Principally, And First Of All, I Resign

Could I Be Assured That America Would Remain Virtuous, I Would Venture To Defy The Utmost Efforts Of Enemies To Subjugate Her.

Let Us Consider, Brethren, We Are Struggling For Our Best Birthrights And Inheritance, Which Being Infringed, Renders All Our Blessings Precarious In Their Enjoyments, And, Consequently Triffling In Their Value. Let Us Disappoint The Men Who Are Raising Themselves On The Ruin Of This Country. Let Us Convince Every Invader Of Our Freedom, That We Will Be As Free As The Constitution Our Fathers Recognized, Will Justify.

It Is In The Interest Of Tyrants To Reduce The People To Ignorance And Vice. For They Cannot Live In Any Country Where Virtue And Knowledge Prevail. The Religion And Public Liberty Of A People Are Intimately Connected; Their Interests Are Interwoven, They Cannot Subsist Separately; And Therefore They Rise And Fall Together. For This Reason, It Is Always Observable, That Those Who Are Combin'd To Destroy The People's Liberties, Practice Every Art To Poison Their Morals.

No People Ever Yet Groaned Under The Heavy Yoke Of Slavery, But When They Deserv'd It. ...the Truth Is, All Might Be Free If They Valued Freedom, And Defended It As They Ought. ...if Therefore A People Will Not Be Free; If They Have Not Virtue Enough To Maintain Their Liberty Against A Presumptuous Invader, They Deserve No Pity, And Are To Be Treated With Contempt And Ignominy.

The Name Of The Lord (says The Scripture) Is A Strong Tower; Thither The Righteous Flee And Are Safe (proverbs 18:10). Let Us Secure His Favor And He Will Lead Us Through The Journey Of This Life And At Length Receive Us To A Better.