Excerpt from An Oration, Delivered by Richard Rush, on the 4th of July, 1812, in the Hall of the House of Representatives, at the Capitol, Washington: Delivered at the Request of the Committee of Arrangement for the Celebration of That Day, And, at Their Request Published

Sensibly as I feel, fellow citizens, the honor of having been selected to address you on such an occasion as this, I am not less sensi ble of the difficulties of the task. Not that there is any thing intrinsically arduous in a cele bration, in this form, of the most brilliant politi cal anniversary of the world; but as the subject has been repeatedly exhibited, under so many points of View, I am apprehensive of tiring, without being able to requite, the attention with which you may be good enough to honor my endeavors. The fruitful subject must still sustain me, and I proceed, with unfeigned diffidence, and the most profound respect for this distinguished and enlightened assembly, to perform the office assigned me.* During each return of this day for nearly thirty successive years, our country rested in all the security and all the blessings of peace. But the scene and the aspect are changed. The menacing front of War is before us, to awaken our solicitudes, to demand at the hands of each The President of the United States, Heads of Department.

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