CHAPTER XII. FISHER AMES, ORATOR OF GENIUS AND ELABORATE BEAUTY. In the progress of our national growth, there have been emergencies which demanded and received the patriotic support of extraordinary men. Of this charac ter was the Colonial period, signalized by the eloquence and self-sacrifice of Otis, Quincy, Henry, Lee, and Samuel Adams. The era of the Declaration and War of Independence was one which demanded wisdom in council as well as valor in fight. It was then that such heroes as Washington, Warren, Hancock, and John Adams, appeared, and conducted the ship of State through terrific storms. But of not less importance and difficulty was that portion of our history which dates from the peace of 1783, and immediately succeeds it. The independence of the United States was happily confirmed, but the dif ficulties which attended this conquest were far from Deing at an end. The new government went into ope ration under the pressure of an enormous debt, and without either a revenue, or the power of raising one. A long war had destroyed commerce, and fearfully con |