ry generous feeling of humanity, or that is not stupidly blind
to his own interest, could bear to offer himself and posterity
as victims at the shrine of despotism, in preference to endur-
ing the short lived inconveniencies that may result from an
abridgment, or even entire suspension of commerce.

Were not the disadvantages of slavery too obvious to stand
in need of it, I might enumerate and describe the tedious
train of calamities, inseperable from it. I might shew that it
is fatal to religion and morality; that it tends to debate the
mind, and corrupt its noblest springs of action. I might shew,
that it relaxes the sinews of industry, clips the wings of com-
merce, and introduces misery and indigence in every shape.

Under the auspices of tyranny, the life of the subject is of-
ten sported with; and the fruits of his daily toil are con-
sumed in oppressive taxes, that serve to gratify the ambition,
avarice and lusts of superiors. Every court minion riots
in the spoils of the honest labourer, and despises the hand by
which he is fed. The page of history is replete with instances
that loudly warn us to beware of slavery.

Rome was the nurse of freedom. She was celebrated for
her justice and lenity; but in what manner did she govern her
dependent provinces? They were made the continual scene
of rapine and cruelty. From thence let us learn, how little
confidence is due to the wisdom and equity of the most exem-
plary nations.

Should Americans submit to become the vassals of their fel-
low-subjects in Great Britain, their yoke will be peculiarly
grievous and intolerable. A vast majority of mankind is in-
tirely biassed by motives of self-interest. Most men are glad to
remove any burthens off themselves, and place them upon the
necks of their neighbours. We cannot therefore doubt, but
that the British Parliament, with a view to the ease and advan-
tage of itself, and its constituents, would oppress and grind the
Americans as much as possible. Jealousy would concur with self-
ishness; and for fear of the future independence of America, if it
should be permitted to rise to too great a height of splendor and
opulence, every method would be taken to drain it of its wealth
and restrain its prosperity. We are already suspected of aiming
at independence, and that is one principal cause of the severity