To Disarm The People... Was The Best

When The Resolution Of Enslaving America Was Formed In Great Britain, The British Parliament Was Advised By An Artful Man [sir William Keith], Who Was Governor Of Pennsylvania, To Disarm The People. That It Was The Best And Most Effectual Way To Enslave Them. But That They Should Not Do It Openly; But To Weaken Them And Let Them Sink Gradually, By Totally Disusing And Neglecting The Militia.

That No Free Government, Nor The Blessings Of Liberty, Can Be Preserved To Any People, But By A Firm Adherence To Justice, Moderation, Temperance, Frugality, And Virtue; By Frequent Recurrence To Fundamental Principles; And By The Recognition By All Citizens That They Have Duties As Well As Rights, And That Such Rights Cannot Be Enjoyed Save In A Society Where Law Is Respected And Due Process Is Observed.

That Elections Of Members To Serve As Representatives Of The People, In Assembly, Ought To Be Free; And That All Men, Having Sufficient Evidence Of Permanent Common Interest With, And Attachment To, The Community, Have The Right Of Suffrage, And Cannot Be Taxed Or Deprived Of Their Property For Public Uses, Without Their Own Consent, Or That Of Their Representives So Elected, Nor Bound By Any Law To Which They Have Not, In Like Manner, Assembled, For The Public Good.

I Am Now Pretty Far Advanced In Life, And All My Views Are Center'd In The Happiness And Well-fare Of My Children; You Will Therefore Find From Me Every Indulgence Which You Have A Right To Expect From An Affectionate Parent.

That All Power Of Suspending Laws, Or The Execution Of Laws, By Any Authority, Without Consent Of The Representatives Of The People, Is Injurious To Their Rights, And Ought Not To Be Exercised.