Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/478



—Your declaration at New York, has reached this place. It has occasioned surprise and concern. The known honor and abilities of your Excellencies, and your declaration, appear perfect contrasts. The latter is an unnatural production. Hurt, as I am, to see your names so prostituted, I cannot restrain myself from making a few remarks to your Excellencies upon a subject, which, by endangering your reputation, distresses every generous mind. I shall first state your declaration.

"Although the Congress, whom the misguided Americans suffer to direct the opposition to a reestablishment of the constitutional government of these provinces, have disavowed every purpose of reconciliation not consonant with their extravagant and inadmissible claim of independence,—the King's Commissioners think fit to declare that they are equally desirous to confer with His Majesty's well affected subjects upon the means of restoring the public tranquillity, and establishing a permanent union with every colony, as a part of the British Empire. The king being most graciously pleased to direct a revision of such of his royal instructions to his governors as may be construed to lay an improper restraint on the freedom of legislation in any of his Colonies, and to concur in the revisal of all acts, by which His Majesty's subjects there may think themselves aggrieved, it is recommended to the inhabitants at large, to reflect seriously upon their present condition and expectations, and judge for themselves, whether it be more consistent with their honor and happiness, to offer up their lives as a sacrifice to the unjust and precarious cause in which they are engaged, or return to their allegiance, accept the blessings of peace, and to be secured in a free enjoyment of their liberties and properties upon the true principles of the Constitution.

"Given at New York, 19th September, 1776.

"HOWE. "W. HOWE.

"By command of their Excellencies,

And now, not to detain your Excellencies by making observations upon Lord Howe's not assuming his military title, displaying the nature of his supreme hostile command in America, by which unusual and designed omission, the ignorant, seeing his name contrasted with that of a general clothed in all his terrors, may be entrapped to believe that his lordship is to be considered in a more amiable point of view, a mere Commissioner only, for restoring peace, without any military command to intimidate and coerce: not to wound your delicacy, by admiring the wisdom of your appealing from the Congress to people confessed by you to be directed by that honorable assembly: my remarks shall be confined to the more material parts of your Declaration, which, I am sorry to say, are in every respect unworthy your good sense and high characters.

Your Excellencies "think fit to declare," that you are desirous "of restoring the public tranquillity." But is the end your Excellencies aim at our honor and advantage? Is it to give a free scope to our natural growth? Is it to confirm to us our rights by the law of nature? No! It is to cover us with infamy. It is to chill the sap,