all men, and above all things the free exerciſe of religion, according to the dictates of conſcience; with ſuch other matters as is neceſſary for a charter to contain. Immediately after which the ſaid Conference to diſſolve, and the bodies which ſhall be choſen conformable to the ſaid Charter, to be the Legiſlators and Governors of this Continent, for the time being; whoſe peace and happineſs may God preſerve. Amen.
Should any body of men be hereafter delegated for this or ſome ſimilar purpoſe, I offer them the following extract from that wiſe obſerver on governments, Dragonetti. "The ſcience," ſays he, "of the politician conſiſts in fixing the true point of happineſs and freedom. Thoſe men would deſerve the gratitude of ages, who ſhould diſcover a mode of government that contained the greateſt ſum of individual happineſs, with the leaſt national expence."
But where ſays ſome is the King of America? I'll tell you, friend, he reigns above; and doth not make havoc of mankind, like the Royal Brute of Great-Britain. Yet that we may not appear to be defective even in earthly honors, let a day be ſolemnly ſet apart for proclaiming the Charter; let it be brought forth placed on the Divine Law, the Word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the World may know, that ſo far as we approve of Monarchy, that in America the Law is King. For as in abſolute governments the King is Law, ſo in free countries the Law ought to be King; and there ought to be no other. But leſt any ill uſe ſhould afterwards ariſe, let the crown at the concluſion of the ceremony be demoliſhed, and ſcattered among the people, whoſe right it is.
A government of our own is our natural right; and when a man ſeriouſly reflects on the precariouſneſs of human affairs, he will become convinced, that it is infinitely wiſer and ſafer to form a conſtitution of our own, in a cool deliberate manner, while we have it in our power, than to truſt ſuch an intereſting event to time and chance. If we omit it now, ſome[1] Maſſanello may hereafter ariſe, who laying hold of popular diſquietudes, may collect together the deſperate and diſcontented, and by aſſuming to themſelves the powers of government, may ſweep away the liberties of the Continent like a deluge. Should the government of America return again into the hands of Britain, the tottering ſituation of things will be a temptation for ſome deſperate adventurer to try his fortune; and in ſuch a caſe, what relief can Britain give? Ere ſhe could hear the news, the fatal buſineſs might be done; and ourſelves ſuffering like the wretched Britons under the oppreſſion of the Conqueror. Ye that oppoſe independence now, ye know not what ye do: Ye are opening a door to eternal tyranny, by keeping vacant the ſeat of government. There are thouſands, and tens of thouſands, who would think it glorious to expel from the Continent that barbarous and helliſh power, which hath ſtirred up the Indians and the Negroes to deſtroy us. The cruelty hath a double guilt; it is dealing brutally by us, and treacherouſly by them.
- ↑ Thomas Anello, otherwiſe Maſſanello, a fiſherman of Naples, who, after ſpiriting up his countrymen in the public market-place, againſt the oppreſſion of the Spaniards, to whom the place was then ſubject, prompted them to revolt, and in the ſpace of a day became King.
