check over our trade to Europe, we have as large a one over her trade to the Weſt-Indies, which, by laying in the neighborhood of the Continent, lies entirely to its mercy.Some method might be fallen on to keep up a naval force in time of peace, if we ſhould not judge it neceſſary to ſupport a conſtant navy. If premiums were to be given to merchants to build and employ in their ſervice ſhips mounted with 20, 30, 40 or 50 guns (the premiums to be in proportion to the loſs of bulk to the merchant) fifty or ſixty of thoſe ſhips, with a few guard-ſhips on conſtant duty, would keep up a ſufficient navy, and that without burthening ourſelves with the evil ſo loudly complained of in England, of ſuffering their fleets in time of peace to lie rotting in the docks. To unite the ſinews of commerce and defenſe is ſound policy; for when our ſtrength and our riches play into each other's hands, we need fear no external enemy.—In almoſt every article of defenſe we abound. Hemp flouriſhes even to rankneſs, ſo that we need not want cordage. Our iron is ſuperior to that of other countries. Our ſmall arms equal to any in the world. Cannon we can caſt at pleaſure. Salt-petre and gun-powder we are every day producing. Our knowledge is hourly improving. Reſolution is our inherent character, and courage hath never yet forſaken us. Wherefore, what is it that we want? Why is it that we heſitate? From Britain we can expect nothing but ruin. If ſhe is once admitted to the government of America again, this Continent will not be worth living in. Jealouſies will be always ariſing; inſurrections will be conſtantly happening; and who will go forth to quell them? Who will venture his life to reduce his own countrymen to a foreign obedience? The difference between Pennſylvania and Connecticut, reſpecting ſome unlocated lands, ſhews the inſignificance of a Britiſh government, and fully proves, that nothing but Continental authority can regulate Continental matters.Another reaſon why the preſent time is preferable to all others, is, that the fewer our numbers are, the more land there is yet unoccupied, which inſtead of being laviſhed by the King on his worthleſs dependents, may be hereafter applied not only to the diſcharge of the preſent debt, but to the conſtant ſupport of government. No nation under heaven hath ſuch an advantage as this.
The infant ſtate of the Colonies, as it is called, ſo far from being againſt, is an argument in favor of independence. We are ſufficiently numerous, and were we more ſo, we might be leſs united. It is a matter worthy of obſervation, that the more a country is peopled, the ſmaller their armies are. In military numbers the ancients far exceeded the moderns; and the reaſon is evident, for trade being the conſequence of population, men become too much abſorbed thereby to attend to any thing elſe. Commerce diminiſhes the ſpirit both of patriotiſm and military defenſe. And hiſtory ſufficiently informs us, that the braveſt achievements were always accompliſhed in the non-age of a nation. With the increaſe of commerce England hath loſt its ſpirit. The city of London, notwithſtanding its numbers, ſubmits to continued inſults with the patience of a coward. The more men have to loſe, the leſs willing they are to venture. The rich are in general ſlaves to fear, and ſubmit to courtly power with the trembling duplicity of a ſpaniel.
