members from each house of assembly, or provincial
convention, and five representatives of the people at large, to be
chosen in the capital city or town of each province, for and in
behalf of the whole province, by as many qualified voters as shall
think proper to attend from all parts of the province for that
purpose; or, if more convenient, the representatives may be chosen
in two or three of the most populous parts thereof. In this
conference, thus assembled, will be united the two grand
principles of business--_knowledge_ and _power_. The members of
congress, assemblies, or conventions, by having had experience in
national concerns, will be able and useful counselors, and the
whole, being empowered by the people, will have a truly legal
authority.

"The conferring members being met, let their business be to frame
a _Continental Charter_, or Charter of the United Colonies
(answering to what is called the Magna Charta of England); fixing
the number and manner of choosing members of congress and members
of assembly, with their date of sitting, and drawing the line of
business and jurisdiction between them (always remembering that
our strength is continental, not provincial); securing freedom and
property to all men, and, above all things, the free exercise of
religion, according to the dictates of conscience; with such other
matter as it is necessary for a charter to contain. Immediately
after which, the said conference to dissolve, and the bodies which
shall be chosen conformable to the said charter to be the
legislators and governors of this continent for the time being:
whose peace and happiness may God preserve. Amen.

"Should any body of men be hereafter delegated for this or some
similar purpose, I offer them the following extract from that wise
observer on governments, Dragonetti: 'The science,' says he, 'of
the politician consists in fixing the true point of happiness and
freedom. Those men would deserve the gratitude of ages who should
discover a mode of government that contained the greatest sum of
individual happiness, with the least national expense.'

"But where, say some, is the king of America? I'll tell you,
friend: he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like
the royal brute of Britain. Yet, that we may not appear to be
defective even in earthly honors, let a day be solemnly set apart
for proclaiming the charte