their lawful
employment; they were torn from the bosom of their beloved
country; sons from their fathers; husbands from their wives and
children, to serve with reluctance for many years, under the
severity of a martial law. The truth of this many of you can
attest to, perhaps with inward pining and a bleeding heart!

My countrymen! I did not mount this rostrum to inveigh against the
British; only the demagogues, the war faction I exclaim against.
We all know, and that full well, that there are many honest,
patriotic men in this country, who would raise their voices to
succour us, and their _arms_ too, could they do it with impunity.
The sympathetic hearts of the good, feel for the oppressed in all
climes. And now, my countrymen, it is more than probable, that the
land of your nativity will be involved in war, and deluged in
blood, for some time to come; yes, my friends, that happy country,
which is the guardian of every thing you possess, that you esteem,
near and dear, has again to struggle for her liberty. The British
war faction are rushing upon us with their fleets and armies,
thinking, perhaps, to crush us in a moment. Strange infatuation!
They have forgotten Bunker's Hill! They have forgotten Saratoga,
and Yorktown, when the immortal WASHINGTON, with his victorious
army, chased them through the Jerseys, under the muzzles of their
ship's cannon for protection! They have forgotten that the sons of
America have as good blood in their veins, and possess as sound
limbs and nerves as they; strange infatuation! I repeat it, if
they presume to think that eight millions of free people will be
very easily divested of their liberty; my word for it, they will
not give up at the sight of their men-of-war, or their red coats;
no, my friends, they will meet the lads who will play them the
tune of yankee doodle, as well as they did at Lexington, or Bunker
Hill. Besides, my countrymen, there is a plant in that country,
(very little of which grows any where else) the infusion of which
stimulates the true sons of America to deeds of valor. There is
something so fostering in the very sound of its name, that it
holds superiority wherever it grows; it is a sacred plant, my
friends, its name is LIBERTY, and may God grant that that plant
may continue to grow in the United States of America, and