Newspaper Page Text
Mr. CUftTIS’S
7b //;# On *U SUep £7* .Wj
Adsul jU. lUl2*
Sir. Curtis c uineuced his remarks
upon the rise, progivss and prosperity
off “ Dome*!**’ energies. in our land.*’
Jje said, It *■''■ ‘riii like a piersing 1
dream, from which v.c fear to awaken;
if was liUt e .ienluj mv cotiutiy was
buried hi the depth of dependence—t-,
day she Tib’ s in heb might and we he*
hold America, miuilcriu<t rel ief to her
wants by the employment cf her own
resets rc''s,”
Mr. f’.next adverted to the physical
properties of ear country, and iheir jn*.
Cukor ashi.pti.tion to agricultural, com
mercial and manufacturing purposes,
with a hint on osir ad*, antnacs for na
val pow er, savin.* nor forests nod on
the brink of streams ivaitir- • ! ;,t the
mil cf glory to kiss the wave and afford
the power of naval defence.
Mr. Curtis, after some continuation
p!"this matter, entered noon national
subjects, in funeral, with which he
er.nehidcd.—lie said.—“ Often my
friend*, should our youth he told 1 lie
tale of iheir father’s glory, that they
may bun to emulate their fame. Of
ten ski aid the history of our perilous
Thwohiiioa he revived in narrative and
500*. Let the present generntion he
told the price at which liberty was
bought, and they snay learn to duly es
timate its value.
Who exit look upon this venerable
Tent, and not, recal to mind the heroic
days f the devolution, and the tneni
cry of its immortal Hero! True this
r lie is i tatters, but it i> no uneons
moil s ; I my friends, now a. days to
g ce a veteran of the revolution in tat
t r.! Lara moment, let iss tufn our
thought.* toward that eventful crisis,
w hich tried men's souls. See the rem
nent of i heaters army, driven before a
mighty fur, from ail quarters of o; r
country ; hear the cry that, “ all is
hist ;” behold the bravest, begin to
doubt. & tlse timid to tremble, for A
merieats safety! Amid this gloomy
scene, majestic jn adversity , the Great
Washington sublimely shorn 1 , the for
tune of his country revolving in his
its at? Islets sAissd. Even the elements
combined against oar prospects of suc
cess, till the genius of oar chief, like
the meridian sun. wosiW.no longer be
obscured, nut, bursting thro’ the clouds
of our misfortunes, let in the light of
hope, victory and joy.
Aud now the contest ended ar.d peace
cue? mer 2 smiling open our land, the
world pause arson the event—Man rai
f.onin. wl-h his “brother man, is heard
to say— lii too Jung ago, since the
age of Unman virtue, to expect to see
it restored, iss these degenerate days.
’’lks interest, ‘tlr, ambiton ! w hich now
tiny soul off main and soon shall
we see this ehictlaili willing to baiter
his cotivitry for a throne. Oh! my
friends, He did the world then know
os” the man, whom Providence intended
should exalt America’s and. -tiny, for
while this world was pondering on the
event, the illustrious Parmer of Mount
Vernon became the Cioeinaatus of the
modern age.
This day, the 3C/A of April. was
dr.y s!••..•.? memorable in the heroes life,
for it was this day, new three and
twenty years, when he received tl -
* i- best dignity, it his country’s (totver •
to bestow. 1 well remember the time:
aye, my friends, it was a gallant day,
and sueis an one as I fear we shall not
r ■ nrtlv witness again. The randCnr,
o av.'fiilnetst, the impressiveness of
f!0 *<*ene, ess n never be effaced from A
nericun remesshranee. And when he
Pad sworn upon the. Evangelists of his
God, to he fnithfiil to his country, her
Constitution and her .’.-.ws; the shouts
cf thousands rent the sw, Use artillery
i-iundwre.; from its h—.-r ti r- at, but
its sounds were lost in the mighty tu
r ;sii,ef applause. Tvms slot a iVw
tr.iW.v up their greasy esips. awl cried,
long Jive xing Richard^—No. it we. -,
the. joyous exultation, which Towed
f- in frertA il hearts, which rage to the
chancery of Heaven, to hallow the oath
rrd implore a blessing on the father of
his country.
And yet ir*.* friends, foreigners, gen
tlemen, would yen believe—cars pcs-
Verify, think ye. be made to believe,
tl at a few short year? should only have
elapsed, and yet have <> materially
changed the scene ? That this vener
able ns an, while iu the fell nseridian
cf Lis ;!.. fulness, n be.i toil ami long
expends.*? is: bis country's cause, had
kwrcml his trow mid farrowed his
•**y cheek, and while in the winter
of his long and valued life, should base
teen mode the sport of calntany ! That
s>r;.”. who had teen warmed into a
little life r.t the fire side of our happi
ness should have dared to attempt to
sting ear best benefactor, and him a
‘Washington see! He, uprn whose gen*
,-r-vs front nr tore and proud integrity
lad star. enough to have disarmed
the Devil of i is r.mfiee*
This you will nay, my friends, was
. hard, but there is something Mill haira
"er st'U ! “When his glorious rare was
tun, his noble career of service coded,
j as; 1 he had been gathered to tlse ens
pvrtr.n reserv ’d Jort'.e good : When
l, M sms > liicls lmd sunk in the west, yet
| by its partin'.: gleams which through
Ins gi-.-'i.t example shone, served to en
lighten onr wisdom aud to exalt our
virtue ; Then, Oh, then ! to have fie
ri rd him a Sepulchre, was bas'd indeed!
Lor Ms then, my friends, our duties
should have commenced, then we
should have assumed the. pious task, &
tts children of this great parent, huve
each carried a stone to bis tomb.
When the traveller, from civilized
Europe, shall hither come, scarce will
his shoes have been soiled on our
strand, ere lie will ask to be shewn the
spot where we have lain Liberty’s
Great Defender. America's Immortal
Son ! aad lie will sorrow on beholding
it. When the pour savage* the wild
tenant of our wilderness, shall hither
come, although the magnet of science
hath not touched his darkened nsind,
yet his whole soul has been tilled, by
traditionary loie. with the fame ofoTir
chief—he,ton, will ask to see the spot
where sleeps the ISrave, ami when l>.e
shall see it, then, people of America,
even the poor Indian will blush for
your ingratitude i
True, this duty hath been called a
thing of cssstom, It is: hut, mv friends,
are we not the creature* of custom f
Do we not aet, think, almost exist, by
custom ; and sure, what lias been cus
tomary with nations, the snout polite
in the world, need not be unworthy of
os. If we cannot equal the European
iu hi* high sense of honor, or the poor
savage in his divine sense of gratitude,
where is our philosophy.
Go search the remotest Records of
time ; go seek to the remotest corners
of the habitable etn th ; go to extremes!
East, where the Ealmue roams, come
hither agaiss, and laving touched on
the classic shores of Europe, away to
extrensest West, even to where M nn
nioth dwells, or the sun w ill tire isivis
itieg. In every age ; iu every clinic ;
’snid every race of created n:un ; di
vine gratitude still holds Iter empire,
from the Tumulus of the Cossac to the
Tomb of Adrian.
All aiieedote, at <his moment, cross
es my mind. 1 will arrest its ; for it
paints in glow ingcolors, the native feel
ing of the American soldies 1 . it is of
the true Athenian east. It would have
done honor to Athens, when she could
boost herTl.emistocles ; or to Home,
in the age of iier Scipios.—Mark the
tale—
Shortly after the death of the gener
al, ass aged sntm called at Mount Ver
non. He said, he was journeying to
the south to see his children : and had
called to taken last look on the grave
es his old commander; for. said he. ]
con’d not have passed my few remain
ing years in peace, had 1 not have per
fonned this pious task. for. nh! sir. lie
was indeed the soldier’s friend. Toil
nml han’t suffering had paralised this
-eteran’s frame ; and his valor hud
been marked by the w capon of the foe;
for lie was one of (hose, who formed
the forlorn hope of American liberty,
when her Washington crossed the Del
aware in the memorable Winter of Ta,
The old man was refreshed , for never
were the doors of Mount Vernon do
sed against the poor or unfortunate,nor
its heiut’i grown cold to the man of
sorrows. The veteran became anx
ious to see the tomb; and as we moved
along, the remembrance of the toil and
glories which lie had witnessed with
his departed general, for a moment re
animated his feeble frame, and lighted
up his faded eye. Good sir. he said, I
well remember him; 1 think 1 see him
as he looked on the morning when he
forced the Hessians at Trenton. Be
lieve me, sir, after so many hardships,
so many defeats, the taste of victory on
that memorable day was sweet indeed.
And now, my friends we may well
imagine, what must Lave passed in the
minu of this humble man when about
to visit the grave of his Chief. No
dor.bt, from what he had seen of the
exalted character aud services of the
illustrious dead, he hail expected to be
hold his country’s gratitude pons tr.Vyed
in towring brass or marble. And w hen
he came to the grove, to that mound of
eerth which sears is* humble crest up
on Potomac’s bank, and stamps oppi-o-
Lriuni oil my country, to that hot l , in
which by the God of Heaven, I would
not even bury my fuiil.fiil do;-, the old
risen paused, and easting an indignant
look upon the place, pronounced these
words: words, which Americans should
write in (licitbooks and treasure up in
their hearts—“ If it is here, that my
eouutrymen have buried my General,
where, in the name of God, would (hex
bury sue r ;:
People of America! for a moment
behold this affecting spectacle. See
the veteran soldier at the torib of
Washington. If Cresar wept, on see
ing the r ‘mains of Poaspey dishonored,
v eil might the veteran of American li
berty monrn on seeing the ashes of A
merica s Great Defender left uniuius
mod.
’Tis not, my friend*, that Americar
genius or resources are inadequate f
the task. Pee ill onr view ike snrs-’
structures which load the ground ; ;u;c;
resource* have beert found for every
thing else. But it ts that unhappy
quality of man which cause* him to for
get liia benefactor. And does net my
country fear this example? For now,
eveu now, she rouses the warlike ge
nius cf onr lartd. She calls on her
yonth, to arm, to prepare ‘o defend
those rights, which their fathers won.
Phe says, away to the held fit’ glory,
be faithful, he brave, and deebt not
yonr cannery’s rewards, her honors,
her {prutHude. Do veu not fear the
youth will turn, and pointing to the m
rtrefed grave of Washington, will say,
If this i* my country’s gratitude to our
noblest Benefactor, what have Ia right
to expect ?
Yet, my friends,’mid every change
of men and things, so long as 1 can
raise this venerable tent, and so long
as my faithful services shall endear
me to mv country, will I. on each 30th
of April, tell to my country this self
same tale. & cry to her people—shame!
Let us change the scene ! Not
withstanding her manifold foibles and
faults, still 1 sav mv country forever !
M iy she yet perform this hounden du
ty ; for never will she aseeud the height
or true glory, so long as this monstrous
opprobrium continues to draw her back.
May the last of Republics stand like a
rock, amid the billows of a tempestu
ons world, braving the storms of op
pression, and affording the last assy
inns to stiff r iig humanity. If united
within herself, America has nothing to
fear from abroad.
W hat, though the modern Zenghis
Khan hath desolat’d Europe; what,
though his march may be compared to
a devonringelement,sweping all before
it ; horror and desolation stalk in bis
van; the cries of human calamity at
t end ms his steps; ruin and mis
ery bring op his rear; he is a
‘course in the bands of Providence to
punish mrnkind; true, lie hath over
turned the thrones of pjrinces, and des
troyed governments nrd states ; but,
my friends, he hath hitherto only as
saulted those political structures which
were founded upon the quicksands of
corruption. Ict him beware hovv he
ventures to assail the last temple of
iiational liberty, which is founded ou
the adamantine rock of v ii tue.
Again, if we advert to the vast Le
viathan of the deep, who not content
w ith the enormous space of ocean, ne
cessary for his unwieldy bulk lo move
in. wants the magnanimity to grant that
little which i* requisite for the pse of
others s fur different is this emblema
tic ruler <f the twin from our magnani
mous bird of air ; for the “ Eagle suf
fers little birds to sing.” 1 trust the
time will come, when onr forests shall
descend to guard the soil w hich gave
them birth, and the poor suffering sai
lor be enabled to hoist his flag with
honor and safety in all quarters of tlse
globe. Sure (Ids ruler of ibe waves
must have forgotten the nation which
now she affects to despisr. Sure she
must have forgotten the lesson, it cost
I,or seven year* to learn. If while the
Hercules of Liberty in his erndle, we
could strangle a serpent, sure the Her
esies of manhood can grapple v ith the
Nensean Lion. America too has her
rights. By Valor she won them, by
viitue I trust she will maintain them.
The cup of reconciliation has but a
drop row lingering on its brink. Mav
peace be preserved, if to be preserved
w ith honor; hut if w sr be our fate,may
the tent of Washington, like Nelson'*
last signal, sisy, America e.rprcts that
every wan ud.il do hh duty ! When hon
or is the call, aud retributive justice
the end, 1 trust the warlike genius of
mv country will ascend to any height,
aye, even to the Heights of Abraham,
for know ye. that where a wolf can
climb, an eagle ton can soar! May
that Providence who sustained ns w hile
in our shilling state, protect ns still;
and whether in p°aee or war, I would
humbly offer my fervent pray er, that
those domestic energies, which have
so truly contrihiltcd to promote our in
dustry, to preserve our morality, iocn
ereaseonr wealth, honor and national
aggrandisement, snay never cease, so
so long as independence has a votary,
or try country a friend.”
T he follow ieg least, given by a gen
tleman a!!cr the dinner nt which the
above speech was delivered, has been
handed t;s fur publication:
I tJiisk my ii i. nils, it cr \ just is.
That we who bore assembled are
S', ouiil dvirk the health of Mr. Cesiis,
So till your glasses and pr< p<ro.
■ (HU.) , v
Master of the feast, we .'irir.k v P’ir health,
And may tins day which gave veu birth,
Ei cli year bring hrppiness and wealth
’T;ii you return to pre nt earth
(DRINK)
Vrdnow nsr fr>rds vrx hi irJr once more
To keep ourci: v in fenoer,
And if we live ur.iil fourscore,
VvViiiive fso vitv a s. .v?rr. ”
sr.-vT'd on V. j tvih-l.s'i c..; d<-
m iiAWiini ■ ‘j mm iTim i rir"i seww
A MEXICAN PATRIOT.
SA rAAXVAir, JUJS'E 5, ISI2.
THE CITIZENS of this city
assembled at the Court House on Sat
urday last, agreeably to an invitation
from the City Council, when previ
ous to the hour nominated for their
meeting, the Hall being occupied most
ly by Democrats, but a smalt portion
of the citizens being present, a chair
man was nominated and carried.—
\V::. B. Bulloch, Esq. the Mayor
aisd district Attorney, was nominated
by Mr. Charlton, an Alderman.
After the assembly was thus organized
it adjourned to the presbyterian church
when a most singular scene occurred.
Although the Federalists did not gqpe
rally attend, and the Democrats mus
tered all their strength, upon the selec
tion of the committee, the house divided,
when it was problematical, if not in
favor of the Federalists, which side
preponderated. Notwithstanding the
same division with but little variation
of its numbers, would at one moment
be a majority, and then a minority by
the decision of the chair—yet if the
character of the parties be considered,
there car. be no longer any hesitation
in a correct decision. Ore party was
principally composed of persons of emi
nent standing in society, and warmly
interested in the country from birth,
property and family while among
some very honorable and respectable
characters of the Democratic side,
could be discovered a considerable
number of Foreigners, entirely unin
terested in our welfare, either from
family or property. If characters of
this description were excluded the
principles of W ASHINGTON w ould
he successful beyond the reach of’
doubt. When the committee were
chosen, the meeting adjourned to
Wednesday to receive their report
when the citizens generally assembled-
The preamble and two first resolu.
tions offered for consideration were v o
ted unanimously, but the third which
recommended the seizure of Florida
created a burst ofindignation Irons large
part of the house. John Y. Noel, Esq.
immediately arose, and in an able and
argumentative speech, proved the in
justice of the resolution, and entered
into the merits of the aet, the unprin
cipled and flagrant violation of justice
and morality of which, was so nppe
rant as to excite the wannest indigna
tion. In the progress of his argumen!
he w as interrupted on the ground, that
it was not in order to comment upris
the conduct of the administration, cn
the subject of our foreign relations,
which being decided by the chair.——
llis Honor Judge BERRIEN, in a
most lucid, impressive and eloquent
address, glowing with the most fervid
patriotism, soundest argument purest
morality, and independent principle*
w bids remained unanswerable ; paint
ed In glow ing eolors the incorrectness
of the principles upon which the reso
lution was founded, and offered the fol
lowing discreet, wise, and prudent sub
stitution, which was seconded by Col.
Habersham, one of the few remaining
Patriots of the Revolution.
[COPY.]
Resolved, That the citizens of Sa
vannah are sincerely devoted to the
Republic.
That they are feelingly alive to the
insults, indignities, and aggressions of
the two great Belligerents of Europe.
That they are aware of the necessi
ty of a vigorous and united resistance,
and ready at their country’s cal! to
vindicate at such hazard as the crisis
may demand, her just and inalienable
rights, as a free, sovereign and inde
pendent nation.
That they are not unmindful of
peace and it attendant blessing*, aud
although they deprecate, they do not
fear the calamities of a just, necessary
and efficient war.
That to render our exertions in a
war with Great Britain and France,
at once efficient, decisive and honora
ble to our country, the citizens of !ro
vernc.h would recommend to the Gfn
tpi Government to postpone the de
claration thereof-
Ist, Until the, army shall have hem
so increased by actual enlistment as.
to have a respectable and efficient t „
gular force at the disposal of the Gov-’
eminent, after assigning a competent
defence to the various exposed situ-*-
tions on our sea boas and:
2d. Until preparations shall have
been made with as little delay a* p os !
sible, to build and equip for immediate
service, twenty light frigates, for th?
defence of our sea coast and the p,-.
lection Os our citizen* in their nece>
ry commercial interccurse with eon
other.
3d. Until the funds necessary -
the efficient and active prosecution </
the w ar, shall have been obtained or *..
cured to be at the disposal of govern-f
nsent.
4th, Until an opportunity shall huv?
been forded to our citizens to with-1
draw Tions Great-Britain, the vast
amount of American property, wbi,;, .
under the operation of our system cf
commercial l’estriclions, has been suf
ferod to rvecumulate there.
Judge Her; im, in the course of hi
remarks delineated in the most proms- ?
nerit and striking manner the h >
pedieney and ii.opolicy of putting the
nation in a state of hostility, until Iv
an adequate preparation oi the phv
eal strength oftlse country, the ud-,
is!ration should be in a condition u,
commence a war w ith vigor and to pro
secute it with effect. He deck.red
himself ready to embark in tLo defence
of the country which gave him birth,
and which had hitherto protected him
against tiie aggressions of as:v and
every foreign power. He was vvilliiiz
at the the call of the constituted autho
rities, at one to engage its tlse conflict:
hut he w ished that conflict to he spee
dy, decisive and honorable to his coni;,
try ; aud therefore recommended t->
the udmini.,trillion to pause until tiev
had ensured to themselves the mtaiii
of rendering it so.
Hut eloquence an;! arcament v
of no avail, for it was specifically c .-l
nounced to (he citizens by Mr, Chaw 1
ton, that Judge Berrien’s resolution!
must be decided upon by part") pri.-H.- I
- plea i and when the question war u,:. I
instead of having the affirmative fir-t I
proposed, we ha i the negative, anc is I
si: ad ol having the question decided L-v I
counting the votes of both sides, agm - I
‘tbly to t!ie p! m specified in a rcsxh- I
(ion recommended by the committor I
it was determined from the chair ; - I
gainst the resolution, when several I
gentlemen whose situation enabled I
them to form a correct opinion, are -1
hd***• the Democrats were ill the I
imrity. I
We hope tc he favored for our I
with sketches of both the speeches ; I
eloquently delivered by the desei] I
and so firmly supporting >pi I
of the illustrious Washington, cn .. I
occasion, where, unhappily their * I
was lost amid the ciamcr of Facto.’ I
AN impartial and manly p. b 1
would have obviated the disgrace*. I
dilemma intowhich the theorists ;.:l
Washington have involved tfcems-i’.vc I
and tlie ruin nnJ humiliation into wL I
they have plunged the nation. Tv;-I
opportunities have been neglect a ■
p.ueing our intercourse with Df iL-B
cn a friendly and estddiked basis,;
every occasion has been greedily c.
braced of fomenting difficulties v
might with the greatest facility l
been satisfactorily accommodated-—I
At the same time that every ineideJ
however trifling, of the most eorivcvll
nature that occurred, was irrniAk ‘-B
ly construed into evidence of the decp-B
Cst hostility on the part of mie mi
and was placed full before the Airc-M
can people, with ail the exagacratica*
tnat inveterate enmity ccuid plan to tfl
bestow—insults atid Tipgrossiev’ B
most at; J I
lyreit ■
v.i tl fl
with <-y. , : e Y B
insii.u.,. ‘-J.’ ithi -im
deuce of its correctness, immetiatcjß
arouses a burst of indignation, what®
alights upon the head cf Mr. Jacksß
at the same time an official assert;-:®
that the gorenmeut are without l-.o*®
or, sinti inferior to a Jamaica assec®
bly,” followed up by the Rarnboailh®
Decree, rolling the nation of ell i-S,
property within the grasp of the L,B,
rant, is acquiesced in with the D'ta®
degrading servility. This hu.Tiij;-'-®
system distiuguiiffitd by suih t-G"®,
prejudice and base aubs.-rvianey, !<•••■,
real and only cause of the dis‘ r(
which ail acknowledge our nab-"-™
nate country is srozuing unaer,
pauied with curious eoir.p'Hindof
grace and riiiiewn 4 , which has
the natiwsial character to aibjw
deed. When insvits an-. 5 eygrei? 15 ™