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Show . may '1?a..." 7"- . "gnaw-r 'P/7a3‘u'"~ @ 'QUESTIONS AND not be good policy to rely altogether on the above Ways ANSWERS 37 and means of railing money to carry on the war; they Britain; the force of habit will wear oil'; the remembrance of pill benefits will be obliterated by recent will only be found to aniWer in cafe of funds. If we wrongs, and the {weets of independancc once enjoyed ihould have no other refources, the knowledge of this will el'teétually preclude a {ublctliicnt dcpendance on Great-Britain. Will not the niifchiefs of independance overbalance the benefits .9 To determine this queftion both mull be flared; and difpaflionately confidered, to form a true judgement. The cvils apprehended from independancc may be re- very circumflance may encourage our enemy to protraé't the war. The quit-rents heretofore paid to the crown may be applied to the public ufe; but bcfides the inabia Iity of the people to pay thefe quit-rents, when deprived of the means of payment, they will go but a little way towards the {upport of the war. How long is it expected that thefe colonies can fit eafy under a total {tagnation of external commerce, and the almofl: entire fioppage of the courts of juflice? This lituation is furely too conflrained to admit of any confiderable duration ; the feelings of our people and our exigencies point out the neceflity of opening a trade to foreign nations. To proteét our trade a marine is wanting; to form one during this war, adequate to the purpole, feems imprac‘ticable. We mull make it the intercfl of foreigners to take this burthen on them-s Elves; a declaration of independance might pollibly tempt France and Spain to run the rifk of a war with lingland, provided thole powers could be allured of out remaining independant; they would, no doubt, be willing to guarranty our independance, but they may apprehend, and not without good grOunds, that their taking a too early part with us in the war would induce Great-Britain to make peace with the colonies. It may therefore be the policy of France and Spain not to appear forward and dcfirous at intermeddling; to fuller the war to continue, that the contending parties, exalperated by mutual iné Juries, may not again coalefce; fecretly to countenance their {ubjcéls commerce with thefe colonies, and per; baps to allilt them with money, arms, and ammunition. Should the Britifh government direct the war to be proe {ecuted in the manner it has been, and {hould every colony in turn experience fuch horrid ravages, the red fentrnent and indignation occalioned thereby may totally duced to thelc thice, civil (lifl'cntions; the cl‘t:,ibli{hment of tyranny, as a certain confiquence; and the great ex- pence of fleets and armies to maintain that independance. As a foederal union of thcle colonies will probably enlue, {hould they feparate i'rom Great-Britain, it may be prefumed that the utmol't precaution will lie tiled in drawing the articles of the union; and in the formation and lettlcntent of this new governn‘cnt, every fecurity which human forcfight can tugged will be taken for the prelbrvation of the liberties, plhllegc‘s,‘ and independancy of each colony, and the prom €lion ct all. Dillbntions can {pring only from the ambition of the more powerful colonies, or from a contrariety of in- terefls; What probability is there that two or three colonies will unite to {nbdue the rell? ls it not more probable, {hould any colony or colonies break the union, and form the ambitions projeélt ol‘ conquering the others, that thete will immediately unite again": the infringers of the public faith? Foreign affiltance would not be wanting to iiipport the weaker conflderacy, and this conlidcration alone would deter the llronger from the attempt. . ll ambition {hould not occafion a cival war, a difle: rente of intcrclls and religion may; the intercfis ot thele coli nies are as diflicrent as their religious tenets.-~ This has often hcen laid, but remains to be. proved. Some dilputes may arile concr-rning trade, duties, cultorns, and impofitions on merchandize,‘ or about their: alienate the minds of the colonilts, and wean them from mits and boundaries of contu uons provmcrs ; thefeVurt- that afieflzion, which heretofore bound them to Greata Britain; putes inult be adjulied and finally fouled by the Great is kcuncrl, |
