Page:An Oration Delivered April 2d, 1771.djvu/16

Rh The patriot Farmer tells us, "the cause of LIBERTY is a cause of too much dignity to be sullied by turbulence and tumult.—Anger produces anger; and differences, that might be accommodated by kind and respectful behaviour, may by imprudence be enlarged to an incurable rage. In quarrels—risen to a certain height, the first cause of dissention is no longer remembered, the minds of the parties being wholly engaged in recollecting and resenting the mutual expressions of their dislike. When feuds have reached that fatal point, considerations of reason and equity vanish; and a blind fury governs, or rather confounds all things. A people no longer regard their interest, but a gratification of their wrath."

We know ourselves subjects of common : to that and the worthy executors of it let us pay a steady and conscientious regard. Past errors in this point have been written with gall by the pen of. May our future conduct be such as to make even that vile lay her pen aside.