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Show [723 [73] " WHEREAS perfuafion and influence, the example of the deluded or wicked, the fear of danger, or the calamitiesof war, may have induced fome of the fubjeé‘ts of thefe liates to join, aid, or abet the Britifh forces in America; with the earnel'tnefs of humble intreaty, we fupplicated a redrcfs of our grievances from him who ought to have and tho' now delirous of returning to their duty, and anxiouily wifhing to be received and reunited to their coun- been the father of his people. try, they may be deterred by the fear of punifhment ; and roiity, of Engliihmen- -of men who had been the guar- dians, the allertors and vindicators of liberty thro' a whereas the people of thefe ftates are ever more ready to reclaim than to abandon, to mitigate than to increafe the horrors of war, to pardon than to punifh offenders : " RESOLVED, That it be recommended to the legiflatures of the feveral {fates to pafs laws, or to the executive uthority of each Hate, if invefled with fufficient power, 'I'UIIIIII., " You cannot but remember how reltiaantly we were dragged into this arduous contefi; and how repeatedly, to iifue proclamations offering pardon, with fuch exceptions and under fuch limitations and rei'trié'tions as the feveral {fates {hall think expedient, to fuch of their inhabitants or fubjeéts who have levied war againfi any of thefe In vain did we implore his proteéition: in vain appeal to the julfice, the gene- fucceflion of ages: men, who, with their fwords, had eitabliihed the firm barrier of freedom, and cemented it with the blood of heroes. Every effort was vain. For, even whilft we were proitrated at the foot of the throne, that fatal blow was itruck, which hath feparated us for ever. Thus fpurned, contemned, and infulted---tl1us driven by our enemies into meafures which our fouls abhorred---we made a folemn appeal to the tribunal of un- crring wifdorn and jui'tice---to that Almighty ruler of princes whofe kingdom is over all. Rates, or who have adhered to, aided or abetted the enemy, and who fhall furrender them elves to any civil or military " \VF. were then quite dcfencelefs. officer of any of thefe fiates, and {hall return to the Prate to which they may belong before the 10th day of June next : and it is recommended to the good and faithful Citizens of thefe Rates to receive fuch returning penitents with compai'fion and mercy, and to forgive and bury in oblivion their pail failings and tranfgreflions." ON the 2d of lVIay IVIr. Simeon Deane arrived at York~ Town with copies of the treaties with France, whichWCre ratified on the 4th, and on the 8th the following addrefs was made to the people of America : Without arms,- without ammunition, without clothing, without ihips, without money, without officers ikilled in war ; with no other reliance but the bravery ofour people and thejuiiice of our caufe. VVe had to contend with a nation great in arts and in arms, whofe fleets covered the ocean, whofe banners had waved in triumph thro' every quarter of the globe. However unequal this conteit, our weaknefs was i'rill farther increafed by the enemies which America had nouriihed in her bofom. Thus expofed, on the one hand, to external force and internal diviiions; on the other, to be compelled to drink of the bitter cup of {lavery, and to go forrowing all our lives long; in this fad alternative, we Chofe the former. To this alternative we " Friend; and Country/nan, "' THREE years have now pafied away fince the were reduCed by men, who, had they been animated by one fpark of generofity, would have dildained to take commencement of the prefent war. A war without parallel in the annals of mankind. It hath difplayed a fpecf'tacle the moft folemn that can poflibly be exhibited. On one fide, we behold fraud and violence fuch mean advantage of our fituation; or, had they paid the leai't regard to the rules of juiiiCe, would have con- iiilered with abhorrence a propolition to injure thoie who lit-shoringr in the fervice of defpotifm; on the other, virtue had faithfully fought their battles, and indulh'ioully cork tributed to rear the edifice of their glory. and fortitude fupporting and efiabliihing the rights of human nature. " You' Fk '3‘ BUT, |