The American Idea, and what Grows Out of it: An Oration, Delivered in the New-York Crystal Palace, July 4, 1854A. Tompkins, 1854 - 18 pages |
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abstract achievement Albany American Idea American Revolution believe Benjamin Franklin best results blood breasts Britain cause celebrate the Fourth citadel citizen claim Colonies common nature conscience constitute consummate continent core Court dress Crystal Palace Declaration of Independence Despotism destiny develop the springs doctrine drub embodied England enterprise fact faith fellow-citizens fibres Fourth of July gate globe grows hand heart heraldries honors of invention humanity individual ington inspiration King George labor land legitimate growth Lexington liberty lies manhood manifest martyrs mate mean national organism national Union nobility opinion ORATION Parliament patent patriotism Penobscot personal freedom personal worth political principle produce-what proud Providence provincial youth recognized rectitude Russia seeds Senates sense spirit stand stars stock and product terrors of Border thought tion tionary true trust truth twenty-two years elapse unity utterance vailed virtue wafted Washington wilderness words working-principle worth and right
Popular passages
Page 8 - ... all men are created equal; and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; and that among these are, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...
Page 17 - I do not believe, that Providence has done so much for nothing. It has always been my creed, that we should not be left as a monument to prove, " that mankind, under the most favorable circumstances for civil liberty and happiness, are unequal to the task of governing themselves, and therefore made for a master.
Page 7 - That these are our grievances which we have thus laid before his Majesty with that freedom of language and sentiment which becomes a free people claiming their rights as derived from the laws of nature, and not as the gift of their chief magistrate. Let those flatter who fear; it is not an American art.
Page 7 - ... our constitution, we are, in my opinion, indubitably entitled to. I should even think it criminal to go further than this, under such an idea; but none such I have. I think the Parliament of Great Britain hath no more right to put their hands into my pocket, without my consent, than I have to put my hands into yours for money...
Page 7 - I was in any doubt, as to the right which the Parliament of Great Britain had to tax us without our consent, I should most heartily coincide with you in opinion, that to petition, and petition only, is the proper method to apply for relief; because we should then be asking a favor, and not claiming a right, which, by the law of nature and our constitution, we are, in my opinion, indubitably entitled to.
Page 9 - LIBERTY is an old fact. It has had its heroes and its martyrs in almost every age. As I look back through the vista of centuries, I can see no end of the ranks of those who have toiled and suffered in its cause, and who wear upon their breasts its stars of the legion of honor.
Page 7 - Howe's reinforcement should arrive in safety, we have hopes he will be inspirited to come out of Boston and take another drubbing : and we must drub him soundly, before the sceptred tyrant will know we are not mere brutes, to crouch under his hand^ and kiss the rod with which he deigns to scourge us.
Page 7 - For, sir, what is it we are contending against? Is it against paying the duty of three pence per pound on tea because burdensome? No, it is the right only that we have all along disputed; and to this end we have already petitioned His Majesty in as humble and dutiful a manner as subjects could do. Nay, more, we applied to the House of Lords and House of Commons, in their different legislative capacities, setting...
Page 6 - All men have one common original: they participate in one common nature, and consequently have one common right. No reason can be assigned why one man should exercise any power or preeminence over his fellow creatures more than another, unless they have voluntarily vested him with it.
Page 12 - Franklin appeared in the dress of an American farmer. " His straight, unpowdered hair, his round hat, his brown cloth coat, formed a singular contrast with the laced and embroidered coats, and powdered and perfumed heads, of the courtiers of Versailles.