to their latest posterity, the transactions of the present times; and though I confess my exclamations are not worthy the hearing, they will see that I have done my utmost to preserve their liberty: for I never will give up the power of direct taxation, but for a scourge. I am willing to give it conditionally; that is, after non-compliance with requisitions: I will do more, sir, and what I hope will convince the most skeptical man, that I am a lover of the American union; that in case Virginia shall not make punctual payment, the control of our custom-houses, and the whole regulation of trade, shall be given to congress; and that Virginia shall depend on congress even for passports, till Virginia shall have paid the last farthing, and furnished the last soldier. Nay, sir, there is another alternative to which I would consent; even that they should strike us out of the union, and take away from us all federal privileges, till we comply with federal requisitions; but let it depend upon our own pleasure to pay our money in the most easy manner for our people. Were all the states, more terrible than the mother country, to join against us, I hope Virginia could defend herself; but, sir, the dissolution of the union is most abhorrent to my mind. The first thing I have at heart is American liberty; the second thing is American union; and I hope the people of Virginia will endeavour to preserve that union. The increasing population of the Southern States is far greater than that of New England; consequently, in a short time, they will be far more numerous than the people of that country. Consider this, and you will find this state more particularly interested to support American liberty, and not bind our posterity by an improvident relinquishment of our rights. I would give the best security for a punctual compliance with requisitions; but I beseech gentlemen, at all hazards, not to grant this unlimited power of taxation. 56.-FIFTH EXTRACT FROM THE SAME. MR. CHAIRMAN, -This constitution is said to have beautiful features; but when I come to examine these features sir, they appear to me horribly frightful. Among other deformities, it has an awful squinting; it squints toward monarchy: and does not this raise indignation in the breast of every true American? Your president may easily become king. Your senate is so imperfectly constructed, that your dearest rights may be sacrificed by what may be a small minority; and a very small minority may continue for ever unchangeably this government, although horridly defective. Where are your checks in this government? Your strongholds will be in the hands of your enemies. It is on a supposition that your American governors shall be honest, that all the good qualities of this government are founded; but its defective and imperfect construction puts it in their power to perpetrate the worst of mischief, should they be bad men. And, sir, would not all the world, from the eastern to the western hemisphere, blame our distracted folly in resting our rights upon the contingency of our rulers being good or bad? Show me that age and country where the rights and liberties of the people were placed on the sole chance of their rulers being good men, without a consequent loss of liberty. I say that the loss of that dearest privilege has ever followed, with absolute certainty, every such mad attempt. If your American chief be a man of ambition and abilities, how easy will it be for him to render himself absolute ! The army is in his hands, and, if he be a man of address, it will be attached to him; and it will be the subject of long meditation with him to seize the first auspicious moment to accomplish his design. And, sir, will the American spirit solely relieve you when this happens? I would rather infinitely-and I am sure most of this convention are of the same opinion-have a king, lords and commons, than a government so replete with such insupportable evils. If we make a king, we may prescribe the rules by which he shall rule his people, and interpose such checks as shall prevent him from infringing them; but the president in the field, at the head of his army, can prescribe the terms on which he shall reign master, so far that it will puzzle any American ever to get his neck from under the galling yoke. I cannot, with patience, think of this idea. If ever he violates the laws, one of two things will happen: he will come at the head of his army to carry every thing before him; or, he will give bail, or do what Mr. Chief Justice will order him. If he be guilty, will not the recollection of his crimes teach him to make one bold push for the American throne? Will not the immense difference between being master of every thing, and being ignominiously tried and punished, powerfully excite him to make this bold push? But, sir, where is the existing force to punish him? Can he not, at the head of his army, beat down every opposition? Away with your president: we shall have a king: the army will salute him monarch: your militia will leave you, and assist in making him king, and fight against you: and what have you to oppose this force ? What will then become of you and your rights? Will not absolute despotism ensue? HENRY. 57.-ТНЕ BATTLE OF BUSACO. BEYOND Busaco's mountains dun, The banners flapp'd incessantly. "Arouse for death or victory !" The orb of day, in crimson dye, Hung on the bold declivity ! The serried bayonets glittering stood, Reel'd in the flickering canopy. Like waves of ocean rolling fast, The pause is o'er; the fatal shock Light boil'd the war-cloud to the sky, Prone on the battle's boundary. The thistle waved her bonnet blue, Busaco, in thy heraldry. Hail, gallant brothers! Wo befall Roused at their feats of chivalry. ANONYMOUS. 58.-BOADICEA, AN ODE. WHEN the British warrior queen, Sage beneath a spreading oak Princess! if our aged eyes Rome shall perish-write that word Perish hopeless and abhorr'd, Rome, for empire far renown'd, Other Romans shall arise, Heedless of a soldier's name, Regions Cæsar never knew Ruffians, pitiless as proud, Heaven awards the vengeance due, Shame and ruin wait for you. 59.-ΟΝ THE DOWNFALL OF POLAND. COWPER O! sacred truth! thy triumph ceased a while, And hope, thy sister, ceased with thee to smile, When leagued oppression pour'd to northern wars Her whisker'd pandoors and her fierce hussars, |