Volume I Part 19 (1/2)

A father and his family, the latter united by interest and affection, the former to be revered for the wisdoent use of his authority, was the form it was at first presented in Those ere only ambitious of repose, found it here; and as none returned with an evil report of the land, numbers followed, all partook of the leaven they found; the community still wore the same equal face; nobody aspired, nobody was oppressed; industry was sure of profit, knowledge of estee landlord, strongly disposed to convert free tenants into abject vassals, and to reap what he did not sow, countenanced and abetted by a few desperate and designing dependants on the one side, and on the other, all who have sense enough to know their rights and spirit enough to defend theainst the said landlord and his encroachments, is the form it has since assumed

And surely, to a nation born to liberty like this, bound to leave it unimpaired, as they received it from their fathers, in perpetuity to their heirs, and interested in the conservation of it in every appendage of the British empire, the particulars of such a contest cannot be wholly indifferent

On the contrary, it is reasonable to think the first workings of power against liberty, and the natural efforts of unbiased ainst the first approaches of oppression,power over everyus

Liberty, it seems, thrives best in the woods Aht forth And were it not for certain ugly co from such a research would be without alloy

In the feuds of Florence, recorded by Machiavel, we find more to lament and less to praise Scarce can we believe the first citizens of the ancient republics had such pretensions to consideration, though so highly celebrated in ancient story And as to ourselves, we need no longer have recourse to the late glorious stand of the French parliaments to excite our ee their corn fro the bushel; and in case the wisdoe should condescend to make the like experiment in another shape, from hence we may learn whither to repair for the proper species

It is not, however, to be presu been accustoeneral as only so many dependencies on the council-board, the board of trade, and the board of customs; or as a hotbed for causes, jobs, and other pecuniary emoluments, and as bound as effectually by instructions as by laws, can be prevailed upon to consider these patriot rustics with any degree of respect

Derision, on the contrary, ines it in the power of the pen to set any lustre upon the to assert and maintain the independence interwoven in their constitution, which now, it seeredient, and, therefore, to be excised away

But how conteentlemen may talk of the colonies, how cheap soever they nificant the planters and traders who compose them, truth will be truth, and principle principle, notwithstanding

Courage, wisdority, and honour are not to be ned theo and the vouchers they furnish; and, if so manifested, need neither robes nor titles to set them off

_Dr Franklin's motion for Prayers in the Convention asse Articles of Confederation_

MR PRESIDENT,

THE sress we have made after four or five weeks' close attendance and continual reasonings with each other, our different senti as many _Noes_ as _Ayes_, is, methinks, a melancholy proof of the i We indeed seem to _feel_ our oant of political wisdo all about in search of it We have gone back to ancient history for overnment, and exa been originally forer exist; and we have viewed modern states all round Europe, but find none of their constitutions suitable to our circu, as it were, in the dark, to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of huhts to illu of the contest with Britain, ere sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for the Divine protection! Our prayers, sir, were heard; and they were graciously answered All of us ere engaged in the struggleProvidence in our favour To that kind Providence e this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on theour future national felicity And haveforgotten that powerful friend? or do we ier need its assistance? I have lived, sir, a long ti proofs I see of this truth, _That_ God _governs in the affairs of round without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, sir, in the Sacred Writings, that ”except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it” I firmly believe this; and I also believe, that without his concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the building of Babel: we shall be divided by our little partial local interests, our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall becoes And, what is worse, mankind may hereafter, froovernment by human wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest