No. 85.| 17 



patriot, shall long be remembered; the zealous, reliable George 

 Clinton, a man of soundest heart, a soul of honesty and honor, a dear 

 lover of his country and of freedom. Nor do we forget him — the 

 gallant Montgomery — twin martyr with Warren — who left his farm 

 on the Hudson, not, as it proved, to conquer Quebec, but to win a 

 mightier victory over death itself. 



I renew that theme once more, to recount how the farmers of New- 

 York have served their country and mankind. They were invested 

 with sovereignty, and they abdicated it. Glorious example ! Highest 

 triumph of disinterested justice ! They themselves peacefully and 

 publicly renounced their exclusive authority, and transferred power 

 in this republic from its territory to its men. May your institutions, 

 under the spirit of improvement, be perpetual. May every pure in- 

 fluence gather round your legislation. May your illustrious example 

 show to the world the dignity of labor ; the shame that lights on 

 idleness ; the honor that belongs to toil. To the end of time, be 

 happiness the companion of your busy homes, and the plow ever be 

 found in the hands of its owner. 



The farmer is independent. With the mechanic and manufacturer 

 as his allies, he makes our country safe against foreign foes, for it be- 

 comes perfect by its own resources. All America, thanks to New- 

 York, is united in the bonds of internal commerce ; our exchanges at 

 home exceed our foreign traffic ; and were our ships driven from the 

 ocean highways of the world, America has become competent to sus- 

 tain herself. She has less to fear from war than any nation in the 

 world. She may pursue her career and vindicate her rights, and call 

 forth all her energies in conscious security. But why do I say this 1 

 To foster a spirit of defiance 1 Far otherwise. Let us rejoice in our 

 strength, but temper it with the gentleness and spirit of love for all 

 mankind — a love that shall perpetuate tranquility and leave the 

 boundless, and rapidly increasing resources of the country, at liberty 

 for its further development. Forests of New- York ! under the hands 

 of skill, shape yourselves into models of naval architecture, and go 

 forth upon the seas, to reconcile inequalities of climate, and confirm 

 the brotherhood of nations. American ideas shall travel on your 

 prows, and the genius of humanity guide your helm ; while we who 

 remain at home, will water the tree of peace, so that its roots shall 

 strike to the very heart of the earth, and its branches tower to the 



[Senate, No. 85.] B 



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