Wail of a Federalist Organ (1801)

BY THE COLUMBIAN CENTINEL

Monumental Inscription.

"That life is long which answers Life’s great end."

YESTERDAY EXPIRED, Deeply regretted by MILLIONS of grateful Americans, And by all GOOD MEN, The FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION Of the GOVERNMENT of the United States:

Animated by A WASHINGTON, an ADAMS; — a HAMILTON KNOX, PICKERING, WOL- COTT, M’HENRY, MARSHALL, STODDERT and DEXTER. Æt. 12 years.

Its death was occasioned by the Secret Arts, and Open Violence, Of Foreign and Domestic Demagogues: Notwithstanding its whole Life Was devoted to the Performance of every Duty to promote The UNION, CREDIT, PEACE, PROSPERITY, HONOR, and FELICITY OF ITS COUNTRY.

At its birth it found The Union of the States dissolving like a Rope of snow; It hath left it Stronger than the Threefold cord.

It found the United States Bankrupts in Estate and Reputation; It hath left them Unbounded in Credit; and respected throughout the World. It found the Treasuries of the United States and Individual States empty; It hath left them full and overflowing. It found All the Evidences of Public Debts worthless as rags; It hath left them More valuable than Gold and Silver.

It found The United States at war with the Indian Nations; — It hath concluded Peace with them all. It found The Aboriginals of the soil inveterate enemies of the whites;

It hath exercised towards them justice and generosity, And hath left them fast friends. It found Great-Britain in possession of all the Frontier Posts; It hath demanded their surrender, and it leaves them in the possession of the United States. It found The American sea-coast utterly defenseless; It hath left it fortified. It found our Arsenals empty; and Magazines decaying; It hath left them full of ammunition and warlike Implements. It found our country dependent on Foreign Nations or engines of defense; It hath left Manufactories of Cannon and Musquets in full work. It found The American Nation at War with Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli; It hath Made Peace with them all. It found American Freemen in Turkish slavery, where they had languished in chains for years; It hath Ransomed them, and set them free.

It found the war-worn, invalid Soldier starving from want; Or, like BELISARIUS, begging his refuse meat from door to door; It hath left Ample provision for the regular payment of his pension.

It found The Commerce of our country confined almost to Coasting Craft;

It hath left it Whitening every sea with its canvass, and cheering every clime with its stars.

It found our Mechanics and Manufacturers idle in the streets for want of employ; It hath left them Full of business, prosperous, contented and happy. It found The Yeomanry of the country oppressed with unequal taxes; — their farms, hours and barns decaying; their cattle selling at the sign-posts; and they driven to desperation and Rebellion; It hath left Their coffers in cash; their houses in repair; their barns full; their farms overstocked; and their produce commanding ready money, and a high price. In short — It found them poor, indigent Malcontents; It hath left them Wealthy Friends to Order and good Government.

It found The United States deeply in debt to France and Holland; It hath paid ALL the demands of the former, and the principal part of the latter. It found the Country in a ruinous Alliance with France; It hath honorably dissolved the connexion, and set us free.

It found The United States without a swivel on float for their defense; It hath left A NAVY — composed of Thirty-four ships of war; mounting 918 guns; and manned by 7350 gallant tars.

It found The EXPORTS of our country, a mere song, in value; It hath left them worth Above SEVENTY MILLIONS of Dollars per annum. In one word, It found AMERICA disunited, poor, insolvent, weak, discontented, and wretched. It hath left HER United, wealthy, respectable, strong, happy and prosperous. Let the faithful Historian, in after times, say these things of its Successor, if it can. And yet — notwithstanding all these services and blessings there are found Many, very many, weak, degenerate Sons, who lost to virtue, to gratitude, and patriotism, Openly exult, that this Administration is no more. And that The "Sun of Federalism is set for ever." "Oh shame where is thy blush?"

As one Tribute of Gratitude in these Times, This MONUMENT Of the Talents and Services of the deceased; is raised by March 4th, 1801. The Centinel.

(Boston), March 4, 1801.