Page:Common sense - addressed to the inhabitants of America.djvu/27

Rh I challenge the warmet advocate for reconciliation, to hew a ingle advantage that this Continent can reap, by being connected with Great-Britain. I repeat the challenge, not a ingle advantage is derived. Our corn will fetch its price in any market in Europe, and our imported goods mut be paid for, buy them where we will.

But the injuries and diadvantages we utain by that connexion, are without number, and our duty to mankind at large, as well as to ourelves, intruct us to renounce the alliance; becaue any ubmiion to, or dependence on, Great-Britain, tends directly to involve this Continent in European wars and quarrels. As Europe is our market for trade, we ought to form no political connexion with any part of it. 'Tis the true interet of America, to teer clear of European contentions, which he never can do, while by her dependence on Britain he is made the make-weight in the cale of Britih politics.

Europe is too thickly planted with kingdoms to be long at peace, and whenever a war breaks out between England and any foreign power, the trade of America goes to ruin, becaue of our connexion with Britain. The next war may not turn out like the lat, and hould it not, the advocates for reconciliation now, will be wihing for eparation then, becaue neutrality in that cae would be a afer convoy than a man of war. Every thing that is right or reaonable pleads for eparation. The blood of the lain, the weeping voice of nature cries, Even the ditance at which the Almighty hath placed England and America, is a trong and natural proof, that the authority of the one over the other was never the deign of heaven. The time likewie at which the Continent was dicovered, adds weight to the argument, and the manner in which it was peopled encreaes the force of it.—The reformation was preceded by the dicovery of America; as if the Almighty graciouly meant to open a anctuary to the perecuted in future years, when home hould afford neither friendhip nor afety.

The authority of Great-Britain over this Continent is a form of government which ooner or later mut have an end: And a erious mind can draw no true pleaure by looking forward, under the painful and poitive conviction, that what he calls "the preent contitution," is merely temporary. As parents, we can have no joy, knowing that this government is not ufficiently lating to enure any thing which we may bequeath to poterity: And by a plain method of argument, as we are running the next generation into debt, we ought to do the work of it, otherwie we ue them meanly and pitifully. In order to dicover the line of our duty rightly, we hould take our children in our hand, and fix our tation a few years farther into life; that eminence will preent a propect, which a few preent fears and prejudices conceal from our ight.

Though I would carefully avoid giving unneceary offence, yet I am inclined to believe, that all thoe who epoue the doctrine of reconciliation, may