acquiesced in it, and are to be deemed confederates in their
guilt. It is impossible to exculpate a people, that suffers its
rulers to abuse and tyrannize over others.
It may not be amiss to add, that we are ready to receive
with open arms, any who may be suffers by the operation of
our measures, and recompense them with every blessing our
country affords to honest industry. We will receive them as
brethren, and make them sharers with us in all the advantages
we are struggling for.
From these plain and indisputable principles, the mode of
opposition we have chosen is reconcileable to the strictest max-
ims of Justice. It remains now to be examined, whether it
has also the sanction of good policy.
To render it agreeable to good policy, three things are re-
quisite. First, that the necessity of the times require it : Se-
condly, that it not the probable source of greater evils,
than those it pretends to remedy: And lastly, that it have a
probability of success.
That the necessity of the times demands it needs but lit-
tle elucidation. We are threatened with absolute slavery; it
has been proved, that resistance by means of REMONSTRANCE
and PETITION, would not be efficacious, and of course, that
a restriction on our trade, is the only peaceable method, in
our power, to avoid the impending mischief : It follows there-
fore, that such a restriction is necessary.
That it is not the probable source of greater evils than those
it pretends to remedy, may easily be determined. The most
abject slavery, which comprehends almost every species of hum-
man misery, is what it is designed to prevent.
The consequences of the means are a temporary stagnation of
commerce, and thereby a deprivation of the luxuries and some
of the conveniences of life. The necessaries, and many of
the conveniencies, our own fertile and propitious soil affords
us.
No person, that has enjoyed the sweets of liberty, can be in-
fensible of its infinite value, or can reflect on its reverse, with-
out horror and detestation. No person, that is not left to eve-