orts must be irregular, feeble, and
without all prospect of success; they could possess no power to
suppress mutinies, or to punish conspiracies; nor could they
expect countenance and support from any of the states of Europe,
however they might be inclined to favour them, while they
acknowledged themselves to be subjects, and it was uncertain how
soon they might sacrifice their friends and allies to the hopes
of a reunion. To look back, they were told, to the king of
England, after all the insults they had experienced, and the
hostilities that were begun, would be the height of
pusillanimity and weakness. They were bid to think a little for
their posterity, who by the irreversible laws of nature and
situation, could have no alternative left them but to be slaves
or independent. Finally, many subtle reasonings were alledged,
to evince the advantages they must derive from intrinsic
legislation, and general commerce.

"On the other hand, the middle and temperate party, represented
this step as unnecessary, uncertain in its benefits, and
irretrievable in its consequences. They expatiated on the
advantages that had long been experienced by the colonists from
the fostering care of Great Britain, the generosity of the
efforts she had made to protect them, and the happiness they had
known under her auspicious patronage. They represented their
doubt of the ability of the colonies to defend themselves
without her alliance. They stated the necessity of a common
superior to balance the separate and discordant interests of the
different provinces. They dwelt upon the miseries of an internal
and doubtful struggle. Determined never to depart from the
assertion of what they considered as their indefeasible right,
they would incessantly besiege the throne with their humble
remonstrances. They would seek the clemency of England, rather
than the alliance of those powers, whom they conceived to be the
real enemies of both; nor would they ever be accessory to the
shutting up the door of reconciliation.

"But the voice of moderation is seldom heard amidst the
turbulence of civil dissention. Violent counsels prevailed. The
decisive and irrevocable step was made on the 4th of July 1776.
It remains with posterity to decide upon its merits. Since that
time it has indeed received the sanction o