Western Sun, Volume 4, Vincennes, Knox County, 8 February 1812 — Page 1

THE

WESTERN SUN

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VOL. lV.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1812.

NO. 00.

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MASONIC ORATION.

Deliver d by Jesse Bledsoe, Esc;, of frank-

fort on Friday , the 27.' of December Ja:t, in honoi of tht late Grand Master, Josfph H. Daviess, Esq and others

KL'ho f . :n

.

the Indian t on th

eccnt engagement with i o

as:i.

JTRIKNDS KKD Fl Front the r Ai lieft i been a rev, ligktent d nati ins, : ipect to their virtu d r 1 The an . i. '- 1

period which term in i a la II i oleum iuq'n.0 tile IKCeai , i. and aw aril of h openly pronoun J. Roman cafi i i tl e r.x 1 and ; r ! i Pi cefiion at tli?i! " i h hod d me mi rl . 11 it i

The talk confided to my unequal powers on this fad occofion, is to endeavor to derive confolation from misfortune and to fix as far as we can, the leal of virtue to the palling moment. But 11 Can ftoried urn or animated bu fl, 11 Back to its manfion call the ticeting breath ? k Can honor's voices provoke the filent t daft, l Or tlattery iboth the dull cold ear of death V9 YVbtlft I this day call upon the names of Daviess, Oioen, and Randolph, my own overfiowing heart, faithful to the palt, has to ttilify the lots of forne of its molt valu ed and beloved friends. They cannot now htaf the voice of their friend, and be grateJul for bis feeble attempts to do juftice to their memory. They ll"ep cold and filent in the bed of honor, and when lhall it dawn in the grave ? Even the torch of envy itfelfis extinguished in the cold damp of the tomb. But let us invoke their (hades from the narrow dwelling to pafs in awful review before us, that as their lives have been ufefull fo their examples in death, may prove beneficial to thole for whom they have died. The road to virtue is often thorny and rugged, leading over dangerous precipices, and through narrow defiles ; but end s in

flowery fields beyond. Fortitude it requiri C . i J!

eti to purine it i nc trmy virtuous auu brave man t..keb COUnfel of his duty, not pi his eafe ; he does not live for himteif only ; and it is this which draws the hue of diftin&ion between good and bad in the human character. Thil leads us to quit beds

ot down to ie!Ao;e on toe told

Ian or our

t

t t, h

it

n 1 ( '':.. 1 UMIIIlgUIIH U tuns : evereu tha t xtftence, to h lc r the conduct ot tig through life i 1 1 1 ! imy w - re then like manner the ! , in lolemn pro j t the g rod thr v j

vith tin m The

- dec Inarei n c o

v i re c lis r r of thofe h . r toittl this pious 'crated bv

republics ot Greece, long famed for their ardent love ot liberty, toi voked on like or caiior: a (Tern b i of th ii i i i rts by pub

lie authority, n . the jt-rd With fu r , I oi -who had I" I! . n in try ; and mm ns a pttu tte lb ir m mo . office feetn i to h i e

virtue's btil i't-rli-, Wti 11 w e h Id Up f alted worth, ui I drprted ex II . 1 1 ob 'if cs of 1 . not to the li ing ' . but to tti. fe wti jar ill foVW i !: timrs. 'T'tis anpev: llo to be the I u j i cliolf pltafofi prolr red to the lu i -. in re memhranre , f thofe once hoooi i an I I loved. T!u v titnx thi frr a m - I thy the foft ill u IT ns of i i . ition. agin ta 'nf, md w ,!k amonrll us. ! he fnnet which tli-v h.'vc m k id t tl ?on ue jinetnory, recsHtntr, like the ni u fCsryl k the recollrclton of ioyf thst sreusit, pleaf. ant nd mournful to the fottl fbv K 1 1 of Ifraet, ! uttr rti j i . Mentation otef the fste of his friend rj lf ol, Riount Qilbo fxdiinx, w pre the mighty Gallon in the midfl ot the battle ; 1 am dtfb fof thee m b v.

jesiant :hm iwu ueen to ie.

I I .'.I'.l L ... J.

pn-eut eartn ; to exenange pientnai Doaras of thechoicelt viunds Foi meagre and (canty i'oe ; to Abandon foft untie for the hoarle vuice of the trumpet and the clangor o. stms : to forfke ti.e blandilhtnents ot fii rids and family to mirtgle in martial lliite. i. a wore, forever to quit the partial light of ' t-jven, and link into the grave which yawns at our feet To form the mind to heroic and daring deeds : to fach it at the call of duty to meafttte itfelt' featleftly by danp rs Hmdml ; to forcret each felfiil) tie vvhith hinds us to hie ; 4 Vo trar h ua how to live ; and ah too high, ' The price of knowledge ; teach bow to olie !" Thefe have been the nim of Ihe fifood and ireeat in a 1 1 ates j.fuch were the men whole t ill we have this day to Ian crit. But a few Inert weeks and their voice was heard among!) theii brtthren. Th y met them

u;id rofe by the p'unut's

Tn-ir bratt- ire irradiated by the

ts i t' mafonr) ; then hands were

ever open at i extended to the diwne Calla Oj charity to fuccor the dittreiKra. But more et . ec ,lly, brelhien h !s our ordel toll l the Tofs ot our eHeemed and re fperRed Grand Muftrt and brother, ... Darn - A firm, but gentle rule , inculcatinir order, obedience and bar m v. by htaf own exSrVi'ple ; who bo e al a - in mind, that to conec the vices, to enlarge the charities, and footh the v rft( uedneis ot l uni m creatines, and efrctalla his brethren from the great obje cts ot cv.r ancient and noble inOtttstion Sh 1 1 the llirpherd be nnitten, anrl the dock, to whole wanta and whofe wandering be was v. r attentive, not mourn hia tali ? Tnis d v on whifn we hive lulled tfl plant t i acre J fpi 5 ich will mirk hs grave to pay h.m the accuQ :uca bonora and

perform the laft melancholy ritualis the day on which he was want to gladden our hearts bj his prtfence, to atlilt in that to cial fcAitity, which marks its dedication to the holy Apoftle, one of the great matrons ot our order. May the dew of the moun tain ccictnd anu water this plant ; may no rude foolltep protane the fpoi ot its giowtli nor the allies it protects. A$ a man, Col. Daviess was not lefsdiftinguifbed. fie did not dcipife the humble tor he had been the maker ot his own tortunes. To the poor he was liberal ; to his trends, well I know, he was aidant and lincere. He had early acquired a thnlttor knowledge, and zealous in whatever he undertook, he had eager y explored the fource of information With an iindei handing (trong, vigorous, and d criminating, hisacquirements vveie excelled by tew. .Aolcin the practice of his profcihon as an idvocaie, manly and per'u dive eloquence flowed Irom his hps. He was ever peculiarly attentive, from a native benevolence ot heart, to thofc commencing at the bar ; al Ways courteous and liberal to his brother praClitionei s and decorous to the bench, yet Urm in inilfling upon his lights as counlel. Ilis attempts to fru (irate Bun's traiterous fchemcg, while couii? 1 tor the U. States in this dilhict, though he tailed fur want of orocl at -:.e time, nevertholtfs evince his penetration and integrity. Too candid to Conceal his opinions from motives of prudence, he had not therefore attained a Nation in public oil .drs equal to his merit. A friend to his Country at heart, he was not willing to pledge his unqualified fuppoft to party. He w is an affectionate ha fbnd and an indulgent mafter. Ardently attached to a military life, he fpent much time in Undying the art of war. He took the field, anxious to render-dus country h-r vice, and to acquire honorable fame. He knew that the grfeene I laurels grew in the field of death. In an undaunted charge h nobly gathered thefe and gave up his lilt in cxi hangs. Long my friend will thou be remembered and honored by thofe of thy com try nun who knew thec bed. Prejudice and enmity themfelves mull pafs away, but time mult not caft its oblivious Ihadc over virtues and tale uts like thine. Does n t the name of Owen recall the firm, m'.ij'y and dignified foldier and citizen I fie had often looked danger in the f.tce, and vet he was as diftii auilKed foi his unaiTuming manners m private life as tor

unfhaken coura

II the level

w.

i c i a 1 1

ic field. His

blood had before flowed for his country on the ill fated field ot Fort Recovery. It was always ready to be (bed in her iervice, but it w.s delhued too fen n to be drained to

the taf) drop in the noble and vigorous oil".

c haira ot Ins duty

on

w

alii

tell covered with wounds. Peace to thy albes brave man; and thou wert as good as brave; may thy county Lc t'crtunateas to Inive many Owens. That the mod hercic cou-3re may dwell beneath an engaging and gentle inferior is proved by the fall of lamented Randolph lie waa fin cere and honorable, beyond the ordinary rate of mortals. Persecuted by fortune, he (hewed himfelf morer worthy f In rfdv . rs. A prefentisncnt of l :j fite, which he pfevioufly declared eottld not de-tr-r him fronl the path his tenfe of duty and honor diift ited. Alas, my friencL thy pre fage wai but too fatally verified ; accept this Uft teltimory of one who knew thy worth. But thou art beyond thf reach ot rratitudc or friend (hip. Th A wnt

thy to live are too often the firlt to die in our unequal woi Ida Can we pafs in lilence, whilf v tlion the departed fpirits of our friends, thofe other brave fouls, who by Lying down their lives gave ti e laft fad proof ol their devotion to their tountry ? ha;l the n.me ot Spencer be fewgotten, who. towering abovc the fente of danger even while falling, exhorted his men to pit 1' to ( w ni up. the enemy I Shall iKc gallant Warricfr w hole lit- Ic Is body extended near the fatal ipot, Ihtwcd how well h,e obferved the -luminous, be unhonnorcd ? Shall he i.,ve White, .ud the firm and Ready Baen, with others in command, who fearlcfsry met death, remain uurtoticrd I Shall thofe other patriotic ljjrits, who, unadorned ty titles or office, grappled with 1 onor at the expenie of life, On the blood-ftained field, find no fympathetic tear tr mohVn the laft dwelling of virtue ? Oi (hall the cues of the deftitute widows and orphans of tliofie who have thus nobly fallen, for pr ttcon and fopport be unheard by thrir 'our iv ? And (hall the mimed foldiei br pernfi to retire in the bitternefs of poverty ? Forbid it Gmtrdi .n Am t! ,1 h : n . It a republic iade (lined to rndure it mult be by encouraging the In ly fpirit of patriotilm ; i o hve tor our country to C for its (ietcuce. When the immortal Spartan with his little band of tluee luindred, oppofed tn.-m-felves to the millions ot Xerf&, at t pafs ot l hermopylae, they ci ;d not xpeel co conquer ; but by devoting themfelves to e' th they faved the liberties of Qreece. What laid their monuments, ercCTed by ths gi-ti-tuoe ot heir country ? Go, ir,aitr,to Sp;it, we died licre in obedience to her lae r -d laws.'' But while we commemorate 'h f!l 0f oui beloved Grand Matter ai u his brve afiociates in death, can we forbear to :urn our ees towards their furvivn g comrades in rms ? Soldiers like thefe Hre the bell

uaranteesbl a ration's fr

u 1 1 y

'1 I

Torm a living rampart around ! f r - J temple of our liberties Leafl ol all flu uid we forget the able and diftinguiiber O ief Who led them on to tt&ory. 1 hat many are permitted to return to their fitei ds, anrf to the boforf) of their f mihes, is in great degre due to i am. That an impreffion of the fpirit of Americans anil of the force ol our arms, fo important to our (afety at this eventiul crifis, has been m..dc is no lets his due. '! his tribute, however honorable, is no: ecju.il to the m-Mt of one whom calumny baa a flailed. It is neither defigned nor is it foppofed to be fuitable, aric to invefti. f;ate ihoi unfounded rrpeowabwi witji which he Ins been potlued ; and w!nb are feen but too frequently o follow the fteps of merit. 'I he fun is lure to rife bright abovr the t!t, mmS of M.e valley. But if calumny and prrfectltton re to be the onlv rewards ot patriolifm, what motive do ve hold out to fly trun the allurements of pleaiure, to encounter every In.zard in our conntry's fc-rvice The j ure patriot mult n t always expect to llerp on u bed of ro(ea. The great mas of a peoplr will not continue always UOjul), UoWfa Cnrruptmn has riken I d Itrnctive hold. He niy tJL pt a reward which exceed, all price ths (ttlUea of ipp oHng Heaven, 1 teiKaiony of bis wn ronfeience and of gocd men who (hall come after hipi. O patimtif-n thou divine virtue, thru fh el tern from the Oorms of human vice, tti j no t;ine (ec the fickcrt Hid decay in tlu: land of ptOBiftf.