To Secure the Blessings of Liberty: Selected Writings of Gouverneur Morris

41 • Oration on Europe’s Deliverance from Despotism (1814)

623 An Oration, Delivered On Wednesday, June 29, 1814, At The Request Of A Number Of Citizens Of New-York, In Celebration Of The Recent Deliverance Of Europe From The Yoke Of Military Despotism. By the Honourable Gouverneur Morris, Esq. Published at the request of the Committee of Arrangements (Salem, [Mass.]: Sold by Cushing and Appleton, 1814). From the copy in the pamphlet collection, L. A. Beeghly Library, Juniata College. The pamphlet was also published in New York (New-York: Printed and Published by Van Winkle and Wiley, Corner of Wall and New-streets, 1814). In the American Antiquarian Society Early American Imprints, series II (ShawShoemaker ), the New York printing is no. 32171 and the Salem printing is no. 32172. 1. In the New York version, “defence”; in the Salem version, “defenee.” 41 • Oration on Europe’s Deliverance from Despotism (1814) In the essay for the Examiner published four days before this speech, Morris had described the British move to restore the Bourbon dynasty as “a political sin.” This is probably a reference to the fact that the British had acted without consulting, and indeed against the wishes of, the other allied powers. As this address makes clear, however, Morris regards the restoration as a good thing for France and for Europe in general. •• ’Tis done. The long agony is over. The Bourbons are restored. France reposes in the arms of her legitimate prince. We may now express our attachment to her, consistently with the respect we owe to ourselves.We recall to remembrance that interesting period, when, in the fellowship of arms, our souls were mingled at the convivial feast, and our blood on the field of glory. We look, exulting, at the plain of York. There French and American troops contended, in generous strife, who first should reach the goal of victory .There, the contest for independence was closed.There, was sealed our title to be numbered among the nations. Thank God, we can, at length, avow the sentiments of gratitude to that august family, under whose sway the fleets and armies of France and Spain were arrayed in defence1 of American liberty. We then hailed Louis the Sixteenth ProtEctor oF thE rightS oF Mankind. We loved him. 624 chaPtEr 41 We deplored his fate. We are unsullied by the embrace of his assassins. Our wishes, our prayers, have accompanied the loyal Spaniards in their struggle; and we blush that Americans were permitted to offer only wishes and prayers. How interesting, how instructive, the history of the last five-and-twenty years! In the spring of 1789 the states general of France were convened to ward off impending bankruptcy. The derangement of their finances was occasioned by the common artifice of cheating people into a belief that debts may be safely incurred without imposing taxes. Large loans had been made, but no funds provided. At the opening of that august assembly, the minister of finance declared it would have been easy to cover the deficit, without calling them together, but the king wished their aid to correct abuses. This hazardous experiment terminated, as was foreseen by intelligent observers, in the overthrow of ancient establishments. The States General usurped, under the name of National Assembly, unlimited power, and used it with an equal want of wisdom and justice. They destroyed the rights of property; issued paper money; framed an impracticable system of government , and released their king from a prison to place him on a throne, whose foundation they had undermined. Their successors overturned it in less than a year, and again threw the king into prison, whence, in less than six months, he was led to the scaffold. This virtuous monarch, our friend in the hour of danger, was the victim of his own goodness. Ardently desirous to ameliorate the condition of subjects, for whom he felt the fondness of a father, he thought no sacrifice of power too great if it could promote their felicity. He had been persuaded that his prerogative, useless to him, was oppressive to them. Dangerous error! He had been told, and believed, that in their loyalty he had a perfect defence against the intrigues of turbulent demagogues. Fatal delusion ! This just, this merciful prince, was led to execution amid the insulting shouts of a ferocious mob. He was guarded by militia, who felt horror at the office.The Royal Victim, collected in himself, was occupied, during the long procession, in beseeching the divine majesty to pardon his rebellious subjects. But the stroke...