ſity of a large and equal repreſentation; and there is no political matter which more deſerves our attention. A ſmall number of Electors, or a ſmall number of Repreſentatives, are equally dangerous. But if the number of the Repreſentatives be not only ſmall, but unequal, the danger is increaſed. As an inſtance of this I mention the following; when the Aſſociators petition was before the Houſe of Aſſembly of Pennſylvania, 28 members only were preſent; all the Bucks county members, being 8, voted againſt it, and had 7 of the Cheſter members done the ſame, this whole Province had been governed by two counties only, and this danger it is always expoſed to. The unwarrantable ſtretch likewiſe which that Houſe made. in their laſt ſitting, to gain an undue authority over the Delegates of that Province, ought to warn the people at large how they truſt power out of their own hands. A ſett of inſtructions for the Delegates were put together, which in point of ſenſe and buſineſs would have diſhonored a ſchool-boy, and after being approved by a few, a very few without doors, were carried into the Houſe, and there paſſed in behalf of the whole Colony; whereas, did the whole Colony know with what ill-will that Houſe hath entered on ſome neceſſary public meaſures, they would not heſitate a moment to think them unworthy of ſuch a truſt.Immediate neceſſity makes many things convenient, which if continued would grow into oppreſſions. Experience and right are different things. When the calamities of America required a conſultation, there was no method ſo ready, or at that time ſo proper, as to appoint perſons from the ſeveral Houſes of Aſſembly for that purpoſe; and the wiſdom with which they have proceeded hath preſerved this Continent from ruin. But as it is more than probable that we ſhall never be without a Congress, every well-wiſher to good order muſt own, that the mode for chooſing members of that body deſerves conſideration. And I put it as a queſtion to thoſe, who make a ſtudy of mankind, whether repreſentation and election is not too great a power for one and the ſame body of men to poſſeſs? When we are planning for poſterity, we ought to remember, that virtue is not hereditary.It is from our enemies that we often gain excellent maxims, and are frequently ſurpriſed into reaſon by their miſtakes. Mr. Cornwall (one of the Lords of the Treaſury) treated the petition of the New-York Aſſembly with contempt, becauſe that Houſe, he ſaid, conſiſted but of twenty-ſix members, which trifling number, he argued, could not with decency be put for the whole. We thank him for his involuntary honeſty[1].
To conclude, however ſtrange it may appear to ſome, or however unwilling they may be to think ſo, matters not; but many ſtrong and ſtriking reaſons may be given to ſhew, that nothing can ſettle our affairs ſo expeditiouſly as an open and determined declaration for independence. Some of which are,Firſt. It is the cuſtom of nations, when any two are at war, for ſome other powers not engaged in the quarrel to ſtep in as mediators, and bring about the preliminaries of a peace: But while
