American Eloquence, Volume I | Page 9

the extension of her commerce was her object. When she defended
our coasts, she fought for her customers, and convoyed our ships loaded with wealth,
which we had acquired for her by our industry. She has treated us as beasts of burthen,
whom the lordly masters cherish that they may carry a greater load. Let us inquire also
against whom she has protected us? Against her own enemies with whom we had no
quarrel, or only on her account, and against whom we always readily exerted our wealth
and strength when they were required. Were these colonies backward in giving assistance
to Great Britain, when they were called upon in 1739, to aid the expedition against
Carthagena? They at that time sent three thousand men to join the British army, although
the war commenced without their consent. But the last war, 't is said, was purely
American. This is a vulgar error, which, like many others, has gained credit by being
confidently repeated. The dispute between the Courts of Great Britain and France, related
to the limits of Canada and Nova Scotia. The controverted territory was not claimed by
any in the colonies, but by the Crown of Great Britain. It was therefore their own quarrel.
The infringement of a right which England had, by the treaty of Utrecht, of trading in the
Indian country of Ohio, was another cause of the war. The French seized large quantities
of British manufactures, and took possession of a fort which a company of British
merchants and factors had erected for the security of their commerce. The war was
therefore waged in defence of lands claimed by the Crown, and for the protection of
British property. The French at that time had no quarrel with America; and, as appears by
letters sent from their commander-in-chief, to some of the colonies, wished to remain in
peace with us. The part therefore which we then took, and the miseries to which we
exposed ourselves, ought to be charged to our affection for Britain. These colonies
granted more than their proportion to the support of the war. They raised, clothed, and
maintained nearly twenty-five thousand men, and so sensible were the people of England
of our great exertions, that a message was annually sent to the House of Commons
purporting: "That his majesty, being highly satisfied of the zeal and vigor with which his
faithful subjects in North America had exerted themselves in defence of his majesty's just
rights and possessions, recommend it to the House, to take the same into consideration,
and enable him to give them a proper compensation."
But what purpose can arguments of this kind answer? Did the protection we received
annul our rights as men, and lay us under an obligation of being miserable?
Who among you, my countrymen, that is a father, would claim authority to make your
child a slave because you had nourished him in his infancy?

'T is a strange species of generosity which requires a return infinitely more valuable than
anything it could have bestowed; that demands as a reward for a defence of our property,
a surrender of those inestimable privileges, to the arbitrary will of vindictive tyrants,
which alone give value to that very property.
Courage, then, my countrymen! our contest is not only whether we ourselves shall be free,
but whether there shall be left to mankind an asylum on earth, for civil and religious
liberty? Dismissing, therefore, the justice of our cause as incontestable, the only question
is, What is best for us to pursue in our present circumstances?
The doctrine of dependence on Great Britain is, I believe, generally exploded; but as I
would attend to the honest weakness of the simplest of men, you will pardon me if I offer
a few words on that subject.
We are now on this continent, to the astonishment of the world, three millions of souls
united in one common cause. We have large armies, well disciplined and appointed, with
commanders inferior to none in military skill, and superior in activity and zeal. We are
furnished with arsenals and stores beyond our most sanguine expectations, and foreign
nations are waiting to crown our success by their alliances. There are instances of, I
would say, an almost astonishing Providence in our favor; our success has staggered our
enemies, and almost given faith to infidels; so that we may truly say it is not our own arm
which has saved us.
The hand of Heaven appears to have led us on to be, perhaps, humble instruments and
means in the great Providential dispensation which is completing. We have fled from the
political Sodom; let us not look back, lest we perish and become a monument of infamy
and derision to the world! For can we ever expect