GENERAL HISTORY. 



[147 



it is the interest of every citizen to 

 maintain it. What are the dan- 

 gers which menace us ? If any 

 exist, they ought to be ascertained 

 and guarded against. In explain- 

 ing my sentiments on this subject, 

 it may be asked, what raised us to 

 the present happy state ? How did 

 we accomplish the revolution ? 

 How remedy the defects of the 

 first instrument of our union, by 

 infusing into the national govern- 

 ment sufficient power for national 

 purposes, without impairing the 

 just rights of the States, or af- 

 fecting those of individuals ? How 

 sustain, and pass with glory 

 through the late war ? The go- 

 vernment has been in the hands of 

 the people. To the people, tliere- 

 fore, and to the faithful and able 

 depositaries of their trust, is the 

 credit due. Had the people of the 

 United States been educated in 

 different principles ; had they been 

 less intelligent, less independent, 

 or less virtuous, can it be believed 

 that we should have maintained 

 (he same steady and consistent 

 career, or been blessed with the 

 same success ? While, then, the 

 constitution retains its present 

 sound and healthful state, every 

 thing will be free. They will 

 choose competent and faithful re- 

 presentatives for every depart- 

 ment. It is only when the people 

 become ignorant and corrupt, 

 when they degenerate into a po- 

 pulace, that they are incapable of 

 exercising the sovereignty. Usurp- 

 ation is then an easy attainment, 

 and an usurper soon fovmd. The 

 people themselves become the 

 uilling instrument of their own 

 debasement and ruin. Let us then 

 look to the great cause, and en- 

 deavour to preserve it in full force. 



Let us, by all wise and constitu- 

 tional measures, promote intelli- 

 gence among the people, as the 

 best means of preserving our li- 

 berties. 



" Dangers from abroad are not 

 less deserving of attention. Ex- 

 periencing the fortune of other 

 nations, the United States may be 

 again involved in war ; and it 

 may, in that event, be the object 

 of the adverse party to overset 

 our government, to break o\ir 

 union, and demolish us as a na- 

 tion. Our distance from Europe, 

 and the just, moderate, and pacific 

 policy of our government, may 

 form some security against these 

 dangers, but they ought to be an- 

 ticipated and guarded against. 

 Many of our citizens are engaged 

 in commerce and navigation, and 

 all of them are, in a certain de- 

 gree, dependent upon that pros- 

 perous state. Many are engaged 

 in the fisheries. These Interests 

 are exposed to invasion in the 

 wars between other powers, and 

 we should disregard the faithful 

 admonition of experience if we did 

 not expect it. We must support 

 our rights, or lose our character, 

 and with it perliaps our liberties. 

 A people who fail to do it can 

 scarcely be said to hold a place 

 among independent nations. Na- 

 tional honour is national property 

 of the highest value. The senti- 

 ment in the mind of every citizen 

 is national strength. It ought 

 therefore to be clierished. 



" To secure us against these 

 dangers, our coast and inland 

 frontiers should be fortified, our 

 army and navy regulated upon just 

 principles as to the force of each, 

 be kept in perfect order, and our 

 militia be placed on the best prac- 



L 2 ticable 



