a

In support of such a cause, directed by such ation. Such sentiments are founded in nature, and leader, who would think his life too dear a sacri have, for ages, under different meridians, been fulce?—let the mean, base, groveling soul, that wishes ly displayed by men who knew the rights of nature for security on any terms, through fear forget he is and mankind. The names of Lock, SYDNEY and HAMPman, cringe to the creature he despises, smile on the DEN, have long been illustrious, and my countryman he hates, alternately shake hands with vice and men are too well acquainted with their writings, virtae, and court protection from the power he wish- not to venerate their memories. Nor can I forget es to destroy!-let us, my friends, determine to the same sentiments which have charmed you from maintain our sacred rights, or perish in the at- the lips of men, who have spoke before me, on the tempt, with vigor urge the war, frown on our foes same occasion, whose characters will be ever dear, wherever we meet them, despise their mercy when and the exertions of whose patriotism and virtue, we feel power, and from this moment hold our exhibited, in the most critical situations, posterity selves beyond the reach of pardon. will ever wonder at and revere.

DRATION, DELIVERED AT BOSTON, MARCH 5, 1778,
BY JONATHAN W. AUSTIN, ESQ.
-Multaque rubentia Cæde
Lubrica Saxa madent, nulli sua profuit Etas-Lucan, Lib. 2.
-Hie ubi barbarus hostis,

Ut fera plus valeant legibus arma facit.-Ovid de Ponto.
Quis cladem illius noctis, quis funera fando
Explicet? aut possit lachrymis æquare labores?
Plorima perque vias sternuntur inertia passim
Corpora.-

Virgil 2d Eneid.

In short, to confirm this point by logical conclusions, must be an useless mispense of time. Even a crown lawyer, whose sentiments are not always friendly to the rights of mankind, will tell us, "in a land of liberty, it is extremely dangerous to make Ia distinct order of the profession of arms. In absolute monarchies this is indeed necessary for the safety of the prince, and arises from the main princi

but in free states, the profession of a soldier, taken
singly and merely as a profession, is justly an object
of jealousy.
of these kingdoms, know no such thing as a perpe-
The laws, therefore, and constitution
tual standing soldier."*

My friends and fellow citizens.—To weep over the tomb of the patriot-to drop a tear to the me-ple of their constitution, which is governing by fear: mory of those unfortunate citizens, who fell the first sacrifice to tyranny and usurpation, is noble, generous and humane. Such are the sentiments that influence you, my countrymen, or why, through successive periods, with heart-felt sensations, have you attended this solemn anniversary, and paid this sad tribute to the memory of your slaughtered brethren. Nor is the circle contracted-the most amiable part of the creation share the grief, and, soft pity beaming in their countenances, like the daughters of Israel, annually lament the fate of others, and weep over the miseries of their country. Come then, my friends, let us enter the solitary courts of death, and, perhaps, an hour spent in such reflection, may afford as solid improvement as nature in her gayest scenes.

To commemorate the deaths of those men who fell unhappy victims to brutal violence-to show the dangerous tendency of standing armies in populous cities in time of peace, the origin of this fatal catastrophe-to trace its connexion and effects, as they have been, and are now displayed, in diffe. rent parts of America, I take to be the design of this day's solemnity.

It appears to me needless to enter into the nature and ends of civil government, and to evince that standing armies are a solecism in such a constitu

Justum et tenacem, propositi virum,
Non civium ardor, prava jubentium
Non vultus instantis tyranni

Mente quarit solida:

Judges, xi. 39, 40.

Arguments existing in theory, however the miad may be captivated, do not always convince; and consequences, traced from the same source, are seldom interesting. But when we find the apprehensions of the greatest and best of mankind, who, actuated by a principle of benevolence, felt for the common interests, fully displayed in awful and tremendous effects, we then start from our lethargy, and like the sensitive plant, shrink from approaching danger! such is the case with respect to the have shewn how dangerous standing armies must subject before us. Philosophers and statesmen be in a free state, and every page in the volume of mankind confirms the melancholy account.

Speculative writers may indeed tell us, that the seeds of dissolution exist in every body politicthat like the body natural, it must decay and dieand that the same causes which brought the empires of Eelus and Cyrus to destruction, will sap every other government on earth. For my own publica, is to me a much preferable, and more gepart, I am no fatalist, and nil desperandum pro renerous motto. And instead of enumerating their many vices and corruptions, as the original cause, 【

*Blackstone's Commentaries, vol. L page 407. †See Bellisarus by M. Marmentell.

think a little acquaintance with history will inform those vices which have been prevalent in powerful us, that they are not merely the original cause, but monarchies, and how carefully they watched the consequences resulting from the fatal measure we sacred altar of freedom, that they themselves must are considering. In absolute monarchies, where remain a standing monument of the consequences the military is the principal engine of government, of this fatal measure. Such is the case. Marius, we are not to look for a confirmation of this arguin new modelling the legions, and replacing the ment. But in republics, 'till the introduction of citizens who served in them with foreign mercenaa soldiery, distinct from the citizens, we find them ries, laid the horrid foundation. The door was now as remote from corruption, luxury, and the other open for one too powerful citizen after another, until black catalogue of vices, as any human system can Cesur, losing every check, and laughing at the im attain to: but when standing troops were intro potent anathemas of the senate, with the distant duced, they immediately followed. Depravity of legions marched to Rome, and formed a new æra in manners-a dislike to virtue and manly sentiment their history. From this period we are charmed -effeminacy, and those grosser vices, too indeli no more with illustrious actions, and the last recate to be mentioned in this place, stalked like mains of dignity sunk in the Roman world. So true dæmons through their cities. Witness, ye repub-is it, that when a people lose their liberty, they at lics, that were once great and illustrious, but are once become fit subjects of every thing base and now no more! witness, O Boston! for ye were too infamous.

well acquainted with the melancholy truth!

We have thus far produced instances of the fatal We will now confirm the sentiment by a brief effec s of armies thus kept up, which have ended inspection into some parts of history.

in the utter subversion of the laws and government of two of the most memorable republics in ancient The Greeks were a republic, that, in a short flight story. We will now shift the scene, and while we of years, exhibited the most glorious spectacle that show their dangerous tendency in states of a more ever appeared to mankind; and, as one observes, modern date, we will exhibit an illustrious examthe age they lived in, seemed to be the golden peple through what scenes of danger, hardships and riod of human nature.* In every branch of war or blood, the determined spirits of honor, and attachpeace, in every species of science they excelled, ment to freedom, will carry a people. and were at once feared, admired, and venerated by the other nations of the world: yet this heroic confederacy was originally reduced from this giorious superiority, by the arts of one mant under the idea of a guard, from an inconsiderable number of attendants, he increased to that stretch of power as proved the fatal stab to the vitals of his country. The bank thus broken down, the tide swelled too rapid to be stemmed, and virtue, freedom and the laws, ali fell a sacrifice.

Previous to mentioning the situation of the United Provinces, I must remark how very similar their circumstances were to our's. We shall ever find it an unalterable maxim of princes, who in time of peace kept up a standing force, however they may call them the protectors of law, the end is to subvert those laws and render the constitution useless. Such was the mode of conduct of Philip the second, of Spain, to the low countries, and such the procedure of a similar character, George the third, Similar was the situation of the Romans. Alof Britain, influenced by a despicable ministry. though not so universally distinguished as the The former, as sir William Temple observes, "thinkGreeks, yet from the expulsion of their kings, to ing it not agreeing with his greatness," (an army the time of Marius, they evinced to what a prodi- being now in the bowels of their country) “to congious greatness mankind may arrive when actuated sider their discontents, or be limited by their anby the principles of liberty, virtue aud honor. La cient forms of government," proceeds to despise fluenced by such motives, no wonder their actions the one and overturn the other. New courts judiwere conformable: and while the most rigid inflexi-catory were appointed, new offices established, bility presided at home, the Roman eagle flew to depending absolutely on the king*

the remotest corner of the globe.

What was the consequence?-could it be sup.

Can we then suppose, when we view the charac-posed a generous people, would sit down tamely, ters which appeared on the stage at this period- and kiss the rod that lashed them? a different mode when we consider how remote they were from of conduct ensued. The duke of Alva was sent

tHarris Hermes.

†Pisistratus.

"Sir William Temple's observations on the United Provinces, Page 21, 23.

a child, while, by order of the officer, his own sons have been his gaolers.*

with a powerful army, the very forcible plea of tyrants, and the most shocking cruelties were committed. Here let humanity spread her veil, nor let Perhaps there is no nation in any part of the the tender breast heave with anguish at such scenes. world, more happy than France, in every luxury of But shocking as they are, they flow as naturally life. But amid this profusion of plenty, the farmer from this cursed engine of oppression, as beams of exhibits the most wretched spectacle in nature. light from the sun. For as the same sensible wai- Supported by the gleanings of the field, the fruits ter observes, “so great antipathy ever appears be-of his labor go to the subsistence of the soldiery. tween citizens and soldiers; while one pretends to be safe under law, which the other pretends shall be rubject to his sword and his will."

But terrible as the many executions of their most illustrious patriots appeared to them, while the land was drenched in its richest blood-however affecting the sight of confiscations, imprison. ments, and the numberless cruelties that attended them, they were not daunted. That God who hat eth oppression, and delighteth in the happiness of his creation, inspired them with sentiments that carried them through innumerable hardships, 'till after having expended immense treasures and blood for better than threescore years, they laid the foundation of a rich, free, and flourishing people: Pro. vidence hereby giving an instructive lesson to posterity in every age, who are contending for all that is dear and sacred, to pursue the glorious object undaunted; knowing that, as liberty is a plant transplanted from the gardens of heaven, its divine pa rent will still cherish it, and, in spite of opposition, it will flourish, it will live forever.

Such, my friends, have been the methods used by enterprising men, in former ages, to carry into effect their ambitious designs, and found their greatness on the ruins of their country. But in our day, these measures have become systematical. They are in fact part of the constitution. To take a view of the different powers in Europe, and compare them with the state of ancient republics, un der great and wise legislators, who seemed to be raised up for the benefit of the age they lived in, and the admiration of posterity, we must drop the tear of sensibility at the contras. Where is the kingdom that does not groan under the calamities of military tyranny? let us pause a while on the most eminent of them.

Thus dispirited and depressed, he contents himself with the refuge of his ground, while, after his greatest exertions, another will reap the fruits of his honest industry. The most obdurate breast must melt at such scenes, and execrate the effects of standing armies.

Under the

Look into the situation of Poland. direction of that great man,† famous for his victo. ries against the Turks, they were brave and virtuous, and proved the bulwark of Christendom.~But, under the Saxon line, this spirit not suiting their plan of government, was awed by electoral troops, and totally decayed, The consequences are now severely experienced by them; and while in this depressed state, they are an object of desire to Turks and Russians, their country is a scene of bloodshed and misery.

It is needless to mention England, or the idle farce of an annual act of parliament, for the support of standing troops, which is nothing but an insult on the sense of that nation. The more virtuous among them, if the flame of liberty has not entirely expired, easily see through the guise, and in the death of Allen and others, wantonly butchered by mercenary soldiery, can too clearly read the fate of themselves and posterity.

The melancholy part of this subject must give pain to every humane breast. This is natural. But these scenes more directly affect other nations; and however we may pity the unhappy sufferer; there is a kind of pleasure we feel that we ourselves are not immediately interested. And would to Gon, it O my country! with what had ever remained so heart-felt satisfaction should I rejoice, if oppression had never stretched her baleful wings to this once happy clime! that that liberty which an illustrious set of men, of whom the world was not worthy, purchased at so dear a rate, might have deIn the large empire of Russia, the effects are scended unimpaired to latest posterity. But is glaring. Even the shadow of liberty has vanished. this the case? has this scourge of mankind, standOf so great importance is the military, that a re-ng armies, never interrupted our prosperity? if so, cruiting officer can go through their villages, and why is this desk hung with the sable covering of pitch upon the ablest of the inhabitants, as he death! why am I surrounded by so many of my felwould choose his cattle. And even a father has

been imprisoned in his own house, for the escape of

*Vid. Guthrie's Grammar.
†John Sobieski.

low-citizens, who listen to the tale of woe! yes, my the relics of slaughtered citizens are objects of countrymen, we ourselves are deeply interested; pity, and the sympathizing spectator will ever drop and this same engine of oppression, which has a tear over them. But there may be instances, thrown mighty republics from their foundations, when the lesser streams of affection are absorbed has attempted and still continues to spread the in a still greater sea of woe. Such are the sentisame horrid consequences in America: and in its ments that must strike every breast, when we reusual mode of conduct, has been attended with eveflect, illustrious WARREN! on thy death--a death, species of cruelty, some of them unheard of before; which whole hecatombs of slaughtered enemies, But which your firmness, under GoD, has hitherto, and I pray ever may, surmount.

strowed around thy corpse, can never repay.— Here, ye minions of power! ye who are dead to the The shocking scene of that dreadful night, the calls of honor and public virtue, are willing to wade fatal effects of which we are now still weeping to station through the blood of your brethren, here over, is beyond description. No one, perhaps, if it behold a spectacle that must harrow your inmost is taken in every view, that was not a spectator, can soul. You, my countrymen, with the most pleasing conceive it. When I consider the many insults, sensations, have attentively listened, while, like abuses and violences, this unhappy town was ex-us, he was weeping over the unhappy fate of others. posed to for months previous to this melancholy You have kindled into rage, while he has set before tragedy, and when the tumult of contrary passions you the dangerous nature and consequences of was thus naturally excited, to see a brutal soldiery, standing armies, and prophetically pointed out to scattering promiscuous death through a defence- you still greater events. How affecting! that he, less, unarmed multitude, till yonder street was crimsoned with the blood of its citizens, while a tender mother, frantic with grief, pours forth the anguish of her heart over a beloved son, now inca pable of any returns of gratitude; all this exhibits But it is not sufficient to drop a transient tear a scene which the distressed heart may painfully to the memory of departe] heroes, or to pay an eufeel, but which the tongue cannot express. Let logy to their characters. The bappiness of such the breast, then, still continue to beat. These, men who, after having expired in the arms of iiberty my friends, are virtuous, generous feelings, and and virtue, are now sharing the highest degree of do honor to humanity. May we ever retain them. felicity, cannot be increased by our praises: no, my —May this institution, sacred to the memory of friends, the best way to express our affections for our murdered brethren, be ever carefully pre-such great and good men, is to rouse and revenge served. Yes, ye injured shades! we will still weep them. To hurl still fiercer bolts of vengeance on over you, and if any thing can be more soothing, an inhuman soldiery, who, instead of affording the last honors sacred to the dead, and which a gene

WE WILL REVENGE YOU.

who could lament the fate of others, must be himself deplored; and that he who could so feelingly paint the effects of this horrid measure, must himself fall one of the first sacrifices to it.

lodged it in a promiscuous grave; that since they could not prevent his name and reputation being immortal, his remains might be hid forever. O Britain! thou hast, and shall still weep tears of blood for this!

This glaring specimen of cruelty roused the citi-rous enemy will ever regard,—after grinning zens, and in convincing colors displayed the effects with hellish pleasure on the mangled corpse, which of standing armies in time of peace. But however alive could strike terror into their boldest heart, our exertions were then successful, however the storm subsided, it was but temporary. While the scales of justice were held in palsied hands, and the most shocking barbarities were the highest me. rit, an additional force only was necessary. That arriving, the mask was thrown off, and a still greater scene of carnage and destruction opened in our adjacent villages.

But such proceedings, however alarming at that period, were soon lost in more dreadful and dis. tressing operations. The heights of Charlestown too awfully convinced us of the melancholy truth, and posterity, while with tears of compassion they ponder the transactions of that day, must execrate the causes which produced them. In any situation,

Are not such instances, my countrymen, very convincing proofs of the fatal effects of standing armies in time of peace. In such a period they originated, and from the fifth of March, 1770, through every degree of violence and barbarity, to the present day, it is but one connected scene.

After such exhibitions of cruelty and carnage, what can we suppose too brutal, too infamous for such an army? can we wonder to see our houses in flames, our altars rased to the ground, or convert

T

Lead your sons, ye fathers, not

ed to a much more horrid use, than the Jewish Jed Carthageni un.
temple? if possible they have even exceeded; and to the altar of paganism, and under the tutelage of
the armies of Britain seem to be held up as a some unknown deity, but to the sacred altar of
standing evidence, how far the spirit of tyranny freedom, and while the guardian God of America
and oppression can operate.

No one, I think, can suppose these thoughts proceed from rage or passion. They are the cool dictates of my heart. I love my country; her distresses affect me; nor, from this moment, do I ever wish a reconciliation with a power, whose prosperity must be founded on my utter destruction.

is witness to the solemn obligation, MAKE THEM SWEAR that they will never be friends to a power, We shudder when the faithful page of history who are thus sacrificing their dearest privileges. opens to our view the conduct of armies, flushed Ring in their young ears the dreadful tale of murwith victory, sacking towns, burning villages, and ders, rapes, and massacres. Paint to then the perpetrating murders, with all the other dreadful conduct of Britain, as displayed in her arms in difconcomitants. But if we look into the conduct ferent parts of America, till their young breasts of the British army in the Jersies, and some part glow with ardor, and thus early catching the flame of the state of New York, we shall find instances of patriotism, they may, through life, pursue unof all these crimes, and, perhaps, in some places, daunted so glorious an object. Pleased with such instances beyond them. To see the third city in an invocation, the shades of our fathers will rea neighboring state, wantonly consumed by an joice over their posterity, and the angels of love enemy who, not having spirit or ability to meet and purity will look down delighted. us in the field, descend to these little mean me. thods of exciting terror-to see the ravages in the Jersies, and the garden of America thus wantonly defaced--does not the blood beat high!--do we not press forward to exterminate such barbarians from the face of the earth! but to mention still greater scenes of cruelty-does not the ear tingle, when it hears the shrieks of helpless virgins, dreadful victims to lust and barbarity; while the grey hairs and expressive groans of an aged parent, wit. ness to his daughter's shame, plead in vain. Can any thing swell this complicated scene of woe? it can receive addition. These monsters exceed even the most barbarous nations. With them the ashes of the dead have ever been sacred. But under the patronage of a British tyrant and his general, souffing the tainted gale, they have ransacked the silent repositories, and the remains of one that was once amiable and captivating, flung about as food for the birds of the air. O God, where is thy vengeance! O virtue, honor, religion humanity, where, where are ye fled!

I have now, my countrymen, endeavored to exhibit the fatal effects of standing armies in time of peace; not from abstract reasoning, but as they exist in fact, and now prevail in our distressed land. Here I would remark, that it is standing armies in time of peace, and the consequences thence resulting, that we are now deprecating. Armies, in defence of our country, unjustly invaded, are necessary, and in the highest sense justifiable. We, my friends, attacked by an arbitrary tyrant, under the sanction of a force, the effects of which, we have attempted to illustrate, have been obliged to make the last solemn appeal. And I cannot but feel a pleasing kind of transport, when I see America, undaunted by the many trying scenes that have attended her, still baffling the efforts of th These, my countrymen, are not the flights of most formidable power in Europe, and exhibiting fancy, not the dictates of imagination: they are an instance unknown in history. To see an army solid, though very affecting realities. Can we then of veterans, who had fought and conquered in difwish a re union with such a people? can we ever ferent quarters of the globe-headed by a genefamiliarly shake hands with a nation who, leaping ral tutored in the field of war, illustrious by former every barrier, are thus wantonly sporting with our victories, and flushed with repeated successes, distresses, and bathing themselves in the blood of our countrymen? may America never retain such mean, dastardly sentiments! for my own part, if I may be indulged, I would entreat, I would conjure every one, who as a parent feels for the welfare of his posterity, to imitate the example of the renown

'Delauncy's farm.

As Hannibal, then about nine years old, was soothing with childish caresses his father, Hamil. car, to take him along with him to Spain, whither, after finishing the war in Africa, he was now about to transport his troops, and was sacrificing for success in that expedition, he was led by his father to the altar, and with his hand on the victim, was bound by this solemn oath, "that as soon as he should have it in his power, he would declare himself an enemy to the Roman people.

Livey, b. 21. ch, 1.