Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/454

422 read, at six o'clock in the evening, at the head of each brigade of the army. "The general hopes," said he, in his orders, "that this important event will serve as a fresh incentive to every officer and soldier, to act with fidelity and courage, as knowing that now the peace and safety of his country depends, under God, solely on the success of our arms; and that he is now in the service of a State, possessed of sufficient power to reward his merit and advance him to the highest honors of a free country."

The people in the city of New York, not only indulged themselves in the usual demonstrations of joy by ringing of bells and the like, but also concluded that the leaden statue of his Majesty, George III., in the Bowling Green, might now be turned to good account: they, therefore, pulled down the statue, and the lead was run into bullets for the good cause. Everywhere throughout the country the Declaration was hailed with joy. Processions were formed; bells were rung; cannon were fired; orations delivered; and in every possible way the popular approbation was manifested.

Matters had now reached such a crisis that it became necessary for every member of the community to make his election between one side or the other. Doubt was now to be put an end to; and the people must choose either to enroll themselves on the side of those who were now solemnly pledged to independence, or take the consequences of adhering to the side of the king and the invading army sent to reduce their countrymen to absolute and unconditional submission. Without undertaking here to discuss the question as to the motives and conduct of the loyalist party in America, it appears quite certain that the indignities frequently heaped upon them by private malice, under color of patriotic zeal, such as tarring and feathering, carting them about as spectacles, and the like, were of the most odious description; and it need excite no surprise that the spirit of revenge was roused into active and savage fury. "We shall have abundant evidence of this in the course of our narrative. At the same time it is perfectly evident, that Congress and the various state governments were, of necessity, compelled to insist upon the allegiance of all without distinction; and they who refused to yield obedience, or adhered to the enemy, were exposed to severe penalties, confiscation of property, imprisonment, banishment, and finally, death. Congress, before the passage of the Declaration of Independence, declared, that "all persons abiding within any of the United Colonies, and deriving protection from the laws of the same, owed allegiance to the said laws, and were members of such colony; and that all persons passing through, or making a temporary stay in any of the colonies, being entitled to the protection of the laws, during the time of such passage, visitation, or temporary stay, owed, during the same, allegiance thereto." It was also declared, "that all persons, members of, or owing allegiance to any of the United Colonies, who should levy war against any of the said colonies, within the same; or be adherent to the king of Great Britain, or other enemies of the said colonies, or