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Brutality and tyranny appear on the face of it。 It leaves us at no loss：
And every line convinces； even in the moment of reading； that He；
who hunts the woods for prey； the naked and untutored Indian；
is less a Savage than the King of Britain。
Sir John Dalrymple； the putative father of a whining jesuitical piece；
fallaciously called； 〃THE ADDRESS OF THE PEOPLE OF _ENGLAND_
TO THE INHABITANTS OF _AMERICA_；〃 hath； perhaps； from a vain supposition；
that the people here were to be frightened at the pomp and description
of a king； given； （though very unwisely on his part） the real character
of the present one： 〃But〃 says this writer； 〃if you are inclined to pay
compliments to an administration； which we do not complain of；〃
（meaning the Marquis of Rockingham's at the repeal of the Stamp Act）
〃it is very unfair in you to withhold them from that prince
by WHOSE _NOD ALONE_ THEY WERE PERMITTED TO DO ANY THING。〃
This is toryism with a witness！ Here is idolatry even without a mask：
And he who can calmly hear； and digest such doctrine；
hath forfeited his claim to rationality an apostate
from the order of manhood； and ought to be considered as one；
who hath not only given up the proper dignity of man；
but sunk himself beneath the rank of animals；
and contemptibly crawl through the world like a worm。
However； it matters very little now； what the king of England
either says or does； he hath wickedly broken through every
moral and human obligation； trampled nature and conscience
beneath his feet； and by a steady and constitutional spirit
of insolence and cruelty； procured for himself an universal
hatred。 It is NOW the interest of America to provide for herself。
She hath already a large and young family； whom it is more her
duty to take care of； than to be granting away her property；
to support a power who is become a reproach to the names
of men and christiansYE； whose office it is to watch over
the morals of a nation； of whatsoever sect or denomination
ye are of； as well as ye； who； are more immediately the guardians
of the public liberty； if ye wish to preserve your native country
uncontaminated by European corruption； ye must in secret wish
a separationBut leaving the moral part to private reflection；
I shall chiefly confine my farther remarks to the following heads。
First。 That it is the interest of America to be separated from Britain。
Secondly。 Which is the easiest and most practicable plan；
RECONCILIATION OR INDEPENDANCE？ With some occasional remarks。
In support of the first； I could； if I judged it proper；
produce the opinion of some of the ablest and most experienced men
on this continent； and whose sentiments； on that head； are not yet
publicly known。 It is in reality a self…evident position：
For no nation in a state of foreign dependance； limited in its commerce；
and cramped and fettered in its legislative powers； can ever arrive
at any material eminence。 America doth not yet know what opulence is；
and although the progress which she hath made stands unparalleled
in the history of other nations； it is but childhood；
compared with what she would be capable of arriving at；
had she； as she ought to have； the legislative powers in her own hands。
England is； at this time； proudly coveting what would do her no good；
were she to accomplish it； and the Continent hesitating on a matter；
which will be her final ruin if neglected。 It is the commerce
and not the conquest of America； by which England is to he benefited；
and that would in a great measure continue； were the countries
as independant of each other as France and Spain； because in many articles；
neither can go to a better market。 But it is the independance of this country
on Britain or any other； which is now the main and only object worthy
of contention； and which； like all other truths discovered by necessity；
will appear clearer and stronger every day。
First。 Because it will come to that one time or other。
Secondly。 Because； the longer it is delayed the harder
it will be to accomplish。
I have frequently amused myself both in public and private
companies； with silently remarking； the specious errors
of those who speak without reflecting。 And among the many
which I have heard； the following seems the most general； viz。
that had this rupture happened forty or fifty years hence；
instead of NOW； the Continent would have been more able
to have shaken off the dependance。 To which I reply； that our
military ability； AT THIS TIME； arises from the experience
gained in the last war； and which in forty or fifty years time；
would have been totally extinct。 The Continent； would not；
by that time； have had a General； or even a military officer left；
and we； or those who may succeed us； would have been as ignorant
of martial matters as the ancient Indians： And this single position；
closely attended to； will unanswerably prove； that the present time
is preferable to all others。 The argument turns thusat the conclusion
of the last war； we had experience； but wanted numbers；
and forty or fifty years hence； we should have numbers；
without experience； wherefore； the proper point of time；
must be some particular point between the two extremes；
in which a sufficiency of the former remains； and a proper
increase of the latter is obtained： And that point of time
is the present time。
The reader will pardon this digression； as it does not properly
come under the head I first set out with； and to which I again return
by the following position； viz。
Should affairs he patched up with Britain； and she to remain the governing
and sovereign power of America； （which； as matters are now circumstanced；
is giving up the point entirely） we shall deprive ourselves of the very means
of sinking the debt we have； or may contract。 The value of the back lands
which some of the provinces are clandestinely deprived of； by the unjust
extension of the limits of Canada； valued only at five pounds sterling
per hundred acres； amount to upwards of twenty…five millions；
Pennsylvania currency； and the quit…rents at one penny sterling per acre；
to two millions yearly。
It is by the sale of those lands that the debt may be sunk；
without burthen to any； and the quit…rent reserved thereon；
will always lessen； and in time； will wholly support the yearly
expence of government。 It matters not how long the debt is in
paying； so that the lands when sold be applied to the discharge
of it； and for the execution of which； the Congress for the time
being； will be the continental trustees。 。
I proceed now to the second head； viz。 Which is the easiest
and most practicable plan； RECONCILIATION or lNDEPENDANCE；
With some occasional remarks。
He who takes nature for his guide is not easily beaten out of his argument；
and on that ground； I answer GENERALLYTHAT _INDEPENDANCE_
BEING A _SINGLE SIMPLE LINE；_ CONTAINED WITHIN OURSELVES；
AND RECONCI