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head now living. He alone has already lost, by their fatal counsels, more territory than the three great united powers of Russia, Austria and Prussia have together by a wicked conspiracy robbed Poland of, and by equal acts of violence and injustice from administration.

England was never engaged in a contest of such importance to our most valuable concerns and possessions. We are fighting for the subjection, the unconditional submission, of a country infinitely more extended than our own, of which every day increases the wealth, the natural strength, the population. Should we not succeed, it will be a loss never enough to be deplored, a bosom friendship soured to hate and resentment. We shall be considered as their most implacable enemies, an eternal separation will follow, and the grandeur of the British empire pass away.

Success, final success, seems to me not equivocal, not uncertain, but impossible. However we may differ among ourselves, they are perfectly united. On this side the Atlantic, party-rage unhappily divides us; but one soul animates the vast northern continent of America, the general congress, and each provincial assembly. An appeal has been made to the sword; and at the close of the last campaign, what have we conquered? Bunker's Hill only, and with the loss of twelve hundred men. Are we to pay as dearly for the rest of America? The idea of the conquest of that immense continent is as romantic as unjust.

We are told, moreover, that "the Americans have been treated with lenity." Will facts justify this assertion? Was your Boston Port Bill a measure of lenity? Was your Fishery Bill a measure of lenity? Was your bill for taking away the charter of the Massachusetts Bay, a measure of lenity, or even justice? I omit your many other gross provocations and insults, by which the brave Americans have been driven into their present state. The honorable gentleman asserts that they avow a disposition to be independent. On the contrary, Sir, all the declarations, both of the late and the present congress, uniformly tend to this one object of being put on the same footing the Americans were on in 1763. This has been their only demand, from which they have never varied. Their daily prayers and petitions are for peace, liberty and safety. They justly expect to be put on an equal footing with the other subjects of the empire, and are willing to come into any fair agreement with you in commercial concerns. If you confine all our trade to

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yourselves, say they; if you make a monopoly of our commerce; if you shut all the other ports of the world against us, do not tax us likewise. If you tax us, then give us a free trade, such as you enjoy yourselves. Let us have equal advantages of commerce, all other ports open to us; then we can, and will, cheerfully, voluntarily pay taxes.

My wish and hope, therefore, is, that an address may be presented to the King, praying his Majesty that he would sheathe the sword, prevent the further effusion of the blood of our fellow-subjects, adopt some mode of negotiation with the general congress, in compliance with their repeated petition, and thereby restore peace and harmony to this distracted empire.

Ex. XLV.-SONG, 1776.

SMILE, Massachusetts, smile!
Thy virtue still outbraves
The frowns of Britain's isle,

And rage of home-born slaves.
Thy free-born sons disdain their ease
When purchased by their liberties.

In Hancock's generous mind
Awakes the noble strife,
Which so conspicuous shined
In gallant Sydney's life.

While in its cause the hero bled,

Immortal honors crowned his head.

Brave Washington arrives

Arrayed in warlike fame,
While in his soul revives

Great Marlb'ro's martial flame,
To lead your conquering armies on
To lasting glory and renown.

To aid the glorious cause
Experienced Lee has come,
Renowned in foreign wars,
A patriot at home.

While valiant Putnam's warlike deeds
Among the foe a terror spreads.

Stand firm in your defence;
Like sons of Freedom fight;
Your haughty foes convince
That you'll maintain your right.
Defiance bid to tyrant's frown,
And glory will your valor crown.

Ex. XLVI.-THE DUTIES OF PATRIOTS.

Speech in the General Assembly of South Carolina, delivered April 11, 1776.

JOHN RUTLEDGE."

MR. SPEAKER AND GENTLEMEN OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: A solemn oath has been taken on my part for the faithful discharge of my duty; on yours, a solemn assurance has been given of your determination to support me therein. Thus, a public compact between us stands recorded. You may rest assured that I shall keep this oath ever in mind; the constitution shall be the invariable rule of my conduct; my ears shall be ever open to the complaint of the injured; justice, in mercy, shall be neither denied nor delayed; our laws and religion, and the liberties of America, shall be maintained and defended to the utmost of my power. I repose the most perfect confidence in your engagement.

And now, gentlemen, let me entreat that you will, in your several parishes and districts, use your influence and authority to keep peace and good order, and procure strict observance of, and ready obedience to the law. If any persons therein are still strangers to the nature and merits of the dispute between Great Britain and the colonies, you will ex

* Governor Rutledge, one of the most distinguished patriots of South Carolina, was a native of Ireland, but came to this country at an early age, and identified himself with the interests, not only of his adopted state, but of the united colonies. At the time of the delivery of this speech, he was president of the colony of South Carolina. He must not be confounded with Edward Rutledge, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, who was born in Charleston, S. C., and also occupies a prominent position in the political history of the last century.

THE DUTIES OF PATRIOTS.

75

plain it to them fully, and teach them, if they are so unfor tunate as not to know, their inherent rights. Prove to them that being tried by a jury of the vicinage, acquainted with the parties and witnesses; of being taxed only with their own consent, and of having their internal polity regulated only by laws framed by competent judges of what is best adapted to their situation and circumstances, are inestimable privileges, and derived from that constitution which is the birthright of the poorest man, and the best inheritance of the most wealthy.

Relate to them the various unjust and cruel statutes which the British Parliament, claiming a right to make laws for binding the colonies in all cases whatsoever, have enacted; and it must appear, even to the most illiterate, that no power on earth can rightfully deprive them of the hardearned fruits of their own industry and toil. Show your constituents the indispensable necessity which there was for establishing some mode of government in these colonies; the benefits of that which a full and free representation has established; and that the consent of the people is the origin, and their happiness the end of government. Remove the apprehensions with which honest and well-meaning, but weak and credulous minds may be alarmed; and prevent false impressions by artful and designing enemies.

Truth, being known, will prevail over artifice and misrepresentation. In such case, no man who is worthy of life, liberty, or property, can or will refuse to join with you in defending them to the last extremity, disdaining every sordid view and the paltry considerations of private interest when placed in competition with the liberties of millions. And although superior force may, by the permission of Heaven, lay waste our towns and ravage our country, it can never eradicate from the breasts of freemen those principles which are ingrafted in their very nature. Such men will do their duty, neither knowing nor regarding consequences; but submitting them with humble confidence to the omnipotent arbiter and director of the fate of empires, and trusting that the almighty arm, which has been so signally stretched out for our defence, will deliver them in a righteous cause.

Ex. XLVII.-FUNERAL ORATION.

Delivered April, 1776, at the re-interment of the remains of Dr. Joseph Warren, who was slain in the battle of Bunker Hill.

DR. MORTON.

ILLUSTRIOUS RELICS! What tidings from the grave? Why have ye left the peaceful mansions of the tomb to visit again this troubled earth? Though thy body has long lain undistinguished among the vulgar dead; though not a friendly sigh was uttered o'er thy grave, and though the execration of an impious foe was all thy funeral knell, yet, matchless patriot! thy memory has been embalmed in the affections of thy faithful countrymen, who in their hearts have raised eternal monuments to thy bravery!

We searched in the once bloody field for the murdered son of a widow; and we found him, by the turf and the twig, buried on the brow of a hill, though not in a decent grave. And though we must again commit his body to the tomb, yet our breasts shall be the burying spot of his virtues, and then

An adamantine monument we'll rear,

With this inscription-Warren lieth here.

In public life the sole object of his ambition was to acquire the consciousness of virtuous enterprises; amor patriæ was the spring of his actions, and mens conscia recti was his guide. When the liberties of America were attacked, he appeared an early champion in the combat; and although his knowledge and abilities would have insured riches and preferment, yet he nobly withstood the fascinating charm, tossed Fortune back her plume, and pursued the inflexible purpose of his soul, in guiltless competence.

When he found that the tools of oppression were obstinately bent on violence; when he saw that the British court must be glutted with blood; then he determined that what he could not effect by his eloquence or his pen, he would bring to purpose by his sword. And on the memorable 19th of April he appeared on the field under the united characters of the general, the soldier, and the physician. Here he was seen animating his countrymen to battle, and fighting by their side; and there he was found administering healing comforts to the wounded. And when he had repelled the unprovoked assaults of the enemy, and had driven them

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