THE PRIVILEGES 'AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF OUR COUNT

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AM'^OIEiL^nOHs

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UELIVERED

m THE FOURTH OF JULY, A. D„

1,8 4 6,,

'IN THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH OF READINGTON,

Rev. PETER O. STUDDIFORD, D. U.
OF LAMBEUTSVILIE, N. J,

PUBLISHED BY RKQUEriT.

.', >reto=33i;un»toiclt;
• mnis OF J TRRHUNl^XXVII ALBANY STREET.
MDCCCXLVI,

THE PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF OUR COUNTRY.
AM ©mA^II(Q)M§
DELIVERED
ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, A. D,
1 846,
IN THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH OF READINGTON,

Rev. PETER O. STUDDIFORD, D. D.
OP LAMBEKTSVIllE, H. J.

PUBLISHED BY REQUEST.

!Mcto=38run8toic6;:
PRESS OF J. TERHUNE, XXVII ALBANY STREET.
MDCCCXLVI.

AN ORATION.
— =g<|)(|>@= —
Friends and Fellow Citizens :
The immortal document just now read has told the
object of our meeting. Our nation's birth-day has again
come round : And we have assembled, as American Free
men, in this sacred place, jointly to express our mingled
emotions of love to country and gratitude to God.
Since the event we celebrate, occurred, three score years
and ten — the utmost limit which men can commonly hope
to reach, before the decrepitude of age overtakes them —
have passed away: and still our country, in the heyday of
her youth, is marching on, with giant strides in her career
of improvement.
Had nothing special marked the day when our national
existence commenced, it would notwithstanding have been
worthy of our solemn observance. Its annual recurrence
would have served to awaken serious and profitable reflec
tions. It would have called us, so to look back upon the
past, that from the retrospect we might gather up lessons of
instruction for our future guidance; and we might with
propriety have employed it as a season of thanksgiving and
prayer and devout rejoicing.
The fact that this nation already embraces in her bosom
nineteen millions of people; that she now exerts, and will
continue to exert a mighty influence on the destinies of the
world, is in itself enough to make the day when she began
existence, an important era. But if we look at the events
which stand connected in history with that day, we shall
find- it possessed of high intrinsic importance. It was pre-

ceded by an examination of the rights of man, the objects
and ends of civil government, far more profound and
thorough, than had ever been instituted before. It was a
day, when great principles were asserted and maintained ;
and that with an acuteness of intellect and a firmness of
purpose never surpassed. And the struggle that followed
it was marked by circumstances of sublime and thrilling
interest never to be forgotten. Throughout the whole of
that struggle too, we discern the hand of a gracious over
ruling Providence, superintending nnd guiding all, to accom
plish the desired result. The events of that period cannot
be property studied without awakening some of the noblest
feelings of our nature, and contributing to make us wiser
and better.
For such reasons especiaUy should this anniversary of
our country's independence be held dear to American free
men, and observed by them as a season of patriotic and
religious rejoicing.
For the purpose of thus improving it we are now assem
bled. On this occasion there are many themes connected with
the day to which we might appropriately turn our attention.
We might repeat the story of the Revolutionary contest, its
spirit-stiring incidents, its alternations of light and darkness,
its long protracted struggles, and its final triumph. These
are topics, which frequency of repetition will not soon strip
of the interest which invests them. We might, with profit,
examine the various traits of mental and moral excellence,
which distinguish the patriots to whose exertions, in the
councU-chamber, and on the battle-field, we are indebted,
under God, for the attainment of our freedom.
It has been said, that great occasions produce great men.
It seemed to be eminently true in the instance before us.
Never before did such a galaxy of worthies appear in one
country, and in a single age ; as that which then adorned
our political firmament.

Whatever awaits our country; though her cultivated
fields should become a wilderness, and her populous cities,
heaps of ruins ; she never can be robbed of that halo of
glory which, by the achievements of these her sons, has
been thrown round her name. To the contemplation of
their virtues we might appropriately devote this hour. Or
we might employ it, in considering the value of those great
principles, which the revolutionary struggle illustrated and
proclaimed. It published to the world the weighty truth,
that government was made for the people, and not the
people for government; that the true, legitimate end of
political associations is the good of the whole community ;
and it taught the rulers of nations, that, where the people are
enlightened and virtuous, they cannot hope to trample on
these great principles, with impunity. We might with
profit stop to examine the moral influence, which our
country's example, in announcing and enforcing these
momentous truths, has exerted, and will yet exert in favor
of civU liberty and human rights throughout the world.
Or we might select, as a subject of particular considera
tion, the goodness of God to us as a nation, in days that
are past. Blinded indeed must we be, not to discern his
kind superintending care over us, through the whole period
of our national existence. On reviewing the course of his
dealings with us, we may with perfect justice, adopt the
language of Samuel the Prophet, when to commemorate
Israel's deliverance, he erected a stone between Mizpah and
Shen, calling it Ebenezer, and saying, ^'-Hitherto the Lord
hath helped us."
When our nation was yet in an embryo state, before we- ,
existed, as a free and sovreign people, the God of natiofls
helped us. He was with our fathers, when they fled from
the vices and oppressions of the old world, to these western
shores, a weak people, and few. In the establishment of the
different colonies, he helped thern. He was their support in
time of trial, their defence in danger. He led them, as he

6
did, of old, his chosen people, in a pillar of cloud by day, and
of fire by night.— He caused them to take root and fiU the
land. In the contest occasioned by the tyranny of the mother
country, He helped us. He inspired our fathers with a
courageous determination to resist oppression. And when,
confiding in his protection, they declared themselves a free
and independent people, He was with them. He raised up
for them a host of able statesmen, to preside in the conncils
of the nation. He taught our senators wisdom, and coun
selled our counsellors. He furnished our armies with brave
and skUful commanders ; He led them on to victory.— He
inclined the sovereign of a great European nation to help
us in our struggle for freedom.
He heard and answered the prayers of the pious on their
country's behalf.
In the course of his providence, He brought the contest
to a happy termination. And when the representatives of
our people convened in councU, to organize a form of
government for the States, He shed down light upon their
paths. He endowed them with political sagacity, to devise
a system, the excellence of which has been tested by an
experiment of seven and fifty years. And ever since, be
neath the sheltering wings of his gracious providence, we
have been kept in safety. On these undeserved favors of
days gone by, we now might dwell, to deepen our gratitude
and caU forth louder notes of praise to the Giver of all
good. But there is still another subject to which, at this
time, we would ask your attention — TAe advantages ichich
our nation enjoys, and the duties which our privileged
condition imposes.
Let us look a little at some of the peculiar advantao-es
which our nation enjoys, the means which God has put Tnto
our hands to secure our national prosperity and glory.
I mean, not that false glory, which the rulers of this worid
have too commonly sought after; which is prized, only

from wrong views of what is really noble and glorious ;
which is too often gained at the expense of human happi
ness, too often founded in violence and oppression. I mean
that glory, which a nation derives from the general hap
piness, intelligence, virtue and piety of the great mass ofher
citizens ; that glory which flows to her from being the means,
by her influence and example, of conveying rich blessings
to other lands and to future ages.
The first advantage, that I shall name, which God has
granted to our nation, is found in our location. He has
afforded us a very wide and noble theatre for enterprize and
activity; where an industrious, wise and virtuous people
may obtain the means of subsistence and comfort, for a
countless population, and the means of usefulness to them
selves and others of the family of man, in larger measure,
than any other nation ever had them.
Ours, like Canaan of old, is a land on which the eyes of
the Lord our God seem ever to rest, with special favor, from
the beginning of the year to the end of the same, Tis a
good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and
depths, that spring out of valleys and hills; yes, a land of
mighty rivers, lakes and mountains, a land wherein thou
mayest eat bread luithout scarceness, and not lack any
thing in it ; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose
hills thou mayesi dig brass.
Our inheritance, like Joseph's, is distinguished, for the
precious things of heaven, for the dew and the deep, that
croucheth beneath : and for the chief things of the ancient
mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hiUs,
and for the precious things of the earth, and the fulness
thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush.
Truly "the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places, and we
have a goodly heritage."
So extensive is our national domain, so rich and great
is the variety of soil, which it presents, that in diff'erent
parts of our land, we may, if disposed, raise the most valued

productions of other countries, and climes.— Such is the
abundance and fertility of our land, and such the demand
for labor, that he who has his health and strength, and still
is suffering from want of food and raiment, in most cases,
can have only himself to blame.
Such are the geographical features of our country, that
means of communication between its different parts, to a great
extent, are furnished ready to our hands. And where this is
not the case, they are so easily supplied by the hand of art,
that no hindrance exists to as quick, and extensive an inter
course among our citizens, in distant sections of the union,
as is needful. This, we trust, will teijd, with other causes,
to bind the various parts of our country, in lasting, indis
soluble union, as one great republic. And far distant be the
the day, when our great rivers and our vast mountain
ridges shall form the dividing lines of distinct and jarring
empires. It is a happy circumstance in our location, that we are so
far removed from the old world, as to save us from any ne
cessity of being involved in its quarrels, or interfering in its
internal policy. More than once, within a few years past,
has the peace of Europe been on the eve of a rupture, from
the conflicting views and interests ofher five principal powers.
From the evUs that would be connected with such an event,
our separate, remote location, in a great degree, happily
protects us.
Again, our nation is greatly favored in the fact, that those
unnatural arrangements of society, which exist, to a great
extent in the old world have no place among us. There a
large part of the soU has long been owned by kings and
nobles, while the great mass of those who tUl it, have been
but tenants and vassals. By their laws of entailment and
primogeniture and other methods, property is much confined
to a small, favored class ; while the many are treated
as if made for the few, and a large proportion of the popu
lation are doomed to a state of hopeless depression from

generation to generation. Through (he goodness of heaven,
no such arbitrary constitution of society exists among us.
Here the right to the soil is not inalienably restricted to any
one order of men. The rewards of industry are secured to
all. The rights of all are protected. The avenues to dis
tinction, wealth and power are open to all. Almost any
where, in this country, he that will be industrious and pru
dent may secure a competence and something more. But
how is it in Europe? " Thousands of industrious and vir
tuous families there," a late traveller remarks, "can aflTord,
in the severest weather of winter, to keep a fire, only an
hour or two in the morning, all the rest of the day they must
shield themselves from the cold, as they best can," "In
none of the slave states," says he, " have I seen negro
women drudging in such toilsome, out-of-door work, as falls
to the lot of the laboring women of Germany and France,''
"I have seen," he adds, " in one ofthe most fertile aud wealthy
provinces of gay, polite, sunny France, blooming girls, from
twelve to eighteen, employed all day, in lugging manure
into their vineyards, in baskets." Let us bo thankful, that
here no causes exist, to doom large masses of society to
such hopeless degradation.
The full measure of liberty which we, in this land enjoy,
is another of our national advantages, which deserves to be
named among the most dear and precious. When we speak
of liberty ; we mean not that spurious thing, which is another
name for licentiousness and anarchy. Genuine liberty is
not freedom from all restraint. It rests on the principle, that
the object of government is the good ofthe people; that they
are entitled to a voice in the laws that shall govern them,
and that all, so long as they obey the laws, have a full and
equal claim to the protection of person, property, and reputa
tion. With us these great principles are fully recognized.
They are embodied in the constitutions of our general and
state governments. They are secured by good and whole-
2

10
some laws. And let us never forget, that for this blessing
we stand indebted to the Bible, Never was liberty in its
perfection, fully and permanently enjoyed, where its voice
had not been heard. In Greece and Rome its principles
were never correctly understood. And nowhere, on earth,
has liberty now a home, where the pure light of the gospel
does not shine. From the Bible it was, that the fathers of
English liberty derived their knowledge of the rights of man,
David Hume, himself no admirer of theirs, has said, that the
precious spark of liberty was kindled by the Puritans alone,
and that to this sect the English owe the whole freedom of
their constitution. By men of this stamp, from England,
Scotland, and Holland, men whose hearts had been thor
oughly imbued with the true spirit of the Bible, the seeds
of liberty were first planted in this western soil. And had
it not been for the extensive diffusion of their spirit aud
principles, our own glorious revolution never would have
resulted in the establishment of free institutions here.
The fact too that in this favored land, religion is entirely
disconnected from state controul is another ground of thank-
fulnes and joy. Here the rights of conscience are secured
to all. The undeniable right of private judgment, as to re
ligious faith and duty no law can interfere with. Among
us civU government has no other concern with relio-ion,
than this ; to respect the rights of conscience, and extend an
equal protection to all in the exercise of those rights. This
is, evidently, in accordance with the design of the Great
Head ofthe Church. His language is, " My kingdom is not
of this world." While it is wise in governments to foster
the pure spirit of his gospel, as the best safeguard of a nation's
prosperity ; and while Christianity inculcates submission to
rightful authority; the Saviour never gave his church the
right to call in, to her aid, the arm of civil power to enforce
by pains and penalties, her discipline,— Nor has he author
ized the state to exercise spiritual controul over his blood-

11
bought church. Nor has he left her so weak and helpless,
as to need the support of the state, to maintain her being or
prosperity. It has indeed been contended, that Christianity cannot ex
ist, without religious establishments. But our own country
has already made the experiment, and the very reverse is
proved,— that the institutions of Christianity can be better
sustained by the voluntary contributions of its friends, than
by the state's assistance. And wherever there has been an
alliance between the church and the state, it has been in
jurious both to liberty and religion. Let us be thankful,
that in this home of the free the unhallowed banns are
forbidden, "The church is emancipated from worldly
dominion, and enjoys that liberty with which Christ has
made her free,"
It is greatly to our advantage also, that the pure principles
of the gospel are so extensively known and embraced
throughout our land. Much as error and irreligion abound ;
there are few, if any, countries, in which religious light is
more generally diffused, and its purifying influence moie
generally felt. The more that this is the case, the stronger
guarantee shall we have of the continuance of our nation's
prosperity. The best safeguard and defence of free institu
tions is a spirit of enlightened piety, diffused among a people.
A community, where a spirit of dark superstition reigns,
cannot well avoid succumbing to the power of despots. And
where vice and immorality triumph, the people cannot well
do without a despot to controul the outbreakings of violence
and crime. But where the pure light of the Bible sheds its
influence abroad, the iron rod of a despot is not needed, to
maintain social order ; aud there the people will watchfully
guard their liberties, and not consent to bow their necks to
a despot's yoke. Amidst all our apprehensions then, this is
matter for encouragement, that there are so many scattered
through our land, who love the truths ofthe Bible, and that

12
they enjoy such abundant facilities for diffusing the hallowed
influence of those truths.
F^ellow citizens, I have named some of the peculiar ad
vantages which Pur nation enjoys for promoting her true
prosperity and glory. And now what are the duties which
our privileged condition imposes 1 Obviously one of the
first is to ffuard against those evil influences which tend to
make these advantages of no effect. Among the most bane
ful of these evil influences is the rancorous spirit of party.
If there be a truth to be gathered from the page of history;
it is that faction is the grave of republics. It was not the
battle of Pharsalia, that sealed the death-warrant of Roman
liberty ; but the spirit of faction that preceded it ; the spirit,
and the conduct of the Whigs and the Democrats of that
day, who maintained on the one hand, that Cassar could not
err, and, on the other, that Pompey was always in the right.
I know that in a government like ours, honest difl"erences
of opinion on a variety of subjects must be expected, and in
a country so extensive, there will be conflicting local in
terests, and while human nature remains what it is, we can
not hope to avoid entirely the collisions of ambition and the
love of power. But, in themselves, these things are not
greatly to be feared. — It is, when from these causes, con
firmed and inveterate alienations are produced, marked by
malignity and violence, dividing the whole community into
hostile factions, each actuated by prejudice and bitter feelino-
against its opponents ; then it is that we have cause to trem
ble.— Under the influence of this pernicious spirit the people
appear to lose the capacity of seeing where their real inter
est lies.— They become regardless of the public welfare,
and yield themselves up, the willing tools of violent and
dishonest leaders. The pure spirit of patriotism becomes
extinct. Instead of seeking the general good, the minds of
those in power are wholly occupied with measures for pre
serving their own influence and authority ; aud those who

13
wish to get into power are led to adopt very sinister and
unworthy plans to secure their end. Americans, is it not
our wisdom to eschew this evil? Then let us understand our
interests, as a nation, our rights, and our duties, as citizens,
and in exercising the elective franchise, let that which gov
erns us be a conscientious regard to the public good.
Another evil influence against which we should guard is
popular ignorance. In a free government, like ours, a
thorough diffusion of knowledge among all classes, is a mat
ter of prime importance. Among us those who are unen
lightened and destitute, to a great degree, of mental culture,
cannot discharge aright their duties, as citizens, nor intel
ligently exercise that amount of power which each one holds
in his hands.
It was by an illiterate rabble, sunk in the most debasing
ignorance, that the worst excesses of the French Revolution
were committed. And it has been by such engines that
designing demagogues have always been most effectually
aided in accomplishing their unholy objects. We have then,
my countrymen, a vital interest at stake in the education of
the people, and the spread of useful learning through the
whole mass of our population. — To secure this object, let us
spare no pains to perfect our common schools ; and let us
not rest, till we have secured for our children, and for all
classes of the community that mental training, which will
fit them to discharge, with credit, the duties of their social
relations. Still another evil, against which it becomes us to guard, is
popular vice. It needs no argument to prove, that, where
virtue and sound morality do not prevail among a people,
they cannot prosper. They cannot hope long to remain in
a state of order and tranquillity. A dissolute, licentious
population must soon impoverish themselves and sink into
ruin under the weight of their own crimes. Where the
great mass are depraved, the virtuous are not safe. The

14
industrious and sober must be taxed to support the vices of
the rest. The blessings of good government are out of
question : For a corrupt people will not choose virtuous
rulers ; and even if they should, how could they, with
public sentiment enlisted on the side of vice, expect to enforce
the laws ? Of such a state of things feuds, civil war, and
anarchy would be the continued result, till some despot
should spring up, with strong arm, to quell the turbulence of
passion and crime. There is nothing then which he who
loves his country will regard with greater alarm, than the
spread of profligacy and vice through the land. If this evil
is allowed to gather strength, no advantages which a coun
try enjoys, can avail to save her from ruin. — Convinced
that this is so, let no efforts of ours be withheld to further
the cause of virtue and bring the wickedness of the wicked
to an end.
Again, if we would improve our national advantages ; we
must resist every manifestation of a spirit of insubordination
to law and rightful authority. Such a spirit tends to par
alyze the arm of government. It leads to absolute anarchy
and confusion. In a government, like ours, where the
people are the fountain of power, it is peculiarly infamous ;
and here too it is peculiarly pernicious. With us it is
public opinion that gives to law and government their
strength. But when public opinion lends its countenance
to lawless violence, government loses its power to protect,
and a door is open for confusion and every evil work.
Too much of this foul spirit, we have already seen in the
infuriated mobs, which, at difierent times and places, have
risen up in our land, to substitute brutal force, and club-law,
and lynching in the room of solid argument and rightful
authority. Let every Americ.m indignantly frown on all
appearances of this spirit, and give the whole weio-ht of his
influence and example, to uphold the constituted authorities
of his country, in the discharge of their appropriate functions.

15
Next, I would say, let us cherish a strong, deep-rooted
attachment to our National Union. On its inviolate pre
servation depend our nation's safety, peace and honor — her
prosperity at home, and her influence abroad. The resolu
tion uttered from the chair of state by one whose death our
nation mourned a year ago should never be forgotten. —
"The union must and it shall be preserved." — However we
may differ in opinion as to some of his plans and doings ;
the firmness with which he asserted and maintained this
sentiment will ever entitle his name to the grateful remem
brance of all his countrymen. Let us cherish the sentiment
as a legacy — and teach our children's children to maintain
it — so that the stars and the stripes of our national banner
may never cease to wave over the whole of this broad land
which we fondly call our home.
And if we desire to promote our nation's strength and
prosperity, let us, my countrymen, cultivate a spirit of peace.
It is only in a state of peace that a nation can successfully
develope her resources and grow in intelligence, wealth and
virtue. Tis only in a state of peace that agriculture and the
arts, commerce and manufactures can flourish.
Though war cannot always be avoided, it is always a
calamity, a fruitful source of suffering and of crimes. We
have reason then to thank that Almighty Being, in whose
hand are the hearts of men, that under his kind Providence,
our difficulties with Great Britain are settled, we may hope,
so as to establish our peaceful relations with that country on
a permanent basis. And though, unhappily, we are involved
in hostilities with Mexico ; they too, we trust, will speedily
be brought to a close — so as to leave our country at liberty to
pursue without embarrassment the work of developing her
resources, for the good of her own people and the world. —
That she may be permitted to enjoy this rich blessing, let
us, fellow citizens, labor to foster the pacific, benevolent spirit
of Christianity, and to promote with one heart and voice the
holy cause of peace.

16
Let us strive to cherish also, through the community, a
pure, enlightened patriotism. Let us teach our children to
love their country ; and that they may do so, let us make
them acquainted with the value and excellence of her institu
tions, — Let them study her history, and learn to emulate the
virtues of the noble men who achieved her independence.
And, what is most important of all, let it be our constant
aim, by example and by the whole weight of our influence,
to further the cause of true religion throughout our land, —
Its influence only can efliectually restrain the evil principles
of men and secure the prevalence of sound morals, industry
and social order. Nothing, but regard to a Holy God, can
ensure the cultivation of sentiments of justice and benev
olence to men. We cannot hope to succeed in preventing
vice, and profligacy and crime ; while we leave the human
heart, that fountain of corruption, uncleansed. And there
are no means of truly cleansing it, but a living faith in the
gospel of Christ. Christianity is the parent of order, virtue
and domestic peace, the best safeguard of liberty, the best
security of a nation's prosperity. Let us labor then to dif
fuse its healing influence throughout our land ; and in our
efi'orts persevere, till its sanctifying power is every where
felt — till from every log-house on our mountains, and every
cabin on our coasts, and every farm-house, and every
stately mansion in our cities, the daily sacrifice of humble
prayer and praise shall go up to heaven, forming one vast,
sheltering cloud of incense over our heads, which shall
return in showers of blessing on our land. Then shall her
peace flow, as a river, and her righteousness, as the waves
of the sea. She shall remain, from age to age, a bulwark
of liberty and religion: Her defence shall be the munition
of rocks. The home of knowledge, virtue and piety she
shall remain the cherished home of liberty and peace and
plenty. Fellow citizens, the fashion of this world passeth away.

One generation cometh and another goelli. But the princi
ples on which rests man's personal and social welfare re
main the same, from age to age. Where are the mass who
thirty years ago composed this congregation ? Gone, the
vast majortiy of them, pastor and people, to eternity. How
few of this large assembly were in existence, when the
event we celebrate to day occurred, A few venerable men
I see before me, advanced in years. But the oldest of them
was in his boyhood then — and in a few years all will have
passed away.
But Fathers, the principles you have loved, the religious
truths you have cherished, are indestructible. In answer to
your prayers, may your children's children to the latest gen
eration hold fast to these truths in faith and love. May the
influence of them pervade our whole land. And when the
Sun of Righteousness, from the midst of heaven shall pour
down his rays of light and love on a regenerated world ; it
will be seen, that the pure principles of religious truth
which have from the first, been inculcated here, were the
grand means which heaven provided to cure the ills of a
sin-sick world, and secure man's best interests, personal,
and social — for time and eternity.