It found the commerce of our country confined almost to coasting craft;
It hath left it whitening every sea with its canvas, and cheering every clime with its stars.
It found our mechanics and manufacturers idle in the streets for want of employ;
It hath left them full of business, prosperous, contented, and happy.
It found the yeomanry of the country oppressed with unequal taxes; their farms, houses, and
barns decaying; their cattle selling at the sign-posts; and they driven to
desperation and rebellion;
It hath left their coffers in cash, their houses in repair, their barns full, their farms overstocked,
and their produce commanding ready money and a high price.
In short, it found them poor, indigent malcontents;
It hath left them wealthy friends to order and good government.
It found the United States deeply in debt to France and Holland;
It hath paid all the demands of the former, and the principal part of the latter.
It found the country in a ruinous alliance with France;
It hath honorably dissolved the connection, and set us free.
It found the United States without a swivel on float for their defense;
It hath left a Navy—composed of 34 ships of war, mounting 918 guns, and manned by 7350
gallant tars.
It found the exports of our country a mere song in value;
It hath left them worth above seventy millions of dollars per annum.
In one word, it found America disunited, poor, insolvent, weak, discontented, and wretched;
It hath left her united, wealthy, respectable, strong, happy, and prosperous.
Let the faithful historian, in after-times, say these things of its successor, if he can.
And yet, notwithstanding all these services and blessings, there are found many, very many, weak,
degenerate sons, who, lost to virtue, to gratitude, and patriotism,
openly exult that this Administration is no more, and
that the "Sun of Federalism is set forever."
"Oh shame, where is thy blush?"