representative republic, such as that under which we live.

It is a maxim of the celebrated Montesquieu, "that virtue is not the principle of a monarchical government;" though it is in some measure requisite in all governments not immediately in the hands of the people, yet it is absolutely in the nature of a representative republic. So it is evident, in our government virtue must exist in a very great degree, notwithstanding all the vice. Indeed, of this we need only recur to the case of Burr, who, with all his boasted talents, foreign and domestic art, was unable to put in force his wicked and diabolical schemes. Notwithstanding the failure of all attempts made upon our rights, yet it is incumbent upon us to guard and protect our liberties with a greater diligence. Instead of a departure from those genuine principles so natural to the American people, we have the best ground for believing, we shall with care and attention grow in all those essentials, necessary to ensure our growing empire.

In all governments, however well founded, there are times when the people will relax in a small degree from their usual energy. It unfortunately has been the case under the embargo laws, which, we have the best reason to believe, has preserved us from the tyrants of the ocean; at least for a while. We have reason to lament the late panic at Washington, which, no doubt, has been productive of evils, and left a stain that can never be washed away.

Citizens, it remains with you to correct all the vices existing among us. 'Tis not here as under monarchical despotic governments; there the people are deprived of what you have most completely in your power. Liberty is a property inherent in Americans. They are better fitted for its enjoyments than any other people. It is therefore highly necessary that you duly attend to those liberties so dearly bought by the worthies of seventy six. We, fellow citizens, now assembled in commemoration of the day that ranks us the first among nations, let it impress us with a true sense of the solemn obligations due to our God--the sages and heroes of our revolutionary war. Let it as deeply impress us with the importance of holding ever sacred the confederation, which, like the links of one great chain can never be broken without destruction to the whole. Washington, the father of his country, has left us thus as his most important legacy. Let it not only recal to our minds that glow of love, that burns in the bosom of every friend to liberty: but convince the world of our importance as a great and independent nation. We, as Americans, can say more for ourselves than any people on earth. It needs only a recurrence to our settlement, the trying scenes we have encountered, and, finally, the wise constitution adopted. With a proper attention to the cultivation of morals, we shall grow in all the blessings derived from so happy a constitution as that we enjoy, and leave a name behind us revered by ages yet to come.

Toasts drank on the 4th of July, 1809, in Wilmington, Delaware.

1. The day we commemorate--may its annual return ever revive in our memories, the blessings produced by the famous articles of independence, and a due respect for their author.--1 gun. 9 cheers.

2. The present Congress of the U. States--may they profit by experience and learn the dangers of instability from the example of a past session.--1 gun. 3 cheers.

3. The President of the U. States--may his virtues be ever recorded by the American people.--1 gun. 9 cheers.

4. George Clinton, a patriot of seventy six. may his past services never be forgotten.--1 gun. 9 cheers.

5. Our heads of departments, as a national council, may they grow in the estimation of the people.--1 gun. 3 cheers.

6. The citizens of the U. States--may they wisely profit by the past and present convulsions of the world.--1 gun. 3 cheers.

7. Agriculture--may the virtues it imparts upon the mind, never be eradicated by the demagogues of faction.--1 gun. 9 cheers.

8. The manufactures of our country, reared by the patriotism of our citizens, may they be wisely fostered by the leaders of the nation.--1 gun. 9 cheers.

Now returns the Virgin Astrea, returns the reign of Saturn: Now a new progeny from high heaven descends.
9. Commerce may its eagle wings be clipped when it tends to the reduction of our independence. 1 gun. 9 cheers.

10. The army of the U. States—may it continue till its reduction be required by the sovereigns of the land. 1 gun. 9 cheers.

11. The militia of the U. States—may they possess the bravery and patriotism of those times that produced the present blessings. 1 gun. 9 cheers.

12. May concord and unanimity ever exist among our citizens. 1 gun. 9 cheers.

13. George Washington, the father of his country. 1 gun. Solemn music.

14. May the services of our war-worn veterans never be forgotten. 1 gun. 9 cheers.

15. The State of Delaware—may the sun of republicanism arise with a tenfold refulgence, and flash conviction on the minds of her deluded citizens. 1 gun. 3 cheers.

16. The policy of Thomas Jefferson—may it be imitated by the present administration, as it will ever be revered by the great body of the people. 1 gun. 9 cheers.

17. The American fair—may they ever prefer the solid to the graceful. 1 gun. 9 cheers.

VOLUNTEERS.

By the President—May the protecting influence of Providence be extended to the U. States hereafter, as heretofore. 1 gun. 3 cheers.

By the Vice-President—The American people, may they wisely attend to the cultivation of morals. 1 gun. 3 cheers.

By Major Juguel—The eleventh Congress, may they evince in their deliberations more stability and firmness than their predecessors. 1 gun. 3 cheers.

By Mr. Charles H. Hughey—Liberty, the infant of America, may it never cease to spread its benign influence, till every government is likened to its own. 1 gun. 3 cheers.

By Captain Mendenhall—The American eagle, may it ever beware of the crouching lion and the crowing cock. 1 gun. 3 cheers.

By Mr. J. Hall—Hamilton and Burr. Pickering and Marshall, may their characters, buoyant by corruption, float down the stream of time, the objects of disgust and detestation to every American. 1 gun. 9 cheers.

By a Rope-Maker—May the Legislator who refuses to encourage the manufactures of his country be compelled to wear a home-spun neck-cloth.