OCR Text |
Show 3, COMMON SENSE. COMMON SENSE. Let each colony be divided into fix, eight, or ten, centre; nient diflrias, each dillriét to fend a proper number of de- legates to Congrefs, fo that each colony fend at leaf} thirty. The whole number in Congrefs will be at leafi 390. Each Congrefs to fit by the following method. and to choofe a prefident When the delegates are met, let a colony be taken from the whole thirteen colonies by lot, afrer which, let the whole Congrefs choofe (by ballot) a ptefident from out of the delegates of that province. In the next Congrefs, let a colony be taken by lot from twelve only, omitting that colony from which the prefidenr-was taken in the former Congrats, and fo proceeding on till the whole thirteen (hall have had their proper rotation. And in order that nothing may pafs into a law but what is fatisfaElor'rly jufl, not lefs than three fifths of the Congrefs to be called a majority --He that will promote difcord, under a government to equally formed as this, would have joined Lucifer in his revolt. tit/rat's 35 The conferring members being met, let their bufinefs be to frame a CONTINENTAL CHARTER, or Charter of the United Colonies; (anfwering to what is called the Magma Charta of England) fixing the number and manner of choof- ing members of Congrr-fs, members of Aflembly, with their date of fitting, and drawing the line of bufinefs and jnrifdiction between them: (AlWays remembering, that our flrength is continental, not provincialZ) Securingfreedom and property to all men,'and above all things, the free exerctfe of religion, according to the diélates of confcicnce ; with fuch other matter as is neceffary for acharter to contain. Immem diately after which, the {aid Conference to diflolve, and the bodies which fhall be chofen conformable to the {aid char- let, to be the legiflators and governors of this continent for the time being: Whofe peace and happinefs, may God preferve, Amen. . Should any body of men be hereafter delegated for this, But as there is a peculiar delicacy, from whom, or in or fome fimilar putpofe, Ioffer them the rollowing extraéls from that wife obferver on governments Draganerti. " The what manner, this buftnefs mufi firll arife, and as it feems " fcience" fays he " of the politician confifis in fixing the mot} agreeable and confifient, that it fhould come from " true point of happinefs and freedom. fome intermediate body between the governed and the go- " deferve the gratitude of ages, who {hould difcover a mode " of government that contained the greatefi fum of individual vernors, that is, between the Congrefs and the people,» let a CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE be held, in the following manner, and for the following purpofe. A committee of twenty fix members of Congrefs, viz. 'lwo for each colony. Two members from each Houfe of Affembly, or Provincial Convention; and five reprefentatives of the people at large, to be chofen in the capital city Thofe men would 5‘ happinefs, with the leai'r national expence. Draganettx' arr virtue and rewards." But where fays fame is the King of America? I'll tell you Friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of if more convenient, the reprefentatives may be chofen in two or three of the molt populous parts thereof. In this mankind, like the Royal Brute of Britain. Yet that we may not appear to be defective even in earthly honors, let a day be folemnly fet apart for proclaiming the charter ; let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God ; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that fo far as we approve of monarchy, that in America THE LAW 15 KING. For as in abfolute govern- conference, thus afTembled, will be united, the two grand ments the King is law, fo in free countries the law a‘ugb: principals of bufinefs, Ilmwlrdge and power. of Congrefs, Affimblies, or Conventions, by having had to be King; and there ought to be no other. But left any ill ufe {hould afterwards arife, let the crown at the conclu- experience in national concerns, will be able and ufefulcoun- fion of the ceremony be demoliihed, and featteted among fel'ors, and the whole, being impoweted by the people, the people, whofe right it is. or town of each province, for, and in behalf of the whole province, by as many qualified voters as {hall think proper to attend from all parts of the province for that purpofe ; or, The members A government of Our own is our natural right: And will have a truly legal authority. The when a man ferioufly tefleéts on the precarioufnefs of hu\ mam |