42 MR. proctor's address. 



the garden and the study, they found themselves greatly . 

 benefitted in the products of the one, and in the superior 

 ability to discharge the duties of the other. 



Farmers of Essex, — Notwithstanding the many ob- 

 stacles with which you have to contend, in the compar- 

 atively hard and unfertile character of your soil, — in the 

 tedious and protracted labors of the winter, — in the oc- 

 casional interruptions of your crops by drought or by 

 frosts, — and in the competition from the overflowing 

 superabundance of other climes more favored ; — still 

 you have much reason to rejoice and be content with 

 your condition. First of all — that you are freemen — 

 and all around you are so. The curse of slavery does 

 not, and cannot exist on your soil. That spirit of liber- 

 ty which animated the breasts of our pilgrim fathers, 

 when they abandoned their homes and friends, most dear 

 for conscience' sake, by the patriotic efforts of their most 

 distinguished son* in our courts of justice, secured tons 

 this boon forever. No one circumstance has contributed 

 more than this to elevate the character of the people of 

 Massachusetts. Happy are we even now, in the vigor- 

 ous protection of this palladium of our liberties, by the 

 manly efforts of his descendants, not less distinguished. 

 When services like these shall be forgotten, then will 

 freedom cease to be worthy of remembrance. 



Congratulate yourselves on the general prevalence of 

 the sound conservative principles of liberty, integrity 

 and law, that pervade this community. Where on the 

 face of the globe can there be found a people, in the sta- 

 bility of whose institutions more confidence can be placed 

 than in those of the good old County of Essex ? When 

 has it been known that popular phrenzy or misguided 

 fanaticism were here to any considerable extent trium- 

 phant ? When did the people of Essex ever presume 

 to be wiser than the law ? Who ever for a moment 

 questioned the entire security of life, liberty, and prop- 

 erty within our borders ? Of what avail is it that there 

 are other lands, watered with crystal streams, warmed 



* Hon. John Adams, in 1765, at Boston. 



