Oration on the Power and Value of National Liberty (p. 4).
Another excellence of Liberty is the freedom of the press. Here every person entrusted with power may be brought before the great tribunal of the people; his whole conduct, measures, and sentiments tried by the principles of the constitution; his imbecility, villany, or corruption, arraigned and exposed to the world, provided nothing is asserted but what can be substantiated by facts. This, gentlemen, is a most valuable privilege; it may be called the very right arm, the grand watch-tower, the most formidable bastion of liberty, from whence, and by which, the true patriot can guard against every open or insidious approach, and repel, with success, every daring attack on the liberties of this country.
These are some of the innumerable blessings of liberty, for the attainment and preservation of which so much blood has been shed—so many dangers defied—and such prodigies of valour performed as have astonished the world. This is the glorious object that filled and animated the hearts of that illustrious train of heroes who fell on your ravished fields and bloody fortresses, fighting for the liberties of their country. Heroes whom no corruption could seduce, nor toil discourage, nor dangers, nor death itself terrify! Faithful to the standard of Liberty, she has now surrounded their brows with immortal honours. Their names will live in the hearts, and breathe with ardour from the lips of Americans, while sun and moon endureth; and future ages shall shed tears of triumphant joy and honest pride over the history of their immortal achievements. This is the charm that has continued to draw such multitudes from almost every nation in Europe to this our land of liberty—to more abundant shores and a happier home.This is the power that in little more than a century has made cities, fields, arts and science flourish and spring up from a howling wilderness; and, with a rapidity of population unexampled in the history of mankind, has, from a few scattered adventurers, made us a great, powerful, and independent nation. Indeed, what is there in human life pleasing or desirable that we owe not, under Providence, to liberty? Is the protection of property a blessing? She guards with a jealous, but impartial eye, the rich man's millions, with the poor man's mite. Is the free worship of God, the pouring out our hearts to Him in such way and manner as conscience may dictate, a blessing? She beholds with a sacred reverence, with an unbounded charity, the various devotions of every sect—prefers not one above another—believes in the piety and sincerity of all, nor suffers any human being to dare to intrude between God and His creature. Is the advantage of education a blessing? She opens and establishes seminaries of learning—promotes and protects the liberty of the press—and holds out to all the greatest incitements to virtue and learning, by asking no other qualifications for places of the highest trust than talents and sound principles. Is national peace a distinguished blessing? She pursues not schemes of conquest or aggrandizement, those sources of long and bloody wars and national misery, but with the integrity, firmness, and impartial policy of an honest individual, deals justly, openly, and equally with all. In a word, liberty unites and consolidates the whole powers, moral and physical, of society, by Making the public will and the public good the great rule of her conduct, and the object of all her proceedings.
Such, gentlemen, is the nature and value of liberty. May its benevolent principles animate every bosom! May its friends, wherever situated, be for ever victorious? May its enemies in every country be effectually converted, or covered with everlasting shame and confusion; and soon may that great millennium arrive when the mighty genius of liberty, standing on the earth and ocean of this vast globe, the abode of such innumerable millions, shall breathe out the solemn and determined vow of the whole human race, that tyranny shall be no longer!
To promote this great event, which, according to the whole tenor of sacred prophecy, and, indeed, from present appearances, seems fast approaching, you, gentlemen, and your fellow-citizens, as freemen, and as Americans, are to be made no unconcerned spectators. Hitherto you have acted a most distinguished part in this grand effort of mankind to rescue themselves from tyranny. First in the glorious career of nations you have shown what liberty can do. Your example and your unparalleled prosperity has aroused and animated distant nations. On you, and on this your great fabric of liberty, are the eyes of every people on earth directed. On your success in this grand experiment of representative government, on your established greatness and rising glory, the destinies of mankind, the liberties of the world, are suspended. You have acquired, it is now your great business to preserve and perpetuate to posterity this invaluable treasure.