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BEING A _SINGLE SIMPLE LINE；_ CONTAINED WITHIN OURSELVES；
AND RECONCILIATION； A MATTER EXCEEDINGLY PERPLEXED AND COMPLICATED；
AND IN WHICH； A TREACHEROUS CAPRICIOUS COURT IS TO INTERFERE；
GIVES THE ANSWER WITHOUT A DOUBT。
The present state of America is truly alarming to every man who is
capable of reflexion。 Without law； without government； without any
other mode of power than what is founded on； and granted by courtesy。
Held together by an unexampled concurrence of sentiment； which；
is nevertheless subject to change； and which； every secret enemy is
endeavouring to dissolve。 Our present condition； is； Legislation
without law； wisdom without a plan； a constitution without a name；
and； what is strangely astonishing； perfect Independance contending
for dependance。 The instance is without a precedent； the case never
existed before； and who can tell what may be the event？ The property
of no man is secure in the present unbraced system of things。 The mind
of the multitude is left at random； and seeing no fixed object before
them； they pursue such as fancy or opinion starts。 Nothing is criminal；
there is no such thing as treason； wherefore； every one thinks himself
at liberty to act as he pleases。 The Tories dared not have assembled
offensively； had they known that their lives； by that act； were forfeited
to the laws of the state。 A line of distinction should be drawn； between；
English soldiers taken in battle； and inhabitants of America taken in arms。
The first are prisoners； but the latter traitors。
The one forfeits his liberty； the other his head。
Notwithstanding our wisdom； there is a visible feebleness in some
of our proceedings which gives encouragement to dissensions。
The Continental Belt is too loosely buckled。 And if something
is not done in time； it will be too late to do any thing；
and we shall fall into a state； in which； neither RECONCILIATION
nor INDEPENDANCE will be practicable。 The king and his worthless
adherents are got at their old game of dividing the Continent；
and there are not wanting among us； Printers； who will be busy
in spreading specious falsehoods。 The artful and hypocritical letter
which appeared a few months ago in two of the New York papers；
and likewise in two others； is an evidence that there are men
who want either judgment or honesty。
It is easy getting into holes and corners and talking of reconciliation：
But do such men seriously consider； how difficult the task is； and how
dangerous it may prove； should the Continent divide thereon。 Do they
take within their view； all the various orders of men whose situation
and circumstances； as well as their own； are to be considered therein。
Do they put themselves in the place of the sufferer whose ALL
is ALREADY gone； and of the soldier； who hath quitted ALL for the defence
of his country。 If their ill judged moderation be suited to their own
private situations only； regardless of others； the event will convince them；
that 〃they are reckoning without their Host。〃
Put us； says some； on the footing we were on in sixty…three：
To which I answer； the request is not now in the power of Britain
to comply with； neither will she propose it； but if it were；
and even should be granted； I ask； as a reasonable question；
By what means is such a corrupt and faithless court to be kept
to its engagements？ Another parliament； nay； even the present；
may hereafter repeal the obligation； on the pretense；
of its being violently obtained； or unwisely granted；
and in that case； Where is our redress？No going to law
with nations； cannon are the barristers of Crowns；
and the sword； not of justice； but of war； decides the suit。
To be on the footing of sixty…three； it is not sufficient；
that the laws only be put on the same state； but； that our circumstances；
likewise； be put on the same state； Our burnt and destroyed towns repaired
or built up； our private losses made good； our public debts
（contracted for defence） discharged； otherwise； we shall be millions
worse than we were at that enviable period。 Such a request；
had it been complied with a year ago； would have won the heart
and soul of the Continent … but now it is too late； 〃The Rubicon is passed。〃
Besides； the taking up arms； merely to enforce the repeal
of a pecuniary law； seems as unwarrantable by the divine law；
and as repugnant to human feelings； as the taking up arms
to enforce obedience thereto。 The object； on either side； doth not
justify the means； for the lives of men are too valuable
to be cast away on such trifles。 It is the violence which is done
and threatened to our persons； the destruction of our property
by an armed force； the invasion of our country by fire and sword；
which conscientiously qualifies the use of arms： And the instant； in which
such a mode of defence became necessary； all subjection to Britain ought
to have ceased； and the independancy of America； should have been considered；
as dating its aera from； and published by； THE FIRST MUSKET THAT WAS FIRED
AGAINST HER。 This line is a line of consistency； neither drawn by caprice；
nor extended by ambition； but produced by a chain of events；
of which the colonies were not the authors。
I shall conclude these remarks with the following timely
and well intended hints。 We ought to reflect； that there are
three different ways by which an independancy may hereafter
be effected； and that ONE of those THREE； will one day or other；
be the fate of America； viz。 By the legal voice of the people
in Congress； by a military power； or by a mobIt may not always
happen that OUR soldiers are citizens； and the multitude
a body of reasonable men； virtue； as I have already remarked；
is not hereditary； neither is it perpetual。 Should an independancy
be brought about by the first of those means； we have every
opportunity and every encouragement before us； to form the
noblest purest constitution on the face of the earth。 We have
it in our power to begin the world over again。 A situation；
similar to the present； hath not happened since the days
of Noah until now。 The birthday of a new world is at hand；
and a race of men； perhaps as numerous as all Europe contains；
are to receive their portion of freedom from the event of a few months。
The Reflexion is awfuland in this point of view； How trifling；
how ridiculous； do the little； paltry cavillings； of a few weak
or interested men appear； when weighed against the business of a world。
Should we neglect the present favourable and inviting period；
and an Independance be hereafter effected by any other means；
we must charge the consequence to ourselves； or to those rather；
whose narrow and prejudiced souls； are habitually opposing the measure；
without either inquiring or reflecting。 There are reasons to be given
in support of Independance； which men should rather privately think of；
than be publicly told of。 We ought not now to be debating whether
we shall be independant