is manifest, because they wish to see one part of their species
enslaved by another. That they have an invincible aversion
to common sense is apparent in many respects: They endea-
vour to persuade us, that the absolute sovereignty of parlia-
ment does not imply our absolute slavery; that it is a Christian
duty to submit to be plundered of all we have, merely because
some of our fellow-subjects are wicked enough to require it of
us, that slavery, so far from being a great evil, is a great bless-
ing; and even, that our contest with Britian is founded entire-
ly upon the petty duty of 3 pence per pound on East India tea;
whereas the whole world knows, it is built upon this interesting
question, whether the inhabitants of Great-Britian have a right
to dispose of the lives and properties of the inhabitants of Ame-
rica, or not? And lastly, that these men have discarded all
pretension to common modesty, is clear from hence, first, be-
cause they, in plainest terms, call an august body of men,
famed for their patriotism and abilities, fools or knaves, and
of course the people whom they represented cannot be exempt
from the same opprobrious appellations: and secondly, because
they set themselves up as standards of wisdom and probity, by
contradicting and censuring the public voice in favour of those
men.

A little consideration will convince us, that the congress in-
stead of having "ignorantly misunderstood, carelessly neglected,
or basely betrayed the interests of the colonies," have, on the
contrary, devised and recommended the only effectual means to
secure the freedom, and establish the future prosperity of Ame-
rica upon a solid basis. If we are not free and happy hereafter,
it must proceed from the want of integrity and resolution, in
executing what they have concerted ; not from the temerity or
impolicy of their determinations.

Before I proceed to confirm this assertion by the most obvious
arguments, I will premise a few brief remarks. The only dis-
tinction between freedom and slavery consists in this : In the
former state, a man is governed by the laws to which he has
given his consent, either in person, or by his representative:
In the latter, he is governed by the will of another. In the one
case his life and property are his own, in the other, they de-
pend upon the pleasure of a master. It is easy to discern which
of these two states is preferable. No man in his senses can he-
state in choosing to be free, rather than a slave.