Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.

On the Liberties of the Nation

WHAT’S the spring or the sweet-smelling rose,

What’s the summer, with all its gay train,

Or the plenty of autumn to those

Who have barter’d their freedom for gain!

Let the love of our king’s royal right

To the love of our country succeed—

Let friendship and honour unite,

And flourish on both sides the Tweed.

No sweetness the senses can cheer

Which corruption and bribery bind—

No calmness the gloom e’er can clear;

For honour’s the sun of the mind.

Let virtue distinguish the brave,

Place riches in lowest degree:

He’s poorest who can be a slave,

And richest, who dares to be free.

Let us think how our ancestors rose—

Let us think how our ancestors fell:

’Tis the rights they defended—’tis those

They bought with their blood, which we sell.