of manhood, from all the joys which sweeten life, means say generally, much less universally) comdoomed to drag on a pitiful existence, without even posed of persons who have rendered themselves a hope to taste the pleasures of returning health! unfit to live in civil society; who have no other yet Monk, thou livest not in vain; thou livest al motives of conduct than those which a desire of warning to thy country, which sympathizes with the present gratification of their passions suggests the in thy sufferings; thou livest an affecting, an who have no property in any country; men who alarming instance of the unbounded violence which have given up their own liberties, and envy those lust of power, assisted by a standing army, can lead who enjoy liberty; who are equally indifferent to the a traitor to commit. glory of a George or a Louis; who for the addition of one penny a day to their wages, would desert from the Christian cross, and fight under the cre

For us he bled, and now languishes. The wounds by which he is tortured to a lingering death, were aimed at our country! surely the meek-eyed chari. scent of the Turkish sultan; from such men as these, ty can never behold such sufferings with indiffer. what has not a state to fear? with such as these, ence. Nor can her lenient hand forbear to pour usurping Cæsar passed the Rubicon; with such as these he humbled mighty Rome, and forced the oil and wine into these wounds, and to assuage at mistress of the world to own a master in a traitor. least, what it cannot heal. These are the men whom sceptered robbers now employ to frustrate the designs of God, and render vain the bounties which his gracious hand pours indiscriminately upon his creatures. By these the

Patriotism is ever united with humanity and compassion. This noble affection which impels us to sacrifice every thing dear, even life itself, to our country, involves in it a common sympathy and tenderness for every citizen, and must ever have a particular feeling for one who suffers in a public

cause. Thoroughly persuaded of this, I need not add a word to engage your compassion and bounty towards a fellow citizen, who, with long protracted anguish, falls a victim to the relentless rage of our common enemies.

you

miserable slaves in Turkey, Persia, and many other
extensive countries, are rendered truly wretched,
though their air is salubrious, and their soil luxu-
riously fertile. By these, France and Spain, though
blessed by nature with all that administers to the
convenience of life, have been reduced to that con-
temptible state in which they now appear; and by
these Britain-
-but if I was possessed

But since standing armies are so hurtful to a state, perhaps my countrymen may demand some substitute, some other means of rendering us secure against the incursions of a foreign enemy. But can you be one moment at a loss? will not a well dis

Ye dark designing knaves, ye murderers, parri of the gift of prophecy, I dare not, except by divine cides! how dare you tread upon the earth, which command, unfold the leaves on which the destiny has drank in the blood of slaughtered innocents, of that once powerful kingdom is inscribed. shed by your wicked hands? how dare breathe that air which wafted to the ear of heaven, the groans of those who fell a sacrifice to your accursed ambition? but if the laboring earth doth not ex pand her jaws; if the air you breathe is not commissioned to be the minister of death; yet, hear it, ciplined militia afford you ample security against and tremble! the eye of heaven penetrates the dark-foreign foes? we want not courage; it is discipline est chambers of the soul, traces the leading clue alone in which we are exceeded by the most formidthrough all the labyrinths which your industrious able troops that ever trod the earth. Surely our folly has devised; and you, however you may have hearts flutter no more at the sound of war, than screened yourselves from human eyes, must be ar- did those of the immortal band of Persia, the Maraigned, must lift your bands, red with the blood cedonian phalanx, the invincible Roman legions, of those whose death you have procured, at the tre- the Turkish Janissaries, the Gens des Armes of mendous bar of God. France, or the well known grenadiers of Britain. A

But I gladly quit the gloomy theme of death, well disciplined militia is a safe, an honorable and leave you to improve the thought of that im-guard to a community like this, whose inhabitants portant day, when our naked souls must stand be-jare by nature brave, and are laudably tenacious of fore that being, from whom nothing can be hid. I that freedom in which they were born. From a would not dwell too long upon the horrid effects well regulated militia we have nothing to fear; their which have already followed from quartering regu interest is the same with that of the state. When lar troops in this town: let our misfortunes teach a country is invaded, the militia are ready to apposterity to guard against such evils for the future. pear in its defence; they march into the field with Standing armies are sometimes (1 would by no that fortitude which a consciousness of the ju tice

Great expectations were also formed from the artful scheme of allowing the East India company to export tea to America, upon their own account. This certainly, had it succeeded, would have ef. fected the purpose of the contrivers, and gratified the most sanguine wishes of our adversaries. We soon should have found our trade in the hands of

of their cause inspires; they do not jeopard their salary besides that which the general court should lives for a master who considers them only as the grant them; and if they did not make this declara instruments of his ambition, and whom they regard tion, that it would be the duty of the house to imonly as the daily dispenser of the scanty pittance peach them. of bread and water. No, they fight for their houses, their lands, for their wives, their children, for all who claim the tenderest names, and are held dearest in their hearts, they fight proarvus et focis, for their liberty, and for themselves, and for their God. And let it not offend, if I say, that no militia ever appeared in more flourishing condition, than that of this province now doth; and pardon me if I say -of this town in particular.—I mean not to boast; I would not excite envy but manly emulation. We have all one common cause; let it therefore be our only contest, who shall most contribute to the se. curity of the liberties of America. And may the same kind Providence which has watched over this country from her infant state, still enable us to de. feat our enemies. I cannot here forbear noticing the signal manner in which the designs of those who wish not well to us have been discovered. The dark deeds of a treacherous cabal, have been brought to public view. You now know the serpents who, whilst cherished in your bosoms, were darting their envenomed stings into the vitals of the constitution. But the representatives of the people have fixed a mark on these ungrateful monsters, which, though it may not make them so secure as Cain of old, yet renders them at least as infamous. Indeed it would) be affrontive to the tutelar deity of this country even to despair of saving it from all the snares which human policy can lay.

foreigners, and taxes imposed on every thing which we consumed; nor would it have been strange, if, in a few years, a company in London should have purchased an exclusive right of trading to America. But their plot was soon discovered. The people soon were aware of the poison which, with so much craft and subtility, had been concealed: loss and disgrace ensued: and, perhaps, this long-concerted master-piece of policy, may issue in the total disuse of tea, in this country, which will eventually be the saving of the lives and the estates of thousandsyet while we rejoice that the adversary has not hitherto prevailed against us, let us by no means put off the harness. Restless malice, and disap pointed ambition, will still suggest new measures to our inveterate enemies. Therefore let us also be ready to take the field whenever danger calls; let us be united and strengthen the hands of each Much has been done by the committees of corother, by promoting a general union among us. respondence for this and the other towns of this True it is, that the British ministry have annexed province, towards uniting the inhabitants; let them a salary to the office of the governor of this pro- the committees of correspondence, for the houses still go on and prosper. Much has been done by vince, to be paid out of a revenue, raised in Ameri of assembly, in this and our sister colonies, for ca, without our consent. They have attempted to render our courts of justice the instruments of ex-he security of their common interest. May sucuniting the inhabitants of the whole continent, for tending the authority of acts of the British parliament over this colony, by making the judges dependent on the British administration for their support. But this people will never be enslaved with their eyes open. The moment they knew that the governor was not such a governor as the charter of the province points out, he lost his power of hurting them. They were alarmed; they suspected him, have guarded against him, and he has found that a wise and a brave people, when they know their danger, are fruitful in expedients to escape it.

cess ever attend their generous endeavors. But permit me here to suggest a general congress of deputies, from the several houses of assembly, on the continent, as the most effectual method of estab lishing such an union, as the present posture of our affairs require. At such a congress a firm foundation may be laid for the security of our rights and liberties; a system may be formed for our common safety, by a strict adherence to which, we shall be able to frustrate any attempts to over throw our constitution; restore peace and harmony The courts of judicature also so far lost their to America, and secure honor and wealth to Great dignity, by being supposed to be under an undue Britain, even against the inclinations of her minisinfluence, that our representatives thought it absoers, whose duty it is to study her welfare; and we tutely necessary to resolve that they were bound shall also free ourselves from those unmannerly to declare that they would not receive any other pillagers who impudently teli us, that they are li

censed by an act of the British parliament, to thrust which even a want of success in his endeavors to their dirty bands into the pockets of every Ame-save his country, the heaviest misfortune which rican. But, I trust, the happy time will come, can befal a genuine patriot, cannot entirely prevent when, with the besom of destruction, those noxious him from receiving. vermin will be swept forever from the streets of Boston.

Surely you never will tamely suffer this country to be a den of thieves. Remember, my friends, from whom you sprang.-Let not a meanness of spirit, unknown to those whom you boast of as your fathers, excite a thought to the dishonor of your mothers. I conjure you by all that is dear, by all that is honorable, by all that is sacred, not only that ye pray, but that you act; that, if necessary, ye fight, and even die, for the prosperity of our Jeru salem. Break in sunder, with noble disdain, the bonds with which the Philistines have bound you. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed by the soft arts of luxury and effeminacy, into the pit digged for your destruction. Despise the glare of wealth. That people who pay greater respect to a wealthy villain, than to an honest upright man in poverty, almost deserve to be enslaved; they plainly shew that wealth, however it may be acquired, is, in their esteem, to be preferred to virtue.

But I thank Gon, that America abounds in men who are superior to all temptation, whom nothing can divert from a steady pursuit of the interest of their country; who are at once its ornament and safe-guard. And sure I am, I should not incur your displeasure, if I paid a respect so justly due to their much honored characters in this place; but when I name an ADAMS, such a numerous host of fellow patriots rush upon my mind, that I fear it would take up too much of your time, should I attempt to call over the illustrious roll: but your grateful hearts will point you to the men; and their revered names, in all succeeding times, shall grace the annals of America. From them, let us, my friends, take example; from them, let us catch the divine enthusiasm, and feel, each for himself, the GOD-like pleasure of diffusing happiness on all around us; of delivering the oppressed from the iron grasp of tyranny; of changing the hoarse complaints and bitter moans of wretched slaves, into those cheerful songs, which freedom and content

I have the most animating confidence that the present noble struggle for liberty, will terminate gloriously for America. And let us play the man for our GoD, and for the cities of our God; while we are using the means in our power, let us humbly commit our righteous cause to the great LORD of the universe, who loveth righteousness and hateth iniquity. And having secured the approbation of our hearts, by a faithful and unwearied discharge of our duty to our country, let us joyfully leave our concerns in the hands of HIM who rais eth up and putteth down the empires and kingdoms of the world as He pleases; and with cheer. ful submission to His sovereign will, devoutly say,

"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the field shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cu off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet we will rejoice in the LORD, we will joy in the GOD of our salvation.”

ORATION DELIVered at bostON, MARCH 6, 1775.
BY DR. JOSEPH WARREN.
Tante molis erat, Romanam condere gentem.
VIRGIL'S. EN.
Qui, metuens, vivit, liber mihi non erit unquam.
HOR. EPIS.
MY EVER HONORED FELLOW-CITIZENS,

It is not without the most humiliating conviction of my want of ability that I now appear before you: but the sense I have of the obligation I am under to obey the calls of my country at all times, together with an animating recollection of your indulgence, exhibited upon so many occasions, has induced me, once more, undeserving as I am, to throw myself upon that candor, which looks with kindness on the feeblest efforts of an honest mind.

You will not now expect the elegance, the learning, the fire, the enrapturing strains of eloquence which charmed you when a LovELL, a CHURCH, or a HANCOCK Spake; but you will permit me to say that with a sincerity equal to theirs, I mourn over my

ment must inspire. There is a heart-felt satisfac-bleeding country: With them I weep at her dis

tress, and with them deeply resent the many injuries she has received from the hands of cruel and unreasonable men.

That personal freedom is the natural right of every man, and that property, or an exclusive right to dispose of what he has honestly acquired

y his own labor, necessarily arises therefrom, are the service of hell. They taught that princes, ho truths which common sense has placed beyond the nored with the name of Christian, might bid def. reach of contradiction. And no man or body of ance to the founder of their faith, might pillage men can, without being guilty of flagrant injustice,| Pagan countries and deluge them with blood, only claim a right to dispose of the persons or acquisi- because they boasted themselves to be the discitions of any other man or body of men, unless iples of that teacher who strictly charged his folcan be proved that such a right has arisen from lowers to do to others as they would that others should some compact between the parties in which it has do unto them. been explicitly and freely granted.

If I may be indulged in taking a retrospective view of the first settlement of our country, it wil be easy to determine with what degree of justice the late parliament of Great Britain have assumed the power of giving away that property which the Americans have earned by their labor.

This country having been discovered by an Eng lish subject, in the year 1620, was (according to the system which the blind superstition of those times supported) deemed the property of the crown of England. Our ancestors, when they re solved to quit their native soil, obtained from king James, a grant of certain lands in North America. Our fathers having nobly resolved never to wear enemies, for it cannot be doubted, but they deThis they probably did to silence the cavils of their the yoke of despotism, and seeing the European spised the pretended right which he claimed thereworld, at that time, through indolence and cow. to. Certain it is, that he might, with equal proardice, falling a prey to tyranny, bravely threw priety and justice, have made them a grant of the themselves upon the bosom of the ocean, deter. planet Jupiter. And their subsequent conduct plainmined to find a place in which they might enjoy ly shews that they were too well acquainted with their freedom, or perish in the glorious attempt. humanity, and the principles of natural equity, to Approving heaven beheld the favorite ark dancing suppose that the grant gave them any right to upon the waves, and graciously preserved it until take possession; they therefore entered into a treathe chosen families were brought in safety to these ty with the natives, and bought from them the western regions. They found the land swarming lands: nor have I ever yet obtained any informawith savages, who threatened death with every tion that our ancestors ever pleaded, or that the kind of torture. But savages, and death with tor-natives ever regarded the grant from the English ture, were far less terrible than slavery: nothing crown: the business was transacted by the parties was so much the object of their abhorrence as a in the same independent manner that it would tyrant's power: they knew it was more safe to dwell have been, had neither of them ever known or with man in his most unpolished state, than in a heard of the island of Great Britain. country where arbitrary power prevails. Even anarchy itself, that bugbear held up by the tools of power (though truly to be deprecated) is infinitely less dangerous to mankind than arbitrary govern. ment. Anarchy can be but of a short duration; for when men are at liberty to pursue that course which is most conducive to their own happiness, they will soon come into it, and from the rudest state of nature, order and good government must soon arise. But tyranny, when once established, entails its curses on a nation to the latest period of time; unless some daring genius, inspired by heaven, shall, unappalled by danger, bravely form and exe. cute the arduous design of restoring liberty and life to his enslaved, murdered country.

Having become the honest proprietors of the soil, they immediately applied themselves to the cultivation of it; and they soon beheld the virgin earth teeming with richest fruits, a grateful recompense for their unwearied toil. The fields began to wave with ripening harvests, and the late barren wilderness was seen to blossom like the rose. The savage natives saw with wonder the delight. ful change, and quickly formed a scheme to obtain that by fraud or force, which nature meant as the reward of industry alone. But the illustrious emigrants soon convinced the rude invaders, that they were not less ready to take the field for battle than for labor; and the insidious foe was driven from their borders as often as he ventured to disThe tools of power, in every age, have racked turb them. The crown of England looked with their inventions to justify the few in sporting with indifference on the contest; our ancestors were left the happiness of the many; and, having found their alone to combat with the natives. Nor is there sophistry too weak to old mankind in bondage, any reason to believe, that it ever was intended have impiously dared to force religion, the daugh-by the one party, or expected by the other, that ter of the king of heaven, to become a prostitute in the grantor should defend and maintain the gran

n being, by whom kings reign and princes decree justice.

These pleasing connections might have continued; hese delightsome prospects might have been very day extended; and even the reveries of the most warm imagination might have been realized;

madness of an avaricious minister of state, has Irawn a sable curtain over the charming scene,

nd in its stead has brought upon the stage, dis cord, envy, hatred and revenge, with civil war close

in their rear.

sees in the peaceable p ssession of the lands named in the patents. And it appears plainly, from the history of those times, that neither the prince nor the people of England, thought themselves much interested in the matter. They had not then any idea of a thousandth part of those advantages which they since have, and we are most heartily but, nhappily for us, unhappily for Britain, the willing they should still continue to reap from us. But when, at an infinite expense of toil and blood, this widely extended continent had been culti vated and defended: when the hardy adventurers justly expected that they and their descendants Some demon, in an evil hour, suggested to a should peaceably have enjoyed the harvest of those short-sighted financier, the hateful project of trans. fields which they had sown, and the fruit of those ferring the whole property of the king's subjects vineyards which they had planted, this country in America, to his subjects in Britain. The claim was then thought worthy the attention of the Bri- of the British parliament to tax the colonies, can tish ministry; and the only justifiable and only sucnever be supported but by such a TRANSTER; for cessful means of rendering the colonies serviceable the right of the house of commons of Great Britain, to Britain were adopted. By an intercourse of to originate any tax or grant money, is altogether friendly offices, the two countries became so united derived from their being elected by the people of in affection, that they thought not of any distinct Great Britain to act for them, and the people of or separate interests, they found both countries Great Britain cannot confer on their representatives flourishing and happy. Britain saw her commerce a right to give or grant any thing which they them extended, and her wealth increased; her lands raised selves have not a right to give or grant personally. to an immense value; her fleets riding triumphant Therefore it follows, that if the members chosen on the ocean; the terror of her arms spreading to by the people of Great Britain, to represent them every quarter of the globe. The colonist found in parliament, have, by virtue of their being so himself free, and thought himself secure: he dwelt chosen, any right to give or grant American prounder his own vine, and under his own fig-tree, and perty, or to lay any tax upon the lands or persons had none to make him afraid: he knew indeed, that of the colonists, it is because the lands and people by purchasing the manufactures of Great Britain, in the colonies are, bona fide, owned by, and justly he contributed to its greatness: he knew that all belonging to the people of Great Britain. But (as the wealth that his labor produced centered in has been before observed) every man has a right to Great Britain: But that, far from exciting his envy, personal freedom, consequently a right to enjoy what filled him with the highest pleasure; that thought is acquired by his own labor. And it is evident supported him in all his toils. When the business that the property in this country has been acquired of the day was past, he solaced himself with the by our own labor; it is the duty of the people of contemplation, or perhaps entertained his listening Great Britain, to produce some compact in which family with the recital of some great, some glorious we have explici ly given up to them a right to distransaction which shines conspicuous in the history pose of our persons or property. Until this is done, of Britain: or, perhaps, his elevated fancy led him every attempt of theirs, or of those whom they to fʊretel, with a kind of enthusiastic confidence, have deputed to act for them, to give or grant the glory, power, and duration of an empire which any part of our property, is directly repugnant to should extend from one end of the earth to the every principle of reason and natural justice. But other: he saw, or thought he saw, the British na- I may boldly say, that such a compact never extion risen to a pitch of grandeur which cast a veil isted, no, not even in imagination. Nevertheless, over the Roman glory, and, ravished with the præ the representatives of a nation, long famed for jusview, boasted a race of British kings, whose names tice and the exercise of every noble virtue, have should echo through those realms where Cyrus, been prevailed on to adopt the fatal scheme; and Alexander, and the Cæsars were unknown; princes, although the dreadful consequences of this wicked for whom millions of grateful subjects redeemed policy have already shaken the empire to its centre, from slavery and Pagan ignorance, should, with yet still it is persisted in. Regardless of the voice thankful tongues, offer up their prayers and of reason-deaf to the prayers and supplicationspraises to that transcendently great and benefi-' and unaffected with the flowing tears of suffering