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never existed before; and who can tell what may be the event? The property of no man is
secure in the present unbraced system of things. The mind of the multitude is left at
random, and seeling no fixed object before them, they pursue such as fancy or opinion
starts. Nothing is criminal; there is no such thing as treason; wherefore, every one thinks
himself at liberty to act as he pleases. The Tories dared not to have assembled
offensively, had they known that their lives, by that act, were forfeited to the laws of the
state. A line of distinction should be drawn, between English soldiers taken in battle, and
inhabitants of America taken in arms. The first are prisoners, but the latter traitors. The
one forfeits his liberty, the other his head.
Notwithstanding our wisdom, there is a visible feebleness in some of our proceedings
which gives encouragement to dissensions. The Continental Belt is too losely buckled.
Common Sense& 32
And if something is not done in time, it will be too late to do any thing, and we shall fall
into a state, in which, neither Reconciliation nor Independence will be practicable. The
king and his worthless adherents are got at their old game of dividing the Continent, and
there are not wanting among us, Printers, who will be busy spreading specious
falsehoods. The artful and hypocritical letter which appeared a few months ago in two of
the New-York papers, and likewise in two others, is an evidence that there are men who
want either judgment or honesty.
It is easy getting into holes and corners and talking of reconciliation: But do such men
seriously consider, how difficult the task is, and how dangerous it may prove, should the
Continent divide thereon. Do they take within their view, all the various orders of men
whose situation and circumstances, as well as their own, are to be considered therein. Do
they put themselves in the place of the sufferer whose all is already gone, and of the
soldier, who hath quitted all for the defence of his country. If their ill judged moderation
be suited to their own private situations only, regardless of others, the event will convince
them, that "they are reckoning without their Host."
Put us, say 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 pretence, 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 independency of America, should
have been considered, as dating its era 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.
Common Sense& 33
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