Excerpt from An Address in Commemoration of the Independence of the United States: Delivered at Rochester, July 4, 1828

Mr Friends and Fellow Citizens, - I hope you have not assembled here to-day with any excited expectations, that by any effort of mine, I can add to the liberal tribute of gratitude and joy, with which you are accustomed to meet the return of this festival. From the cradle of our infancy we have been familiar with the story of the events, which gave existence to this great nation. Our reflections upon it, our recital of its history has often been, rather an exercise of fancy, than of the understanding. Connected as we are by the ties of relationship with the actors in the revolution, we become, as it were, ourselves mingled in its events, and thus we magnify its importance with all the fascinations of self love.

These remarks arc not made to detract any thing from this momentous epoch in the history of our country, but to illustrate the difficulty of properly discussing it. No person can appreciate more highly than myself that true spirit of freedom which gave it birth, or that devoted patriotism and gallantry which sustained the contest. Such are my own impressions of its importance, that I feel myself inadequate to do justice to the reflections which its contemplation excites in my own mind, much less can I hope to do more justice to yours. If I can but direct the current of your thoughts to a proper consideration of the great principles, in the maintainance of which our struggle for independence had its origin, it is all I can expect, or shall aim to accomplish.

You all know that the first settlers of New-England were induced to leave their native country in search of religious freedom. They belonged to the sect of Puritans, dissenters from the established church of England.

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