Page:An Oration Delivered April 2d, 1771.djvu/8

Rh of parliament, is against law. The present army therefore, tho' called the peace establishment, is kept up by one act, and governed by another; both of which expire annually. This circumstance is valued as a sufficient check upon the army. A less body of troops than is now maintained has, on a time, destroyed a King, and fought under a parliament with great success and glory; but, upon a motion to disband them, they turned their masters out of doors, and fixed up others in their stead. Such wild things are not again to happen, because the parliament have power to stop payment once a year: but, arma tenenti quis neget? which may be easily interpreted, "who will bind Sampson with his locks on?"

The bill which regulates the army, the same fine author I have mentioned says, "is in many respects hastily penned, and reduces the soldier to a state of slavery in the midst of a free nation. This is impolitick: for slaves envy the freedom of others, and take a malicious pleasure in contributing to destroy it."