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Show COMMON SENSE. that the union had not been formed before. Wherefore, the prefer" time is the true time for efiab‘ifhing it. The inti- COMsMON SENSE. 45 the on thoughts few a out threw In page thirty-four I Continental Charter, (tori only pro-fume to offer hints, 44 macy which is contraéied in infancy, and the friendfhip not plans) and inthis place] take the liberty of roman. which is formed in misfortune, are of all others, the mofl: tioning the {ubjeélg by obl'erving, that a charter is to be Our prefent union is marked with underflood as a bond of folemn obligation, which the whole enters into, to {upport the right of every feparate part, whether of religion, perfonal freedom, or property. A right lafling and unalterable. both thefe charaaers : we are young, and we have been diflrefl'ed 3 but our concord hath withfiood our troubles, and fixes a memorable [Era for poflerity to glory in. The prefent timé'iikewife, is that peculiar time, which never happens to a nation but nnce,viz. the time of form- reckoning makes long friends. In a former pageI likewifs mentioned the neceflity ofa large and equal reprelentation ; and there is no political ing ifelf into a government. Moi't nations have le fly) the opportunity, and by that means have been compelled to receive laws from their conquerors, inflead of making laws for themlelves. Firt‘r they had a king, and then a form of matter which more deferves our attention. A fmall nutmber of eleélors, or a {mall number of reprefentatives are equally dangerous. But if the number of the reprefenta- government ; whereas the articles or charter of government Ihould be formed firfi, and men delegated to execute them As an infiance of this I mention the following ; when the tives be not only (mall, but unequal, the danger is increafed. learn wiidom, and lay hold of the prefent opportunity-- aii‘ociators petition was before the Houfe ofAiTembly of Penn{ylvania,twenty eight members only were prefent. All the Bucks county members, being eight, voted againfi it, and When William the had {even of the Chefler members done the fame, this Conqueror fubdued England, he gave them law at the point whole Province had been governed by two counties only, afterward : but from the errors of other nations, 'et us Y3 begin Government at (be rigbt end. of the (word; and until we confent that the feat of govetnment In America be legally and authoritavivriu filed, we (hall be in danger of having it fiJed by font:- r'nrtunate ruf-I fian, who may treat us in the fame manner. and then, where will be our freedom P where will be our property. As to religion, I hold it to be the indit'penftble duty of all government, to protet‘l all confcientious profeil‘yrs thereof, and I know of no other bufinefs which government hath to do therewith, Let a man throw alide that narrowneis oi foul, that felfiihneis of principle, which the niggards of all and this danger it is always, expofcd to. The unwarrantable i'tretch likewife, which that houl'e made in their laft fit. ting, to gain an undue authority over the Delegates of that Province, Ought to warn the people at large, how they truflr power out of their own hands. A fet of inflruétions for the Delegates were put together, which in point of fenfe and bufinefs would have tiiihonored a {chool boy, and after being approved by a few, a very/em without doors, were carried into the houfe, and there paired in behalfaftbe wbale Colony ; whereas did the whole Colony know, with what It affords a larger field for our chrif- ill will that houfe hath entered on fome neceffary public meafures, they would not hefitate a moment to think them unworthy of inch in trufl. Immediate neceflity makes many things convenient, which if continued would grow into Oppreffions. Expeo dience and right, are different things. When the calami- tlan ktndnefs 5 were we all of one way oi thinking, out re- ties of America required a confultation, there was no me- ligion, dtfpofttions would want matter for probation ; and on this liberal principle l look on the various denominations thod to ready, or at that time in proper, as to appoint perfons from the {everal houl'es of Afl'embly for that purpofe; and among us, to be like children of the fame family differing the wifdom with which they have proceeded hath Pith"? prqiefhons are {0 unwilling to part with, and he will be do; .lrvered of his {ears on that head. Suipicion is the corn- panton ofrnean fouls and the bane of all good fociety. For myfelfi fully and confcientioufly believe, that it is the will pfthe Almighty, that there {hould beldivetfity of religious opinions among us. only in whatlr called their ehriflian names, ‘ I! ht |