Oration Delivered at the Democratic Republican Celebration of the Sixty-fourth Anniversary of the Independence of the United States, July Fourth, 1840, At the Methodist Episcopal Church, Greene-street, in the City of New-York

Original publisher's yellow paper wrappers. 5 1/2" x 9." Twenty-four pages, complete. Pages are intact overall but have faint foxing or staining throughout, wrinkling, and light age toning. Covers are clean ad intact overall but have some darkening and creasing. A Very Good copy. This is a speech that was originally given by Samuel Young on July 4, 1840 at the Methodist Episcopal Church on Greene Street, New York. Young gave this address on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of American independence. In his speech, Young speaks about many philosophical principles as they relate to democracy, despotism, human history, human nature, and early American history. However, Young also has a perspective in favor of the Democratic Republicans and against the Federalists, the latter of whom he refers to as "aristocratic." Young begins by noting how since the "remotest periods of antiquity," human civilizations have been characterized by "palaces of tyrants and the graves of the oppressed." He attributes this unfortunate trend in history to a number of factors including the thirst for power and other follies of human nature. Young contrasts despotism with the United States government and how the U.S. was founded upon principles of liberty, justice, and equality. He delves into specific phrases of the Declaration of Independence such as "all men are created equal" and "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." He says that protection to 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' embraces all the good that the most perfect government can bestow." Young says that if a government no longer protects these three inalienable rights, "it degenerates into an evil instead of being a blessing." Young also discusses the necessity and duties of government and that governments should only be elected by the people. He says that "the price of liberty is eternal vigilance." Young then speaks hopefully of the protections the U.S. government has against aspiring despots. He says that enough protections are in place so as to prevent despots from openly attacking American democracy but that they might try tactics of "disguise and deception." He elaborates, "And it is only by fraud, by perversion, and falsehood, and by appeals to the passions instead of the understanding, that the aspiring demagogue and voracious monopolist can hope to succeed." Young explains further that this is why it is ever important to have "sound principles and correct information." He continues, "Hence the responsibility which rests upon every citizen who feels within his bosom the impulse of patriotism . carefully to investigate and rightly to understand the legitimate duties and functions of human government . [and to] unmask the cheat, and to detect the impostor." Young also explains that aspiring despots rely upon ignorance and gullibility in the community and that society must have citizens who are educated and follow virtue. He says, "It was for the want of this basis that the ancient democracies . lost the popular control and crumbled into ruins. An ignorant and illiterate multitude, under the guidance of passion instead of reason, ever have been, and ever will be, easy prey to the machinations of the aspiring few. By artfully diffusing amongst such a populace the germs of jealousy, fear, hatred, cupidity and ambition, they are broken into hostile fragments, and exhaust their energies into mutual destruction." From about Page 14 onward, Young argues his viewpoints in favor of Democrats and against the Whigs (he likens the Democrats to Democratic Republicans and the Whigs to Federalists, the latter of whom he reviles). For example, Young has sharp criticism for the national bank and use of paper currency. Throughout Pages 14-24, Young insinuates that Democrats are supporters of liberty and other democratic virtues and that Whigs and Federalists are tied to elitist corruption.…