Gazette Of The United States

The REAL STRENGTH of a NATION.

An ODE.

"WHAT constitutes a State?
Not high rais'd battlement, or labour'd mound,
Thick wall or moated gate:
Not cities proud, with spires and turrets crown'd:
Not bays, and broad-arm'd ports,
Where, laughing at the storm, rich navies ride:
Not starr'd and spangled courts,
Where low-brow'd baseness wafts perfume to pride:
No:—MEN, high minded MEN,
With pow'rs as far above dull beasts endu'd,
In forest, brake, or den,
As beasts excel cold rocks and brambles rude:
Men, who their DUTIES know,
But know their RIGHTS, and knowing, DARE MAINTAIN;
Prevent the long-aim'd blow,
And crush the Tyrant, while they rend the chain.
These constitute a State;
And Sovereign Law, THAT STATE's COLLECTED WILL,
O'er thrones and King's elate,
Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill.
Smit by her sacred frown,
Fell DESPOTISM resign'd his iron rod;
And Britain's once-bright crown
Hides his faint rays, and trembles at her nod.
Such is COLUMBIA's land,
Fairer than e'en Britannia's boasted shore!
Here FREEDOM takes her stand,
And bids Americans be slaves no more!
Since all must life resign,
Those sweet rewards, which decorate the brave,
'Tis folly to decline,
And stealing inglorious to the silent grave."