"Fellow-Citizens—Pardon me, and allow me to ask, why am I called upon to

speak here to-day? What have I, or those I represent, to do with your

national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of

natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to

us? and am I, therefore, called upon to bring our humble offering to the

national altar, and to confess the benefits, and express devout gratitude

for the blessings, resulting from your independence to us?