登陆注册
15731300000052

第52章

HAD America pursued her advantages with half the spirit that she resisted her misfortunes, she would, before now, have been a conquering and a peaceful people; but lulled in the lap of soft tranquillity, she rested on her hopes, and adversity only has convulsed her into action.Whether subtlety or sincerity at the close of the last year induced the enemy to an appearance for peace, is a point not material to know; it is sufficient that we see the effects it has had on our politics, and that we sternly rise to resent the delusion.

The war, on the part of America, has been a war of natural feelings.

Brave in distress; serene in conquest; drowsy while at rest; and in every situation generously disposed to peace; a dangerous calm, and a most heightened zeal have, as circumstances varied, succeeded each other.Every passion but that of despair has been called to a tour of duty; and so mistaken has been the enemy, of our abilities and disposition, that when she supposed us conquered, we rose the conquerors.The extensiveness of the United States, and the variety of their resources; the universality of their cause, the quick operation of their feelings, and the similarity of their sentiments, have, in every trying situation, produced a something, which, favored by providence, and pursued with ardor, has accomplished in an instant the business of a campaign.We have never deliberately sought victory, but snatched it; and bravely undone in an hour the blotted operations of a season.

The reported fate of Charleston, like the misfortunes of 1776, has at last called forth a spirit, and kindled up a flame, which perhaps no other event could have produced.If the enemy has circulated a falsehood, they have unwisely aggravated us into life, and if they have told us the truth, they have unintentionally done us a service.

We were returning with folded arms from the fatigues of war, and thinking and sitting leisurely down to enjoy repose.The dependence that has been put upon Charleston threw a drowsiness over America.

We looked on the business done- the conflict over- the matter settled-or that all which remained unfinished would follow of itself.In this state of dangerous relaxation, exposed to the poisonous infusions of the enemy, and having no common danger to attract our attention, we were extinguishing, by stages, the ardor we began with, and surrendering by piece-meal the virtue that defended us.

Afflicting as the loss of Charleston may be, yet if it universally rouse us from the slumber of twelve months past, and renew in us the spirit of former days, it will produce an advantage more important than its loss.America ever is what she thinks herself to be.Governed by sentiment, and acting her own mind, she becomes, as she pleases, the victor or the victim.

It is not the conquest of towns, nor the accidental capture of garrisons, that can reduce a country so extensive as this.The sufferings of one part can never be relieved by the exertions of another, and there is no situation the enemy can be placed in that does not afford to us the same advantages which he seeks himself.By dividing his force, he leaves every post attackable.It is a mode of war that carries with it a confession of weakness, and goes on the principle of distress rather than conquest.

The decline of the enemy is visible, not only in their operations, but in their plans; Charleston originally made but a secondary object in the system of attack, and it is now become their principal one, because they have not been able to succeed elsewhere.It would have carried a cowardly appearance in Europe had they formed their grand expedition, in 1776, against a part of the continent where there was no army, or not a sufficient one to oppose them; but failing year after year in their impressions here, and to the eastward and northward, they deserted their capital design, and prudently contenting themselves with what they can get, give a flourish of honor to conceal disgrace.

But this piece-meal work is not conquering the continent.It is a discredit in them to attempt it, and in us to suffer it.It is now full time to put an end to a war of aggravations, which, on one side, has no possible object, and on the other has every inducement which honor, interest, safety and happiness can inspire.If we suffer them much longer to remain among us, we shall become as bad as themselves.An association of vice will reduce us more than the sword.A nation hardened in the practice of iniquity knows better how to profit by it, than a young country newly corrupted.We are not a match for them in the line of advantageous guilt, nor they for us on the principles which we bravely set out with.Our first days were our days of honor.They have marked the character of America wherever the story of her wars are told; and convinced of this, we have nothing to do but wisely and unitedly to tread the well known track.The progress of a war is often as ruinous to individuals, as the issue of it is to a nation; and it is not only necessary that our forces be such that we be conquerors in the end, but that by timely exertions we be secure in the interim.The present campaign will afford an opportunity which has never presented itself before, and the preparations for it are equally necessary, whether Charleston stand or fall.Suppose the first, it is in that case only a failure of the enemy, not a defeat.All the conquest that a besieged town can hope for, is, not to be conquered; and compelling an enemy to raise the siege, is to the besieged a victory.But there must be a probability amounting almost to a certainty, that would justify a garrison marching out to attack a retreat.Therefore should Charleston not be taken, and the enemy abandon the siege, every other part of the continent should prepare to meet them; and, on the contrary, should it be taken, the same preparations are necessary to balance the loss, and put ourselves in a position to co-operate with our allies, immediately on their arrival.

同类推荐
  • 拟太平策序

    拟太平策序

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 遯斋闲览

    遯斋闲览

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 毗尼心一卷

    毗尼心一卷

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛为黄竹园老婆罗门说学经

    佛为黄竹园老婆罗门说学经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 议中兴教观

    议中兴教观

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • exo之校园青春的爱恋

    exo之校园青春的爱恋

    这是一本属于校园青春的书,里面有甜文,虐文,宝宝们在看书的时候,看到不好的地方可以在书评或加我QQ给我一些建议,也可以告诉我宝宝们想在书里面加那哪些故事,希望大家能支持我,帮我宣传一下,谢谢咯,其他的就自己慢慢看吧。
  • 乱世情仇之谋天下

    乱世情仇之谋天下

    龙千柔,因财产继承权被后母算计,醒来已变天,穿越为翼弑大陆东安国侯府被继母赶出府的庶女,她自强不息,各种艰辛,暗主沉浮,斗侯府,灭权臣,助天子终稳坐朝堂,天子对龙千柔情根深种,两人相爱相惜,生性好强的女子本欲朝堂安稳便为了爱人入宫为妃,还未婚嫁,翼弑大陆却狼烟四起,因缘际会,少年天子相识西磲国太子翼,与其成为至交,两国交战时,误将要塞布防图泄漏,最终一败,要塞失守,东安节节败退,最终亡国,龙千柔与弟皆与东安皇族沦为阶下囚被带往西磲,殊不知,翼早在东安卧底时便对龙千柔暗生情愫,她与东安前帝难续前缘,她本无家国,却背负红颜祸水之骂名,爱恨纠葛,乱世弱女,两国深宫高宅,明争暗斗,难择去从……
  • 最后幻想

    最后幻想

    他有一个梦,穿越古今未来的梦想,哪怕是不计代价,只为找到心中的她。命运的风刮往何处,孤寂的心又将飘向何处,尽在最后幻想。
  • 赤焰红尘

    赤焰红尘

    这是一个由两个神话时代中间过渡的无神话时代,一个现代人穿越到过去,历尽艰险,靠信仰之力而成神的故事,让主人公由现代教育中的绝对无神论逐渐体会到了信仰对于人的重要。有希望,有信仰,心才不会死!
  • 徽州女人

    徽州女人

    原来情同手足的姑嫂两个,在商战中积怨颇深,历经磨难,终于明白,家和万事兴。
  • 散尊

    散尊

    巨门开启,仙神灵魔妖,顷刻成灰......千年之前离开,千年之后却追问为何离开《散尊》交流群216585397,有兴趣的朋友可以进来讨论一番,胖子我每天都在。
  • 青春暗恋:十里春风不如你

    青春暗恋:十里春风不如你

    池小小是整个学校的校花,她很单纯,她从小就不懂爱,直到遇见了他....他,也是全校第一校草,家世显赫,全校女生都喜欢,但是他却把除了池小小之外的女生毫不放在眼里,其实,他们很小就认识,只是池小小自己不知道而已...两个人的爱情,即将开始,大家快来围观高冷校草追妻吧,哈哈哈哈
  • 相思谋:妃常难娶

    相思谋:妃常难娶

    某日某王府张灯结彩,婚礼进行时,突然不知从哪冒出来一个小孩,对着新郎道:“爹爹,今天您的大婚之喜,娘亲让我来还一样东西。”说完提着手中的玉佩在新郎面前晃悠。此话一出,一府宾客哗然,然当大家看清这小孩与新郎如一个模子刻出来的面容时,顿时石化。此时某屋顶,一个绝色女子不耐烦的声音响起:“儿子,事情办完了我们走,别在那磨矶,耽误时间。”新郎一看屋顶上的女子,当下怒火攻心,扔下新娘就往女子所在的方向扑去,吼道:“女人,你给本王站住。”一场爱与被爱的追逐正式开始、、、、、、、
  • 似樱若殤

    似樱若殤

    十年前的他,爱上了不该爱的人,拥有了不该拥有的爱情……十年前的他,本以为与她们能相守一生,却在一夜之间被夺走了一切……十年中的他,哭过多少,恨过多少……十年后的他,回到故地,再看那时所过往的一切,他……十年后的他,与她们再度相遇,是复仇,还是……拥有了新的爱情,却依旧无法走出过去的阴影,是与她相守一生,还是与她们纠缠难分,最终的选择是悲伤还是欢喜,一切皆看他如何去走。
  • 墨者令

    墨者令

    墨者令一出,谁与争锋?号令群雄,舍我其谁?