without their Host."

Put us, says some, on the footing we were on in sixty-three: To which I
answer, the request is not now in the power of Britain to comply with,
neither will she propose it; but if it were, and even should be
granted, I ask, as a reasonable question, By what means is such a
corrupt and faithless court to be kept to its engagements? Another
parliament, nay, even the present, may hereafter repeal the obligation,
on the pretense, of its being violently obtained, or unwisely granted;
and in that case, Where is our redress?--No going to law with nations;
cannon are the barristers of Crowns; and the sword, not of justice, but
of war, decides the suit. To be on the footing of sixty-three, it is
not sufficient, that the laws only be put on the same state, but, that
our circumstances, likewise, be put on the same state; Our burnt and
destroyed towns repaired or built up, our private losses made good, our
public debts (contracted for defence) discharged; otherwise, we shall
be millions worse than we were at that enviable period. Such a
request, had it been complied with a year ago, would have won the heart
and soul of the Continent--but now it is too late, "The Rubicon is
passed."

Besides, the taking up arms, merely to enforce the repeal of a
pecuniary law, seems as unwarrantable by the divine law, and as
repugnant to human feelings, as the taking up arms to enforce obedience
thereto. The object, on either side, doth not justify the means; for
the lives of men are too valuable to be cast away on such trifles. It
is the violence which is done and threatened to our persons; the
destruction of our property by an armed force; the invasion of our
country by fire and sword, which conscientiously qualifies the use of
arms: And the instant, in which such a mode of defence became
necessary, all subjection to Britain ought to have ceased; and the
independancy of America, should have been considered, as dating its
aera from, and published by, THE FIRST MUSKET THAT WAS FIRED AGAINST
HER. This line is a line of consistency; neither drawn by caprice, nor
extended by ambition; but produced by a chain of events, of which the
colonies were not the authors.

I shall conclude these remarks with the following timely and well
intended hints. We ought to reflect, that there are three different
ways by which an independancy may hereafter be effected; and that ONE
of those THREE, will one day or other, be the fate of Amer