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Show [:74] [75} " BUT, however great the injullice of our foes in Coma inencing this war, it is by no means equal to the cruelty afilietions of their captivity. This conduct we have pur- fued to far, as to be by them fligmatized with cowardice, with which they have conducted it, The courfe of their armies is marked by rapine and deval'tation. 'I‘houfands, without dilliiifticin of age or fcx, have bten driven frem their peaceful abodes, to encounter the rigors of incle- ment teati:r.s ; and the face of Heaven hath been infulttd by the wanton conflagration of deteiicclefs towns. Their victories have been followed by the cool murder of men no longer able to refill; and thofe who efcaped from the full act of carnage have been expofed, by cold, hunger, and nakednefs to wear out a iniferable exilteiice in the tedious hours of confinement, or to become the deflroyers of their countrymen, of their friends, perhaps, dreadful ideal of their parents or children. Nor was this the outrageous barbarity of an individual, but a fyflem of de- l'.lllllll/ H" liberate malice, ftamped with the concurrence of the Britilh legiflature, and lane‘tioned with all the formalities of law. Nay, determined to diflblve the clofelt bonds of fociety, they have ltimulated fervants to flay their mailers in the peaceful hour of domellie fecurity. And, as if all this were infuflieient to flake their thirll of blood, the blood of brothers, of unoffending brothers, they have excited the Indians againlt us ; and a general, who calls hiin'felf a chri‘llian, a follower of the merciful Jefus, hath dared to proclaim to all the world his intention of letting loofe againft us whole bolts of favages, whofe rule of warfare is pi'omifcuous carnage, who rejoice to murder the infant fmiling in its mother's arms, to inflict on their prifoners the molt excruciating torments, and exhibit fcenes of horror from which nature recoils, " WERE it polfible, they would have added to this terrible fyltem, for they have offered the inhabitants of thefe Rates to be exported by their merchants to the lickly, baiieftil climes of lndia, there to perifh. An offer not accepted of, merely from the impraéticability of carryin g it into execution. " NOTWITHsTANDING thefe great provocationS, we have treated fueh of them as fell into our hands with tendernefs, and lludioully endeavoured to alleviate the afflictions and by our friends with folly. But our dependence was not upon man. It was upon Him who hath commanded us to love our enemies, and to render good for evil. And what can be more wonderful than the manner of our deliveranees? How often have we been reduced to ditlrefs, and yet been railed up ? When the means to profecute the war have been wanting to us, have not our foes themfelves been rendered inftrumental in providing them ? This hath been done in fuch a variety of inltanees, fo peculiarly marked almolt by the direct interpolition of Providence, that not to feel and acknowledge his proteétion, would be the height of impious ingratitude. " AT length that God of battles, in whom was ourtruf't‘, hath condueted us through the paths ofdanger and dif'trels to the threlholds of feeurity. It hath now become morally certain, that, if we have courage to per evere, we {hall eltablifh our liberties and independeiice.-«The haughty prince, who fpurned us from his feet with c'onttimely and difdain,---and the parliament which prolcribed. us, now defeend to offer terms of accommodation. VVhilft in the full career of vie‘lory, they pulled off the mafk, and avowed their intended defpotifin : But, having laVifhed in vain the blood and ti‘eafure of their fubjeé'ts in purfuit of this exeerable purpofe, they now endeavour to enfnare us With the infidious offers of peace. They would feduee you into a dependence, which neceffarily, inevitably leads to the molt humiliating; llavery. And do they believe that you Will accept tlieife fatal-terms? Beeaufe you have {uttered the difirefles of war, do they fuppofe that you Will baleiy lick the dult before the feet of your deltroyers? Can there be an American fo loft to the feelings which adorn human nature P To the generous pride, the elevation, the dignity of free- dom .9 I; there a man who would not abhor a dependence upon thofe who have deluged his COU‘HU'y‘lII the blood of its inhabitants? We cannot fuppole this; neither is it poflible that they themfelves can expect toaiiake many converts. VVhat then is their intention F Is It. not to lull you with the fallacious hopes of peace, until they can at: femble new armies to profeeute their nefarious deligiis; K 2 it: |
