I.
..Of the Origin and Design of Government
in general, with concise
.... Remarks on the English Constitution.
II.
.Of
Monarchy and Heriditary Succession.
III.
Thoughts
on the present State of American Affairs.
PERHAPS
the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet
sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long
habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial
appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable
outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time
makes more converts than reason.
As
a long and violent abuse of power, is generally the Means of
calling the right of it in question (and in matters too which
might never have been thought of, had not the Sufferers been
aggravated into the inquiry) and as the King of England had
undertaken in his own Right, to support the Parliament
in what he calls Theirs, and as the good people of this
country are grievously oppressed by the combination, they have
an undoubted privilege to inquire into the pretensions of both,
and equally to reject the usurpation of either.
In
the following sheets, the author hath studiously avoided every
thing which is personal among ourselves. Compliments as well
as censure to individuals make no part thereof. The wise, and
the worthy, need not the triumph of a pamphlet; and those whose
sentiments are injudicious, or unfriendly, will cease of themselves
unless too much pains are bestowed upon their conversion.
The
cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.
Many circumstances hath, and will arise, which are not local,
but universal, and through which the principles of all Lovers
of Mankind are affected, and in the Event of which, their Affections
are interested. The laying of a Country desolate with Fire and
Sword, declaring War against the natural rights of all Mankind,
and extirpating the Defenders thereof from the Face of the Earth,
is the Concern of every Man to whom Nature hath given the Power
of feeling; of which Class, regardless of Party Censures, is
the
AUTHOR.
P.S.
The Publication of this new Edition hath been delayed, with
a View of taking notice (had it been necessary) of any Attempt
to refute the Doctrine of Independence: As no Answer hath yet
appeared, it is now presumed that none will, the Time needful
for getting such a Performance ready for the Public being considerably
past.
Who
the Author of this Production is, is wholly unnecessary to the
Public, as the Object for Attention is the Doctrine itself,
not the Man. Yet it may not be unnecessary to say, That
he is unconnected with any Party, and under no sort of Influence
public or private, but the influence of reason and principle.
Philadelphia,
Feb. 14, 1776.
..
