The Liberties Of A People Never Were,

It Is In Vain, Sir, To Extenuate The Matter. Gentlemen May Cry, “peace! Peace!” — But There Is No Peace. The War Is Actually Begun! The Next Gale That Sweeps From The North Will Bring To Our Ears The Clash Of Resounding Arms! Our Brethren Are Already In The Field! Why Stand We Here Idle? What Is It That Gentlemen Wish? What Would They Have? Is Life So Dear, Or Peace So Sweet, As To Be Purchased At The Price Of Chains And Slavery? Forbid It, Almighty God! I Know Not What Course Others May Take; But As For Me, Give Me Liberty, Or Give Me Death!

Suspicion Is A Virtue As Long As Its Object Is The Public Good, And As Long As It Stays Within Proper Bounds. Guard With Jealous Attention The Public Liberty. Suspect Every One Who Approaches That Jewel.

It Is Natural To Man To Indulge In The Illusion Of Hope. We Are Apt To Shut Our Eyes Against A Painful Truth, Till She Transforms Us Into Beasts.

You Ought To Be Extremely Cautious, Watchful, Jealous Of Your Liberty; For Instead Of Securing Your Rights, You May Lose Them Forever.

Amongst Other Strange Things Said Of Me, I Hear It Is Said By The Deists That I Am One Of The Number; And Indeed, That Some Good People Think I Am No Christian. This Thought Gives Me Much More Pain Than The Appellation Of Tory; Because I Think Religion Of Infinitely Higher Importance Than Politics; And I Find Much Cause To Reproach Myself That I Have Lived So Long, And Have Given No Decided And Public Proofs Of My Being A Christian. But, Indeed, My Dear Child, This Is A Character Which I Prize Far Above All This World Has, Or Can Boast.