WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:05.000 Part six of Common Sense by Thomas Paine. This LibriVox 2 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:13.519 recording is in the public domain Part six Appendix, since 3 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:17.359 the publication of the first edition of this pamphlet, or 4 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:19.800 rather on the same day on which it came out, 5 00:00:20.519 --> 00:00:25.039 the King's Speech made its appearance in this city. Had 6 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:28.559 the spirit of prophecy directed the birth of this production, 7 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:31.440 it could not have brought it forth at a more 8 00:00:31.480 --> 00:00:37.640 seasonable juncture or a more necessary time. The bloody mindedness 9 00:00:37.640 --> 00:00:41.240 of the one showed the necessity of pursuing the doctrine 10 00:00:41.240 --> 00:00:45.359 of the other men read by way of revenge, and 11 00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:49.159 this speech, instead of terrifying, prepared a way for the 12 00:00:49.240 --> 00:00:55.719 manly principles of independence. Ceremony or even silence, from whatever 13 00:00:55.840 --> 00:00:59.920 motive they may arise, have a hurtful tendency when they 14 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:05.480 give the least degree of countenance to base and wicked performances. Wherefore, 15 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:10.560 if this maxim be admitted, it naturally follows that the 16 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:15.120 King's speech, as being a piece of finished villainy, deserved 17 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:20.680 and still deserves a general execration, both by the Congress 18 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:24.719 and the people. Yet, as the domestic tranquility of a 19 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:28.640 nation depends greatly on the chastity of what may properly 20 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:32.760 be called national manners. It is often better to pass 21 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:36.920 some things over in silent disdain than to make use 22 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:40.680 of such new methods of dislike as might introduce the 23 00:01:40.840 --> 00:01:44.439 least innovation on that guardian of our peace and safety. 24 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:49.480 And perhaps it is chiefly owing to this prudent delicacy 25 00:01:50.159 --> 00:01:53.680 that the King's speech hath not before now suffered a 26 00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:58.680 public execution. The speech, if it may be called one, 27 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:03.799 is nothing better than a wilful, audacious liable against the truth, 28 00:02:04.200 --> 00:02:08.599 the common good, and the existence of mankind. And it's 29 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:12.680 a formal and pompous method of offering up human sacrifices 30 00:02:13.080 --> 00:02:19.280 to the pride of tyrants. But this general massacre of 31 00:02:19.360 --> 00:02:23.800 mankind is one of the privileges and the certain consequence 32 00:02:23.879 --> 00:02:27.719 of kings. Where As nature knows them not, they know 33 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:32.159 not her. And although they are beings of our own creating, 34 00:02:32.759 --> 00:02:36.840 they know not us, and are become the gods of 35 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:41.960 their creators. The speech hath one good quality wish is 36 00:02:42.599 --> 00:02:46.439 that it is not calculated to deceive. Neither can we 37 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:50.039 even if we would be deceived by it. Brutality and 38 00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:53.479 tyranny appear on the face of it. It leaves us 39 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:57.919 at no loss, and every line convinces, even in the 40 00:02:57.960 --> 00:03:01.560 moment of reading, that he who hunts the woods for 41 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:06.199 prey the naked and untutored Indian, is less a savage 42 00:03:06.520 --> 00:03:12.280 than the King of Britain. Sir John Dalrymple, the putative 43 00:03:12.360 --> 00:03:17.439 father of a whining Jesuitical peace, fallaciously called the Address 44 00:03:17.479 --> 00:03:21.840 of the People of England to the inhabitants of America. Hath, 45 00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:25.360 perhaps from a vain supposition that the people here were 46 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:29.319 to be frightened at the pomp and description of a king, given, 47 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:32.960 though very unwisely on his part, the real character of 48 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:37.840 the present one. But says this writer, if you are 49 00:03:37.960 --> 00:03:41.800 inclined to pay compliments to an administration which we do 50 00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:45.280 not complain of, meaning the Marquis of Rockingham's at the 51 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:48.639 repeal of the Stamp Act, it is very unfair in 52 00:03:48.759 --> 00:03:52.759 you to withhold them from that prince by whose nod 53 00:03:52.919 --> 00:03:58.879 alone they were permitted to do anything. This is toryism 54 00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:03.000 with a witness here is idolatry, even without a mask. 55 00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:07.520 And he who can calmly hear and digest such a 56 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:13.080 doctrine Hath forfeited his claim to rationality and apostate from 57 00:04:13.080 --> 00:04:16.360 the ardor of manhood, and ought to be considered as 58 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:20.399 one who hath not only given up the proper dignity 59 00:04:20.439 --> 00:04:24.600 of man, but sunk himself beneath the rank of animals, 60 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:30.959 and contemptibly crawl through the world like a worm. However, 61 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:33.959 it matters very little now what the King of England 62 00:04:33.959 --> 00:04:38.680 either says or does. He hath wickedly broken through every 63 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:44.240 moral and human obligation, trampled nature and conscience beneath his feet, 64 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:49.120 and by a steady and constitutional spirit of insolence and 65 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:55.480 cruelty procured for himself and universal hatred. It is now 66 00:04:55.519 --> 00:05:00.560 the interest of America to provide for herself. She hath 67 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:03.800 already a large and young family, whom it is more 68 00:05:03.879 --> 00:05:06.680 her duty to take care of than to be granting 69 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:09.879 away her property to support a power who is become 70 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:13.720 a reproach to the names of men and Christians, Ye 71 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:16.160 whose office it is to watch over the morals of 72 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:19.959 a nation, of whatsoever sect or denomination ye are of, 73 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:23.560 as well as ye who are more immediately the guardians 74 00:05:23.600 --> 00:05:26.920 of the public liberty. If ye wish to preserve your 75 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:32.920 native country uncontaminated by European corruption, ye must in secret 76 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:37.680 wish a separation, But leaving the moral part to private reflection, 77 00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:43.839 I shall chiefly confine my further remarks to the following heads, First, 78 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:47.480 that it is the interest of America to be separated 79 00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:52.000 from Britain. Secondly, which is the easiest and most practicable 80 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:58.920 plan reconciliation or independence. With some occasional remarks in support 81 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:01.560 of the first, I would, if I judged it proper, 82 00:06:02.199 --> 00:06:05.199 produce the opinion of some of the ablest and most 83 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:09.839 experienced men on this continent, and whose sentiments on that 84 00:06:09.959 --> 00:06:14.519 head are not yet publicly known. It is in reality 85 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:17.920 a self evident position, or no nation in a state 86 00:06:17.959 --> 00:06:21.720 of foreign dependence, limited in its commerce and cramped and 87 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:25.800 fettered in its legislative powers, can ever arrive at any 88 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:31.879 material eminence. America doth not yet know what opulence is. 89 00:06:32.680 --> 00:06:37.120 And although the progress which she hath made stands unparalleled 90 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:40.639 in the history of other nations, it is but childhood 91 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:44.120 compared with what she would be capable of arriving at 92 00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:48.319 had she, as she ought, to have the legislative powers 93 00:06:48.360 --> 00:06:53.000 in her own hands. England is at this time proudly 94 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:56.319 coveting what would do her no good were she to 95 00:06:56.399 --> 00:07:00.519 accomplish it, and the continent hesitating on a matter which 96 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:05.519 will be her final ruin if neglected. It is the commerce, 97 00:07:05.639 --> 00:07:09.319 and not the conquest of America, by which England is 98 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:13.199 to be benefited, and that would in a great measure continue, 99 00:07:13.639 --> 00:07:16.959 were the countries as independent of each other as France 100 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:21.120 and Spain, because in many articles neither can go to 101 00:07:21.240 --> 00:07:25.360 a better market. But it is the independence of this 102 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:28.879 country of Britain or any other, which is now the 103 00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:33.480 main and only object worthy of contention, and which, like 104 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:37.680 all other truths discovered by necessity, will appear clearer and 105 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:44.160 stronger every day, First because it will come to that 106 00:07:44.439 --> 00:07:49.160 one time or other. Secondly, because the longer it is delayed, 107 00:07:49.279 --> 00:07:54.199 the harder it will be to accomplish. I have frequently 108 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:59.240 amused myself, both in public and private companies, with silently 109 00:07:59.319 --> 00:08:03.519 remarking the specious errors of those who speak without reflecting. 110 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:08.160 And among the many which I have heard, the following 111 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:12.920 seems the most general, viz. That had this rupture happened 112 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:16.720 forty or fifty years hence, instead of now, the continent 113 00:08:16.759 --> 00:08:20.279 would have been more able to have shaken off the dependents, 114 00:08:20.759 --> 00:08:24.720 to which I reply that our military ability at this 115 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:29.399 time arises from the experience gained in the last war, 116 00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:33.000 and which in forty our fifty years time would have 117 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:37.960 been totally extinct. The continent would not by that time 118 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:41.240 have had a general or even a military officer left, 119 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:44.559 and we are those who may succeed us would have 120 00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:48.480 been as ignorant of martial affairs as the ancient Indians. 121 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:55.840 And this single position closely attended to, will unanswerably prove 122 00:08:56.519 --> 00:09:00.720 that the present time is preferable to all others. The 123 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:03.960 argument turns thus, at the conclusion of the last war, 124 00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:09.440 we had experience, but wanted numbers, and forty or fifty 125 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:15.080 years hence we should have numbers without experience. Wherefore, the 126 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:19.559 proper point of time must be some particular point between 127 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:23.159 the two extremes, in which a sufficiency of the former 128 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:26.879 remains and a proper increase of the latter is obtained, 129 00:09:27.639 --> 00:09:32.279 And that point of time is the present time. The 130 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:36.200 reader will pardon this digression, as it does not properly 131 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:39.080 come under the head I first set out with, and 132 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:42.120 to which I again returned by the following position, viz. 133 00:09:43.080 --> 00:09:47.159 Should affairs be patched up with Britain, and she to 134 00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:51.559 remain the governing and sovereign power of America, which, as 135 00:09:51.639 --> 00:09:55.559 matters are now circumstanced, is giving up the point entirely. 136 00:09:56.559 --> 00:09:59.759 We shall deprive ourselves of the very means of sinking 137 00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:03.480 the debt we have, or may contract. The value of 138 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:07.200 the back lands which some of the provinces are clandestinely 139 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:11.480 deprived of by the unjust extension of the limits of Canada, 140 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:16.320 valued only at five pounds sterling per hundred acres, amounts 141 00:10:16.360 --> 00:10:20.759 to upwards of twenty five millions Pennsylvania currency, and the 142 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:23.960 quit rents, at one penny sterling per acre to two 143 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:29.720 millions yearly. It is by the sale of those lands 144 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:33.200 that the debt may be sunk without burden to any 145 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:37.559 and the quit rent reserved thereon will always lessen, and 146 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:42.639 in time will wholly support the yearly expensive government. It 147 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:46.200 matters not how long the debt is in paying, so 148 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:49.759 that the lands, when sold, be applied to the discharge 149 00:10:49.799 --> 00:10:53.639 of it, and for the execution of which the Congress 150 00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:59.120 for the time being will be the Continental Trustees. I 151 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:03.320 proceed now to the second head, viz. Which is the 152 00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:09.799 easiest and most practicable plan reconciliation or independence. With some 153 00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:15.000 occasional remarks. He who takes nature for his guide is 154 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:18.240 not easily beaten out of his argument, And on that 155 00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:23.879 ground I answer generally that independence, being a single simple 156 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:30.480 line contained within ourselves, and reconciliation, a matter exceedingly perplexed 157 00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:34.840 and complicated, and in which a treacherous, capricious court is 158 00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:40.320 to interfere, gives the answer without a doubt. The present 159 00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:43.679 state of America is truly alarming to every man who 160 00:11:43.720 --> 00:11:49.159 is capable of reflection without law, without government, without any 161 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:52.840 other mode of power than what is founded on and 162 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:59.240 granted by courtesy, held together by an unexampled concurrence of sentiment, 163 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:03.960 which which is nevertheless subject to change, and which every 164 00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:08.919 secret enemy is endeavoring to dissolve. Our present condition is 165 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:15.559 legislation without law, wisdom without a plan, a constitution without 166 00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:21.519 a name, and what is strangely astonishing, perfect independence contending 167 00:12:21.799 --> 00:12:28.519 for dependence. The instance is without a precedent, the case 168 00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:31.679 never existing before, and who can tell what may be 169 00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:36.240 the event. The property of no man is secure in 170 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:40.080 the present unbraced system of things. The mind of the 171 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:44.080 multitude is left at random, and, seeing no fixed object 172 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:48.960 before them, they pursue such as fancy or opinion starts. 173 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:53.080 Nothing is criminal. There is no such thing as treason. 174 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:57.480 Wherefore everyone thinks himself at liberty to act as he pleases. 175 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:04.799 Storries dare not have assembled offensively had they known that 176 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:08.440 their lives, by that act were forfeited to the laws 177 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:11.679 of the state. A line of distinction should be drawn 178 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:16.399 between English soldiers taken in battle and inhabitants of America 179 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:21.480 taken in arms. The first are prisoners, but the latter traitors. 180 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:28.120 The one forfeits his liberty, the other his head. Notwithstanding 181 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:31.519 our wisdom, there is a visible feebleness in some of 182 00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:37.440 our proceedings, which give encouragement to dissensions. The continental belt 183 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:41.279 is too loosely buckled, and if something is not done 184 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:44.440 in time, it will be too late to do anything, 185 00:13:44.919 --> 00:13:47.919 and we shall fall into a state in which neither 186 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:53.639 reconciliation nor independence will be practicable. The King and his 187 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:58.039 worthless adherents are got at their old game of dividing 188 00:13:58.080 --> 00:14:02.120 the continent, and there are not wanting among us printers 189 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:07.000 who will be busy in spreading specious falsehoods. The artful 190 00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:10.200 and hypocritical letter which appeared a few months ago in 191 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:13.759 two of the New York papers, and likewise into others, 192 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:17.759 is it evidence that there are men who want either 193 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:23.240 judgment or honesty. It is easy getting into holes and 194 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:28.679 corners and talking of reconciliation. But do such men seriously 195 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:33.320 consider how difficult the task is, and how dangerous it 196 00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:37.440 may prove should the continent divide their own? Do they 197 00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:40.600 take within their view all the various orders of men 198 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:44.919 whose situation and circumstances, as well as their own are 199 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:48.480 to be considered? Therein, do they put themselves in the 200 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:52.960 place of the sufferer whose all is already gone, and 201 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:55.679 of the soldier who hath quitted all for the defense 202 00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:59.639 of his country. If their ill judged moderation be suited 203 00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:03.039 to the their own private situations only, regardless of others, 204 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:07.200 the event will convince them that they are reckoning without 205 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:11.840 their host. Put us, says some on the footing we 206 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:15.320 were on in sixty three, to which I answer, the 207 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:18.519 request is not now in the power of Britain to 208 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:23.320 comply with, neither will she propose it. But if it were, 209 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:27.600 and even should be granted, I ask, as a reasonable question, 210 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:32.360 by what means is such a corrupt and faithless court 211 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:37.279 to be kept to its engagements another parliament? Nay, even 212 00:15:37.320 --> 00:15:42.200 the present may hereafter repeal the obligation on the pretense 213 00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:47.159 of its being violently obtained, are unwisely granted. And in 214 00:15:47.240 --> 00:15:52.000 that case, where is our redress? No going to law 215 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:56.600 with nations canon are the barristers of crowns, and the 216 00:15:56.639 --> 00:16:00.240 sword not of justice but of war decides the suit 217 00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:04.240 to be on the footing of sixty three, it is 218 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:07.080 not sufficient that the laws only be put on the 219 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:11.440 same state, but that our circumstances likewise be put on 220 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:15.960 the same state. Our burnt and destroyed towns repaired, are 221 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:19.720 built up, our private losses made good, our public debts 222 00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:25.759 contracted for defense discharged. Otherwise we shall be millions worse 223 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:30.320 than we were at that enviable period. Such a request, 224 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:33.600 had it been complied with a year ago, would have 225 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:36.840 won the heart and soul of the continent. But now 226 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:44.840 it is too late. The rubicon is past. Besides, the 227 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:48.759 taking up arms merely to enforce the repeal of a 228 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:53.840 pecuniary law seems as unwarrantable by the divine law and 229 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:57.960 as repugnant to human feelings as the taking up arms 230 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:02.639 to enforce obedience. Thereto the object on either side doth 231 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:06.240 not justify the means, while the lives of men are 232 00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:10.039 too valuable to be cast away on such trifles. It 233 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:13.279 is the violence which is done and threatened to our persons, 234 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:17.519 the destruction of our property by an armed force, the 235 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:22.720 invasion of our country by fire and sword, which conscientiously 236 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:26.720 qualifies the use of arms, and the incident in which 237 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:30.880 such a mode of defense became necessary. All subjection to 238 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:34.960 Britain ought to have ceased, and the independence of America 239 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:38.920 should have been considered as dating in air form and 240 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:43.720 published by the first musket that was fired against her. 241 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:48.359 This line is a line of consistency, neither drawn by 242 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:53.039 caprice nor extended by ambition, but produced by a chain 243 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:56.680 of events of which the colonies were not the authors. 244 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:02.160 I shall conclude these remarks with the following timely and 245 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:06.519 well intended hints. We ought to reflect that there are 246 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:11.559 three different ways by which an independency may hereafter be affected, 247 00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:15.559 and that one of these three will, one day or 248 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:20.079 other be the fate of America, viz. By the legal 249 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:24.640 voice of the people in Congress, by a military power, 250 00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:28.759 or by a mob. It may not always happen that 251 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:32.880 our soldiers are citizens, and the multitude a body of 252 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:39.039 reasonable men virtue. As I have already remarked, is not hereditary, 253 00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:44.480 neither is it perpetual. Should an independency be brought about 254 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:48.680 by the first of those means, we have every opportunity 255 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:54.160 and every encouragement before us to form the noblest, purest 256 00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:57.960 constitution on the face of the earth. We have it 257 00:18:58.000 --> 00:19:01.400 in our power to begin the world over again. A 258 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:05.440 situation similar to the present. Hath not happened since the 259 00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:09.240 days of Noah until now the birthday of a new 260 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:13.119 world is at hand, and a race of men, perhaps 261 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:17.599 as numerous as all Europe contains, or to receive their 262 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:21.279 portion of freedom from the event of a few months. 263 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:26.000 The reflection is awful, and in this point of view, 264 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:31.680 how trifling, how ridiculous do the little paltry covailings of 265 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:35.240 a few week or interested men appear when waited against 266 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:40.039 the business of a world. Should we neglect the present 267 00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:44.599 favorable and inviting period, and an independency be here after 268 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:48.960 affected by any other means, we must charge the consequence 269 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:53.599 to ourselves, or to those rather whose narrow and prejudiced 270 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:59.359 souls are habitually opposing the measure without either inquiring or reflecting. 271 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:03.799 There are reasons to be given in support of independence, 272 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:08.319 which men should rather privately think of than be publicly 273 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:12.119 told of. We ought not now to be debating whether 274 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:15.640 we shall be independent or not, but anxious to accomplish 275 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:20.359 it on a firm, secure and honorable basis, and uneasy 276 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:25.240 rather that it is not yet began upon every day 277 00:20:25.319 --> 00:20:30.279 convinces us of its necessity. Even the Tories, if such 278 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:34.000 beings yet remain among us, should of all men be 279 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:38.240 the most solicitous to promote it. Far as the appointment 280 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:42.119 of committees at first protected them from popular rage, so 281 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:45.519 a wise and well established form of government will be 282 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:50.839 the only certain means of continuing it securely to them. Wherefore, 283 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:54.160 if they have not virtue enough to be Whigs, they 284 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:59.759 ought to have prudence enough to wish for independence. In short, 285 00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:03.559 independence is the only bond that can tie and keep 286 00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:07.720 us together. We shall then see our object, and our 287 00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:11.160 ears will be legally shut against the schemes of an 288 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:16.400 intriguing as well as a cruel enemy. We shall then do, 289 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:19.920 beyond a proper footing to treat with Britain, For there 290 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:22.880 is reason to conclude that the pride of that court 291 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:25.880 will be less hurt by treating with the American States. 292 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:29.480 For terms of peace than with those whom she dominates 293 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:34.799 rebellious subjects for terms of accommodation. It is our delaying 294 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:38.720 it that encourages her to hope for conquest, and our 295 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:43.519 backwardness tends only to prolong the war. As we have 296 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:47.920 without any good effect, therefrom withheld our trade to obtain 297 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:52.279 a redress of our grievances. Let us now try the alternative, 298 00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:57.519 by independently redressing them ourselves, and then offering to open 299 00:21:57.559 --> 00:22:01.519 the trade. The mercantile and rear part in England will 300 00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:06.119 still be with us, because peace with trade is preferable 301 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:09.880 to war without it. And if this offer be not accepted, 302 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:14.519 other courts may be applied to on these grounds. I 303 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:19.160 rest the matter, And as no offer hath yet been 304 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:23.079 made to refute the doctrine contained in the former editions 305 00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:26.839 of this pamphlet, it is a negative proof that either 306 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:30.799 the doctrine cannot be refuted, or that the party in 307 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:34.960 favor of it are too numerous to be opposed. Wherefore, 308 00:22:35.640 --> 00:22:40.200 instead of gazing at each other with suspicion or doubtful curiosity, 309 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:44.599 let each of us hold out to his neighbor the 310 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:48.960 hearty hand of friendship and unite in drawing a line which, 311 00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:53.839 like an act of oblivion, shall bury in forgetfulness every 312 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:59.759 former dissension. Let the names of Whig and Tory be extinct, 313 00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:04.119 and let none other be heard among us than those 314 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:08.119 of a good citizen, an open and resolute friend, and 315 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:12.079 a virtuous supporter of the rights of mankind and of 316 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:20.319 the free and independent states of America. To the representatives 317 00:23:20.359 --> 00:23:24.359 of the religious society of the people called Quakers, are 318 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:27.400 to so many of them as were concerned in publishing 319 00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:31.839 the late piece entitled quote the ancient testimony and principles 320 00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:35.640 of the people called Quakers, renewed with respect to the 321 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:39.880 King and Government, and touching the commotions now prevailing in 322 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:43.160 these and other parts of America. Addressed to the people 323 00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:47.640 in general close quote. The writer of this is one 324 00:23:47.640 --> 00:23:52.119 of those few who never dishonors religion, either by ridiculing 325 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:56.559 or cavaling at any denomination whatsoever to God and not 326 00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:59.960 to man. Are all men accountable on the score of religion. 327 00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:04.880 Wherefore this epistle is not so properly addressed to you 328 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:08.759 as a religious but as a political body dabbling in 329 00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:12.599 matters which the professed quietude of your principles instruct you 330 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:16.839 not to meddle with as you have without a proper authority. 331 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:20.039 For so doing, put yourselves in the place of the 332 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:23.200 whole body of the Quakers. So the writer of this, 333 00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:26.000 in order to be on an equal rank with yourselves, 334 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:29.880 is under the necessity of putting himself in the place 335 00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:34.200 of all those who approve the very writings and principles 336 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:38.680 against which your testimony is directed. And he hath chosen 337 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:43.000 this singular situation in order that you might discover in 338 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:47.240 him that presumption of character which you cannot see in yourselves. 339 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:51.759 For neither he nor you can have any claim or 340 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:57.599 title to political representation. When men have departed from the 341 00:24:57.680 --> 00:25:01.400 right way, it is no one that they stumble and fall. 342 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:05.160 And it is evident that the manner in which ye 343 00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:09.720 have managed your testimony, that politics as a religious body 344 00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:14.240 of men, is not your proper walk. For however well 345 00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:18.000 adapted it might appear to you, it is nevertheless a 346 00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:22.799 jumble of good and bad put unwisely together. And the 347 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:30.119 conclusion drawn therefrom both unnatural and unjust. The first two 348 00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:34.200 pages and the whole doth not make four. We give 349 00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:37.880 you credit for and expect the same civility from you, 350 00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:41.519 because the love and desire of peace is not confined 351 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:45.680 to Quakerism. It is the natural as well the religious 352 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:49.720 wish of all denominations of men. And on this ground, 353 00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:54.599 as men laboring to establish an independent constitution of our own, 354 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:59.440 do we exceed all others in our hope, end and aim. 355 00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:05.039 Our plan is peace forever. We are tired of contention 356 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:08.400 with Britain and can see no real end to it. 357 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:13.319 But in a final separation we act consistently, because for 358 00:26:13.359 --> 00:26:17.519 the sake of introducing an endless and uninterrupted peace do 359 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:20.400 we bear the evils and burdens of the present day. 360 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:25.319 We are endeavoring, and will steadily continue to endeavor, to 361 00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:29.920 separate and dissolve a connection which hath already filled our 362 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:33.599 land with blood, and which, while the name of it remains, 363 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:38.160 will be the fatal cause of future mischiefs to both countries. 364 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:44.559 We fight neither for revenge nor conquest, neither from pride 365 00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:48.559 nor passion. We are not insulting the world with our 366 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:53.599 fleets and armies, nor ravaging the globe for plunder. Beneath 367 00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:56.920 the shade of our own vines. Are we attacked in 368 00:26:57.000 --> 00:27:00.640 our own houses and on our own lands. Is the 369 00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:04.599 violence committed against us. We view our enemies in the 370 00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:09.000 character of highwaymen and house breakers, and, having no defense 371 00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:12.519 for ourselves in the civil law, are obliged to punish 372 00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:15.839 them by the military one, and apply the sword in 373 00:27:15.880 --> 00:27:19.839 the very case where you have before now applied the halter. 374 00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:24.519 Perhaps we feel for the ruined and insulted sufferers in all, 375 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:27.359 in every part of the continent, with a degree of 376 00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:30.640 tenderness which hath not yet made its way into some 377 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:34.880 of your bosoms. But be ye sure that ye mistake 378 00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:39.039 not the cause and ground of your testimony, call not 379 00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:43.680 coldness of soul religion, nor put the bigot in the 380 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:49.160 place of the Christian O, ye partial ministers of your 381 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:54.359 own acknowledged principles. If the bearing arms be sinful, the 382 00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:58.119 first going to war must be more so by all 383 00:27:58.200 --> 00:28:03.839 the difference between willful attack an unavoidable defense. Wherefore, if 384 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:07.759 ye really preach from conscience and mean not to make 385 00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:12.039 a political hobby horse of your religion, convince the world 386 00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:16.720 thereof by proclaiming your doctrine to our enemies, for they 387 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:22.319 likewise bear arms. Give us proof of your sincerity by 388 00:28:22.359 --> 00:28:26.000 publishing it at Saint James to the commanders in chief 389 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:30.599 at Boston, to the admirals and captains who are piratically 390 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:34.799 ravaging our coasts, and to all the murdering miscreants who 391 00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:38.799 are acting in authority under him, whom ye profess to serve. 392 00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:43.599 Had ye the honest soul of Barclay, ye would preach 393 00:28:43.680 --> 00:28:47.920 repentance to your king, ye would tell the royal wretch 394 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:52.480 his sins and warn him of eternal ruin. Ye would 395 00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:55.839 not spend your partial invectives upon the injured and the 396 00:28:55.920 --> 00:29:02.319 insulted alone, but like faithful ministers, would allowed and spare none. 397 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:06.599 Say not that ye are persecuted. Neither endeavor to make 398 00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:10.359 us the authors of that reproach which ye are bringing 399 00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:14.079 upon yourselves. For we testify unto all men, that we 400 00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:18.200 do not complain against you because ye are Quakers, but 401 00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:23.000