I ... [rely] Upon The Merits Of

The Natural Liberty Of Man Is To Be Free From Any Superior Power On Earth, And Not To Be Under The Will Or Legislative Authority Of Man, But Only To Have The Law Of Nature For His Rule.

I Would Advise Persisting In Our Struggle For Liberty, Though It Were Revealed From Heaven That Nine Hundred And Ninety-nine Men Were To Perish, And Only One Of A Thousand To Survive And Retain His Liberty. One Such Freeman Must Possess More Virtue, And Enjoy More Happiness, Than A Thousand Slaves.

In A State Of Tranquility, Wealth, And Luxury, Our Descendants Would Forget The Arts Of War And The Noble Activity And Zeal Which Made Their Ancestors Invincible. Every Art Of Corruption Would Be Employed To Loosen The Bond Of Union Which Renders Our Resistance Formidable. When The Spirit Of Liberty Which Now Animates Our Hearts And Gives Success To Our Arms Is Extinct, Our Numbers Will Accelerate Our Ruin And Render Us Easier Victims To Tyranny.

The Diminution Of Public Virtue Is Usually Attended With That Of Public Happiness, And The Public Liberty Will Not Long Survive The Total Extinction Of Morals.

Every One Knows That The Exercise Of Military Power Is Forever Dangerous To Civil Rights; And We Have Had Recent Instances Of Violences That Have Been Offer'd To Private Subjects.