Page:Common sense - addressed to the inhabitants of America.djvu/30

22 I am not induced by motives of pride, party or reentment, to epoue the doctrine of eparation and independence; I am clearly, poitively, and concientiouly peruaded that it is the true interet of this Continent to be o; that every thing hort of that is mere patchwork; that it can afford no lating felicity, that it is leaving the word to our children, and hrinking back at a time when a little more, a little farther, would have rendered this Continent the glory of the earth.

As Britain hath not manifeted the leat inclination towards a compromie, we may be aured that no terms can be obtained worthy the acceptance of the Continent, or any ways equal to the expence of blood and treaure we have been already put to.

The object contended for, ought always to bear ome jut proportion to the expence. The removal of North, or the whole detetable junto, is a matter unworthy the millions we have expended. A temporary toppage of trade was an inconvenience, which would have ufficiently balanced the repeal of all the acts complained of, had uch repeals been obtained; but if the whole Continent mut take up arms, if every man mut be a oldier, it is carcely worth our while to fight againt a contemptible minitry only. Dearly, dearly do we pay for the repeal of the acts, if that is all we fight for; for in a jut etimation, it is as great a folly to pay a Bunker-hill price for law as for land. As I have always conidered the independency of this Continent as an event which ooner or later mut arrive, o from the late rapid progres of the Continent to maturity, the event could not be far of: Wherefore, on the breaking out of hotilities, it was not worth the while to have diputed a matter, which time would have finally redreed, unles we meant to be in earnet; otherwie it is like wating an etate on a uit at law, to regulate the trepaes of a tenant, whoe leae is jut expiring. No man was a warmer wiher for reconciliation than myelf, before the fatal 19th of April, 1775, but the moment the event of that day was made known, I rejected the hardened, ullen-tempered Pharoah of England for ever; and didain the wretch, that with the pretended title of, can unfeelingly hear of their laughter, and compoedly leep with their blood upon his oul.

But admitting that matters were now made up, what would be the event? I anwer, the ruin of the Continent. And that for everal reaons.

Firt.—The powers of governing till remaining in the hands of the King, he will have a negative over the whole legilation of this Continent: And as he hath hewn himelf uch an inveterate enemy to liberty, and dicovered uch a thirt for arbitrary power, is he, or is he not, a proper man to ay to thee Colonies, "you hall make no laws but what I pleae?" And is there any inhabitant in America o ignorant as not to know, that according to what is called the preent contitution, that this Continent can make no laws but what the King gives leave