his nature, as he soon must, and mingle his with the consecrated ashes of the martyrs and sages of the revolution, it is hoped the same spirit of liberty which inspired them, may Phoenix like arise, and find in this section of the globe an interminable existence. The same principles which dissolved the American colonies, from their allegience to the British government, will, so long as we continue to revere and regard them, preserve and defend our republics, but no longer. We did not believe that freemen should be subjected to a power undeligated by them,—unlimited and undefined by any civil constitution. It must indeed be an herculean task, to overcome the influence of this principle, on the conduct of American freemen. How far that influence may be enfeebled, by the corruption of manners, which a long and uninterrupted state of prosperity tends to produce; or from falling on times, with which, as the poet says, principles may change, must depend on the events of the future. It is true, that the same sun that warms the earth, and decks the field with flowers, thaws out the serpent in his fen, and concocts his poison. So in the sunshine of great national prosperity, the greatest political evils may be engendered. Amidst the conflicts of contending factions, of passion, of vice and error, the principles which conducted us to an exalted place among the nations of the earth, may yet be assailed. Should that time arrive, when, in the agitations of the public mind, we may be threatened with the same disasters which have heretofore befallen the republics which have gone before us, our civil constitution may still save us, provided we are influenced by the example, and animated by the spirit of the heroes who purchased it, and of the sages by whose wisdom and virtue it was formed and adopted. wisdom only can preserve it. That spirit and that That spirit which is odious name of par designated by the degrading and ty cannot save us; it is that which creates dissentions, and entails misery and ruin on republics; it is that which we have been told by our greatest political benefactor, that has in other times and countries, perpetrated the most horrid enormities, and is itself a frightful despotism. If we expect to be saved by our civil constitution, and secure for liberty an immortal existence, we must be inspired with that spirit which in the best days of Roman glory, could yield every thing to country, and identify with her, its own individual interest. We must be governed in our political conduct, by that spirit which is appropriately designated by no other, than the hallowed name of American; that spirit which inspired the desperate courage, and the exalted patriotism of the Boston tea party. INDEX. Men whose inheritance is only obscurity and want, Those least ambitious of power and preferment con- In the distribution of public favours, the idle and Magnanimous deeds of courage incident to every Page. 3 3 3 lishing our civil privileges Instances of those distinguished by such deeds, 5 A reference to the causes which led to the war of the revolution 5 The refusal of the Americans to pay the duty on The historical account of the destruction of the tea Account continued The destruction of the British tea in Boston har- The projector of an important enterprise has not He whose efforts accomplish the enterprise is entitled to his share in the renown Illustrated by a lesson from history The project of drowning the tea in Boston harbour Page. 6 7 8 9 9 . 9 |