Page:An Answer to the Declaration of the American Congress.djvu/127

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

SHORT REVIEW •*> O F TH E iH.'Tt 'fi'Jl*

  • ' ■ :>M«=tiv t.

DECLARATION. IN examining this (ingular Declaration, I have hitherto confined myfelf to what are given asfa^s, and alleged agrJnft his Majefty and his Parliament, in fupport of the charge of tyranny and ufurpation. Of the preamble I have taken little or no notice. The truth is, little or none does it deferve. The opinions of the modern Americans on Government, like thofe of their good anceftors on witchcr^ift, would be too ridi- culous to deferve any notice, if like them too, con- temptible and extravagant as they be, they had not led to the moft ferious evils. L^ this preamble however it is, that they attempf: to cftablifli a tk^-y of Government -, a theory, as abfurd and vifionary, as the fyftem of conduft in defence of which it is eftablifhed, is nefarious. Here it is, that maxims arc advanced in juflification of their enter- prifes againft the Britifh Government. To thefe maxims, adduced for this purpo/e, it would be fufiicient to fay, that the; are repugnant tq the Britijh ConJIitut'ton, t.'jt beyond this they are fubvcrfive of every adiual or imaginable kind of Government. They are about *' to ajfume" as they tell us,

    • mong thf powers cf the earth, that equal andfeparate

REVIEW. Little no* tice hither- to taken of the pream- ble to the Declaration. Maxims ad- vanced in it repugntnt to the Britifh ConlHtu- tion, and fubvrrfiveof all Govern- ment. 'Jr. Such IS, that all mea »fe created 4 rqual.