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select, where the least discernible, like the minutia of nature, equally display the power and wisdom of their author?

SHALL we view him organizing and giving discipline to his untrained followers; or follow him to the field where calm and undaunted he stems the tide of battle? Shall we view him when by his wisdom and prudence, he shields from the powerful foe his feeble force-contending with want, hunger, and nakedness -the frequent dissolution of his army-with treachery and treason in his camp-harrassed with the applications, and vexed with the insolence and presumption of foreign adventurers?Or when distrust and want of confidence, so fatal both in war and peace, defeat those systems and check those operations, which his warlike genius and enlightened zeal had planned and which, if pursued, would have saved much blood and treasure-shortened the war-established our independence, and without the aid of fereign arms? Shall we contemplate him in his tent, when after the toils, labors, and anxieties of the day, he employs the hours allotted to sleep, to instruct the national councils of Americato point out their errors, the perilous situation of his country, and the path to its true interest. Or, shall we behold him with his reduced army, when danger and despair had appalled the hearts of his countrymen, supporting a winter campaign, and during a nightly tempest, crossing the angry and congealing Delaware, and on the hostile shore, surprising, defeating, and spreading dismay in the ranks of the enemy-restoring the hopes and courage of the nation, and animating them to perseverance? Or, shall we view him under the scorching beams of a summer's sun, on the burning plains of Monmouth-meeting the advancing foe, retrieving a disastrous retreat, defeating and pursuing their brave and intrepid legions?—But who can rehearse his immortal deeds? They are imprinted on the hearts of the people, and recorded in the annals of his country. He fought and conquered; and smiling peace returned to bless a new and rising empire.

LET us now see him after an eight year's war, during which with his brave brethren in arms, he had with unparallelled perseverance, contended with and surmounted the greatest dangers,

sufferings and discouragements, crowned with the wreaths of victory and glory, acting alone, and with parental solicitude and affection, before he resigns that appointment which he held in the service of his country, making to the several states and the people of the Union, his then supposed, last and official communication, congratulating them on the glorious events, which heaven was pleased to produce in their favor; offering, with candor and liberality, his sentiments respecting those important subjects, which appeared to him intimately connected with the tranquility of the United States; taking his leave and giving his blessing to that country, in whose service he had spent the prime of his life; for whose sake he had consumed so many anxious days and watchful nights; dilating on the subjects of their mutual felicitation; pointing out the numerous advantages, scenes for enterprise and resources of their country, then in the acknowledged possession of freedom and independence; the conspicuous theatre on which they were called to act-designated by providence for the display of human greatness and felicity. Reminding them of the happy conjun&ure of times and circumstances, and the auspicious period at which our republic came into existence, and assumed its rank among the nations. That the foundation of our empire was not laid in the gloomy age of ignorance and superstition; but at an epocha, when the rights of mankind were better understood and more clearly defined than at any former period; when the researches of the human mind after social happiness, had been carried to a great ex. tent; when the treasures of knowledge acquired by the labors of philosophers, sages, and legislators, through a long succession of years were laid open for their use, and their collected wisdom might be happily applied in the establishment of our forms of government-when the free cultivation of letters, the - unbounded extension of commerce, the progressive refinement of manners, the growing liberality of sentiment, and that above - all, the pure and benign light of revelation, had a meliorating influence on mankind, and encreased the blessings of society. But that though such was their situation and such their prospects, and the cup of blessing thus reached out; yet that there was an option still left, and that it was in their choice, and depended upon their conduct, whether they would be respectable and pros

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perous, or contemptible and miserable as a nation. That that was the time of their political probation-the moment when the eyes of the world were turned upon them-the moment to establish or ruin their national character forever-the favorable moment to give such a tone to the federal government as would enable it to answer the ends of its institution-or that it might be the ill-fated moment for relaxing the powers of the Union, annihilating the cement of the confederation, and exposing them to become the sport of European politics, which might play one state against another, to prevent their growing importance, and to serve their own interested purposes; that according to the system of policy the states should then adopt, they would stand or fall, and that it was still to be decided, whether the revolu. tion would ultimately be considered a blessing or a curse-a blessing or a curse not to that age alone, but that with their fate, the destiny of unborn millions would be involved. Impressing upon their minds that infallible truth, that there is a 'natural and necessary progression from the extreme of anarchy to the extreme of tyranny, and that arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness. Inculcating the necessity of supporting and preserving public credit; of fulfilling the public engagements and public contracts with good faith-of observing and rendering complete justice to all the public creditors, and especially to the brave defenders of their country's cause: and with a heart always open to the sufferings of others, recommending to their warmest patronage, that meritorious classs of veterans, who, on account of their wounds and sufferings, claimed the support of their country. Impressing these and similar sentiments, as the legacy of one who had ardently wished on all occasions to be useful to his country, and who, even in the shade of retirement, would not fail to implore the divine benediction. Concluding with his earnest prayer, that God would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subbordination and obedience to government to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, and particularly for their brethren who had served in the field-and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy and to demean themselves, with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind

which were the characteristics of the divine author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, they could never expect to be a happy nation.

LET us now accompany him in the affecting scene, when he comes to bid his brethren in arms, those whom he held most dear, an affectionate-a long farewell. When with them he reviews the past, placing before them as the reward of their unparalleled distresses, and consoling them for their sufferings the recollection of the uncommon scenes in which they had been called to act so glorious a part, and the astonishing events of which each had been a witness-the contemplation of the complete attainment of the object for which they had contended, and the singular interpositions of providence in their favor. Exploring with them their future prospects, and pointing out the road to happiness-advising the line of conduct they ought to pursue-recommending, that with strong attachments to the Union, they would carry with them into civil society the most conciliatory dispositions; that they would not prove themselves less virtuous and useful citizens, than they had been persevering and victorious soldiers; that their conduct should be temperate, conscious that their reputation was beyond the reach of malevolence ; that a consciousness of their atchievements and fame should excite them to honorable actions, under the persuasion that the private virtues of economy, prudence and iudustry would not be less amiable in civil life, than the more splendid qualities of valor, perseverance and enterprise were in the field. Leaving it as his last injunction to every officer and every soldier to add his best endeavors to those of his fellow-citizens, to support the principles of the federal government, and to effect the increase of the powers of the Union, on which our very existence as a nation depended, and without which the honor, dignity, and justice of the nation would be lost forever.And while he acknowledges his obligations for the spirited and able assistance he had experienced in the performance of his arduous office, and professes his inviolable attachment and friendship, with a heart overflowing with tenderness, solicitude, and affection, offers his recommendations to their grateful country, and his prayer to the God of armies, that ample justice might be

done them here, and that the choicest of heaven's blessings both here and hereafter, might attend those who under the divine auspices, had secured innumerable blessings to others.

LET us now behold him in the last scene of his official career, presenting himself before the august representation of America; again offering his congratulations for the great events which had taken place, again recommending to the favorable notice and patronage of congress, his brave followers in the field; acknowledging his gratitude for the favorable interposition of providence-commending the interests of his country to almighty God, and those who had the superintendance of them to his holy keeping-resigning into the hands of the supreme power of the Union, the commission of his important trust, bidding them an affectionate farewel, and retiring into private life amidst the applauses and blessings of his country.

MIGHTY CHIEF! ILLUSTRIOUS PATRIOT! BENEVOLENT SAGE!

WITH such an example before them; with such admonitions and such advice, strengthened by the soundest reasoning, and appreciated by such services and such virtues, who would have supposed that the people of America would not have adopted the wise and just policy which had been thus recommended? But unfortunately, mankind must too often learn from experience. The Americans sit down to "a costly and sumptuous banquet, while unseen, the sword of destruction is suspended over their heads, supported by a single hair." The great and important objects; "an indissoluable union of the states under one federal head; a sacred regard to public justice; the adop tion of a proper peace establishment; the prevalence of that pacific and friendly disposition which would induce them to forget their local prejudices and policies, to make those mutual concessions which would be requisite to the general prosperity, and in some instances to sacrifice their individual advantages to the interests of the community," so strongly and solemnly enjoined, are soon forgotten and neglected. The voice of Washington is lost amidst the empty clamor of noisy demagogues: a

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