American Liberty, A POEM, &c.

American Liberty , A POEM , &c. ONCE more Bellona , forc'd upon the stage , Inspires new fury , and awakes her rage , From North to South her thun'dring trumpet spreads Tumults , and war and death , and daring deeds , What breast but kindles at the martial sound ? What heart but bleeds to feel it's country's wound ? For thee , blest freedom , to protect thy sway , We rush undaunted to the bloody fray , For thee , each province arms its vig'rous host , Content to die , e'er freedom shall be lost . Kind watchful power , on whose supreme command The fate of monarchs , empires , worlds depend , Grant , in a cause thy wisdom must approve , Undaunted valour kindled from above , Let not our souls descend to dastard fear , Be valour , prudence both united here , Now as of old thy mighty arm display , Relieve the opprest , and saving power convey , 'Tis done , and see th'omnipotent befriends , The sword of Gideon , and of God descends . Ah , see with grief fair Massuchusetts plains , The seat of war , and death's terrific scenes , Where darling peace with smiling aspect stood , Lo ! the grim Soldier stalks in quest of blood : What madness heaven , has made Britannia frown ? Who plans our schemes to pull Columbia Columbia , America sometimes so called , from Columbus the first discover . down , See Boston groan beneath the strong blockade , Her freedom vanish'd , and destroy'd her trade , Injur'd , opprest , no tyrant could exceed , The cruel vengeance of so base a deed . New Albion's sons New Albion , properly New England , but is often applied to all British America . whom honest freedom moves ( My heart admires them , and my verse approves ) Tir'd of oppression in a Stuart's reign , A Popish faction , ministerial train ; Bravely resolv'd to leave their native shore And some new world they knew not where explore , Far in the West , beyond where Poets said , The Sun retir'd , and Cynthia went to bed , Few then had seen the scarce discover'd Bourne , From whence like death yet fewer did return : Dire truths from thence the wand'ring sailor brought Enlarg'd by terror , and the poer of thought , With all the forms that pict'ring fancy gives , With all the dread that in idea lives , Fierce Cannibals that sought the blood of man , Vast cruel tribes that through the desart ran , Giants whose height transcends the tow'ring oak , Brutes with whose screams the trembling forest shook All these and more they held no cause of fear , Since nought but slavery , dreadful could appear . Ah see the day , distressful to the view , Wives , husbands , fathers , bid a long adieu , Dear native land , how heav'd the heavy sigh , When thy last mountains vanish'd on the eye , Then their frail barks , just enter'd on the sea , Pursu'd the long uncomfortable way : But pitying heav'n the just design surveys , Sends prosp'rous gales , and wafts them o'er the seas . Behold the shore ; no rising cities there , To hail them welcome from the sea appear , In the wild woods the exil'd host were spread , The heavens their covering , and the earth their bed : What expectations but a life of woe ? Unnumber'd Myriads of the savage foe , Whose brutal fury rais'd , at once might sweep The adventurers all to death's destructive sleep ; Yet ' midst this scene of horror and despair , Stout industry began his office here , Made forests bend beneath his sturdy stroke , Made oxen groan beneath the sweaty yoke , Till half the desart smil'd and look'd as gay As northern gardens in the bloom of May . But ah , review the sorrows interwove , How the fierce native with the stranger strove ; — So heaven's bright lamp the all-reviving sun , Just as his flaming journey is begun , Mists , fogs and vapours , sprung from damps of night , Mount up and strive to dim the approach of light ; But he in triumph darts his piercing ray , Scatters their forces and pursues his way . Oft when the husband did his labour leave To meet his little family at eve , Stretchd in their blood he saw each well known face , His dear companion and his youthful race ; Perhaps the scalp with barbarous fury torn , The visage mangled , and the babe unborn Ripp'd from its dark abode , to view the sun , Ere nature finish'd half she had begun . And should we now when spread thro' ev'ry shore , Submit to that our fathers shunn'd before ? Should we , just heaven , our blood and labour spent , Be slaves and minions to a parliament ? Perish the thought , nor may one wretch remain , Who dares not fight and in our cause be slain ; The cause of freedom daunts the hireling foe , And gives each Sampson's strength toward the blow , And each , like him , whom fear nor force confines , Destroys a thousand modern Philistines . Who fights to take our liberty away , Dead-hearted fights and falls an easy prey ; The cause , the cause , most cruel to enslave , Disheartens thousands , and unmans the brave : Who could have thought that Bri-ons bore a heart , Or British troops to act so base a part ? Britons of old renown'd , can they descend , T' enslave their brethren in a foreign land ? What oath , what oath , inform us if you can , Binds them to act below the worth of man ? Can they whom half the world admires , can they Be advocates for vile despotic sway ? Shall they to every shore and clime renown'd Enforce those acts that tyranny did found ? ' Yet sure if this be their resolv'd design , ' Conquer they shall where'er the sun doth shine . ' No expedition prov'd unhappy yet , ' Can we Havanna's bloody siege forget , ' Where British cannon the strong fortress tore , ' And wing'd whole legions to its infernal shore ' Or does the voice of fame so soon forego ' Gibraltar's action , and the vanquish'd foe , ' Where art and nature both at once combin'd ' To baffle all our hardy troops design'd ? — ' Yet there Britannia's arms successful sped , ' While haughty Spaniards trembled , felt and fled So say the pension'd tools of slavery , So say our traitors , but so say not I — ( Tories or traitors , call them which you choose , Tories are rogues , and traitors imps broke lose ) But know ye few , the scandal of our land , On whom returns the blood that we expend . Those troops whose feats are told on every shore , Here lose their spirit and are brave no more ; When armies fight to gain some cruel cause , Establish tyrants or destructive laws . True courage scorns to inspire the hateful crew , Recall past fame , or spur them on to new ; Dark boding thoughts the heavy soul possess , And ancient valour turns to cowardice . Dark was the prospect , gloomy was the scene , When traitors join'd to break our union chain : But soon by heaven inspir'd arose the cry , Freedom or death , unite , unite or die . Now far and wide a manly spirit reigns , From Canada to Georgia's sun burnt plains ; Few now insult with falshoods , shameless pen , Monsters from Tophet driv'n in shapes of men : Few pension'd scribblers left the daring head , Some have turn'd lunatics and some have fled — Some late converted , scarce their pensions hold , And from mere force disdain the charms of gold . What deep offence has fir'd a monarch's rage , What moonstruck madness seiz'd the brain of Gage ? Laughs not the soul , when an imprison'd few , Affect to pardon those they can't subdue ? Tho' twice repuls'd and hemm'd up to their stations , Yet issue pardons , oaths and proclamations , As if at sea some desperate madman crew Should threat the tempest with what they could do , And like proud Xerxes lash the angry waves , At the same instant that they find their graves . But not the pomps and favours of a crown , A nations anger , or a statesman frown , Could draw the virtuous man from virtue's way , To chain by force what treach'ry can't betray , Virtue disdains to own tyrannic laws , Takes part with freedom , and assumes its cause , No part had she , her fiercest forces own , To bring so far this heavy vengeance on ; She stood with Romans while their hearts were true , And so she shall , Americans with you . Should heaven in wrath decree some nations fall , Whose crimes from thence for sacred vengeance call , A monarch first of vulgar soul should rise , A sure fore-runner of its obsequies , Whose heart should glow with not one gen'rous thought Born to oppress , to propagate , and rot , Whose lengthen'd reign no deed of worth should grace None trusted but a servile pensioned race ; Too dull to know what saving course to take , That heaven in time its purpose might forsake , Too obstinately will'd to bow his ear To groaning thousands or petitions hear , Dare break all oaths that bind the just like fate , Oaths , that th'Arch-Devil would blush to violate , And foe to truth both oaths and honour sell , To establish principles , the growth of hell , Stile those who aim to be his truest friends , Traitors , insidious rebels , madmen , fiends , Hoodwink'd and blind , deceived by secret foes , Whose fathers once with exil'd tyrants rose , Bless'd with as little sense as God e'er gave , Slave to wrong schemes , dupe to a noble knave . So odd a monarch heaven in wrath would plan , And such would be the fury of a man . See far and wide o'er long Canadia's plains , Old popish fraud and superstition reigns ; The scarlet whore long hath heaven withstood , Who cries for murder and who thirsts for blood , Establish'd there , marks down each destined name , And plants the stake impatient for the flame , With sanguinary soul her trade begins , To doom her foes to hell or pardon sins ; Her crafty priests their impious rites maintain , And crucify their Saviour once again ; Defend his rights , who scatt'ring lies abroad , With shameless front usurps the seat of God : Those are , we fear , who his vile cause assert , But half reform'd and papists at the heart . Bear me some power as far as winds can blow , As ships can travel , or as waves can flow , To some lone isle beyond the southern pole , Or lands round which pacific waters roll , There should oblivion stop the heaving sigh , There should I live at least with liberty , But honour checks my speed and bids me stay , To try the fortune of the well fought day , Resentment for my country's fate I bear , And mix with thousands for the willing war ; See Washington New Albion's freedom owns , And moves to war with half Virginia's sons , Bold in the fight , whose actions might have aw'd , A Roman Hero , or a Grecian God , He , he , as first , his gallant troops shall lead Undaunted man a second Diomede , As when he fought at wild Ohio's flood , When savage thousands issu'd from the wood . When Braddock's fall disgrac'd the mighty day , And Death himself stood weeping o'er his prey , When doubting vict'ry chang'd from side to side , And Indian soil with Indian blood was dy'd , When the last charge repuls'd th'invenom'd foe , And lightnings lit them to the shades below . See where from various distant climes unites , A generous council to protect our rights , Fix'd on a base too stedfast to be mov'd , Loving their country , by their country lov'd , Great guardians of our freedom , we pursue Each patriot measure as inspir'd by you ; Columbia , nor shall fame deny it owes Past safety to the counsel you propose , And if they do not keep Columbia free , What will alas ! become of Liberty ? Great souls grow bolder in their country's cause , Detest enslavers , and despise their laws , O Congress fam'd , accept this humbly lay , The little tribute that the muse can pay , On you depends Columbia's future fate A free asylum or a wretched state , Fall'n on disastrous times we push our plea , Heard or not heard , and struggle to be free , Born to contend , our lives we place at stake , And grow immortal by the stand we make , O you , who far from liberty detain'd , Wear out existence in some slavish land , Fly thence from tyrants , and their flatt'ring throng , And bring the fiery freeborn soul along , Neptune for you shall smooth the hoary deep , And awe the wild tumultuous waves to sleep ; Here vernal woods , and flow'ry meadows blow , Luxuriant harvests in rich plenty grow , Commerce extends as far as waves can roll And freedom , God-like freedom crowns the whole . And you brave men who scorn the dread of death , Resolv'd to conquer to the latest breath , Soldiers in act , and heroes in renown Warm in the cause of Boston's hapless town , Still guard each pass , like ancient Romans , you At once are soldiers , and are farmers too ; Still arm impatient for the vengeful blow , And rush intrepid on the yielding foe ; As when of late midst clouds of fire and smoke , Whole squadrons fell , or to the center shook , When even the bravest to your arms gave way , And death exulting , ey'd the unhappy fray , Behold , your WARREN bleeds , who both inspir'd , To noble deeds , and by his actions fir'd What pity heaven ! — but you who yet remain Affect his spirit as you lov'd the man : Once more , and yet once more for freedom strive , To be a slave what wretch would dare to live ? We too to the last drop our blood will drain , And not till then shall hated slavery reign , When every effort , every hope is o'er , And lost Columbia swells our breasts no more . O if that day , which heaven avert must come , And fathers , husbands , children meet their doom Let one brave onset yet that doom preceed , To shew the world America can bleed , One thund'ring raise the midnight cry , And one last flame send Boston to the sky . But cease , foreboding Muse , nor strive to see Dark times deriv'd by fatal destiny ; If ever Heaven befriended the distrest , If ever valour succour'd those opprest , America rojoice , thy standard rear , Let the loud trumpet animate to war : Thy guardian Genius haste thee on thy way , To strike whole hosts with terror and dismay . Happy some land , which all for freedom gave , Happier the men whom their own virtues save ; Thrice happy we who long attacks have stood , And swam to Liberty thro' seas of blood ; The time shall come when strangers rule no more , Nor cruel mandates vex from Britain's shore ; When Commerce shall extend her short'ned wing , And her free freights from every climate bring . When mighty towns shall flourish free and great , Vast their dominion , opulent their state ; When one vast cultivated region teems , From ocean's edge to Mississippi streams ; While each enjoys his vineyard's peaceful shade , And even the meanest has no cause to dread ; Such is the life our foes with envy see , Such is the godlike glory to be free . FINIS .