ſuffer his reaſon and his feelings to determine for themſelves: That he will put on, or rather that he will not put off the true character of a man, and generouſly enlarge his views beyond the preſent day.——Volumes have been written on the ſubject of the ſtruggle between England and America. Men of all ranks have embarked in the controverſy, from different motives, and with various deſigns; but all have been ineffectual, and the period of debate is cloſed. Arms, as the laſt reſource, decide the conteſt; the appeal was the choice of the King, and the Continent has accepted the challenge.
It hath been reported of the late Mr. Pelham (who, though an able miniſter, was not without his faults) that on his being attacked in the Houſe of Commons on the ſcore that his meaſures were only of a temporary kind, replied, "they will laſt my time." Should a thought ſo fatal and unmanly poſſeſs the Colonies in the preſent conteſt, the name of anceſtors will be remembered by future generations with deteſtation.
The ſun never ſhined on a cauſe of greater worth. It is not the affair of a City, a County, a Province, or a Kingdom; but of a Continent—of at leaſt one eighth part of the habitable Globe. It is not the concern of a day, a year, or an age; poſterity are virtually involved in the conteſt, and will be more or leſs affected even to the end of time by the proceedings now. Now is the ſeed-time of Continental union, faith and honor. The leaſt fracture now, will be like a name engraved with the point of a pin on the tender rind of a young oak; the wound will enlarge with the tree, and poſterity read it in full grown characters.
By referring the matter from argument to arms, a new æra for politics is ſtruck, a new method of thinking hath ariſen. All plans, propoſals, &c. prior to the 19th of April, i. e. to the commencement of hoſtilities, are like the almanacks of the laſt year; which, though proper then, are ſuperſeded and uſeleſs now. Whatever was advanced by the advocates on either ſide of the queſtion then, terminated in one and the ſame point, viz. a union with Great-Britain; the only difference between the parties was the method of effecting it; the one propoſing force, the other friendſhip; but it hath ſo far happened that the firſt hath failed, and the ſecond hath withdrawn her influence.
As much hath been ſaid of the advantages of reconciliation, which, like an agreeable dream, hath paſſed away and left us as we were, it is but right that we ſhould examine the contrary ſide of the argument, and enquire into ſome of the many material injuries which theſe Colonies ſuſtain, and always will ſuſtain, by being connected with, and dependent on, Great-Britain; to examine that connexion and dependence, on the principles of nature and common ſenſe; to ſee what we have to truſt to if ſeparated, and what we are to expect if dependent.
I have
