Still may the soaring eagle's quenchless eye,
Watch o'er our favour'd country, brave and free,
Where the bright stars and stripes in honour wave,
The sacred emblems of our liberty.
[M. W. Beck: "The Ballot-Box" (song). Here quoted from _The United
States magazine and Democratic review_, Volume 5, 1839. Last
verse:
Let your eagle's quenchless eye,
Fixed, unerring, sleepless, bright,
Watch, when danger hovers nigh,
From his lofty mountain height;
While the stripes and stars shall wave
O'er this treasure, pure and free,
The land's Palladium, it shall save
The home and shrine of liberty.]
Many disagreeable circumstances now combined to disturb the happy
tranquillity of the American government. "A war had for some time
existed between France and England. America had endeavoured to maintain
a neutrality, and peacefully to continue a commerce with both nations.
Jealousies, however, arose between the contending powers with respect to
the conduct of America, and events occurred calculated to injure her
commerce and disturb her peace.
[_Interesting Events_: Second War:
The remote causes of the second War with Great Britain appear to
have arisen from the war existing between that power and France.
America endeavored to maintain a strict neutrality, and peaceably
to continue a commerce with them. Jealousies, however, arose between
the contending powers, with respect to the conduct of America, and
events occurred, calculated to injure her commerce, and to disturb
her peace.]
"Decrees were first issued by the French government preventing the
American flag from trading with the enemy; these were followed by the
British orders in council, no less extensive than the former in design,
and equally repugnant to the laws of nations. In addition to these
circumstances, a cause of irritation existed sometime between the United
States and Great Britain. This was the right of search claimed by Great
Britain as one of her prerogatives. To take her native subjects,
wherever found, for her navy, and to search American vessels for that
purpose. Notwithstanding the remonstrances of the American government,
the officers of the British navy were not unfrequently seen seizing
native British subjects who had voluntarily enlisted on board our
vessels, and had also impressed into the British service some thousands
of American seamen.
[_Interesting Events_: Second War:
The Berlin Decree of 1806, and that of Milan, in the succeeding
year, (both issued by the French government, to prevent the American
flag from trading with their enemy,) were followed by the British
Orders in Council; no less extensive than the former, in the design,
and equally repugnant to, the law of nations. In addition to these
circumstances, a cause of irritation existed some time between the
United States and Great Britain. This was the right of search,
claimed by Great Britain, as one of her prerogatives. This was to
take her native born subjects, wherever found, for her navy, and to
search American vessels for that purpose. Notwithstanding the
remonstrances of the American government, the officers of the
British navy, were not unfrequently seizing native born British
subjects, who had voluntarily enlisted on board of our vessels,
and had also impressed into the British service some thousands of
American seamen.]
"In consequence of the British and French decrees, a general capture of
all American property on the seas seemed almost inevitable. Congress,
therefore, on the recommendation of the president, laid an embargo on
all vessels within the jurisdiction of the United States.
[_Interesting Events_: Second War:
In consequence of the British and French decrees, a general capture
of all American property on the seas seemed almost inevitable.
Congress, therefore, on the recommendation of the President, on the
22d of December, 1807, laid an embargo on all vessels within the
jurisdiction of the United States.]
"In a moment, the commerce of the American republic, from being, in
point of extent, the second in the world, was reduced to a coasting
trade between the individual states. The opposition to the act in
several of the states was so great that they unanimously declared
against it, and individuals throughout the whole seized every
opportunity of infringement; therefore Congress thought proper to repeal
the embargo law, and substituted a non-intercourse with France and
England."
[_Interesting Events_: Second War (quoting "Grimshaw's Hist.
U. States"):
"In a moment, the commerce of the American Republic, from being, in
point of extent, the second in the world, was reduced to a coasting
trade between the individual States." The opposition to the act in
several States was so great, that they declared against it, and
individuals throughout the whole, seized every opportunity of
infringement. In 1809 Congress repealed the embargo law, and
substituted a non-intercourse with France and England.]
It was now generally expected that the session in Congress, with the
decision of the president, would eventually terminate in actual
hostilities. The difficulties the chief executive had to encounter
were many and perplexing, being fully convinced, under existing
circumstances, that the Americans must engage in combat after all. He
therefore knew it to be necessary to rouse the feelings of the American
people, to realize, more clearly than they did, the true situation of
their country, that they might be prepared for the approaching crisis
that he believed unavoidable.
[_A&M_:
The troubles which gave rise to the disseveration of England from
America had already commenced, which broke out the ensuing spring
into actual hostilities.]
[_Lives of Signers_: Hancock of Massachusetts:
The difficulties which he had to encounter were many and
perplexing.]
[_Lives of Signers_: John Adams of Massachusetts:
Being fully convinced ... that "they must fight after all," he felt
it to be necessary to rouse the feelings of the delegates from other
colonies, to realize, more clearly and more correctly than they did,
the true situation of their country. This he saw was indispensable,
that they might be prepared for that distressing crisis of their
political affairs, which it was obvious was approaching; and which
he even then, with a few others, believed was unavoidable.]
This period was full of anxiety and danger. A war was deprecated by all
the leading patriots of the day; they were fully persuaded that it must
take place; they therefore unitedly determined to prepare for the storm
in the best manner they were able. All material business was in a manner
suspended in New-York; the face of things wore a dismal aspect, and the
greater part of the community were in dismay. A heavy gloom hung over
the inhabitants generally, while all their affairs appeared in a
declining state, discouraging to the industry and best prospects of the
people.
[_Lives of Signers_: John Adams of Massachusetts:
The period was full of anxiety and danger.]
[_Lives of Signers_: Gerry of Massachusetts:
A civil war was deprecated by all the leading patriots of that day.
But the measures which the British government had long pursued
towards the colonies, had fully persuaded them that it must take
place.... and they unitedly determined to prepare for the storm in
the best manner they were able.]
[_Alida_ page 143 (chapter XVIII):
All business of importance, at this time, was in a manner suspended
in New-York; the face of things wore a dismal aspect, and the
greater part of the community were in dismay; occasioned by the
continuance of hostilities with Great Britain. All appeared in a
declining state, discouraging to the industry and best prospects of
the inhabitants.]
Alida's father was no friend to political controversy, yet he passed
much of his time in conversing with his friends on the present affairs
of America. He knew that party spirit and animosity existed more or less
at this time, and that he must consequently often meet with those of
opposite opinions; yet his honest and patriotic zeal for the good of his
country still remained the same. He was attached to liberty from
principle; he had talents to discriminate and see into the justice of
the measures of government; his retirement gave him full opportunity to
reflect on them seriously, and solve them in his own mind, and see their
absolute necessity, in order to maintain the honour, freedom, and
independence of the American nation. Would the same wisdom in the
government continue that had so nobly preserved us since our
independence? But he had no reason at present to suppose otherwise, and
that he who now guided the helm of affairs, was one of steady and
uncorrupt principles, of stable character, altogether uninfluenced by
any sinister views, and was willing to sacrifice his individual repose
for the noble purpose, and with the hope of settling it again on the
nation, with a firmer basis, at some future period, when the expected
contest should be decided.
[_NY Weekly_: "Champagneaux" in "Anecdotes and Remains of
Persons Connected with the French Revolution":
He ... was attached to liberty from principle, at a time, and in a
country, when it was not unusual to be so, from mere speculation!]
What feelings of commotion and deep anxiety must agitate the bosom of
the magnanimous hero who is labouring truly for the interest of his
country, and is actuated alternately by the claims of justice and
humanity, and on whom a whole community must depend for council in cases
of severe emergency, when his chief satisfaction consists in promoting
the interest and welfare of that community. When the hour of exigency
arrives, his mind, endued with the light of piety, feels its own
littleness, his weighty thoughts are big with the impending danger that
no human arm may be able to arrest. Impressed with religious awe, and
feeling conscious of his dependence for aid on the all-wise Disposer of
events, he bends in humble supplication to implore the favour of that
great and beneficent Being whose power alone can save, and in whose
mighty arm alone is victory.
[["(All-wise) Disposer of events" was a stock phrase.]]
The father of Alida received regular intelligence by the daily papers
respecting the political excitement in New-York; besides, he made
frequent visits to the city to see his several children, as one of his
daughters had resided there since her marriage. There was every kind of
conveyance at the neighbouring village suited to the accommodation of
travellers, both summer and winter, and the rapid improvement of the
town had long been a current topic of the inhabitants as well as
visiters, while they praised the proprietor of the new pavilion, in his
manner of conducting it, and his excellent accommodations; and it was
the general opinion that in the course of a few years this would become
a place of no small consideration.