,transcrib]'s ,note3 ,m9or typographical
 errors h be5 correct$  )\t note4       
,irregul>ities & inconsi/5cies 9 ! text 
h  be5 reta9$ z pr9t$4 ,words pr9t$ 9   
italics are not$ )  und]scores3 italics4
          ,,election ,,s]mon4           
,a ,,s]mon ,,deliv]$ ,,be=e    ,,8      
,,excell5cy ,,levi ,,l9coln ,,gov]nor1  
,,8 ,,honor ,,?omas ,l4 ,,w9?rop        
,,lieut5ant ,,gov]nor1    ,,! ,,hon4    
,,c\ncil1 ,,! ,,s5ate1 ,,& ,,h\se ,,(   
,,repres5tatives    ,,( ,,!             
,,commonweal? ,,( ,,massa*usetts1 ,,on  
,,! ,,day ,,(    ,,g5]al ,,election1    
,,may #bh1 #ahbh4      ,,by ,,james     
,,walk]4    ,bo/on3  ,,dutton ,,&       
,,w5twor?1 ,,pr9t]s ,,to ,,! ,,/ate4    
#ahbh4              ,commonweal? (      
,massa*usetts        ,,9 ,,h\se ,,(     
,,repres5tatives1 ,may #bh1 #ahbh4      
,ord]$1 ,t ,messrs4 ,,?ay] ( ,bra9tree1 
,,goodw9 ( ,*>le/[n1      & ,,full] (   
,bo/on1 be a ,committee to wait on !    
,,rev4 ,,james      ,,walk]1 & pres5t to
 him ! ?anks ( ?is ,h\se1 = !           

,disc\rse deliv]$ by him ?is day1 be=e !
 ,executive & !      ,legislature1 & to 
reque/ a copy ( ! same = ! press4       
,,atte/1            ,p4 ,w4 ,,w>r51     
,cl]k          ,,s]mon4    ,,exodus1    
,,xviii1 #ba4    ,?\ %alt provide out ( 
all ! p able m51 su* z  fe> ,god1 m5 (  
tru?1 hat+ covet\sness2 & place su*  ov]
 !m to be rul]s4      ,! public bus9ess1
 ! excitem5ts ( ! day1 & all !          
circum/ances 9 :i* we are assembl$1 make
 x imp]ative on me to be  brief1 & almo/
 entirely occasional4 ,y h n come "h    
prep>$  to sit d[n & li/5 to a le>n$    
discussion1 fe>fully long1 &  fe>fully  
dull2 & ,i d n mean y %all be tr\bl$ )  
"o4 ,i  only ask y\r att5tion1 :ile ,i  
?r[ out a few h9ts on !  responsibility 
! p ( ?is c\ntry are "u1 to take c>e t  
! m5 :om !y raise to au?ority1 are hone/
 & capable4    ,9 ^? c\ntries :]e !     
accid5t ( bir? det]m9es :o %all  rule   
ov] !m1 ! p are n responsible = ! "* &  
capacities ( ! m5 9 p[]4 ,x is true1 a  
corrupt adm9i/ration is  a national     

calamity 9 all gov]nm5ts2 b 9 ours x is 
at ! same  "t a national calamity1 & a  
national s94 ,f ! fre$om &  frequ5cy (  
our elections1 our public m5 exi/ b 9 ! 
brea? (  ! p2 & if p[] is put into      
unwor?y h&s1 or suff]$ to  rema9 !re an 
h\r aft] x is abus$1 ! p are            
responsible4 ,x  is a fair inf]5ce t !  
:ole p h deg5]at$4 ,x w\ld  n be fair to
 judge ! morals ( ! p ( ,engl&1 or (    
,france1  by ! morals ( ! c\rt2 b x is  
p]fectly fair to judge !  morals ( ! p (
 ?is c\ntry by ! morals ( ! m51 :om  !y 
elevate by _! volunt>y suffrages to     
repres5t ! maje/y (  ! nation4 ,x is (  
unspeakable importance1 t we %\ld feel t
  we are implicat$1 9 a mann] 9 :i* no  
o!r p are 9 !  "* ( our rul]s & ! duties
 result+ f ?is peculi>ity  ( our        
con/itution are weighty & solemn4       
,consid] too1 ! effect1 :i* ! political 
obs]vation ( a bad man  w h on public   
op9ion1 & ?r\gh public op9ion on !      
public  morals4 ,we prea* ab\t          
consci5ce1 ! dignity ( human nature1 !  

p[] ( religion & div9e influ5ces2 & all 
?is is well4  ,exp]i5ce tea*es u1 h[ev]1
 t all ?is is no?+1 or next to  no?+1   
unless c\nt5anc$ & su/a9$ by public     
op9ion2 :i*  fixes ! practical /&>d 9 e 
place1 & few rise mu* above  x1 or s9k  
mu* bel[ x4 ,! hi/ory ( legislation on  
su* subjects  z duel+1 lott]ies1 & !    
,"l's day1 %[s u also1 t laws1  human   
laws1 are an absolute nullity1 are no   
bett] ?an s mu* blott$  p>*m5t1 unless  
c\nt5anc$ & su/a9$ by public op9ion4    
,god  =bid t ,i %\ld speak ( virtue z n 
hav+ its f\ndation 9  human nature2 /ill
 ,i _c b ?9k1 t ?is is a subject on :i* 
we may be a little too ref9$1 a little  
too en?usia/ic1 a little too  eloqu5t = 
practical purposes4 ,g5]ally &          
practically speak+1 ,i  believe t m5 are
 j z good1 z !y ?9k public op9ion       
requires2 & no bett]4 ,let x be         
und]/ood1 !re=e1 t  notori\s vices w n  
lose a man ! confid5ce ( ! p2 let  x be 
und]/ood1 t ! vici\s are n only tol]at$1
 b tru/$  & honor$1 & ! great practical 

re/ra9t on ! bad passions is            
compromis$1 & all o!rs w be elud$1 or   
defi$4    ,a mis*iev\s prejudice        
prevails1 t a man's private "* has  b   
little to d ) 8 public "*4 ,und\bt$ly a 
man may want  "s ( ! qualities necess>y 
to a good fa!r1 or a good son1 or a     
good neighbor1 & yet make an excell5t   
magi/rate or judge4 ,ev5  ^! defects    
h[ev]1 ?\gh !y may n op]ate directly1   
mu/  op]ate indirectly to injure him 9 8
 public capacity2 because1 by  less5+ ! 
reg>d felt = him z a man1 !y mu/ d      
some?+1 at  lea/1 to less5 ! reg>d felt 
= him z a public (fic]4 ,& ?is1  9 a    
gov]nm5t l ours1 is no trifl+           
consid]ation2 :]e (ficial  dignity      
dep5ds 9 s small a measure on ! pomp &  
circum/ance (  (fice1 b almo/ entirely  
on ! p]sonal qualities ( ! incumb5t4    
,besides1 ! reasons :y "s defects 9 a   
man's private "* d  n unfit him = a     
public /ation is1 t ?\gh crim9al 9      
!mselves1 !y d n imply him to be1 nor   
make him to be1 absolutely  unpr9cipl$4 

,a man may h a v bad temp]1 = example1 &
 be  addict$ to _m bad habits1 )\t be+  
absolutely unpr9cipl$4 ,let  a man      
become absolutely unpr9cipl$ z a private
 man2 & ,i c see no  reason = suppos+1 t
 he w n be equally s z a public man4    
,lib]t9ism 9 private life may be        
consi/5t1 p]haps1 ) a  scrupul\s        
obs]vance ( ! rules ( an artificial &   
conv5tional  hon\r2 b x is ! grave (    
s5tim5t1 & gradually induces t  moral   
he>tlessness & skepticism1 :i* is fatal 
to ! high]  virtues1 & n m s to religion
 & true fri5d%ip1 ?an to a  dis9t]e/$   
patriotism4    ,besides1 9 well in=m$ & 
well dispos$ communities1 no?+ is  m    
common ?an to ov]rate ! tal5ts1 & real  
effici5cy ( bad  m54 ,we see x e :]e2 = 
ev5 9 a numb] ( bro!rs1 if !re  is "o ( 
!m :o gives himself up to vici\s &      
pr(ligate c\rses1  he almo/ always      
passes = ! g5ius ( ! family4 ,we judge a
 man's  p[] to d good by :at we see ( 8 
p[] to d evil2 n reflect+  t ! latt] is 
a v vulg> accompli%m5t1 :i* seldom      

implies  ev5 s mu* z ! p]v]sion ( a     
great m9d4 ,!re is ! m  occasion t      
topics l ^! %\ld be press$ 9 a gov]nm5t 
l  ours1 z x is ess5tially popul>1 & on 
?is acc\nt m likely to  be c>ri$ away by
 qualities t are m]ely /rik+ & popul>1 9
  contradi/9ction to su* z are solid &  
useful4 ,if !re is any "o  m>k admitt$  
by all to be peculi>ly indicative ( real
 greatness (  m9d1 x is orig9ality2 nor 
d we object to ?is crit]ion :5  prop]ly 
appli$4 ,b x un=tunately happ5s1 t      
unpr9cipl$ m51  n hav+ ! lea/ p>ticle ( 
real orig9ality1 may easily ga9 a       
reputation = 9 ! popul> m9d m]ely by    
be+1 or affect+ to  be s+ul> 9 _! ways (
 ?9k+ & act+4 ,let a man ( no?+  m ?an  
ord9>y p[]s /rike away f ! common track1
 advance a  few />tl+ p>adoxes1 & def5d 
!m ) z mu* plausibility z  he c1 &      
/raightway he becomes1 9 ! eyes ( !     
million at  lea/1 a wond]ful g5ius4     
,su* 7 n ! m51 :o h rais$ ?is c\ntry to 
its pres5t  enviable place among !      
nations ( ! e>?4 ,!re 0 n a  wond]ful   

g5ius among !m all2 b !y 7 able m51 &   
su* z  fe>$ ,god1 m5 ( tru?1 hat+       
covet\sness4 ,?is po9t 0 secur$  9 !    
fir/ settlem5t ( ,new ,engl& by ! /rict 
& puritanical  pr9ciples1 :i* our       
=efa!rs br\ght ov] ) !m f !  p>5t       
c\ntry2 & also by ! idea !y 7 cont9ually
 hold+ up  to "o ano!r ( e/abli%+ "h a  
,*ri/ian commonweal?4 ,x is  also true (
 ! lead]s ( ! ,revolution1 ?r\gh\t !    
c\ntry1  t !y 7 rem>kable alike = _!    
public & private virtues1  & ow$ _!     
elevation1 9 mo/ cases1 to ?is          
circum/ance1 & ,i  may add1 _! p[] &    
consequ5ce aft]w>ds4 ,! w> broke out1 & 
a "t ( difficulty & sacrifice began2 !  
pecuni>y res\rces (  ! nation 7 dra9$ to
 ! la/ drop1 cont9ual levies ( m5 to    
recruit ! army op]at$ all ov] ! c\ntry )
 ! effect ( a  milit>y conscription1 &  
mean:ile ! en?usiasm :i* m>k$ !  op5+   
sc5es ( ! /ruggle1 0 rapidly subsid+4 ,9
 ?is /ate (  ?+s1 if !re _h be5 !       
slighte/ pretext = believ+ t !  lead+ m5
 7 false to _! pl$ges1 _h b ! %ad[ ( a  

suspicion pass$ across ! s+l5ess &      
purity ( _! int5tions1  ! new & ill     
con/itut$ gov]nm5t w\ld n h liv$ = an   
h\r4 ,we (t5 speak ( ! virtue &         
intellig5ce ( ! p1 z  ! great security (
 our lib]ties2 & 9 quiet times1 & "u a  
well e/abli%$ gov]nm5t1 !y are p]haps a 
great & suffici5t  security4 ,b 9 ! %ock
 ( a great political revolution ! legal 
re/ra9ts & natural l&m>ks ( au?ority are
 brok5 up2 & !  m9d is pa9$ at ! b>e    
contemplation ( ! possible consequ5ces1 
if at ?is crisis 9 our c\ntry's de/9y ! 
supreme comm& _h  devolv$ on a          
,cromwell1 in/ead ( a ,wa%+ton4    ,x is
 difficult to d ju/ice to t assemblage (
 qualities 9 !  "* ( ?is great man1 :i* 
makes 8 "n almo/ equally de>  to ! lov]s
 ( lib]ty 9 bo? hemisph]es2 & ! reason  
is1 t  no "o ( ^! qualities is v /rik+1 
consid]$ ap>t f !  re/4 ,8 writ+s d n %[
 him to h be5 a v orig9al or  pr(\nd    
?9k]2 milit>y m5 d n speak ( 8 campaigns
 z  ev9c+ ! highe/ ord] ( tal5ts 9 ?is  
s]vice2 & he is  und]/ood z a /atesman  

to h avail$ himself ( ! aid ( !         
di/+ui%$ m5 he call$ ab\t him4 ,8 fame  
does n re/ on any  "o quality1 b on a   
wond]ful union & bl5d+ ( qualities1 9   
:i* !re 0 none t detract$ at all f !    
confid5ce &  admiration ! :ole inspir$4 
,^? :o ?9k !re c be no true  greatness1 
:]e !re is no?+ dazzl+1 />tl+2 ^? :o are
  smitt5 ) a fooli% admiration ( h]oes1 
may pron\nce 8  "* tame & commonplace2 b
 mu* ( ?is appe>ance orig9ates  9 :at   
really con/itutes ! *ief glory ( 8 "*2  
its exact  proportions1 its p]fect      
h>mony4 ,above all1 !re 0 8 sacr$  reg>d
 to pr9ciple1 & ! solemn resolve ) :i*  
he devot$  himself to ! s]vice ( 8      
c\ntry1 t gave a moral f9i% &  sublimity
 to 8 "*1 & makes u speak ( him1 z we   
speak (  religion4 ,yes1 we c h>dly /& 9
 ! pres5ce ( t noble =m  9 ! almo/      
speak+ m>ble1 )\t some?+ ( ! feel+ )    
:i* ! pagans 7 impress$1 :5 !y /ood be=e
 ! /atues (  _! gods4 ,y h done well to 
place x :]e x is2 = !re is  some?+ 9 t  
look1 :i* a public man c h>dly pass )\t 

be+ rem9d$ ( 8 obligation to g1 & d     
likewise4    ,"o ( ! wor/ t5d5cies ( our
 political diss5sions is1 t !y  make u  
indiff]5t or bl9d to ! p]sonal          
qualifications ( !  c&idates = (fice4 ,i
 am aw>e t p>ties are to be expect$ 9 a 
free c\ntry2 & t !y answ] _m useful &   
important ends1  p>ticul>ly by be+ a    
wat* & *eck on "o ano!r1 s z to  prev5t 
! p>ty 9 p[] f abus+ t p[]4 ,i "k1 too1 
t  :]e a p>ty is f\nd$ on a real        
diff]5ce ( op9ion on important  national
 que/ions1 no "o is at lib]ty to        
compromise ?is  diff]5ce1 except1       
p]haps1 9 great em]g5cies :i* c seldom  
occur1 ?reat5+ ! v exi/5ce ( ! /ate4    
,p>ty1 h[ev]1  becomes faction1 a       
mis*iev\s & unpr9cipl$ faction1 :5 !    
great  national int]e/s are =gott51 & ! 
canvass at elections is made  to turn on
 po9ts :i* h no?+ to d ) ! que/ions1 ,is
 he  hone/8 ,is he capable8 ,!re is no  
dang] to ?is c\ntry s long z a  free &  
unbiass$ expression ( public s5tim5t    
gov]ns2 b !re is  dang]1 & great dang]1 

if e ?+ is to be done by p>ty1 & if  !  
impulse ( p>ty is to be giv5 by a few   
holl[ & artful m54 ,x  is n to be d5i$ t
 _m m51 :o w\ld n h attract$ a  mom5t's 
att5tion f any fair view ( _! natural or
 acquir$  abilities1 h yet be5 drawn    
into ! li/s by p>ty consid]ations       
solely1 & elevat$ to high & responsible 
po/s1 m]ely t !y  might expose _!       
incompet5cy1 & disgrace ! nation4 ,c x  
be  t ! p are deceiv$2 t ! virtue &     
intellig5ce ( !  p1 ( :i* we he> s mu*1 
are deceiv$8 ,d !y n consid]  9 su*     
cases1 d !y n "k1 t !y are ! in/rum5ts1 
!  m]e tools ( ambiti\s & intrigu+      
demagogues2 :o are seek+1 9  ?is way1 to
 avail !mselves ( ! popul> delusions &  
discont5ts1  & turn !m to selfi% & s9i/]
 purposes8    ,! mann] 9 :i* ! *>act]s (
 our public m5 are treat$1 is  ano!r    
practice likely to disgu/ ! virtu\s &   
high m9d$ )  ! s]vice2 end induce !m to 
)draw altoge!r4 ,x is necess>y to  our  
lib]ties1 ,i admit1 t a jeal\s &        
vigilant wat* %\ld be  kept on ! conduct

 ( m5 9 p[]4 ,b x is n necess>y1 ,i am  
sure1 t t mighty eng9e ! press1 on bo?  
sides1 in/ead (  endeavor+ to enlight5 !
 community by a fair & manly discussion 
( ! great que/ions at issue1 %\ld teem )
 no?+ b gross  p]sonalities1 & vulg> &  
unf\nd$ abuse4 ,x c]ta9ly _c be         
necess>y1 t ?is _s %\ld f9d its way into
 ! grave &  solemn debates ( our        
legislative assemblies1 & make a man's  
success  !re1 dep5d on ! possession (   
qualities1 :i* ought r to  exclude him f
 all dec5t society4 ,consid] !          
demoralis+ effect  x mu/ h on our own p1
 p\r+ ?is flood ( wra? &  bitt]ness     
?r\gh a community already too mu*       
excit$4 ,consid]1 too1  ! influ5ce x w h
 on ! national "* 9 ! eyes (  =eign]s1  
:o w always judge u by our public m51 & 
our public  m5 by ^! calumnies4         
,besides1 :at d political di/9ctions    
promise  a man 9 ?is c\ntry1 suppos+ him
 to be successful1 b ! fev]i%  life ( an
 expectant until ! (fice is ga9$2 & !n1 
?\gh x  may be ! highe/ (fice 9 ! /ate1 

to hold x b a few ye>s1 &  be ?r[n back 
into society a common man1 brok51       
p]haps1 9 heal?  & =tune4 ,is !re any ?+
 "h to induce "o to give up 8 good  "n1 
8 private hi/ory1 & ! feel+s ( 8 family 
&  connections1 to be ! sport & prey (  
hirel+ inc5di>ies8    ,y\r ,excell5cy1 &
 ! g5tlem5 associat$ ) y 9 !  gov]nm5t1 
w receive our respectful salutations4   
,ent]+1 z y  d ?is day1 on a new        
political ye>1 x is unnecess>y = me1    
p]haps  x w\ld be acc\nt$ (fici\sness1  
to rem9d y ( ! expectations  ( y\r      
con/itu5ts4 ,!y po9t y to ! example (   
y\r illu/ri\s  pr$ecessors1 to a        
,hancock1 a ,b[do91 & ! ,adamses ( o!r  
days2  !y ref] y to ! ,con/itution1 t   
*>t] ( our rights &  lib]ties :i* mu/   
nev] be violat$1 or t\*$ b ) rev]5ce2   
!y appeal to y\r consci5ces1 :i* are z !
 e*o ( ! div9e  m9d4 ,!y also put "u y\r
 protection & patronage _! lit]>y1      
moral & religi\s in/itutions1 ) a solemn
 injunction t y  %\ld be fai?ful to ?is 
*>ge4 ,sad presage w x be ( com+  evil1 

%\ld prosp]ity ev] make ! p ( ?is c\ntry
 bl9d or  indiff]5t to ! s\rces1 :5ce t 
prosp]ity has be5 d]iv$4    ,x is a     
melan*oly reflection1 t we c h no       
c]ta9ty ( !  cont9uance ( any e>?ly     
bless+4 ,gov]nm5ts1 ev5 ! be/  gov]nm5ts
 (t5 conta9 9 !m ! se$s ( decay & dea?4 
,x is  by no means impossible1 t our own
 may ere long be numb]$ among !         
republics1 t h be54 ,let u !n le>n to   
put our tru/ 9 ,him by  :om nations rise
 & fall2 & z we h no abid+ city "h1     
anxi\sly look = "o h]eaft] :i* ha?      
f\ndations1 ^: build]  & mak] is ,god4