ica, viz. By
the legal voice of the people in Congress; by a military power; or by a
mob--It may not always happen that OUR soldiers are citizens, and the
multitude a body of reasonable men; virtue, as I have already remarked,
is not hereditary, neither is it perpetual. Should an independancy be
brought about by the first of those means, we have every opportunity
and every encouragement before us, to form the noblest purest
constitution on the face of the earth. We have it in our power to
begin the world over again. A situation, similar to the present, hath
not happened since the days of Noah until now. The birthday of a new
world is at hand, and a race of men, perhaps as numerous as all Europe
contains, are to receive their portion of freedom from the event of a
few months. The Reflexion is awful--and in this point of view, How
trifling, how ridiculous, do the little, paltry cavillings, of a few
weak or interested men appear, when weighed against the business of a
world.

Should we neglect the present favourable and inviting period, and an
Independance be hereafter effected by any other means, we must charge
the consequence to ourselves, or to those rather, whose narrow and
prejudiced souls, are habitually opposing the measure, without either
inquiring or reflecting. There are reasons to be given in support of
Independance, which men should rather privately think of, than be
publicly told of. We ought not now to be debating whether we shall be
independant or not, but, anxious to accomplish it on a firm, secure,
and honorable basis, and uneasy rather that it is not yet began upon.
Every day convinces us of its necessity. Even the Tories (if such
beings yet remain among us) should, of all men, be the most solicitous
to promote it; for, as the appointment of committees at first,
protected them from popular rage, so, a wise and well established form
of government, will be the only certain means of continuing it securely
to them. WHEREFORE, if they have not virtue enough to be WHIGS, they
ought to have prudence enough to wish for Independance.

In short, Independance is the only BOND that can tye and keep us
together. We shall then see our object, and our ears will be legally
shut against the schemes of an intriguing, as well, as a cruel enemy.
We shall then too, be on a proper footing, to treat with Britain; for
there is reason to conclude, that the pride of that court, will be less
hurt by treating with the Am