r; let it be brought forth placed on the
divine law, the Word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by
which the world may know that, so far as we approve of monarchy,
that in America _the law is king_. For as in absolute governments
the king is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king;
and there ought to be no other. But, lest any ill use should
afterward arise, let the crown, at the conclusion of the ceremony,
be demolished, and scattered among the people, whose right it is.

"A government of our own is our natural right; and when a man
seriously reflects on the precariousness of human affairs, he will
become convinced that it is infinitely wiser and safer to form a
constitution of our own in a cool, deliberate manner, while we
have it in our power, than to trust such an interesting event to
time and chance. If we omit it now, some Massanello may hereafter
arise, who, laying hold of popular disquietudes, may collect
together the desperate and the discontented, and, by assuming to
themselves the powers of government, finally sweep away the
liberties of the continent like a deluge. Should the government of
America return again into the hands of Britain, the tottering
situation of things will be a temptation for some desperate
adventurer to try his fortune; and, in such a case, what relief
can Britain give? Ere she could hear the news the fatal business
might be done, and ourselves suffering, like the wretched Britons,
under the oppression of the Conqueror. Ye that oppose independence
now, ye know not what ye do: ye are opening a door to eternal
tyranny, by keeping vacant the seat of government. There are
thousands, and tens of thousands, who would think it glorious to
expel from the continent that barbarous and hellish power, which
hath stirred up the Indians and negroes to destroy us. The cruelty
hath a double guilt--it is dealing brutally by us, and
treacherously by them.

"To talk of friendship with those in whom our reason forbids us to
have faith, and our affections, wounded through a thousand pores,
instruct us to detest, is madness and folly. Every day wears out
the little remains of kindred between us and them; and can there
be any reason to hope that, as the relationship expires, the
affection will increase, or that we shall agree better when we
have ten times more and greater concerns to quarrel over than
ever?

"Ye t