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Show Entered~ according to Act of Congress, in th.c year 18·14, by JAMES Mu""noE AND CoMPA~V'. 1.assucbusetts. in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Distnct of 1\ BOSTON' PRESS OF THURSTON, TORRY, AND CO. 31 Devonshire Street. ADDRESS. FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS, WE are met to exchange congratulations on the anniver· sary of an event singular in the history of civilization; a day of reason ; of the clear light; of that which makes us better than a flock of birds and beasts: a day, which gave the immense fortification of a fact, -of gross history,to ethical ab~tractions. It was the settlement, as far as a great Empire was concerned, of a question on which almost every leading citizen in it had taken care to record his vote; one which for many years absorbed the attention of the best and most eminent of mankind. I might well hesitate, coming from other studies, and without the smallest claim to be a special laborer in this work of humanity, to undertake to set this matter before you ; which ought rather to be done by a strict cooperation of many well-advised persons; but I shall not apologize for my weakness. In this cause, no man's weakness is any prejudice; it has a thousand sons; if one man cannot speak, ten others can ; and whether by the wisdom of its friends, or by the folly of the adversaries; by speech and by silence; by doing and by omitting to do, it goes forward. Therefore I will speak,- or, not I, but the might of liberty in my weakness. The subject is said to have the property of making dull men eloquent. |