were not articles of human legislation, and that it was unjust to take the land of the Indians without a satisfactory reward, he was banished from Massachusetts Bay, and fled south to the Indians, who gave him a tract of land which he named Providence. He became the principal founder of the state of Rhode Island, and has the honor of founding the first government, free from religious oppression, that has ever been since the days of Constantine. William Penn followed his example in founding Pennsylvania upon the same principle. And in 1787 and '88, the United States did the same. What an individual contended for against a host, and for which he was banished, is now become the supreme law of the whole United States. What has been may be again. Democracy runs low in this state at present; it may rise: if not, democrats can bear. In the United States, democracy had a commanding voice for the last six years: what changes may take place hereafter I cannot say; every spoke in the wheel has its turn in being uppermost. Who will succeed the present chief magistrate in the presidency is yet unknown; many seem to be licking their chops for it: and if the fever does not intermit, it will soon be with our republic as it once was with Rome, which one of their poets describes thus: "Oh what a many-headed beast is Rome! How many horns she bears!" Let the presidency fall into whose hands it may hereafter, the democrats have this to say, that it was under the administration of their favorite presidents, Jefferson and Jackson, that the debt of the nation was more reduced, and greater acquisitions of territory made, than in any fourteen years besides. It must be expected that in an elective government personal attachments, and the wish of a different line of measures, will occasion some confusion; but as long as the contention contains only hot wind and loud noise, free from the smoke of powder and the stain of blood, it must be borne with as a tax which all free governments have to pay for their liberty.

Compare the condition of the citizens of the United States with that of the subjects of European monarchs, and you will felicitate yourselves and bless God that you are Americans. With them pomp and poverty; sumptuousness and starvation; fulness and beggary; purple and raggedness; oppression and depression; haughtiness and cringing, are seen at one glance. Splendor of courts; the aggrandizement of a few, and the wretchedness of many, is a true portrait of those kingdoms. But in our institutions there is no king but law, and every man has a voice in making it; no hereditary lords; no privileged orders in church or state; we call no man master; we are all on a level, minding our own business, making our own bargains, and seeking our own happiness in our own chosen way. Such is the genius of our institutions. But if, under some peculiar excitement, we are led into error, time and reflection, with the aid of the all

correcting weapon right of suffrage, bring us back to our natural bearings and peaceful enjoyments.

As the sentiments of this concourse can be better expressed by resolutions than by my feeble address, I shall give way, relying on the goodness of the audience to pass by all the defects of limited talents, inexperience in state affairs, and weakness of age. As political meetings in Cheshire, heretofore, have been eulogized for sobriety and good order, an emulation to retain the character will stimulate every one to abstain from intemperance, riot, and strife; that nothing may be said or done to stain the fair character of the town, or expose democracy to disgrace; nothing inconsistent with the principles of morality, or pure and undefiled religion. Let it be known to all, that while we contend for the rights of man against the claims of aristocrats, and the clamor of ambitious would-be-ins, we act under a sense of our accountability to the King of all nations. Happiness and prosperity to all of you.

LETTER.

SIRI respond to your sentiments, respecting our illustrious chief magistrate, and the abuse that has been cast upon him, by a heterogeneous mob, composed of Nullifiers, Hartford Convention men, Bankites, and the would-be-ins. Supposing they should succeed in their wishes, is it probable that better treaties would be made; more land purchased; debts sunk faster; commerce more flourishing; public credit more firm; the hand of labor more eased; state rights more respected; the liberty of the citizens better guarded, or any blessing that may reasonably be looked for from government bettered?

When I survey the administration of President Jackson, I am constrained to say, "he has done all things well," and would ask those who are seeking to run him down, "why, what evil has he done?" The Almighty Being, who seems to have a peculiar regard for the United States, has raised up men of singular qualities to meet special emergencies, whose names will live in admiration as long as history endures; and in this list of names, that of Andrew Jackson will not be obliterated: for what other man would have met with all that he has, with the same personal and moral courage and prudence; giving uncontrovertible evidence in every measure that the good of the people, and not his own aggrandisement, was the stimulus? But stop! I am no statesman. The origin, design and boundaries of civil government I have studied; its interference with religion I have opposed; the equal rights of all I have plead for; but the minutia of law I am a stranger to.

In the formation of our constitution of general government, the aristocratical part of the community could not get woven into the letter of it all that they desired; but after its ratification, they called into requisition all their energies to turn the administration into an aristocratic channel, and by construction gave it an irresponsible tone; and were so successful that in ten years an alien act—a sedition act—a stamp act, with a standing army, etc., were all established; and the doctrine was trumpeted far and loud, "that a national debt was a national blessing," which was chorused, "the rulers must save the people from themselves." None but those who lived at the time, can fully conceive how much it cost the sober democrats to place Jefferson in the presidential chair, and check the threatening

flood. But notwithstanding the fatal wound which Federalism then receiv ed, since the close of the last war in 1815, this deadly wound has been partly healed by the disguise of National Republicanism, and old Democracy has been obliged to arm herself with ballot box weapons to vanquish the same old enemy, who is now dodging out of sight under the covert of Whig

If individuals were always governed by truth, justice, and benevolence, few laws, and few magistrates would be sufficient; but government took its rise from the wrongs of men. Men, finding evil propensities in them. selves, and seeing the overt acts of others, called in the aid of sober reason to establish rules to prevent the mischief. This is government, which is an evil of itself, because it costs individuals some of their natural rights; but it is a necessary evil to prevent a greater.

I have lived under the administration of seven presidents, and was never better pleased with the measures of government than I now am. I have endeavored to serve my generation according to the clearest light that I could gain. It is now for the rising generation to sustain the institutions which their fathers have left them; improve upon them, or radically change them; for one generation has no right to control that which succeeds.

A MEMORIAL.

THE FOLLOWING WAS WRITTEN FOR HIS DAUGHTER, AT HER REQUEST, AS A MEMORIAL OF HIMSELF.

Now, in the eve of a life but poorly spent, I write a few lines for you, that you may have a token to remember me by, after my decease. But why all this? A century from this time, there will not be a person on earth, that ever heard there was such a man as myself; nor am I anxious to perpetuate a name associated with so few virtues and so many defects. If my name is found in the Lamb's Book of Life—if my robe is washed and made white by his blood--if he will say to me at the judgment day, come, ye blessed of my father, receive the reward of a crown of life, and palm of victory," it is—it ought to be--my greatest desire; nevertheless, while I am here in the body, living on the bounties of heaven, I have a feeble desire to serve my generation by the will of God, like David, knowing that shortly I must fall asleep.

Sin has introduced so much darkness and blindness into this world, that I have ever found it a hard task to find the real truth; and notwithstanding the true light has been shining ever since the Sun of Righteousness arose, still blindness and inattention involve me in ignorance. Nor is this all; sin has so completely ruined men, that any scheme of restoration that creatures can comprehend, would be insufficient; a scheme founded in infinite wisdom, and executed in infinite love and omnipotent power, was necessary. This scheme the gospel reveals; but how incompetent are men, or angels, to understand it in all its parts. The wonders hidden in this plan, will be gradually unfolding to the saints eternally, but will never be exhausted. But,

Tho' of exact perfection we despair, Yet every step to virtue's worth our care. Some feeble conclusions that I have formed of God's truth, here foljow:

The excellencies of human life consist in justice, accommodation, mercy, truth, and liberality.

Justice has just weights, measures, and balances, will never deceive or