Youth is the ſeed time of good habits as well in nations as in individuals. It might be difficult if not impoſſible to form the Continent into one government half a century hence. The vaſt variety of intereſts, occaſioned by an increaſe of trade and population, would create confuſion. Colony would be againſt Colony. Each being able, would ſcorn each other’s aſſiſtance: And while the proud and fooliſh gloried in their little diſtinctions, the wiſe would lament that the union had not been formed before. Wherefore, the preſent time is the true time for eſtabliſhing it. The intimacy which is contracted in infancy, and the friendſhip which is formed in miſfortune, are of all others the moſt laſting and unalterable. Our preſent union is marked with both theſe characters: We are young, and we have been diſtreſſed; but our concord hath withſtood our troubles, and fixes a memorable æra for poſterity to glory in.The preſent time likewiſe is that peculiar time, which never happens to a nation but once, viz. the time of forming itſelf into a government. Moſt nations have let ſlip the opportunity, and by that means have been compelled to receive laws from their conquerors, inſtead of making laws for themſelves. Firſt they had a King, and then a form of government; whereas the article or Charter of government ſhould be formed firſt, and men delegated to execute them afterward: But from the errors of other nations let us learn wiſdom, and lay hold of the preſent opportunityTo begin Government at the right end.
When William the Conqueror ſubdued England, he gave them law at the point of the ſword; and until we conſent that the ſeat of government in America be legally and authoritatively occupied, we ſhall be in danger of having it filled by ſome fortunate ruffian, who may treat us in the ſame manner, and then where will be our freedom? where our property?
As to religion, I hold it to be the indiſpenſible duty of government to protect all conſcientious profeſſors thereof, and I know of no other buſineſs which government hath to do therewith. Let a man throw aſide that narrowneſs of ſoul, that ſelfiſhneſs of principle, which the niggards of all profeſſions are ſo unwilling to part with, and he will be delivered of his fears on that head. Suſpicion is the companion of mean ſouls, and the bane of all good ſociety. For myſelf, I fully and conſcientiouſly believe, that it is the will of the Almighty, that there ſhould be diverſity of religious opinions among us. It affords a larger field for our Chriſtian kindneſs: Were we all of one way of thinking, our religious diſpoſitions would want matter for probation; and on this liberal principle, I look on the various denominations among us to be like children of the ſame family, differing only in what is called their Chriſtian names.
In page 25 I threw out a few thoughts on the propriety of a Continental Charter (for I only preſume to offer hints, not plans) and in this place I take the liberty of rementioning the ſubject, by obſerving, that a Charter is to be underſtood as a bond of ſolemn obligation, which the whole enters into, to ſupport the right of every ſeparate part, whether of religion, perſonal freedom, or property. A right reckoning makes long friends.In a former page I likewiſe mentioned the neceſ-
