OCR Text |
Show COMMON SENSE. 42 ‘ , ; for if_ Am 6:1... thing can be farther from truth than ‘ this <""t)MMON SENSE. 43 had only a twentieth part ofthc naval torce of llrztain, I. a VJho will remove his life to reduce his own countrymen would he by far an over match for he: ; hecau'e, as to a foreign oh dis-nee ? Vania and Cunnet‘ltcut, {hews the it7li,ti'tlflc;tflcc proves, that rm hing. but neither have, nor claim any fet'eign dominion, our v ht l: force would. be cnrplovtd on our own coafl, where we; fhmld, in the long run, have two to one the advantage. or thofe who had thin or four ihoul'nnd miles to fail over, bea fore they could attack us, and the fame difiance to return in order to refit and recruit. And although Btilflln by he! fleet, hath a check over our trade to Europe, we bait as i'argea one over her trad-5 to the "vVegfl-lndtei, which, by iaying'in the neighbouihuol of the Continent, is entirety at its mercy. Some method might be fallen on to keep up a naval force in time of peace, it" we {hould n: tiring: it necefi‘ai‘y to [upport a contiant navy. ‘ If premiums were to be given to merchants, to build and employ in their fervice, {hips mounted ,with twenty, thirty, forty, or fi‘ty guns, (the premiums to it: in eroportion to the info of bu k to the merchants) fifty or {1qu of [hole ihips, with a few guard {hips on confirm! duty, would keep a liifficicnt navy, and that without burdw ening ourfclvE‘i with the evrl, lo loudly complained of in England, of {offering their fleet, in time of peace to lie rot- ting in the docks. To unite the fincws of commerce and defence is found policy ; for when our f'ttength and our riches, play into each other's hand, we need fear no external enemy. In alrnofl every article of defence we abound. Hemp The difference between PCttlllylreign-fling {tine unlocatcd landv, of a Btitifh government, and lully Continental authority can regulate Continental me me. Another rualon why the prefent time is preferable to all others, is, that the favor our markets are, the more land there is yet unoccupied, which inllead of being laviflled by the king on his worthlei's depenlants, may be lit waiter applied, not only to the (llk'ltfitgfl of the pro 6.2.: debt, but to the conflant {uppt‘lrt of government. No nation under heaven hath {itch an advantage as this. The infant {late of the Colonies, as it is called, {0 far from being agalnl'i, is an at'7ilt'1‘lcnt in favor olindepertdance. We are fuf'ficicntly numerous, and were we more to, we might be leis united. it is a matter worthy ofohfetvation, that the more a country is ricopled, the {maller their armies are. In military numbers, the ancients far exceeded the modems: and the rcafon is evident, lor trade being the confequence or" population, men become too much ahforha ed thereby to amend to any thing ellc. Commerce diminif'nes the foirit, both of penicillin and military defence. And hiliory fufftciently informs us, that the bravefl alchievec menis were always accompllflted in the non age of a nation. With the increafe of commerce, England hath lofi its fpitit. The city of London, notwithllanding its num- fiviurilhes even to m lunch, in that we need not want cor- bers, fuhmits to continued infults with the patience of a riage. Our iron is {uperior to that of other countries. Our final! arms equal to any in the world. Cannon we can coward. The more men have to lots, the leis willing are they to venture. The rich are in general flaves to fear, and fubmit to courtly power with the treniblinw duplicity of a Spaniel. . call at p‘cafure. Saltpetre and gunpowder we are every day producing. .lui' knowledge is hourly improving. Re- {Jlutionis our inherent charaéier, and courage bath never yet. forfalten us. Wherefore, what is it that we want? Why is i! that we hcfitate? From Britain we can expeét norhing but ruin. If {he is once admitted to the government of Atomic: again, this Continent will not be Wo'th living in. jealoufies will be always ariiing ; infurteflions will be con- tiantly happening; and who will go forth to quell tbs? i‘ he Youth is the feed of good habits, as well in nations as in individuals. It might be difficult, if not impcfi'ible, to form the Continent into one governmenthalf a century hence. The vaf't variety of intercfls, cct‘efioned by an increafe oftrade and populati‘cn, woiild create confufton. Colony would be againfl: colony. Each being able might {corn each other": amflance : and while the proud and fool. ifh gloried in their little diflinétions, the wife would laniehnr, ' ' i ' l as |