O R A TI O N
D E' IV E R ED
BY
' E O R ' E F HOA R
.
O F
M A S S A C H U S E T T S
AP R I ' 7 ,
,
,
1 888 ,
E NNIA'
THE CE 'E BRATION OFTHE CE NT
O F TH E
FOU N D IN ' OF THE N ORTHW E S T
M AR IE TTA
O H IO
,
W AS HI N ' TO N D C
,
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J U D D dc D E TW E I ' E R , P RI NT E RS
1 88 8
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ORATION OF 'EOR'E F
.
HOAR
.
Th ere a re d ou btl ess m a n y perso n s i n th i s au d i e n ce w h o
h av e gath ered h ere a s t o th ei r F ath er s h ou se Th ey sal u te
t h ei r Moth er o n h er bi r t h d ay w i t h th e p rayer a n d th e co n
fi d e n t h o p e t h a t th e l i fe w h i ch n o w co m pl etes i ts fi rst cen tu ry
m ay be i m m ortal as l iberty If w e w ere h ere o n ly to d o
h o n or to Ma ri etta—to cel eb rate th e pl an ti n g of th i s fa m ou s
to w n coeva l wi th th e R epu bli c seated by th e beau ti fu l ri ver
h er an n al s cro wd ed wi t h m e m ori es o f i ll u stri ou s sold i ers
a n d statesm en th is assem bl a g e w o ul d be wel l j u sti fied a n d
accou n ted fo r
Bu t th ere i s fa r m ore th a n th i s i n t h e occ a si on Th e
states w h i ch co m p ose w h at was o n ce th e N o rth west Terri to ry
m ay properly l o o k u p o n th i s as th ei r bi rth d ay rath er th a n
t h at o n w h ich th ey were ad m i tted i nto th e U n i on Th e
com pan y w h o ca m e to Mari etta wi th R u fus P utn am A pri l 7
17 88 ca m e to fou n d n ot o n e s t ate b u t fi v e w h ose i n s t i tu
ti on s th ey d em a n d ed sh ou l d b e settl ed before th ey sta rted by
a n i rre vocabl e co m pact T he se fi ve ch i l d ren bo rn of a g reat
paren tage a n d i n a great ti m e a re as w e co u n t th e l ife of
n ation s sti l l i n earli est you th Yet t hey al ready con tai n
w i th i n th e m sel v e s al l th e reso u rces of a great e m pi re Here
i s th e sti m u l an t cl i m ate of th e tem p erate zo n e W h ere brai n
an d body are at th ei r best Here wi l l be a popu l at i o n of
m ore th an fi ft een m i ll i o n s at th e n ex t cen su s Here i s a n
area abou t equal to th at of t h eA u s t ri a n E m pi re an d l arge r
th an th at of an y oth er cou ntry i n E u rope ex cept R ussia
Here i s a w eal th m ore th an th ree ti m es th at of a n y cou n tr y
on th i s co n ti n en t ex cept th e R ep u bl i c of w h i ch th ey a re a
part—a w eal t h a th ou san d ti m es th at of Massach usetts i n
cl u d i ng Mai n e a h u n d red years a g o on e t h i rd l arg er th a n
th at of Spai n ; e q u al to th at o f H ol l a n d a n d Belgi u m a n d
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ORA TI ON OF GE OR GE F H OAR
4
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Den m ark co m bi ned ; equ al n o w I su ppose to t h at of I taly ;
al read y h alf as great as th at of th e v ast E m pi re of R ussi a
w i th i t s pop u latio n of m ore th an a h u n d red m il l ions w h ose
possessio ns co ver a si x th part of th e h ab itabl e gl obe Belo w
t h e earth are ex h austl ess stores of i ro n a n d coal a n d sal t
a n d copper A bo ve fi el d a n d farm an d forest ca n easi ly
feed an d cl oth e a n d sh el te r th e e n ti re pop u lation of E u rope
w i t h h er six ty e m pi res k i ngdo m s a n d rep ubl ics
T h e y ea rly p rod u ct o f th e m a n ufact u re of t h ese fi ve states
i s esti m ated by th e bes t au tho ri ti es at fro m t wel v e to fi ft ee n
h u n d red m i ll i o n s of d oll ars E very t h i n g n eed ed for a per
fe c t wo rksho p i n al l th e m ech a n i c a n d m a n u factu ri ng arts
h as n atu re fash i on ed an d g ath ered h ere w i th i n easy reach
as n ow h ere el se o n earth T hese states h ad i n 1886 fo rty
o n e thousan d ei g h t h u n d red a n d n i n ety th ree m i les of rail
w ay ; equal w i thi n tw o h u n d red m i les to t h at of G rea t
Bri tai n a n d F ra nce co m bi n ed ; n ea rly th ree t i m es th at o f
A u stri a o r R u ssi a an d abou t t wi ce th at of G erm a n y W h i l e
m igh ty ri vers an d m igh t i er lakes al read y bear alo n g th ei r
bord ers a co m m erce ri va li ng th at of t h e po rts of t h e O l d
W o rl d to fai r ci ti es an d prosperous tow n s each o n e of w h i c h
h as i ts o w n wo n d erfu l an d fasci n ati n g story A n d abo ve al l
th i s an d better th a n al l th is m an th e n obl es t gro wth th i s
soi l su p pl i es d esce n d ed o f a g reat race fro m w h i ch h e h a s
i n h eri ted t h e lo ve of l iberty th e se nse of d u ty t h e i n s t i n c t
of h o n o r i s h ere to rel ate a n d celeb rate hi s ce n tu ry of stai n
l ess h isto ry W h atever of th ese thi ngs n atu re h as n ot gi ven
i s to be traced d i rectly to t h e i n sti t uti o n s of ci vi l a n d relig
i ou s l iberty th e wisd o m of yo u r fath ers establ ish ed ; abo v e
A s t h e g r ea t j u r i s t a n d statesm a n
a ll t o th e great O rd i n an ce
“
of O h i o sai d m o re th a n fi fty y ears a g o : Th e spi ri t o f th e
”
O rd i n a nce of 17 8 7 pervad es th e m all
H ere was th e fi rst
h u m an go vern m e n t u n d er w h ich absol ute ci vi l a n d rel i g i ou s
l i bert y h as al ways pre vailed Here n o w i tch was ever h an g ed
o r bu rn ed N o h ereti c was eve r m ol ested : He re n o sl a ve
was e ver born o r d wel t W he n ol d e r states or n atio n s w h ere
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ORA TI ON
OF '
E OR ' E
F
.
H OAR
.
th e ch ai n s o f h u m a n bo n d age h a ve been b roke n sh al l u tter
th e p rou d boast W i th a g reat s u m obtai n ed I th i s freed o m
eac h sister of t h i s i m perial g rou p — O h i o Mi ch igan I n d ia na
I ll i noi s W isco n si n — m ay l ift h e r q u ee n ly h ead w it h th e y et
p rou d er a n swer Bu t I was free bo rn
T h ey w ere d esti n ed also to d eterm i n e th e ch aracte r a n d
d ec id e th e fate of th e great R ep ubl i c of w h i ch th ey a re a
p art a nd th roug h t h at of con sti tu ti on al l i b e rt y o n earth
I n sayi n g th i s I speak w i th ca refu l co n si d e ratio n of t h e m ea n
I wish above al l th i ngs o n t hi s occasio n
i ng of th e wo rd s
to avoi d ex t ra va g a n ce I h O p e th at w h at i s sai d h ere m ay
bea r th e ex am i n atio n o f stu d e nts of h istory i n th is m ost
sk epti cal an d cri tical a g e a n d m ay be recal l ed o n t h i s spot
w i th ou t a bl u sh by th ose w h o sh al l co m e after u s fo r m an y
a fu tu re ce n t en n ial
Th ere is n o b etter i n sta n ce th a n thi s of th e effect o f w ell
ord ered l i berty o n th e fo rtu n e of a peo p l e N atu re i s n o r e
specter of perso n s i n h er bou n ty T h e bu ri ed race w h o
b u i l t y o n d er m ou n d d wel t h ere fo r a g es u n d er th e sa m e
sky on th e ban k o f th e sa m e ri ve r wi t h t h e sa m e cl i m ate
a n d soi l W e k n o w n ot w h o th ey we re Th ei r i n sti tu tio n s
a n d g o vern m en t th ei r arts a n d a n n als h a ve p erish ed i n a
d eeper ob l i v i o n th a n th at w h i ch co vers t h e bu i l d ers of th e
Py ra m id s — w h i c h m ov ed Si r Th o m as Bro w n e to h i s su b
Hi story s i n k e t h ben eat h h er clo u d T h e
l i m e s t u ttera n ce
trav el er as h e p a ce th a m a z ed l y th rough th ese d eserts ask et h
of h e r W h o bu i ld ed th e m ? a n d sh e m u m bl e t h so m eth i n g
b u t w h at i t is h e h ea reth n ot
T h e I n d i a n a n d th e F ren ch
m a n d wel t h ere b u t cou l d n ot h old th ei r place Th e g row t h
of ci ty a n d to w n a n d cou n try th e w eal th of t h e soi l a n d th e
m i n e th e co m m erce of l a k e a n d ri ver th e h appi n ess a n d
v i rtue of th e fi resi d e th e cu l tu re of th e col leg e t h e t h ree
m i ll io n ch i l d re n at sch ool t h e statu te boo k o n w h ose pa g e
t h ere i s n o sh a m e a re d u e to th e g reat a n d w i se m e n w h o
ga ve yo u as yo u r bi rth d ay g ift u n i versal l iberty u n i versal
su ff rage e q ual ri g h ts a n d i n vi ol abl e fai th
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ORA TI ON OF
6
'
E OR ' E F H OAR
.
.
Th ere i s n o obscu ri ty i n th e d ate o r i n th e tran sacti on
Hi story pou rs u po n th e eve n t i ts blazi ng s u nl igh t W e see
i t i n a ll i ts relati on s m o re clearly t h a n i t was see n b v those
w h o too k part i n i t ; m ore clearly th a n w e beh ol d th e even ts
of ou r o w n ti m e N o passi o n d istu rbs ou r j u dg m en t l ead
i n g u s ei th er to ex a g ge rate o r d ep reciate Th ere i s roo m fo r
n o feel i n g i n o u r boso m s to d a y bu t a n h on orabl e p ri d e i n
“
ou r an cestry a n d a n h o no rabl e l o ve o f o u r cou n try
It i s
a tal e bri ef a n d fa m i l i a r to al l fo r th e exa m ples by w h ich
you m ay sti l l be h a p py are to be fou n d n ot ab road m en of
A th ens bu t at h o m e
Hi sto ry fu rn ish es cou n tl ess exa m ples i n e very age o f
h eroi c achi e vem en t a n d of g reat en terp rise i n wa r an d peace
w isely co n d u cted to su ccessfu l issu e B u t th e e ven ts w h i ch
m e n rem em ber a n d celebrate w h ic h beco m e th e ho useh ol d
word s a n d sti rri ng m em o ries of n ati on s th e sacred O l y m
i
a
d
s
by
w
h
i
ch
ti
m
e
is
m
easu
red
an
d
fro
m
wh
ich
e
ras
tak
e
p
th ei r d ate are those w h i ch m ark th e great a d va n ces of Li b
Su ch by u n a n
e r ty o n to n e w gro u n d w h i ch sh e h as h el d
i m o u s con se nt of th e race to w h i ch w e be l o n g a r e t h e ena ct
m en t of M a gn a Ch arta t h e co m pact o n board the Ma y flo wer
th e Decla ratio n of I n d epen d e n ce th e adopti o n of t h e Co n
s t i t u t i o n of th e U n i ted States a nd l a t er i n ou r o w n d a y th e
Procla m a t i on of E m an cipati on I b el i e ve th e even t w h i ch
you cel eb rate i s n ot beh i n d a ny o n e of th ese w h eth er i n good
fortu n e as t o ti m e i n th e ch a r acter of t h e actors i n th e wis
d o m w h ich g ui d ed th e m o r i n th e fa r reach i n g b e n efi ce n c e
of t h e resu l t
I a m speak i ng to m e n w h o k n o w th ei r o w n h isto ry I
can bu t repeat— w e g ath e r o n su ch occasio ns bu t to repeat
fa m i lia r sto ri es
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li p s m us t t e ll t h e m t o our sons
A n d t h e y a g ai n t o t h e i rs
l ‘O u r
,
”
.
You k n o w better th an I d o t h e m i racl e of h istory w h i c h
b rou g h t th e fo u n de rs of th e N orth west to th i s spot a t t h e
ORA TI O N OF GEOR GE F H OA R
.
.
p reci se ti m e w h en al on e th ey coul d b ri n g w ith th e m th e i n
A fe w years earl ier
s t i t u ti o n s w h i ch m o u l d ed i ts d esti ny
o r a few years l ater an d th e great O rd i n an ce w ou l d h ave
bee n i m possi bl e
Loo k for a m o m en t at th e forty eigh t m e n w h o cam e h e re
a h u n d red y ea rs ago to fou n d th e fi rst A m erica n ci vi l go v
e r n m e n t w h ose j u risdi ctio n d i d n ot to u ch ti de water
s ee
Wh at m a n n e r of m en th ey we re ; i n w h at sch ool th ey h ad
bee n trai n ed ; w h at t rad ition s th ey h ad i n h e ri ted I t h i n k
yo u m u st agree th at of al l th e m e n w h o ever l i ved o n earth
“
fi t to perfor m th at a n cien t p ri m iti ve an d h eroical work
th e fou n d i n g of a state th ey were th e fi ttest P u ri tan ism
as a d isti n ct vi tal an d p redo m i n a n t po we r e n d u red less
th a n a cen tu ry i n E n glan d I t ap pears earl y i n th e reig n
o f E li zabeth w h o ca m e to th e th ro n e i n 15 5 8 an d d epa rts
at th e restoratio n o f Ch a rles II i n 1660 Bu t i n t h at brief
ti m e i t was th e p reser ve r a n d m ay al m ost be cal l ed th e cre
ator of E n gl ish freed o m Th e P u r ita ns created t h e m od er n
E ngl is h Ho u se of Co m m o n s T h at Ho use w h en th ey took
th ei r seats i n i t was t h e feebl e an d ti m i d i n stru m e n t of d es
o
i
m
t
s
W h e n th ey left i t i t was w h at i t has ever si n ce
p
been th e stro n gest freest m ost v en erabl e l eg isl ati ve body th e
worl d h ad ever seen W h en th ey took t h ei r seats i n i t i t
was l i ttl e m ore th an th e register of th e Ki n g s co m m an d
W h en th ey l eft i t i t was t h e m ai n d eposi tory o f th e n atio nal
d ign i ty a n d th e n ati o n al wi l l K i n g a n d m i n ister a n d pre
late w h o stood i n th ei r way th ey brou g h t to th e bar a n d
to t h e block I n th at b ri ef b u t cro wd ed cen tu ry t h e y ha d
m ad e th e n a m e of E ngl i sh m a n t h e h i g h est ti tl e of h o n o r
“
u pon ea r th
A great h i stor i a n h as sai d th e d read of th ei r
”
i n vi n ci bl e a r m y w a s o n al l th e i n h abita nts of th e Isla n d
H e m igh t h av e add ed th e d read of th ei r i n vi n ci bl e l ead e r
w as o n al l th e i n h abitan ts of E u ro pe
Pu ri tan i sm h ad n ot spen t i tsel f as a force i n E n g lan d
w h en i t crossed th e sea w i t h Brad ford a n d W i n th ro p
W h at
a gen i u s fo r creati n g th e i n sti tu ti o n s of l i berty a n d l ay i n g
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ORA TI ON OF GEOR GE F H OA R
8
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d ee p th e fou n d ation s o f o rd er was i n t h at h a n d ful of m e n
w h o al m ost at t h e sam e i n stan t fra m ed th e fi rst w ri tten co n
s t i t u t i o n th at e ve r ex i sted an d d evised th e N e w E ngla n d
to w n th at u n m atch ed m ech a n ism of local sel f go vern m en t
w h ich h as su rvi ved ev ery dy n asty i n E u rope an d ex isted
fo r t wo cen t u ri es an d a h alf al m ost w ith o u t a ch ange
Th e forty on e m en w h o lan d ed fro m th e Mayflo wer at
Pl y m ou th a n d th e forty eigh t m en w h o ca m e d o w n t h e O h i o
i n th e May flower to Mari etta w ere of th e sa m e race an d th e
sa m e fai t h It w as on e h u n d red an d si xty eigh t years fro m
th e pl an ti n g of t h e Pu ritan Co m m o n wealth to t h e fou n d i ng
of th e grea t N orth west d esti n ed so soo n to beco m e a nd as
i t seem s forev er to re m ai n th e seat an d ce nter of em p i re o n
th i s co n ti n en t Bu t i n th e m ean ti m e th at fai th h ad bee n
b road en ed an d soften ed a n d li beral i zed T h e t rai n i n g of
th e r ace i n th at m i g h ty g y m n asi u m h ad ch a nged t h e spi ri t
of E ngl ish Pu rita n is m i n to th e spi ri t of A m eri can l iberty
To A m eri ca ns th ere i s n o m o re d eligh tfu l a n d i nstru cti ve
stu dy tha n to trace th e h a n d of a d i vi n e Pro vi d en ce i n t h at
a gel on g d evelop m en t of th e ca p aci ty to tak e th ei r fu l l an d
l ead i ng part i n t h e ach i evem e n t of i n d e p en d en ce i n bu i l d
i n g th e states i n l ayi ng th e fou n d atio n of e m pi re i n th e
l it t l e E n g l is h sect co n ten d i ng at fi rst o nl y fo r bare tol era
ti o n See h o w th e Po wer w h i c h pl a n ted th e coal w h ose
s u btl e ch e m i stry g ets ready th e i ro n fo r th e u se of t h e n e w
race w h ich d ism isses th e sta r o n i ts pat h way t h rou g h t h e
ski es p ro m isi ng th at i n a tho usa n d years i t sh al l retu r n
a g ai n tru e to i ts h ou r a n d keeps h is w ord ge ts h i s ch il d ren
read y th at th ey sh al l n o t fai l i n th e appoi nted ti m e fo r th e
fu lfi l l m en t of h is h ig h d esig n
F i rst Th e h istory of th e m e n w h o fou n d ed O h i o a n d of
th ei r a n cestors si n ce th ey l a n d ed at P l v m o u th a n d Sal e m
It w as a tra i n i ng w h i ch
w as essen t i al ly a m i l i tary h istory
d e vel oped m o re th a n a ny oth er th e bes t q u al ity of t h e i h
d i vid u al sol d i er w h eth er for co m m an d or fo r servi ce Th ere
n ever was W est Poi n t ed u cati o n li ke t h at of th is m i litary
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ORA T I ON OF GEOR ' E F H OAR
.
sch ool
.
Lord C h ath a m d eclared to th e Hou se of Lord s i n
“
A m eri ca h as carri ed you t h rough fou r wars a n d wi l l
17 7 7 :
I ven tu re to tel l y ou r Lo rd
n o w carry y ou to you r d eath
s h i ps t ha t t h e A m erica n gentry wi l l m ak e offi c ers fi t t o co m
m a n d t h e troo p s of al l t h e E u ropea n po wers
To m a n y of t h e m i t was a l ife u n d er a rm s E ve ry bo y
sh ooter T h e I n d i an wa rs w h ere as F ish er
w a s a s h arp —
A m es sai d h eroes a re n ot celeb rated bu t a re fo rm ed ; t h e
g rea t stru g gl e w i t h F ra n ce fro m w h ose gl o r v a nd vi c t o ry
yo u r fath ers we re n eve r abse n t of w h ich a co n ti n en t w a s
th e p ri ze ; t h e great wa rs of W i l lia m a n d M ary a n d of 'u een
A n n e ; F ort E d ward ; W i l li a m Hen ry ; Cro w n Poi n t ; M a r
t i n i q u e ; th e Hava n a ; twi ce captu red Lou i sbu r g w h ich th ey
took th e secon d ti m e wi th i ts o w n ca n n o n ; 'u ebec w h ere
t h ey h e a r d t h e sh o u t of tr i u m p h w h i ch fi ll ed th e dy i n g ear
o f W o lfe a n d w h ere a t last th e l i li es w en t d o w n before th e
l ion n ever a gai n bu t fo r a bri ef peri od i n Lo u isia n a to
float as an e m bl e m o f d o m i n i o n o v er any pa rt of th e A m eri
ca n con ti n e n t— t h ese were th e sch oo l roo m s of t h ei r d i s
c ipl i n e
W hatever sh a re oth ers m ay h a ve tak en th e glory
of t h a t co n tes t i s y ou r fath ers glory ; th at v i ctory is you r
fa th e r s vi cto ry Th e n ca m e t wel v e years of h ol lo w an d
treach erous tru ce an d t h e n — t h e R ev ol u tion
Secon d I t was n ot t o t h e sch ool of wa r alo n e t hat G od
p u t t h ese h is m a st er bu i ld ers of States F or a ce n tu ry a n d a
h al f every m a n p l ayed h is p a rt w h ere t h e m os t i m porta n t
fu n c t i o n s w ere t hose m a naged m os t d i rectly by th e peopl e
u n d er a system w h i ch i n al l d o m esti c affai rs was sel f g o v
e r n m e n t i n every t h i n g but n a m e
T h ey i n trod u ced al l t h e
g reat social ch an g es w h ic h p repare d th e w ay for t h e R ep u b
l ic a n d m ad e i t i n evi t abl e A s h as al ready bee n sai d t h ey
ad opte d t h e fi rst w ri tten soci al co m p act a n d d e vised th e to w n
s y s t em T h ey also abol is h ed p ri m oge n i tu re w h ich act M r
W ebster d ecl ared fi xed t h e fu t u re fra m e a n d for m of t h ei r
“
govern m en t
De Toc q uevi ll e says : Th e la w of d escen t
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10
ORA TI ON OF GE OR GE F H OAR
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.
was t h e last step to eq u al ity W h en th e l eg isl ator h as re g u
l ated th e l a w of i n h erita n ce h e m a y r e st fro m h i s labor
Th e m ach i n e o n ce pu t i n m oti o n wi l l g o o n for ages a n d a d
Th e y es t ab
v an ce as i f self g ui d ed to ward a gi ven poi n t
li s h e d u ni versal ed u cati o n
T h ey i n co rpo rated i n to thei r
s t a t e t h e an ci en t cus t o m s of K en t by v i r t u e of w h i c h every
ch i l d w as bo r n free an d th e p o wer asser t ed to d e vise es t a tes
free fro m al l feu d a l bu rd en s Th ey al so abol i sh ed en tai ls
Th i rd D u ri n g t h i s w h ol e ti m e t h e reso u rces of a ski l l fu l
sta t esm an sh i p were tax ed to t h e u t m os t t o m ai n tai n t h ei r
free i n sti t u tio n s a g ai n s t t h e pow er of E n g l an d w h e re every
—
d y n as t y i n t u rn S t u art Cro m wel l Ha no ve r—look ed j ea l
Th e Massach u se t ts
o u s l y u pon th e i n fa n t Co m m on wea l th s
ch arter co n ferred u po n t h e colon y th e po we r o n ly of m ak i n g
l a ws n o t repu g n an t to th e la ws o f E ngla n d a n d reserv ed a
T h e P u ri ta n m a g istra t es sh rewd ly resis t ed
v eto to th e cro w n
t he d esi re of t h ei r peopl e for a cod e a n d co n tri v ed t h at t h ese
gre a t ch a n g es sh ou ld a s fa r as m igh t be be i n trod u ced as
cu sto m s so as n ot to be su b m i t t ed to th e au t h ori ti es i n E n g
la n d T h e Massach u se t ts Bod y o f Li berti es was sen t abou t
fro m to w n to to w n i n m an u scri pt an d was n ever p ri n ted
u n ti l 1843 Th ere w as n eve r a t i m e w h en th e m i g h t y p o w er
of E n g lan d was n ot a m en ace to ou r an ces t ors fro m th e fi rs t
set t le m en t t h rou gh ou t th e w h ol e of th at lo n g stri fe w h i c h
d i d n o t real ly co m e to a n en d u n t i l Jay s t reaty a n d An
t h o u y W ay n e s v i cto ry o n th e M au m ee i n 179 4
F ou r t h T h ey h ad a religi ou s bel i ef w h i ch h el d th at th e
l a w of G od was t h e su p re m e practi cal ru l e i n th e con d u ct of
States Ho we ver n arro w a n d bi g oted a t ti m es i n i ts a p p l i
cati on w e fi n d th rou g h ou t th ei r h isto ry a con sci en tiou s a n d
reveren t e n d eavo r to gov ern t h ei r Com m on w eal t h by t h i s
ru l e Th us th e th eologi cal d i scu ssi on s i n w h i ch t he y d e
li g h ted th e co n sta n t con si d e rati o n o f th e rel a tio n of m a n t o
h i s Creato r an d to t h e su p rem e l a w of d u t y beca m e bl en d ed
w i t h th at of th ei r n atu ral righ ts a n d t h ei r ri g h ts u n d er th e
ch arter a n d th e Bri tis h co nsti t u tio n a n d of t h e tru e bou nd a ry
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ORA TI ON OF GE OR GE F H OA R
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11
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w h i ch separates l iber t y a n d au th ori ty i n t h e State So w h e n
t h e ti m e for I n d epen d en ce ca m e th ey h ad d ecid ed th e R evo
It i s
l u t i o n i n th ei r g reat d ebate befo re a g u n was fi r e d
sai d th e ca n n on of th e Un i o n arm i es i n th e l ate wa r w ere
s h otted w i t h th e reply to Hay n e Th e a m m a n i t i o n of t h e
Co n ti n en ta l sol d i ery i n th ei r earl i er Wa r fo r freed o m ca m e
fro m t h e d i scu ssion of t h e p u l p i t a n d th e far m e r s fi resi d e
F ift h Th ere wou l d h ave bee n at best b u t a p rov i n cial an d
n a rro w ch aracter h ad N ew E ngla n d a l o n e fu rn ish ed t h e
th eater o n w h i ch th e scen e was to be acted Th e g reat d ram a
of t h e R evol u ti o n b rou gh t h er p eo p l e u n d er a n i n fl uen ce to
w h i ch th ey o w e m o re th a n th ey h av e al ways ack n o w ledged
I m ea n th at of th ei r al l i es a n d com p atr i ots o f th e oth er colo
n ies w h o w ere th ei r associ ates i n that m i gh ty stru g gl e es
Jo h n J a y a n d A l exa n d er H am
p e c i a l l y th at of Vi rgi ni a
i lton Benj a m i n F r a n k l i n a n d G o u v ern eu r Mo rri s Joh n
Di ck i nson an d Lu th er Marti n were n ew a n d po w erfu l teach
ers to th e l i ttl e co m m u n i t i es w h o w i th e very facu l t y of i n
t e l l e c t an d h eart w ere stu dyi n g th e fu n da m en tal p ri n ci pl es
of pol i ti cal sci en ce u n d e r O t i s an d t h e Ad a m s e s Bu t th ere
n o w rose u po n th ei r sky th e great Vi rgi ni a con stel la t i on
I f Vi rgi n i a w ere h el d to t h e Un i on b y n o oth e r ti e sh e i s
foreve r bo u n d to i t b y th at ti e e ver stron g est to a g en erou s
s p i ri t t h e ben efi ts sh e h as co nferred u po n i t W e sh al l see
h o w h er exa m pl e o f sel f d en i a l m ad e possibl e th e e ven t w e
cel ebrate a n d h o w t h e w isd o m of h er statesm e n g ave th e
eve n t its ch a racter of fa r rea ch i n g a n d p erpetual be n e fi c e n c e
Th e teach ers of N ew E ngl a n d n o w b rou g h t t h ei r p u p i l s fro m
t h e sch ool w h ere th e y h a d so w el l lea rn ed th e p ri n ci pl es of
n atu ra l righ t a n d ci vi l l iberty to th e great u n i versi ty w h ere
th ey we re t o t ak e t h ei r d egree i n th e bu i l d i n g of states a n d
fra m i n g con sti t uti o n s u n d er W ash i n gton an d Je fferson a n d
Pa t ri ck Hen ry a n d Mad iso n a n d t h e Lees a n d Marsh al l
W i t h i n twel ve yea rs before t h e settlem en t at Ma rietta el ev e n
o f t h e t h i r tee n S tates fo r m ed t h ei r co n stit u tio n s
Th e c o n
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12
ORA T I ON OF GE OR GE F H OAR
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ti o n
.
th at fra m ed th e Con stitu tio n of th e U nited S t ates
was i n sessio n w h e n th e O rd i n a n ce of 178 7 was passed
Si xth Th i s i s b y n o m ean s al l
Th ere i s so m eth i n g
m ore t h a n t h e lo ve of li ber ty — so m eth i n g m ore th a n th e
h abi t of su cces sfu l resistan ce to oppressio n a n d th e cou ra g e
a n d po wer to assert t h e ri g h t s of m an k i n d — n eed ed t o fi t
m en t o co n struc t great states o n su re fou n d ati ons T h e
gen eratio n w h i ch was o n th e stage w h e n th e N o r t h west was
pl a n ted h a d recei ved an oth er l esso n Th ey h ad been tau g h t
t h e n ecessi ty of stren gt h eni n g th ei r pol i t i cal i n sti tu tio ns so
tha t th ey sh ou l d affo rd d u e secu ri ty for p roperty a n d socia l
o rd er a n d e nabl e g overn m en t to ex ert pro m ptly th e po wer
n eed ed for i t s o w n protecti on w i th ou t w h i c h i t ca n n ot l ong
en d u re Sh ay s i n su rrection i n M assach uset t s i n 17 8 7 was
i n s p i red m ai n ly by th e d esi re to p re ven t th e e n fo rcem en t
of d eb ts by t h e cou rts To i t was d o u btl ess d u e th e cl a use
i n t li e O r d i n a n ce of 17 8 7 — i n serted also i n th e Co nsti t u tio n
fo rb i dd i ng th e passa g e Of a n y l a w i m pai ri n g th e obl igatio n
of con tracts Th e d isrespect w i th w h i ch t h e Co n ti n en t al Co n
g ress i s so m eti m es s p oken of i s m ost u nj ust I t s wa n t o f v igo r
was d u e to th e l i m i t a t io n pu t u po n i ts po wers by th e Sta t es
an d to n o wan t of wi sd o m o r en er g y i n i ts m e m bers Th a t
body w i l l ever hol d a great place i n h is t o ry — i f i t h ad d on e
n oth i n g else —w h ich d ecl ared I n d epe n d e nce w hi ch cal led
W ash i n gton to th e ch ief com m a nd w h ich beg u n i t s l abo rs
wi th th e great state papers w h i ch Ch ath a m d ecl a red su r
p assed th e m asterpi eces o f a n ti qu i ty an d e n d ed th e m w i t h
t h e O rd i n a n ce of 17 87 Bu t th e States j eal ou s of al l au th or
i ty b u t th ei r o w n refu sed to co n fer o n Co ngress th e essen t ial
po wer of ta xa t io n a n d th e m ean s to en force i ts o w n reso l ves
Th e effect of t h i s sh o rt sigh ted j eal ou sy i n i n creasi n g a n d
prol on g i ng t h e bu rd en o f th e war a n d i n lo we ri n g th e
n ation al ch a racter w i th fo reig n natio ns aft er i t was over
t h e peopl e h a d l earn ed to th ei r great cost
F ro m al l th i s ex peri en ce t h ere h ad co m e to t h e m en w h o
w ere o n th e stage i n th is cou n tr y i n 17 87 an aptn ess fo r t h e
v en
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ORA TI ON OF GE OR GE F H OAR
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13
.
co n stru cti on of con sti tu tio n s a n d great p er m an en t statutes
s u c h as t h e worl d never sa w before or si n ce T h ei r s u
m
c y i n t h i s res pect i s as u n chall en g ed as th at of th e
r
e
a
p
g reat au th ors of t h e reign of E li zabeth i n t h e d ram a
G o vern o r Stough ton sai d i n 1668 th at G od si fted a w h ol e
n a t io n t hat h e m i g h t sen d ch oi ce g rai n over i n to th i s wi ld er
n ess
Th e q u al ity of t h e grai n co n ti n u ed to i m p rov e u n d er
h is ca re N e ver d i d th e g reat H u sba nd m a n ch oose h is seed
m o re ca refu l l y th a n w h e n h e p l a n ted O h io I d o n ot be
l i e v e th e sa m e n u m ber of person s fi t ted for th e h igh es t d u ti es
an d respon sibi l i t i es of wa r a n d peace cou l d eve r h a ve bee n
fou n d i n a co m m u ni ty of th e sa m e size as w ere a m on g th e
m e n w h o fo u n d ed Mari etta i n t h e s p ri n g of 17 88 o r wh o
j oi n ed t h e m wi th i n t wel ve m on th s t h ereaft er
Ma n y of
”
“
ou r as sociates sai d Varn u m o n t h e fi rst 4t h of Ju ly are
d is t i n g u ish ed for weal th ed u catio n a n d v i rtu e ; a n d oth e rs
fo r th e m ost pa rt a re rep u t abl e i n d u s t rio u s w el l i n form ed
pl an ters farm ers trad es m e n a n d m ech a n ics
N
o
col
on
y
f
”
i n Am eri ca sai d W ash i ngto n was e ve r settled u n d er su ch
favorabl e au spi ces as t hat w h i ch ha s j ust co m m e n ced at th e
M uski n g u m I n fo rm a t io n p roper t y a n d strengt h wi l l b e
i ts ch aracteristics I k n o w m a ny of t h e settl ers p erso n al ly
an d t h ere n e v er were m en bet t er cal cu l ated to p ro m ote th e
“
w el fare of su ch a co m m u n i ty
Th e best m e n i n Co n
”
n e c ti c u t a n d Massach usetts
w ri tes Ca rri n g to n to Ja m es
“
Mo n roe a d esc ri ptio n o f m e n w h o w il l fi x th e c h ara cte r
an d pol i ti cs t h rou gh o u t th e w h ol e territo ry an d w h ic h w i l l
p robably en d u re t o t h e l atest period of ti m e
I know
t he m al l cri ed Lafayette w h e n th e list of n early fi ft y m i l i
ta r y o ffi cers w h o w ere a m o n g th e p i o n eers w as read to h i m
i n Marietta i n 182 5 t h e ten d er m e m o ri es of fo rty y ears
t h ro n g l n g h i s aged boso m
I k n o w t h e m a l l I sa w th e m
at B ran dy wi n e Yo rkto w n a n d R h o d e Is l a n d Th e v were
”
th e b ra vest of th e b ra ve
W ash i n g to n a n d Va rn u m a s
wel l as Ca rri ngto n a n d Lafayette d wel l ch i efly as w as
VV a s h i n g to n s fash io n u p o n th e perso n al q u al i ty O f t h e
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14
ORA TI ON OF GE O R GE F H OAR
.
.
m en a n d not u pon th ei r pu bl i c offi ces o r ti tl es I n d eed to
be n a m ed wi th su ch co m m en d ation u po n pe rso n al k n o w l
ed g e b y th e cau tious a n d con sci en tio us W a shi n gt o n was to
a veteran sol d ie r bet t e r th a n bei n g k n i g h t ed o n th e fi el d of
bat t le Th e y were th e v ery best speci m en s of t h e N ew E n g
l a n d ch a racter t hat coul d be fo u nd Th e y w e r e a m o n g th e
m ost stead fast co nstan t l i berty lovi ng m e n th at ever l i ved
Sel f g o vern m en t h ad becom e t o th e m a p ri m e n ecessi ty of
l i fe ; bu t i t was th at sel f g o vern m e n t t h e subl i m est t h i n g i n
th e u n i verse ex cept i ts Creato r by w h i ch a h u m a n wi l l gov
e rn s i tsel f i n Obed ien ce to a l a w hi gh er t h a n i ts o w n d esi re
Th ey w ere m en of a very si n cere an d si m pl e reli g iou s fai th
Th e beli ef i n a person a l i m m ortal i ty th a t h ope s per p etu a l
brea t h w i th ou t w hi ch n o g i ft of n obl es t origi n eve r co m et h
to m a n o r n ati o n was to th e m a l i vi n g real ity Th e sce n e
w h i ch Bu rn s d escri bes i n th e Cottar s S a tu rd ay N igh t fro m
w h i ch h e sa y s
O l d Scoti a s gra n d e u r s p ri n g s was of
n i g h tly o ccu rren ce i n t h e cabi n s o f t h ese sol d i ers a n d
I n d ia n fi g h t e r s
Th e l ittl e com pa n y co n tai n ed m a n y m i li ta ry offi cers of
h i g h ran k m e n w h o h ad perfo rm ed i m portan t ex p l oi ts i n
wa r fri end s a n d associ ates of W ash i ngto n a n d Lafayette
a n d s t atesm en w h o h ad b ee n l ead e rs of t h e peo p l e i n t h e
d ays before th e R evol utio n If th at asse m bly h ad been
cal l ed i n th e Prov id e n ce of G od to assert th e ri g h t s o f E ng
l is h m e n as d id th e ba ro n s o f Ma g n a Cha rta o r to m ak e a n
o r i g i nal socia l co m pact as d i d t h e m e n on board th e M ay
flo wer ; o r to fo u n d to w n s an d create a body of l i berties a n d
cu sto m s as d id t h e m e n of fro m 16 2 0 to 1650 ; o r to state t h e
case between th e fu n d a m en tal ri g h ts of h u m a n n atu re a n d
Ki n g G eo rg e as d i d t h e m e n of t h e Decl a ra t i o n i n 177 6 o r
t o con d u c t a n d l ead an d pla n a g reat d efensi ve war o r to
fash io n a con s t i tu tio n fo r s ta te o r n atio n t h e y wou ld h av e
bee n eq u al to th e task
T h ere a re m any n a m es t h at rise to th e l ips to d ay T h e
settl ers are n ot h ere Bu t th ei r ch i l d re n are h e r e Th e
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ORA TI ON OF G E OR GE
E
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H OAR
15
.
m en w h o k n e w th e m o r w h o h a ve h ea rd th e i r story fro m th e
l i ps of fath ers a n d m oth ers w h o k new th e m a re h ere You r
h ea rts are fu l l of th ei r m e m ori es T h e stately fi gu res of
i l l u striou s w a rrio rs a n d states m e n th e fo rm s o f sweet a n d
co m ely m atro n s l i vi n g a n d real a s i f y o u h a d seen th em
yesterday r i S e before yo u n o w Varn u m t h a n w ho m a
co u rtl i er fi g u re n ever e n te red t h e p rese n ce o f a 'u ee n — sol
d i er state sm an sch ola r ora t o r — w h o m Th o m as P a i n e n o
m ea n j u d g e w h o h ad h eard th e g rea t est E n g l is h o rators i n
th e g rea t est d a y s of E ngl is h el oq u e n ce d eclared th e m ost
eloq u en t m a n h e h ad eve r h eard s p ea k ; W h i p ple g all a n t
seam a n a s e ve r t rod a d eck —a m a n w h o m F a rr a g u t o r N el
8 0 11 woul d h av e l o ved as a b rot her
fi rst o f t h e g lo rious p ro
cessi o n of A m e ri can n a val h eroes fi rs t to fi re a n A m erica n
g u n at th e fl a g of E ngl a n d o n th e sea ; fi rs t t o u n fu rl t h e
fl a g of h is ow n co u n try o n t h e T h a m es ; fi rst p i o n eer of t h e
ri ve r co m m erce Of th e O h io to th e G u l f; Meigs h ero of S a gg
Ha rbo r of th e m a rc h to 'u ebec o f t h e s t o r m l n g of S t o ny
Poi n t —t h e C h r i s ti a n gen tle m a n an d sol d i er w h o m th e Ch er
o k e e s n a m ed th e W h i t e Path i n tok en of t he u n fail i n g ki n d
n ess an d i nflexi ble fai t h w h i ch h ad co n v eyed to th ei r d a rk
en ed m i n d s som e n ot i n ad eq u ate con cep t io n of t h e spi ri t of
Hi m w h o i s th e W a y t h e Tr u t h a n d t h e Life ; Pa rso ns sol d i er
sch ola r j ud g e o n e of th e strongest a rm s o n w h i ch W ash i n g
t o n l ean ed w h o fi rs t su g g ested th e Co n t i n e n tal Co n g ress
f ro m t h e s t o r y of w h ose l ife co ul d al m os t be w ri t t e n th e h i s
tory of th e N o rth ern wa r ; th e ch i val ri c a n d i n g en iou s Devol
“
sai d b y h i s bio g ra ph e 1 to be th e m ost perfect fi g u re o f a
m an to be seen a m ongst a t h ou san d ; th e n obl e p rese nce
o f Sproat ; th e son s of Israel Pu t n a m a n d Man asseh Cu t l er
F e a ri n g a n d G reen e a n d G oo d al e a n d th e G il m an s ; Tu pper
l ead er i n ch u rch a n d sta t e — th e vete ra n of a h u n d red ex
p l o i t s w h o seem s i n th e qu al ities of i n tel l ec t a n d h eart l i k e
a t wi n bro t h er of R u fu s Pu tn a m ; th e brave an d patri oti c
bu t un fortu n ate S t Clai r fi rst G o vern o r of t h e N orth west
—
p resi d en t o f th e Co n ti n en tal Con gress ; th e m igh ty sh ad es
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ORA TI ON
OF '
E OR ' E
H OA R
F
.
.
of th ese h eroes an d t h ei r co m pan i on s pass before ou r eyes
ben eath th e pri m ev a l fo rest as th e sh ad es of t h e Ho m eri c
h eroes befo re Ulysses i n th e La n d of A sph odel Bu t n o fabl e
m i n g les w i t h th ei r sto ry N o m y thi cal l ege n d of e n co u n te r
w i th m o nster o r d rago n o r h eathen g od exa gg erates t h ei r
h eroism T h ere is n o t al e o f sh e wo lf n u rse w h ose m i l k
bl en d ed wi th t h e blood of th ei r l ead er Th e fe e w h ose
war w h oop wok e th e sleep of th e crad l e o n th e ban k s of t h e
M u sk i n g u m n eed ed n o epi c poe t to ad d to h i s terro rs T h e
sh e wol f th a t m i ngl ed i n yo u r fath ers l i fe was a very real
a n i m al Th ese m e n a re i n t h e fu l l l igh t of h istor y W e
ca n m easu re t h em th ei r streng th a n d th ei r w eak n ess w i t h
th e precisio n of m ath em ati cs T h ey a re th e h i g h wa t e r
m a rk of th e A m eri ca n c haracter th u s fa r Let t h ei r d e
s c e n d a n ts g i ve t h em sel ves u p to th e spi ri t of thi s g reat
p atri o t i c occasi o n a n d to th e co n tem p latio n of t h ei r v i rtues
to form a reservoi r of h eroi c th ough t a n d pu rpose to b e
ready w h e n occasio n co m es
I t i s said t h e fo u n d ers w ere d ecei ved a n d d i d n ot sel ect
th e bes t place fo r th ei r settl em en t B u t i t seem ed a pa rad i se
to m en fro m N e w E n gl an d D ro w n e i n th e fi rst a n n i versa ry
o r a ti o n 0 11 th e 7 t h of A p ri l th e d ay w hi ch th e fou n d ers r e
sol ved sh ou l d be fo rever observed as a d ay of pu bl i c festi val
i n t h e terri t o ry of t h e O h io Co m p a n y d ecl ared th a t t h e n
t hi s v i rg i n soi l recei ved yo u fi rst al l u ri n gfro m you r n a t i ve
h o m es by ch a rm s su bsta n tial a n d i n esti m abl e ;
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w i ld e rn e ss of sw e e t s ; for N a t ur e h e re
W a n t on e d as i n h e p ri m e a nd p la y e d a t w ill
He r i r g i n fan c i e s p ou ri n g for t h m ore s w e e t
W ild a b o v e r l e or a t ; t h e g e n t l e g al e s
Fan ni n g t h e i r odori fe rous w in g s dis p e ns e
N a t i v e p e rfu m e s and wh is p e r wh e n c e t h e y s t ol e
T hos e b al m y s p oi ls
A
r
v
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Th e ex uberan t eloqu e n ce o f Varn u m al so fai l ed h i m He
too cou l d fi n d n o t h i ng l ess th a n Mi l ton s pi ctu re o f E d e n to
ex press h i s tra nsports
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O R A TI ON OF GE OR G E F H OAR
18
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.
j oi n ed th e ca m p at Ca m br i d g e j u s t afte r th e battl e of Lex
His g en i u s as a n en g i n eer w a s soo n d isclosed He
i n gto n
w a s as W a sh i n gto n ex pressly a n d repeated ly cer t i fied t h e
abl est engi n eer Officer of th e w ar w h eth er A m eri ca n o r
F ren ch m a n H e w a s soon ca l led b y a cou n cil of gen erals
a n d fi el d officers to d i rect th e co nstruction o f a l a rge par t of
th e w ork s o n w h i ch th e posi tio n of th e a rmy besi eg i ng Bos
to n d epen d ed He tol d W ash i ngto n h e h ad n ever read a
w ord 0 11 th at bra n ch of sci en ce Bu t t h e C h i eftai n w o ul d
H e perform ed h is task to th e e n ti re sati s
t ak e n o d en ial
facti o n o f h i s co m m an d er a n d was soon o rd ered t o s u per
i n t e n d th e d efe nses of Pro vi d en ce a n d N e wport
O n e e v e n i n g i n t h e w i n ter o f 17 7 6 P ut na m wa s i n vi ted to
d i n e at h ead q u arters Wash i ngto n d etai n ed h i m aft er th e
co m pan y h ad d ep a r ted to co n su l t h i m abo u t a n attack o n
Boston Th e g en eral p refer red a n en tren ch m en t o n D or
ch ester Hei g h ts w h i ch wo ul d co m pel Ho we to attack h i m
a nd risk a n oth e r Bu n k e r Hi l l engagem e n t wi th a d i fferen t
resu l t to m arch i n g h i s o w n troops o ver th e i ce to sto rm t h e
tow n Bu t th e grou n d was frozen t o a g reat d epth a n d r e
sisted t h e p i c k a x e l ik e sol i d rock P u t n a m was o rd ered t o
co nsi der t h e m atter a n d i f h e cou l d fi n d an y way t o ex ecu te
W ash i n g to n s pla n to report at o n ce He h i m sel f best tel l s
t he sto ry of th e accid en t— w e m ay al m ost say th e m i racl e
by w h ic h th e d el i vera n ce of Massach usetts from th e fo rei g n
i n va d e r a veteran B ri t i sh a rm y el e ven th ou san d stron g
was w rou g h t by th e i n str u m en tal i ty of th e m i l l wri g h t s a p
pre n t i ce :
I l eft h eadq u arters i n co m pany w it h a n oth er g en tl em a n
a n d 0 11 ou r wa y ca m e by G en eral Heath s I h ad n o t h ou g h ts
of cal l i ng u n ti l I ca m e agai n st h i s d oo r an d t h en I sai d
Let u s cal l o n G en eral Heath to w h i ch h e a greed I h ad
n o oth e r m oti ve bu t to pay m y respec t s to th e g en eral
W h il e th ere I cast m y e y e o n a book w h ich l a yo n t h e t able
l ettered 0 11 th e back M u l l er s F i el d E ngi n eer
I imme
He d e n i ed
d i a te l y requ ested th e gen eral to len d i t to m e
an
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O R A TI ON OF GE OR GE F H OAR
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19
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I re p eated m y req u est He a gai n refused a nd tol d m e
I th en tol d h i m t ha t h e m u st rec
h e n ever l en t h i s books
o l l ec t th at h e was on e w h o at R ox bu ry i n a m easu re com
h
l
d
m
e
to
u
n
d
erta
k
e
a
bu
si
n
ess
w
h
i
ch
at
t
e t i m e I con
l
e
e
p
fessed I n ever h ad read a w o rd abou t a n d t h at h e m u st l et
m e h a ve th e book
A fter so m e m ore ex cu ses o n h i s part a n d
c l o s e p ressi n g o n m i n e I obtai n ed th e loa n of i t
I n l ook i n g a t th e tabl e of co n ten ts h is ey e was cau g h t b y
”
“
t h e wo r d ch a nd eli e r a n e w wo rd t o h i m
He read ca re
fu lly t h e d escri pti on a n d soo n h ad hi s pla n read y T h e
c ha nd el i ers were m ade o f stou t t i m bers t e n feet l o ng i n to
w h i c h were fra m ed posts fi ve feet h i g h an d fi ve feet a p art
placed o n th e g ro u n d i n pa rall el l i n es a n d th e o p en spaces
fi ll ed i n wi t h b u n d l es of fasci n es strongl y pi ck eted toge t h er
t h u s fo rm i n g a m o vabl e pa rapet of wood i n s t ead of ea rth as
h eretofore d on e Th e m e n were i m m ed iately set t o wo rk i n
t h e adj ace n t ap p l e orch a r d a n d wood la n d s cu t t i ng a n d
bu nd l i ng u p th e fasci n es a n d carry i n g t h e m w i th th e ch a n
d eli e r s o n to th e g rou n d sel ec t ed for t h e work
Th ey w ere
p u t i n t hei r place i n a si n g l e n igh t
W h en t h e su n wen t d o w n 0 11 Boston 0 11 t h e 4t h of March
W ash i ng t o n was a t C a m b rid g e a n d Dorch ester Heigh ts as
n a t u re o r t h e h u s ba n d m a n h a d l eft th em i n th e au tu m n
W h e n Si r W il l i a m Ho we rubbed h is eyes o n t h e m o rn i ng
of t h e 5 t h h e s a w t h rou g h th e h ea vy m ist th e e n t re n ch
i ne n t s 0 11 w h i ch h e sai d th e rebel s h ad d o n e m ore work i n
a ni g h t t ha n h i s w h ol e ar m y wo u l d h a ve d o n e i n a m o n th
He w rote to Lo rd Da rtm ou th th at i t m u st h a ve bee n th e
e m ploy m en t of at l eas t t wel ve th o u san d m en H is o w n
effecti v e fo rce i n cl u d i ng sea m en was b u t abou t e l e ve n
th o usa n d W ash i ngto n h ad b ut fou rtee n t ho u san d fi t for
So m e of o u r offi cers sai d th e A n n ua l R eg ister
du ty
ack n o wl ed g ed
I su ppose E d m u n d Bu rk e was th e w ri t er
t h a t t h e ex ped itio n wi th w hi c h th ese wo rk s were t h ro w n u p
w i th t h ei r s u d d en a n d u n expected a p pea ran ce recal led to
t h ei r m i n d s t h e wo n derfu l stori es of en ch an tm en t a n d 111
m e
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20
OR A TI ON OF GE OR GE F H OAR
.
.
vi sibl e agen cy w h ich are so frequ en t i n th e E astern R o
H o we was a m an of s p i ri t He took th e pro m pt
m a n ce s
resol u tio n to atte m p t to d isl od g e th e A m erican s t h e n ex t
n i g h t before t h e i r w o r k s w ere m ad e i m preg n abl e E arl Percy
w h o h ad learn ed so m eth i n g o f Yan kee qu al ity at Bu n k er
Hi ll an d Lex i n g to n was to co m ma n d th e assau l t Bu t t h e
Po wer t h a t d i s p e r se d th e A rm ad a baffled a l l t h e pla n s of th e
Briti sh g en eral Th ere ca m e a d read fu l storm at n i g h t
w h i ch m ad e i t i m possible to cross th e bay u n ti l t h e A m eri
can works w e re p erfected
W e tak e n o l eaf fro m t h e p u re ch apl et of W ash i ngton s
fa m e w h e n w e say th at th e su ccess of th e fi rst great m i l i ta r v
o peratio n of th e R evol u tio n was d u e to R u fu s P utna m Th e
A m eri can s u n der Is rael Pu t n am m arch ed i n to Boston
d ru m s beati n g an d col ors flyi n g Th e veteran Bri tish ar my
ai d ed b y a st ro ng n a val force sol d i er an d sail or E n g l ish
m a n a nd To ry si ck a n d wel l bag a n d ba gg age g ot o u t of
Bosto n before th e strate gy of W ash i ngto n th e engi n eeri n g
of P u tn a m an d th e cou rage of t h e d espised a n d u ntri ed
m en fro m w h ose l ead ers th e y w i th h el d th e u su al titl es
eo
y
“
of m i l itary respect
I t rese m bled sai d Bu rk e m ore th e
”
em i g rati on of a n atio n t ha n th e b reak i n g u p of a ca m p
Bu t i t is n o pa rt o f o u r t ask to d ay to n a rra te th e m il i ta r y
servi ce of G en eral Pu t n a m al th ou g h that i n cl u d es th e fo r
t ifi c a t i o n of W est P o i n t a n i m p o rtan t part i n th e ca ptu re of
Bu rg o y n e an d a n abl e pl a n m ad e a t th e requ est of W as h
i n g to n fo r p u tti n g th e a r my 0 11 a peace establ i sh m en t an d
for a ch ai n of fo r ti fied m i l i tary posts al o n g t h e en ti re fron
tier We h ave to d o o n ly wi th th e en t re nch m en ts co n
s t r u c t e d u n d e r th e co m m a n d of th is great engi n eer fo r th e
c onsti tu tion al fo rtress of A m erica n l i bert y
Pu tn a m re m o ved h i s fa m i ly to R u tla n d W o rcester cou n ty
Massach u setts early i n 1810 His h o u se is yet stan d i n g
abo u t ten m iles fro m th e bi rth place of t h e g ra n d fath er of
Presi den t G arfi el d He retu rn ed h i m sel f t o R u tl an d w h e n
th e wa r was o v er H e h ad th e n obl e publ i c spi ri t of h i s
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ORA T I ON OF GE OR GE F HOA R
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21
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d ay to w h i ch n o d u ty seem ed trifli n g o r obscu re F o r fi v e
years h e ti l led h i s far m a n d accepted a n d perfo rm ed th e
p u bl i c offi ces to w h i ch h is n eigh bo rs cal led h i m He was
re p resen t ati ve to th e G en era l Co u rt sel ectm an co nstabl e
tax col lector a n d com m i ttee to l ay o u t sch ool lots for t h e
to w n ; state su rveyo r co m m issio n er to treat w it h t h e P e
n obscot I n d ian s a n d vol u nteer i n p u tti ng d o w n S h a y s
rebel lio n H e was o n e of th e fou n d ers an d fi rst tru stees
of Lei cester A cad e m y a n d w i t h h i s fa m i l y of eigh t ch i l d ren
gav e fro m h is m od est m ean s a h u n d red po u n d s to w a rd
i t s en d o w m en t
Bu t h e h ad l arge r p lan s i n m i n d T h e to w n con stabl e
of R u tlan d w a s pl a n n i n g a n e m pi re Hi s ch i ef co u n sel l o r
i n h is d esig n was h is ol d l ead e r a n d frie n d G eo rg e W ash
i n g to n
W ashi ngto n h ad bee n i n te rested i n th e se t tl e m en t
o f t h e N orth w est a n d i n co n n ec t i n g i t w i t h t h e A t la n ti c by
lan d a n d water ro u t es al m os t fro m boy h ood Hi s broth ers
La w rence a n d A ugu sti n e were m e m bers of th e fi rst O h i o
Co m pan y i n 1748
H e w as h i m sel f a l arg e l a n d o w n e r
o n th e O h io a n d t h e Ka n a w h a
Befo re th e ar m y b rok e u p a p e t i tio n of tw o h un d red a n d
eigh ty eigh t offi cers of w h i ch P u tn a m was th e ch i ef p ro
m oter was sen t by h i m to W ashi ngton to b e fo r wa rd ed to
Congress fo r a gra n t of la n d s n o r t h a n d no rth wes t of th e
R i ver O h i o to t h e veteran s of th e a rm y i n red e m pti o n of
th e pledges of Co ngress ; a n d fu rthe r fo r sal es to suc h o ffi
cers a n d sol d i ers as m igh t c h oose to beco m e pu rch ase rs o n
a syste m w h i ch wou l d effectuall y preven t t h e m o n o p oly o f
lar g e t racts A year l ater P utn a m re ne ws h is u rgen t a pp l i
catio n to W ash i ngto n fo r ai d i n h is p roj ect to w h ic h h e say s
h e h as gi ve n m u ch ti m e si n ce h e left th e a rm y He asks
t h e G en eral to reco m m en d to h i m so m e m e m ber of Co n g ress
w i t h w h o m h e ca n d i rectly co rres p o n d as h e d oes n ot l i ke
e ve n to h i n t t h ese th i ngs to t h e d el e g ates fro m M a s s a c h u
setts t h o u g h worth y m e n S h e i s for m i n g plan s to sel l h er
eastern la n d s
W as h i ngto n a n swers th at h e h as ex ert ed
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O R A TI ON OF GE OR GE F H OAR
22
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every po wer w i th Cong ress th at h e i s m aster of an d h ad
d wel t u po n P ut n a m s a rgu m en t fo r a speedy d eci sio n b u t
Con g ress adj ou rn ed wi tho u t actio n
I n 17 85 Con gress a p p oi n ted G en eral Pu tn a m o n e of th e
su rveyors of n orth w estern lan d s He says i n h i s l e tter a o
a wi sh to p ro m o t e em i g ration fro m
c e p t i n g t h e offi ce th at
a m ong m y frien ds i n to th a t cou n try a n d not t h e wa ges s t i p u
lated i s m y pri n ci p al m oti ve
He was co m pel l ed b v h is
e ngag e m ents w ith Massach u setts to d evol ve th e d u ty u po n
G e n eral Tu p p er as a su bsti tu t e T u pper cou ld n ot get bel o w
Pi t t sbu rg h i n t h e seaso n o f 17 85 He ca m e back to Massa
c h u s e tt s i n t h e wi n ter w i th su ch k n o wl ed g e of t h e cou n try
a n d reported to Pu tna m at R u tl an d o n
a s h e h ad gai n ed
t h e 9 t h of Jan u ary 17 86 T h e two vete ra n s sa t u p to g eth er
A t d ay break t h ey h ad co m pl eted a cal l for a
a ll n i g h t
con ve n tio n to fo rm a co m p a n y It was to a l l offi cers a n d
sol d i ers of th e l ate wa r an d al l oth er good ci ti ze n s resi d i n g
i n Massach u set t s w h o m igh t w ish to beco m e p u rch asers of
l an d s i n t h e O h io cou n try It was to ex ten d aft er ward to
“
th e i n h abi tan ts of oth er States as m i g h t be a g ree d on
T h e co n ven tio n was h el d at th e Bu n ch of G rapes i n Bosto n
March 1 17 86 ; ch ose a co m m ittee o f w h ich Pu tn a m w as
c h a i 1 m a n to d i a ft a pl an f o r th ei 1 o 1 g a n i z a t i o n a n d so th e
O h io Co m pany was begu n Th e r e a r was s en t i n obtai n
p
i ng t h e n a m es of th e associ ates Th ey were m e n o f p 1 op
e r ty a n d ch a rac t er c a 1 e fu l l v sel ected w h o m ea n t to beco m e
actu al resid en ts i n th e n e w cou n try Th e v w e re m en to
w h om th e ed u ca tio n reli g ion freed o m p r i vate a n d p u bli c
fa i th w h i ch th ey i n corpo rated i n th e fu n d a m en tal co m p act
of O h io w ere t h e pri m al n ecessari es o f l i fe I n 17 8 7 th e
d i rectors appoi n ted Pu t n a m su peri n te nd en t of al l th ei r affai rs
I n th e w i n ter everyth i n g was ready Pu t n a m wen t o u t fro m
h i s si m pl e h ouse i n R u t la n d to d wel l n o m ore i n h i s n ati v e
Massach uset t s It i s a pl ai n wood en d well i ng perh aps a
l i tt l e better t h a n th e avera g e of th e farm er s h ou ses of N e w
E n g la n d o f t hat d ay Yet abou t w h i ch O f E u rop e s palaces
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O R A TI ON OF GE OR GE
E
H OA R
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23
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d o h ol ier m em o ri es cl i n g ? Hon or a n d F a m e a n d F reed om
a n d E m pi re an d th e F ate of Am erica w en t wi t h h i m as h e
c rossed t h e th resh old Th e rest of h i s l ife is i n l arge part
th e h i sto ry of Mari etta a n d of O h io for m ore th an th i rty
y ears
T h e i m press of h is ch aracter says h is bi ogra ph er
i s strongly m a rk ed o n th e p opul ation of Marietta o n t h ei r
”
bu il d i n g s i n sti t u tion s an d m an ne rs
Th e wi se a n d b ra ve m en w h o settl ed Mari etta wou l d h av e
l eft a n e n d u ri n g wm a r k un d er w h atever ci rcu m sta n ces o n
a n y co m m u n ity t o Wh i c h th ey h ad belo nged Bu t t h ei r
colo n y was fo u n d e d a t th e preci se a n d o n l y t i m e w h en th ey
cou l d h a ve secu red t h e co nsti t u tio n w h i ch h a s g i ven t h e
N orth w est i ts ch ara cter an d en abl ed i t at last to establ ish
i n t h e w h ol e cou n tr y th e pri n ci pl es O f freed om w h ich i 11
S pi red al i k e th e com pa n y o f t h e fi rst a n d s econ d M ayflo w er
Th e g lory of th e N o r t h west i s t h e O rd i nan ce o f 17 8 7 W h at
sh a re of t h at g l o ry bel ongs to th e m en w h o fou n d ed th e
N or t h west ? W ere y ou r fa t h ers th e arch i tects a n d d esi g n ers
as wel l a s t h e bu i ld ers of t h ei r state ? W a s th e c o n s t i t u
t i o n a l l i berty w h i ch th ey enj oy ed th em sel ves a n d l eft to
th ei r ch i ld ren t h ei r ow n co n ceptio n a n d aspi ration o r was
i t con ferred by th e Con t i n en tal Co ngress ?
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g i ft of t ha t wh i c h is o t t b e g i v e n
B y a l l t h e b l e nd e d p ow e rs of e ar t h and
A
n
o
,
He a e n
v
”
.
W h at was it th at appl ied th e spu r to th e h al ti ng Congress
w h ose i n a ctio n t h e w h ol e p ower of W ash i ng t on h ad fai led
t o o verco m e ?
Th e researc h es of h i s tori ca l schol ars h a ve
w i th i n a fe w y ears open ed to u s for th e fi rst ti m e t h i s m ost
i n teresti n g c ha p ter of A meri ca n h is t o ry
T h e fi rm n ess a n d fo resigh t of Maryl an d forbad e h er d el e
gates to rati fy t h e articles of co n fed eratio n u n ti l th e clai m s
of i n d i vi d u al s t ates to t h e la n d s n orth a n d west of th e O h i o
R i ver were aba n d on ed fo r th e co m m o n ben efi t N e w York
set t h e e xa m p l e Th e cession of Vi rg i ni a was th e m ost
m ark ed i nstan ce of a large an d gen erou s self d en ial It n ot
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O R A T I ON OF GE OR GE
24
F
..
H OA R
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o n ly ga ve to th e Un i ted States a reso u rce fo r a l arg e pay
m e n t o n th e publ i c d ebt a n d a l arg e p rov isio n fo r vetera n
s o l d i e i s bu t g a ve th e cou n try i t s fi rs t s t r i c tl v co m m o n a n d
n ati on al i n terest a n d th e fi rst subj ect for th e ex ercise of a n
au th orit y w h ol ly n ation al
Th e n ecessi ty was fel t for a n early p rovisio n fo r a s u rvey
a n d sal e of t h e terri to ry a n d for th e govern m en t of th e politi
cal bodi es to be establish ed t here Th ese two subj ects were
i n t h e m ai n k ep t d isti n ct Va ri ous plan s w ere reported
fro m ti m e to ti m e Te n co m m i t tees were a ppoi n ted o n th e
fra m e of g ov ern m en t a n d t h ree o n t h e s c h e m es fo r s u rvey
a n d sal e F ou rtee n d ifferen t reports were m ade at d i ffe ren t
ti m es ; bu t fro m Septem be r 6 17 8 0 w h en th e resol u ti o n
passed ask i n g t h e s t ates to ced e th ei r l an ds u n ti l Ju ly 6
17 87 w h e n Ma n asseh Cu tl e r th e en voy of th e O h i o Co m
pan y ca m e to t h e d oor every pl a n ad opted a n d e very pl a n
p roposed ex cept a m otion o f R u fu s Ki n g w h ic h h e h i m sel f
aban d o n ed we n o w see wou l d h ave bee n frau g h t with m i s
ch i ef i f i t h a d beco m e a n d con t i n u ed l a w
March 1 1 7 84 th e d ay Vi rg i n i a s d eed of cessi o n was d e
l i v e r e d J e ffe r s o n reported fro m a co m m i ttee of w hi ch h e was
ch ai rm a n a n o rd i n an ce w h i ch d i vid ed th e terri to ry i n to te n
states each to be ad m i tted i n to th e Un io n w h en i t s p o p u l a
tion equ al ed th at of th e sm al lest existi n g state He th ou g h t
as h e d ecl ared to Mon roe th at i f g reat s t ates were es t abl ish ed
be y on d th e m ou n tai n s th ey wou l d separate th em sel ves fro m
th e con fed eracy a n d beco m e i ts en em ies H is ord i na n ce
w h en re p orted co n t ai n ed a p rov isi o n ex cl ud i ng sl a very a ft e r
Th i s was strick en o ut by t h e Congress I t i s m an i
1 800
fest fro m subseq uen t e ven ts th a t u n d er i t th e terri tory
wo u l d h ave been occu p i ed b y settle rs fro m t h e Sou t h wi t h
th ei r sl aves I t wou l d h a v e bee n i m possi bl e to excl u d e th e
i ns t itutio n of sl avery i f i t h a d o n ce got foo t i n g W i th o r
w i t hou t h i s p rov i so th e sch e m e of M r Jefferso n wo ul d h a ve
resul ted i n d i v i d i n g th e te rri to ry i n t o ten sm al l sla ve h ol d
i n g states Th e y wo u l d h a ve co m e i n to th e U n io n w i t h
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26
ORA TI ON OF GE OR GE
F
J
HO AR
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Th i s was t he state of th i ngs w h e n Man asseh Cu tl er ca m e
i n to th e ch am ber o n th e m orn i ng of July 6 17 87 beari n g
w i t h h i m t h e fa t e of th e N orth wes t He h a d left Boston 0 11
th e even i n g Of Ju n e 2 5 w h ere 0 11 th at d ay h e record s i n h i s
d i ary
,
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,
I
con versed w i th G e n eral Pu t n am a n d settl ed th e pri n
c i p l e s o n w h i ch I a m t o co n tract w i th Co n gress for lan d s
o n accou n t o f th e O h io Com pany
,
.
He was p robably th e fi ttest m an o n t h e Con ti n en t ex cept
F ra n k li n for a m issi on of d el i cate d i pl o m acy I t was sai d
j u st n o w tha t Pu tn a m was a m a n aft er W ash i ngto n s pa t
ter n an d after W ash i n g to n s o w n h ea rt Cutl e r was a m a n
after F ran k l i n s pa t ter n a n d after F ra n k l i n s ow n h eart H e
was th e m ost lea rn ed n atu ral ist i n A m eri ca as F ran k li n
w as t h e g reatest m as t er i n physical scie n ce He was a m a n
of co nsu m m ate p ru d en ce i n speec h a n d co n d u ct ; o f cou rtly
m a n n ers ; a favo rite i n t h e d ra wi n g roo m a n d i n t h e ca m p ;
w i th a w id e ci rcl e of fri en d s a n d correspo n d e n t s a m on g t h e
m ost fa m ou s m e n o f h is ti m e D u ri n g h is b ri ef servi ce i n
Congress h e m ad e a s p eech o n th e j u d ici al s y stem i n 1803
w h i c h sh o w s h is p rofo u n d m aste ry of co n sti t u ti on al p ri n
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c i p l es
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I t n o w fel l to h is lot to co nd u c t a n e g oti a ti on seco n d o n ly
i n i m porta n ce i n th e h is t ory o f h is co u n try to th a t w h i ch
F ra n k l i n con d u cted w i t h F ran ce i n 17 7 8 N ever was a m
ba ssa d o r cro w n ed wi t h su ccess m ore rapi d o r m o re co m pl ete
O n th e 9 t h of J u ly th e pen d i ng o rd i n an ce was co m m i t t ed
to a n e w co m m i t tee
E d ward Ca rri ngto n of Vi rgi ni a ;
N a t h a n Dan e o f Massach u se t ts ;
R ich a rd H en ry Lee of Vi rgi ni a ;
Jo h n K ea n of Sou th Ca rol i n a ;
M e l a n c t h o n S m i th of N e w York
Th ey sen t a co p y of th e o rd i n a n ce w h i c h h ad co m e o ve r
fro m th e last Congress to Dr Cutl er th at h e m igh t m ak e
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ORA TI ON OF GE O R GE F H OAR
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27
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rem arks an d prepa re am en d m en ts H e retu rn ed th e o rd i
n a n ce wi t h h is rem arks an d a m en d m en ts 0 11 th e 10 th Th e
o rd i n a n ce was n ew ly m od el ed a n d al l Cu tl er s a m en d m en ts
”
“
i n serted ex cept on e rel ati ng to t ax ati o n
a n d th at h e
”
“
sa y s was bette r qu ali fi ed
It was reported t o Con g ress o n
t h e l 1t h Th e cl au se proh i biti ng sl a v ery w h i ch h a d n ot been
“
i n cl ud ed because M r Da n e h ad n o i d ea t h e States wou l d
a g ree to i t was on Da n e s m oti o n i n serted as an a m en d
m en t a n d o n t h e 13 t h th e g reatest a n d m ost i m portan t legi s
l ati v e act i n A m eri can h i story passed u n an i m o u sl y sa v e a
si n g l e vo t e B u t on e d ay i n terven ed bet ween th e d ay of th e
a ppoi n tm en t of t h e co m m i t tee a n d th at of t h ei r repo rt
Cu t
le r retu rn ed th e co p y of th e ol d ord i n a n ce wi t h h i s p ro p osed
a m en d m en t s o n on e d ay Th e n ex t th e co m m i t tee re p orted
th e fi n ish ed p l a n B u t two d ays m ore el apsed befo re i ts fi n al
passa g e
Th e m easu re p rovi d i n g for th e ter m s of th e sal e to th e
O h i o C o m pa n y w as passed o n th e 2 7 t h of th e sam e Ju ly
Cutle r was m aster of th e si tuati on d u ri ng t h e w h ol e n e g o
“
t i a ti o n
W h en so m e of h is co n d i t ion s w ere rej ec t ed h e pai d
h i s res p ects to al l t h e m e m bers of Co n gress i n t h e ci ty an d
i n fo rm ed th e m of h i s i n t en tio n t o d epart th at d ay a n d i f
h i s ter m s w ere n ot acced ed to to tu rn h i s atten ti o n to som e
“
oth er pa rt of th e cou n try
T h ey u rged h i m to tarr y til l
th e n ex t d ay an d t h ey wo u l d pu t by al l o t h er busi n ess to
co m pl ete th e co n tract
He record s i n h is d i a ry t h at Co n
“
g ress cam e to t h e term s s tated i n ou r l etter w i thou t th e
”
l e a st vari atio n
F r om t hi s n arrati ve I th i n k i t m u st b e cl ear th a t th e pla n
w h i ch R u fu s Pu tn a m an d M a n a s s e h C u t le r settl ed i n Boston
was th e substan ce of th e O rd i na n ce of 17 87 I d o n ot m ea n
to i m ply th at th e d etail o r th e l anguage of th e g reat statu te
was t h ei rs B u t I ca n not d ou bt t hat th ey d em an d ed a co n
s t i t u t i o n w i t h i ts u n assail abl e g ua ran t i es fo r ci vi l li berty
su c h as Massach u set t s h ad enj oyed si n ce 17 80 a n d su ch as
V i rgi n i a had enj oyed si n ce 1776 i n stead of t h e m eagre pro
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ORA TI ON OF GE OR GE F
28
H O AB
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visi o n for a go vern m e n t to be ch anged at th e w ill of Con g ress
o r of tem po ra ry popu la r maj ori ti es w h i ch was all Con g ress
h ad h i th erto proposed a n d th i s con stitu ti on secu red by a n
i rrevocabl e co m pac t an d th at th i s d em a n d was a n i n fl e x
i bl e con d i t i o n o f th ei r d eali n g w i t h Congress a t a l l Cu tler
w ith co nsu m m ate wi sdom ad d ressed h i m sel f o n h i s a rri val
to th e represen ta t i ves of Vi rgi n i a Jeffe rson h ad g o n e to
F ra n ce i n Ju ly 17 84 bu t th e w eigh t of h i s great i n fl uen ce
rem ai n ed Ki n g was l n Ph i l ad el ph ia w h ere th e Co n s ti t u
It was Carri ngton of Vi r
t i o n a l Con ven tio n was sitti ng
g i n i a w h o b rou g h t Cu tler o n t o th e floor R i ch ard Hen ry
Lee h ad v o t ed a g ai nst Ki ng s m otio n to co m m i t h is a n ti
sl a very pro vi so b u t th e fi rst m o ve r of t h e Declaratio n of I n
d epen d en ce n eed ed l i ttl e co n verti n g t o cau se h i m to fa vo r
a n y th i ng th at m ad e for freed o m : W i l li a m G ra y so n of Vi r
gi n i a early a n d l ate earn estl y su pported t h e p roh i bi ti o n
of sl av ery a n d w h en brok e n i n h eal t h h e atten d ed th e Vi r
g i n i a Le g i s l a t u re i n 17 88 to secu re h er con sen t to th e d e p a r t
th e con d i ti o n of h er d eed of cessi on wh ich th e
u r e fro m
O rdi n a n ce of 17 8 7 effected So m e O f th e am e n d m en ts u po n
th e o rigi nal ord i n a n ce n o w preserved a re i n h i s h a n d w ri t i ng
To N ath a n Dan e belo ngs t h e i m m o rtal h o n or of h avi n g
bee n th e d raft sm a n of th e stat ute a n d th e m over of th e
an ti sl a ve r y a m en d m en t H i s m on u m en t h a s been erected
i n i m perish abl e gra n i te by th e greatest o f A m eri can arch i
t e c ts a m o n g th e m assi ve col u m ns of th e great argu m en t i n
re p ly to Hay n e But th e l egislati ve l ead ersh i p was Vi r
F ro m h er c a m e th e grea t w eigh t of W ash i ngton
gin ia s
i n w h ose h ear t th e sch em e of R u fus Pu tn a m for th e col o n i
z a t i o n of th e W est occu pi ed a pl ace seco n d on ly to th at of th e
Un io n i tsel f
Hers was th e g reat i n fl u en ce of Jefferson
b u rn i n g w it h th e d esi re tha t h i s cou ntry i n h er fi rs t g reat
act of n a t i on al l egisl ati o n sh ou l d m ak e th e d octri n es of th e
Decl a rati o n of I n d epe n d e n ce a real i ty F rom h er ca m e Ca r
ri ngto n ch ai rm a n of th e com m i ttee ; Lee i ts fo rem ost m e m
ber ; an d G rayso n th en i n th e ch ai r of th e Congress w h o Mr
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ORA TI ON OF GE OR GE F H OAR
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29
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Ban croft says gave m ore t h a n an y oth er m an i n Co n
g ress effi cient atten t i on to t he terri tori al q u esti on a n d
w h ose reco rd a g ai n st sla ve ry i s cl ea rer t h a n th at of a n y
oth er Sou th ern m an w h o was presen t i n
A n d l et u s rem em ber w i th g rati tu d e o n th is a n n i ve rsary
th at w h en i n 18 2 4 th e pl a n to cal l a co n ven t io n i n Il li n oi s
to san cti o n th e establ ish m en t of slavery th ere was d efeat ed
by a m aj or ity of si xteen h u nd red votes i t was to G overn o r
E d ward Coles a so n of Vi rg i n ia th e o l d fri en d of Jefferso n
a n d Madi son th at th e re s ul t was l arg ely d u e ; a n d w h en i n
1803 th e co n ven tio n of th e I n d i an a Terri to ry pe t i t i o n ed C o n
gress fo r th e repeal of th e si xth clau se of th e O rd i n a n ce of
17 87 i t was a Vi rgi n i a n v oi ce th rough th e l i ps of Joh n R an
d ol p h w h ose n a m e a n d bl ood are so h o n orabl y represen ted
h ere to d ay th at d eni ed th e req u est
T h e O h i o Co m pany m igh t w el l d i ctate i ts o w n t erm s
eve n i n d eal i n g w ith th e far si g h ted statesm e n of 17 87
Th e pu rch ase a n d se t tl e m en t of t h i s la rg e body of t h e pu bl i c
l an d s rem o ved fro m t h ei r m i n d s several su bj ec t s of d eepest
a n xi ety I t afford ed a pro vi si o n fo r th e veteran s of t h e wa r
I t ex ti n g ui sh ed a co nsi d erabl e po rtio n of t h e p ubl i c d eb t
It largel y i n creased th e val u e o f t h e rest of t h e p u bli c d o
m ai n
I t p laced th e sh i el d of a settl em en t of vetera n sol
d i ers betw een t h e fro n ti ers of N e w Yo rk Pen n sy l van i a an d
Vi rg i n i a an d th e m ost d a n g erou s a n d po w erfu l I n d ia n t ri bes
0 11 th e Co n ti n en t
It secu red to A m erica n occu pation a ter
r i t o r y o n w h i ch E n g l an d F ran ce a n d Spai n w ere s t i l l g azi ng
w ith eage r a nd lo ngi n g e y es— i n w h ic h E ngla n d i n v iol a
tio n o f t reaty obl igatio n sti l l h el d 0 11 to h er m i l i ta ry posts
h opi n g th at th e feebl e ba n d of ou r Un io n wou l d b reak i n
p i eces It re m o ved a fear n eve r absen t fro m th e m i n ds of
th e pu bl i c m e n of th at d ay that t h e w estern settl ers w ou l d
form a n e w co n fed eracy an d seek a n all ian ce wi t h t h e po wer
th at h el d th e o u tl et of t h e Mississi ppi Th e s t ren g th o f th i s
last appreh en sio n i s sh ow n i n th e con fi d en tial co rrespo n d
e nce of W ash i n gto n H e t wi ce r efers to i t i n h i s fare wel l
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ORA TI ON OF GE OR GE F H OAR
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ad d ress— o n ce w h ere h e wa rn s t h e W e st a g ai n st a n apos
”
tate a n d u n n atu ral co n n ecti o n w i t h any fo reig n po wer an d
agai n w h ere h e u rg es th e m h en cefo rth to be d eaf to th ose
ad vi sers i f s uch th ere a re w h o w o ul d sever th e m fro m t h ei r
b reth ren a n d con n ect th em wi t h al i ens
Congress h ad n ow h ere else t o l ook for th ese vi tal a d v a n
tages i f th e sch em e of P ut na m a n d h i s associ ates fai led
Th ey o n th e oth e r h an d woul d buy al l th e lan d th ey w a n t ed
o f N e w York o r Massach u setts o n t h ei r o w n term s I t is n o
w o n d er t he n t hat th e Co ngress w h i ch i n seve n years h a d
got n o fu rth er th a n th e Jefferso n statu te o f 17 8 4 a n d w h ic h
h ad stru ck ou t of i t th e an ti sl a very proviso ca m e i n fou r
d ays to th e adoption of th e O rd i n an ce of 87 wi th b u t o n e
d issen ti n g v ote
I t w i l l n ot be ex pected th at I sh o u l d u n d ertak e : wi t h i n
th e l i m i ts o f t h is d isco u rse to d w el l i n d etai l u po n t h e p ro
visi on s of t h e O rd i n a n ce o f 178 7 a n d t h e ben efi t th ey h a v e
co n ferred u pon th e regio n o ver w h i ch th ey h av e ex ten d e d
K n o w n t h rough ou t t h is cou n try w h ereve r A m erica n h isto ry
i s k n o w n w h ereve r m e n val u e co n sti t u tion al l iberty t h ey
a re fa m i li a r as ho u seh ol d word s to th e m en w h o are asse m
bl ed h ere Th ey are i n so m e i m p orta n t respects d isti n
u
i
h
e
d
abov
e
al
l
th
e
oth
er
g
reat
en
ac
t
m
en
ts
w
h
i
ch
l
i
e
at
s
g
t h e fo u n d atio n of h u m a n soci eti es If t h ere b e a nyth i n g
for w h ic h Da n i el W ebs t er i s d i sti n g u i sh ed a m o n g g reat
o r a to r s i t i s th e d iscreti o n an d m od eration o f h i s speech
He n ever sough t to create an i m p ression o r g i ve a n e m p h asi s
by overstatem en t It was wel l sai d of h i m by a noth er n a t i ve
of N e w E n g l and w h ose fa m e a s a g reat p u bl i c t each er equ al s
h i s o w n : Hi s wei g h t w as l i k e t h e fal li ng o f a pl a n e t ; h is
d iscre t i on th e retu rn of i ts d u e a n d p erfect cu rve
Mr
“
W ebs t er d ecla red ,i n a wel l k n o w n passag e: W e a re a o
c u sto m ed to p raise t h e l a wgi vers o f an ti qu i ty ; w e h el p t o
p erpetu ate th e fa m e of Solo n a n d Ly cu r g us bu t I d o u bt
w h eth er o n e si ngl e l a w of a ny l aw gi ver a n cie n t o r m od er n
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OF GE OR GE
O R A I IO N
'‘
E
H OA R
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31
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h as prod uced e ffects of m o re d i sti n ct mark ed a n d l asti n g
ch a racter th a n th e O rd i n an ce of 17 8 7
Th e fou n d ers of t h e N o r t h west a n d th e fra m ers of th e
O rd i na n ce m ea n t to p u t i ts great secu ri t i es beyon d t h e reach
of any fi c k l e n es s o r c ha nge i n pop u lar se n ti m e n t u n l ess by
a revol u t i on w h i ch s ho u l d u ph eav e th e fo u n d ation s of soci al
“
o rd er i tsel f Th ey m ad e th e si x a rti cles A r t i cl es of co m
pact between t h e o ri g i n a l Sta t es a n d th e peopl e a n d States
i n th e sai d Territory to fo re ver rem ai n u n al t er a ble u n less
by co m m o n co n se n t
Th ey w e re to h ave t h e force w h i c h
th e ph i l osoph ers of th at d ay attri buted to th e ori g i nal soci al
co m pact to w h ic h th ey ascri bed t h e o ri g i n of al l h u m a n
soci et y Th ree pa rties th e o rigi n al Sta t es t h e n e w States
a n d t h e peopl e m ad e th e co mpact Th i s co m pa ct was to
atten d th ese co m m u n i ti es fo re ver u n al terabl e sa ve by th e
co nse n t of al l th ree u nd er w h atev er n ew co nsti tu ti on al a r
range m e n ts th ey m igh t co m e Th ere i s t h e h igh est e o n
te m po rary a u th ority for th e o p i n io n th at th ese arti cl es woul d
n e ver be affected by o rd i na ry co n sti tu ti o n al c ha n ges i n t h e
”
“
States
It fix ed fo re ve r sai d M r W ebster t h e ch a rac t er
o f th e po pu l atio n i n th e vast regi o n s n o rth west of t h e O h io
by ex cl u d i ng fro m th e m i n vol u n tary serv i tu d e I t i m p ressed
o n th e soi l i t sel f w h i le i t w as y et a wi l d ern ess a n i n capa ci ty
t o su stai n an y ot h er th a n free m en
I t l ai d t h e i n terd i c t
n o t o n ly
a gai n st p erso n al servitu d e i n o rigi nal co m p ac t
d eep er th a n al l l ocal l a w b u t deeper also th a n al l l ocal
con sti tu tion s
Th ese g reat a nd pe rpetu al blessi n gs yo u r
fath ers fou n d a wai ti n g t h em w h e n th ey took possessio n of
t h ei r n e w h om es be n e fi c e n t as th e sky o r th e cl i m ate or t h e
soi l o r th e ri ver to e n d u re so l o n g as th e sky sh al l sen d
d o w n i ts i n fl ue n ce o r th e O h i o co n ti n u e to flo w
W h i l e a po rt ion o f th e seco n d a rti cl e reaffi rm s th e g reat
secu ri ties w h i c h a re of E n g l ish o r i g i n a n d a re fou n d i n
Ma g n a C h arta a n d th e Bi l l of R i g h ts th e larger pa rt a re
o rigi n al ly an d excl usi vely A m eri can Th e stu d en t of co n
s t i t u t i o n a l l aw w il l fi n d t h ere al l h e w il l n eed for a n a m pl e
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ORA TI ON OF GE ORGE F H OA R
32
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a n d co m ple t e u n d ers t an d i ng of th e d i fferen ce bet ween th e
g en i us of th e l i m i ted m on arch ism of E n g la n d a n d t h e g en i u s
of A m eri ca n l iber t y
F o r t h e fi rst ti m e i n h i sto ry th e O rd i na n ce of 17 87 ex
t en d ed that d o m ai n fro m w h i ch al l h u m a n g ov e rn m en t i s
absol u t ely excl u d ed by forbi d d i ng a ny l a w i n terferi ng w ith
t h e obl iga t io n of good fai t h b etwee n m a n a n d m a n Th i s
p ro vi si o n ad opted afte rwa rd i n su b s ta n ce i n t h e C o n s t i t u
t i o n of t h e U n ited S t ates a n d t h e reby m ad e bi nd i ng as a
restrai n t u p o n every sta t e i s t h e sec u ri t y u po n w h i ch rests
at las t al l co m m erce a l l t rad e al l safety i n t h e d eali ngs of
m e n w i t h each o t h er To d ay i ts i m pre g nabl e sh i el d i s o ver
t h e d eali n g of si x ty m i l l ion s O f peopl e wi t h each oth er a n d
w i t h m a n ki n d
I h av e d escribed v ery i m perfectly t h e ed u catio n ex ten d
i n g o ver t wo cen tu ries w h i ch fi tted y ou r fath ers for th e g reat
d ram a to be enacted h ere E q u a l l y wo n d erfu l i s th e series
o f eve nts w hi ch kept th e soi l o f th e O h io terri to ry u n to uch ed
u n t i l t h e v were read y to Occu py i t F ra n ce i n 17 5 5 r e
j ec t e d a n offe r m ad e h er by E ngl a n d tha t E ngl a n d wou l d
g i v e u p al l h er clai m west of a l i n e fro m th e m ou th of F ren ch
Creek t wen ty l eagu es u p t h at strea m t o w a rd Lak e E ri e a n d
fro m th e sa m e poi n t d i rect to th e l ast m ou n tai n s of Vi rg i n i a
w h i ch sho u l d d esce n d to ward th e ocean F ra n ce w as to r e
tai n Ca nad a a n d h er settl e m e n ts o n t h e I ll i nois a n d W abash
If t h i s o fl e r h ad been accepted t h e F ren ch w h o al wa y s so
sk il l fu l ly m a naged th e I n di an s wo u l d h ave fi l led th e terri
tory w ith t h ei r colo ni es a n d u nd er w h a t e ver soverei g n ty i t
h ad u l ti m ately com e wou l d h a ve i m p ressed th ei r ch a racte r
a n d i n s t i tu tion s o n i t forever Ki ng G eo rge t o o i n 17 6 3 a t
th e cl ose of th e F re nc h war forb a d e h is g o vern ors i n A m er
i ca to gra n t a ny warran ts of su rvey o r paten t s for an y l a n d s
beyo n d th e h ead s o r so u rces of a n y of t h e ri v ers w h i c h fal l
”
i n t o t h e A tl a n ti c ocea n fro m th e w est o r n orth west
Th i s
sh u t o u t th e peo pl e of Vi rg i n ia with th ei r sl aves fro m al l
t h e terri tory t h at n o w form s O h io
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ORA TI ON OF GE OR GE F H OA R
34
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.
h a ve l ost h al f i ts val u e It was fi tti ng t h a t th e w hol e
co u n try sh ou l d sh are i n th e h on o r of th at a ct w h i ch i n a
l a t e r ge n e r a t i o n w as to d ete rm i n e th e fa t e of th e w h ol e
cou n try
W e wo u l d n ot forget tod ay th e bra ve m en a n d n oble
w o m en w h o represen ted Con n ecti cu t a n d R hod e Isla nd a n d
N ew Ha m psh i re i n th e ban d of pi on eers A m on g th e m
were Parso n s a n d M ei g s a nd Va rn u m a n d G reen e a n d
Devol an d Tr u e a n d Ba rk er an d t h e G il m a n s C o n n ec t i
cu t m ad e a l ittle l ater h e r o w n s p ecial an d i m porta n t con
Bu t Vi rg i n i a a n d Mas
t r i b u t i o n to t h e settl em en t of O h i o
s a c h u s e tt s h ave th e ri g h t to cl ai m a n d to recei ve a pecu li a r
sh are of th e h o no r w h i c h belongs to th is occasion Th ey
m ay w el l clasp eac h o t h e r s h a n d s a n e w a s th ey su rvey th e
—
t
w
o
g lo ry of th ei r work T h ese
states th e two ol d est of th e
si sterh ood — th e state w h i ch fra m ed th e fi rst w ri tten c o n s t i t u
tion a n d th e sta te w h ose fou nd er s fra m ed th e co m pact o n
th e May flow er ; th e state w h i ch p rod u ced W ash i ng t o n an d
th e state w h i ch su m m o n ed h i m to h i s h igh co m m an d ; th e
state w h ose son d rafted th e Decla rati on of In d epen d en ce
an d t h e s t ate w h ich fu rn ish ed i ts l ead i n g ad vocate o n th e
floo r ; th e m oth er of Joh n Marsh al l an d th e m oth e r of th e
Presi d e n t w h o a ppoi n ted h i m ; th e state w h i ch g ave th e g en
eral a n d th e sta t e w h ic h fu rn ish ed th e la rgest n u m ber of
sold i ers to th e R ev ol ution ; th e state w h i ch ga ve th e terri
to ry of t h e n or t h w est a n d t h e state w h i ch gave i ts fi rst set
—
m a y w el l d eli g h t to rem e m ber th at th ey sh are b e
l
r
s
t e
tw een t h e m th e h on o r of t h e a u t h orsh i p of th e O rd i nan ce
of 17 87 W h e n th e reu n i ted cou n try sh al l erect i ts m on u
m en t at Mari etta l et i t b ea r o n o n e sid e th e n a m es of th e
fou n d ers of O h io o n t h e o t h er th e n am es of Jefferso n a n d
R i ch ard He n r v Lee a n d Ca rri n g ton a n d G rayson si d e by
sid e wi th th ose o f N atha n Da n e a n d R ufus K i ng an d
Man asseh Cu tler ben eath th e su p re m e n am e of W ash i ngton
R epresen tati ves of Vi rg i n i a a n d Massach u setts them sel ves
i n so m e sense rep rese n tati ves of t h e t wo sectio n s of th e
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O R A TI ON OF GE OR GE F H OAR
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35
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c o u ntry w h i ch so l atel y stood agai n st each oth er i n arm s
th ey w i l l bea r w i tn ess th at t h e estra n g em en ts of fou r years
h av e n ot obl i terated th e co m m o n an d ten d er m e m o ri es of
t wo cen tu ri es
Th is a l so i s o n e of th e great even t s i n t h e w o rl d s h i stor y
w h ich m ark s a n ad va n ce of Li ber t y o n to n ew grou n d w h i ch
sh e h as h el d W e wou l d n ot u n d erval u e m i l ita ry a ch i eve
Su c h a para dox ri d i cu l ou s a ny w h ere w ou ld be
m en ts
d ou bl y u n beco m i n g h ere W e stan d b y t h e gra ves of g reat
sold i ers of th e wa r of I n d epen d en ce T h i s i s th e cen te n n ial
of t h e State w i t hi n w h ose bo rd ers were born G ra n t a n d
Sh erm an a n d Sh erid a n a n d G a rfi eld Th e m e n of t h e
R evol u ti o n fough t th at th e pri n ci pl es of th e O rd i n an ce o f
Th e great c a p t a i n s of
1 7 8 7 m igh t b eco m e l i vi n g re al i ti es
th e late r wa r fou g h t th at th e com pact m igh t b e k ept a n d
forever re m ai n u n al terabl e Th e fi ve states of th e N o rth
w est sen t n ea rly a m i l li on sol d iers i n to th e war fo r th e
Un i on e ve r y o n e o f th em read y to d i e to m ai n tai n i n vi ol ate
“
t h e fou rth a rti cl e w h i ch d ecla res : Th e sai d territo ry a n d
th e states w h i ch m a y be form ed th erei n sh al l foreve r rem ai n
a pa rt of th i s con fed eracy of th e Un i ted States of A m eri ca
s ubj ect to th e a rti cl es of co n fed erati o n an d to su c h al tera
tio n s th erei n as sh al l b e co n sti tu ti on al ly m ad e a n d to al l
t h e acts a n d o rd i n an ces of t h e Un i ted S t ates i n Co ng ress
”
assem bl ed co n fo rm abl e t h ereto
Th ese p u rposes i n spi red
th em w h en th e y d re w th ei r sword s Th e y l ai d d o w n th ei r
swo rd s w h e n th ese pu rposes w ere accom p lish ed
It i s th is th at m akes t h e bi rth d a y o f O h i o a n oth er bi rth
d ay of t h e n ati o n i tsel f F o rever ho n o red be Mari etta as
a n oth er Ply m ou th Th e O rd i n an ce belongs w i th th e Decla ra
ti o n of I n d epe n d en ce an d th e Co n stitu tio n It i s on e of th e
t h ree ti tl e deed s of A m eri ca n con sti tu ti on al l iberty A s th e
A m eri ca n y o u t h for u n cou n ted cen tu ri es sh al l v isi t th e cap i
tal of h i s cou n try — stron gest rich est freest h a p pi est of th e
—
fro m th e sto rm y coast of Ne w E n g
n ati on s of th e earth
l an d fro m t h e l u x u ria n t regio n s of th e G u l f fro m th e lakes
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O R A T I ON OF GE OR GE
36
E
.
H OAR
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fro m th e p rai ri e a n d th e pl ai n fro m th e G old en G ate fro m
fa r A laska — h e w i l l ad m i re th e ev id e nces of i t s g ra n d eu r
an d t h e m on u m en ts of i ts h istori c glo ry He w i l l fi n d th ere
ric h l i brari es a n d vast m u seu m s a n d great cab i ne ts w h i c h
sh o w th e prod u ct o f t h a t m atch l ess i n ven ti v e gen i us of A m er
i ca w h i ch h as m u l ti pl ied a t h ou san d fol d th e weal th a n d
com fort of h u m an l i fe He wi l l see th e si m pl e a n d m od est
por t a l t h roug h w h i ch t h e great l i n e of t h e R epu bl i c s ch i ef
m a gi strates h a ve passed a t t h e cal l of th ei r cou n try to as
su m e a n h o n or su rpassi ng th at of em pero rs a n d k i n g s an d
th ro u g h w h i ch t h ey h a ve retu rn ed i n obed i en ce t o h er l aw s
to tak e th ei r place agai n as equ als i n th e ra n k s of th ei r fel
He wil l sta n d by t h e m atch l ess Obel i sk w h ich
l o w ci ti zen s
l ofties t of h u m a n stru ctu res is i tsel f b u t th e i m pe rfect ty pe
of th e l ofti es t O f h u m a n ch aracters H e wi l l g aze u po n th e
m arbl e splen d ors o f th e Capi tol i n w h ose ch a m bers a re
en acted th e sta t u tes u n d er w h i ch th e peopl e of a co n ti n e n t
d w el l toge t h e r i n peace a n d th e j u d g m en ts are ren d ered
w h i ch k eep th e fo rces o f states a n d n ati o n al ik e w i th i n t h e i r
He w i ll look u po n th e record s of great
a p poi n ted bou n d s
wars a n d th e statu es o f great co m m an d e rs Bu t if h e k n o w
h is cou ntr y s h i sto ry an d con si d e r wisely t h e sou rces of h er
g lo ry th e re i s n o t h i n g i n al l t hese w h i ch w il l so sti r h i s
h ea rt as t wo fad i ng a n d ti m e soi l ed papers w h ose ch aracters
were traced by t h e h a n d of th e fath ers a h u n d red years a g o
T h ey a re th e ori g i n al record s of t h e ac t s w h ich d evoted th i s
n atio n forever to eq ual i t y to ed u cati on to rel igio n an d to
l iberty O n e i s th e Declara tio n of I n d epend en ce th e oth e r
th e O rd i n an ce o f 17 87
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O R ATI O N
-
BY 1
D E' I V ER E D
F. H O A R
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O F
M A S S
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AC H U S E TT
AP R I ' 7
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8
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TION OE THE CE NTE NNIA'
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O F TH E
FOU NDIN' OF THE N ORTHW E ST
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W AS HI N ' T O N
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D E T W E I IlE R, P RI NT E RS
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