Anniversary of American Independence, July 4, 1800

A discourse by Chauney Lee, Pastor of a church in Colebrook, titled "The Tree of Knowledge of Political Good and Evil"

"Let it ever be remembered, citizens, as a principle of the first magnitude and importance; let it be engraven on your hearts, as with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond, that ALL OUR DANGER ORIGINATES FROM OURSELVES. Not all the foreign powers on earth combined against us, can effect our ruin, without our own aid. If America falls, and add another example to the long melancholy list of departed Republics, she will owe her destruction to her own hands.

The present day, therefore, is a day for action and alarm, and not for security and sloth. It is a day which tries men's souls. It is a cause in which there are not, there cannot be any neuters. "He that is not with us, is against us, and he that gatherth not with us, scattereth abroad."

Mark the temporizing, lukewarm patriot for a decided foe. His professions of patriotism, are as hollow and as blasting as the east wind. To temporize with the enemies of the government by any conciliatory midway concessions is dastardly - it is to kick about in sport your fathers ashes. To discover a lukewarm stoical apathy when the happiness of our country, and everything dear and valuable on this side Heaven is at stake, is worse than treason.

If we would shew ourselves worthy of our ancestors - if we would escape the execrations and curses of posterity, we must attend to the means of our political salvation, and be up and doing without delay.

We must cleave to God of our fathers, and not sacrifice to those new gods, that have come newly up, whom our fathers feared not.

We must venerate the institutions and usages of our ancestors, both religious and civil.

We must faithfully instruct our children in the principles of true religion, and true liberty.

We must observe God's sabbaths, and reverance His sanctuary.

We must preserve the fountains of public honors and offices, pure and unsullied, and with conscientious patriotism excercise the high privilege of freeman, in the choice of our civil rulers.

We must rally around the standard of our government, pledging in its support, after the example of our revoluntary fathers, "our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."