GLC01798
prodigious, and the operation astonishing! We are not the Aggressors. Our Fathers fled hither
for Religion and Liberty:- if extirpated from hence, we have no new World to flee to. God has
located us here, and by this Location has comanded us here to make a Stand, and see the
Salvation of the Lord. In repeated Days of Prayer and Fasting, we have asked Council of
Heaven, and comitted our Cause to God. The Event is with the Lord of Hosts, which we doubt
not will be happy and glorious. We are embarked in a glorious and animating Cause, and
procede in it with undoubted Confidence of final Success.
When Rome was attacked by the Carthaginian Powers, when the Carthaginian Armies
came round & poured into the northern parts of Italy, this Attack united the otherwise divided
Nations of all Italy, and the Italians fought side by side with the Romans took all the Glory of
Conquest to themselves, despised the Socii, and claimed Domination over Allies; tho' the latter
could raise [inserted: & bring into the field] three Quarters of a Million according to Velleius
Paterculus while the Rom [paper loss: ans] fell short of 300 Thousand according to Livy. Hence
arose the Bellum Sociale, which from a very trifling Incident kindled into a Flame, and spread
thro' Italy with an incredible Celerity. Two numerous Armies met to dispute a Point of Honor
and nominal Dignity; but wisely stoped their Fire in full Volley, and pacificated all by agreeing
to share in equal Liberty, upon the Roman Blood accepting the Italian in [strikeout] Jus Civitatis.
[inserted at bottom of page: Which wise Policy increased The census in 100 years from 300
Thousd to Seven Million Citizens.] America now exasperated does not dread to meet her
Brethren in Bellum Sociali; if Great Britain shall persit in rapaciously seizing and annihilating
her dearest Rights & Liberties. Massachusetts will resume her old Charter of 1628, or assume a
new moddled Police, elect Magistrates, constitute Courts & Judges, Levy Taxes & raise Forces
the ensuing Summer, if before their annual Election they have nothing more favorable from
Parliament. The instructioned Governors and Mandamus Councillors in the other Provinces are
fallen into such disrepute, and have so lost the Confidence of [inserted: the] Colonies, as being
the mere Creatures of a corrupt Ministry, Enemies to American Liberty, that they are nearly ripe
to fall into [inserted: neglect &] Desuetude; while the Colony Congresses, which exhibit more
just & equal Representations of the people, acquire weight daily, & feel more Liberty to Act
efficaciously for [3] for the public good, unchecked by arbitrary Governors. They will naturally
find themselves, possessed of Power, & rise into Legislatures. The Maryland Congress has
already proceeded to levy Taxes for an Armament. S
o
. Carolina Congress have shut up the
