The attractive, hardy, and laborious pleasures and business or the chase, dear and important enough in a political view to find a place in the enumeration of our rights in many of the American constitutions, confirmed this characteristic of our provincial people; and the frequent incursions of our red neighbours, with the sur rounding provinces of rivals and enemies, till the treaty of Paris in 1763, had a strong and similar effect.
The original opposition to Great Britain excited a solemn attention to arms and military topics, through out United America. That great event, and the final separation from our late empire, produced that peculiar, general, and organized armament of the people of this country, which is called the militia: a real constitutional arming en manse: a mighty two-edged sword to resist invasion from abroad and oppression at home : to op nose domestic violence and maintain internal peace, or der, and government. The course of the revolutionary war gave many occasions for the actual service of this numerous body: of this body, which is every where pre sent. On the banks of the Savannah, in the glorious field of Saratoga, at hundreds of intermediary places, the American militia were called upon to endure the u frc rings, or to perform the successful duties of a regu lar army. In no other country has the bcdy of the peo ple received the lessons of an eight years' internal war.
Independently to own and to use their arms, is ano ther of the rights of all Americans, which they have caused to be solemnly engravcn on the immutable ta blets of their public liberties. The universal solicitude, prudence, and vigilance on the subject of this right, is an evidence of the erect spirit of the nation ; and in no other particular does the temper of the adopted accord more perfectly with that of the most determined native citizens. The true value of defensive arms • can be known perfectly only by a people thus entitled and accus tomed to possess and to employ them.
'['he activity, vigour, and success of the private arm ed ships of the United States, in the war of the revolu tion, and indeed in all the wars in the times of the pro vinces, are indisputable and notorious ; and whatever may be the powers at sea of any other nation, the courage, enterprise, and effect of the American navy, according to its force, have ever been undisputed, conspicuous, and honourable.
To the revolutionary army of the United States be longs the solid military reputation of supporting an eight years' struggle of a nation of less than two millions of whites, against one of six or seven times their num ber. To them belongs the palm of complete ultimate success, won too in scenes of privation and of suffering, to which their enemies were perfect strangers. To them the contest was complicated: the trials severe. Through the night, the struggle was often to bear up against those extreme privations, which abate the bo dily energies even of the brave. Through the follow ing day, the bloody conflict was successfully maintained against a weil provided and veteran enemy, under the animating influences of health and plenty.
The Indian wars of the United States, which have oc curred since the close of the revolution, will furnish evidence of the spirit and resolution of the United Americans. \Vhatever were the issues of the first ac tions, the courage and fortitude of the whole of the lit tle armies were fully manifested. It would be easy to prove that those sufferings arose from causes foreign irons the valour of the Americans. But Braddock failed with an European force as well as these. In a late con flict of the American army with our red neighbours, the bravery of the troops, and the of the gal lant Wayne, acquired a victory for the United States, to which our Indian history records no equal. The daring onset, and the hot pursuit, broke down the yielding foe, and forced the deluded savages to give the blessed olive to our country's vows.* The conduct of the United States towards the Barbary powers has partaken more of the coercive character, in proportion to our strength and to our navy, than the treatment of those powers by any other nation. Our prisoners there, have endured their trials with unex cceded fortitude ; and the conflict in the harbour of Tri poli has convinced this nation and all mankind, that it is practicable for each of the great maritime states to de stroy the force and activity of their predatory fleets and the fortifications, which protect their naval stations. In our struggles with them, the determined dauntless spirit of the officers and seamen of the navy of the United States has shed a splendid honour on their own charac ters and on their country's name.