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8. A people thus enlightened and capable of difcernig the connection of caufes with their remoteft effects, waited not the experience of oppreffion in their own perfons; which they well knew would render them lefs able to conduct a regular opposition.

9. But in the moment of their greatest prosperity, when every heart expanded with the encreafing opulence of the British American dominions, and every tongue united in the praises of the parent state and her patriotic king, when many circumstances concurred which would have rendered an ignorant people fecure and inattentive to their future interefts at this moment the eyes of the American argus were opened to the first and most plausible invasion of the .colonial rights.

10. In vain we are told, and perhaps with the greatest truth and fincerity, that the monies levied in America were all to be expended within the country, and for our benefit: Equally idle was the policy of Great-Britain, in commencing her new fyftem by a small and almost imperceptible duty, and that upon a very few articles.

11. It was not the quantity of the tax, it was not the mode of appropriation, but it was the right of the demand, which was called in question. Upon this the people deliberated; this they difcuffed in a cool and difpaffionate manner; and this they opposed, in every fhape that an artful and fyftematic miniftry could devife, for more than ten years, before they affumed the fword,

12. This fingle circumftance, afide from the magnitude of the object, or the event of the conteft, will ftamp a peculiar glory on the American revolution, and mark it as a diftinguished era in the history of mankind; that föber realon and reflection have done the works of enthufiafm, and performed the miracles of gods.

13. In what other age, or nation, has a laborious and agricultural people, at cafe upon their own farms, fecure Sand diftant from the approach of fleets and armies, tide waiters and ftamp masters, reafoned before they had felt, aud from the dictates of duty and confcience, encountered dangers, diftrefs, and poverty, for the fake of fecuring to poflerity a government of independence and peace ?

4 The toils of ages, and the fate of millions, were to be fuftained by a few hands. The voice of unborn na

tions called upon them for fafety, but it was a till fall voice, the voice of natural reflection. Here was no Cromwell to inflame the people with bigotry and zeal, no Cæfar to reward his followers with the fpoils of vanquished foes, and no territory to be acquired by conqueft.

15. Ambition, fuperftition and avarice, the univerfal torches of war, never illumed an American field of battle. But the permanent principles of fober policy spread through, the colonies, roufed the people to assert their rights, and

conducted the revolution.

16. Whatever praile is due for the task already perform-. ed, it is certain that much remains to be done. The revolution is but half completed. Independence and government were the two objects contended for; and but one is yet obtained. To the glory of the prefent age, and the admiration of the future, our feverance from the British empire was conducted upon principles as noble, as they were new and unprecedented in the hiftory of human

actions.

17. Could the fame generous principles, the fame wifdom and unanimity be exerted in affecting the establishment of a permanent federal fyflem, what an additional luftre would it pour upon the prefent age! a luftre hitherto unequalled, a difplay of magnanimity for which mankind may never behold another opportunity.

18. The prefent is juftly confidered an alarming crifis; perhaps the moft alarming that America ever faw. We have contended with the most powerful nation, and subdued the braveft and beft appointed armies; But now we have to contend with ourselves, and encounter paffions and prejudices more powerful than armies, and more dangerous to our peace. It is not for glory, it is for exiftence, that we contend.

19. The first great ubject is to convince the people of the importance of their prefent fituation; for the majority of a great people, on a fubject which they understand, wifl never act wrong. If ever there was a time in any age or iration, when the fate of millions depended on the voice of one, it is the prefent period in thefe ftates. Every free citizen of the American empire, ought new to confider him felf as the legislation of half mankind.

zo. When he views the amazing extent of territory, fettled and to be fettled under the operation of his laws

when like a wife politician, he contemplates the population of future ages; the changes to be wrought by the poffible progrefs of arts, in agriculture, commerce and manufac tures, the increafing connection and intercourfe of nations, and the effect of one rational political fyftem upen the general happiness of mankind, his mind, dilated with the great idea, will realize a liberality of feeling which leads to a rectitude of conduct,

21. He will fee that the fyftem to be established by his fuffrage is calculated for the great benevolent purposes of extending peace, happiness and progreffing improvement to a large proportion of his fellow creatures. As there is a probability that the fyftem to be propofed by the Conven tion may anfwer this defeription, there is every reafon to hope it will be viewed by the people with that candor and difpaffionate refpect which is due to the importance of the fubject.

22. While the anxiety of the feeling heart is breathing the perpetual figh for the attainment of fo great an bject, it becomes the ftrongest duty of the focial connec.. tion, to enlighten and harmonize the minds of our fellowcitizens, and point them to a knowledge of their interests, as an extenfive federal people, and fathers of increasing na

tions.

23. The price put into their hands is great beyond all comparifon; and, as they improve it, they will entail happinefs or mifery upon a larger proportion of human beings, than could be effected by the conduct of all the nations of Europe united.

24. Those who are poffeffed of abilities or information in any degree above the common rank of their fellow citizens, are called upon by every principle of humanity, to diffufe a fpirit of candor, and rational enquiry, upon these important fubjects.

25. The prefent is an age of philofophy; and America, the empire of reafon. Here, neither the pagantry of courts, nor the glooms of fuperftition, have dazzled or beclouded the mind. Our duty calls us to act worthy of the age and country that gave us birth. Though inexperience may have betrayed us into errors; yet thefe have not been fatal; and our difcernment will point us to their proper remedy.

26. However defective the prefent confederated fyftem may appear, yet a due confideration of the circumftances under which it was framed, will teach us rather to admire its wisdom, than to murmur at its faults. The fame political abilities which were displayed in that inftitution, united with the experience we have had of its operation, will doubtlefs produce a fyftem, which will ftand the test of ages in forming a powerful and happy people.

27. Elevated with this extenfive profpect, we may confider prefent inconveniences as unworthy of regret. At the clofe of the war, an uncommon plenty of circulating fpecie, and an univerfal paffion for trade, tempted many individuals to involve themfelves in ruin, and injure the credit of their country. But thefe are evils which work their own remedy.

28. The paroxifm is already over. Induitry is increasing fafter than ever it declined; and with fome exceptions, where legislative authority has fanctioned fraud, the people are honeftly difcharging their private debts, and increafing the refources of their wealth.

29. Every poffible encouragement for great and generous exertions, is now prefented before us. Under the idea of a permanent and happy government, every point of view in which the future fituation of America can be placed, fills the wind with a peculiar diguity, and opens an: unbounded field of thought.

30. The natural refources of the country are inconceiv able, various and great. The enterprising genius of the people promifes a moft rapid improvement in all the arts that embellifh human nature. The bleflings of a rational government will invite emigrations from the rest of the world, and fill the empire with the worthieft and happiest of mankind; while the example of political wifdom and felicity here to be difplayed, will excite emulation through the kingdoms of the earth, and meliorate the condition of the human race.

A DECLARATION, by the REPRESENTATIVES of the United Colonies of North America, setting forth the causes and necessity of their taking up arms, July 6, 1775. Fit were poffible for men, who exercife their reafon,.

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intended a part of the human race to hold an abfolute pro. perty, and an unbounded power over others, marked out. by his infinite goodnefs and wifdom, as the objects of a legal domination, never rightly refiftable, however fevere and oppreffive, the inhabitants of thefe colonies might at teaft require from the parliament of Great Britain fome evidences that this dreadful authority over them has been granted to that body.

2. But a reverence for our great Creator, principles of humanity, and the dictates of common fenfe muft convince all thofe who reflect upon the fubject, that government was inftituted to promote the welfare of mankind, and ought to be adminiftered for the attainment of that end.

3. The legiflature of Great-Britain, however ftimulated by an inordinate paffion for a power, not only unjustiĥable, but which they know to be peculiarly reprobated by the very conftitution of that kingdon, and defperate of fuccef's in any mode of conteft, where regard fhould be had to truth, law, or right, have at length, deferting those, attempted to effect their cruel and impolitic purpose of enAaving thefe colonies by violence, and have thereby render. ed it neceffury for us to clufe with their laft appeal from

rezfon to arms.

4. Yet, however blinded that affembly may be, by their intemperate rage for unlimited domination, fo to flight juftice and the opinion of mankind, we esteem ourselves bound by obligations of refpect to the reft of the world, to make known the juftice of our caufe.

5. Our forefathers, iuh bitants of the island of GreatBritain, left their native land, to feek, on thefe fhores, a refidence for civil and religious freedom. At the expence of their blood, at the hazard of their fortunes, without the leaf charge to the country from which they removed, with unceafing labor and an unconquerable fpirit, they effected fettlements in the diftant and inhofpitable wilds of America, then filled with the numerous and warlike nations of barbarians.

6. Societies or governments, vefted with perfect legifla tuies, were formed under charters from the crown, and an barmonious intercourfe was establifhed between the colonies and the kingdom from which they derived their origin. The mutual benefits of this union became in a fhort time

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