“‘Our Independence dear, Bought with the price of blood, Let us receive with care, And trust our Maker, God. For he’s the tower To which we fly; His grace is nigh In every hour! “‘Nor shall Columbia’s sons Forget the price it cost, As long as water runs, Or leaves are nipped by frost. Freedom is thine; Let millions rise, Defend the prize Through rolling time! ... “‘There was a Washington, A man of noble fame, Who led Columbia’s sons To battle on the plain; With skill they fought; The British host, With all their boast, Soon came to nought! ... “‘Let traitors hide their heads, And party quarrels cease; Our foes are struck with dread, When we declare for peace. Firm let us be, And rally round The glorious sound Of liberty!’ “The reader will see that the piece was designed for home consumption. It was exactly suited to the occasion; and was marked throughout, in spirit, style, and thought, with the elements of his education. And this production, with others in prose and poetry, made him at once a notable in the community; secured to him a wide circle of friends, and opened the way for his promotion to office and honor. The old men were all ready to give him a lift, almost without distinction of ‘party.’ The young folks made his house a place of common resort, to which they gathered to spend their leisure hours; while himself and wife became the central unit which drew them together and kept all in motion.” “In his political sentiments, he was decidedly democratic. But he had intelligence enough to see that the practical patriotism of men did not depend so much on the party name they took as on their common sense and integrity. He knew that there were bad men enough in either party to ruin the country, if they had the power to do it; and good men enough in the same parties to promote the public prosperity to the best of their ability. His position, therefore, was taken in view of the tendency of different political principles and public measures, in their ultimate bearing on the established institutions of the country. He enjoyed, in a remarkable degree, the confidence of both the political parties of the day.”