children will curse his cowardice, who shrinks back at a time when a
little might have saved the whole, and made them happy. I love the
man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from
distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little
minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience
approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death. My own
line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of
light. Not all the treasures of the world, so far as I believe, could
have induced me to support an offensive war, for I think it murder;
but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property,
and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to
"bind me in all cases whatsoever" to his absolute will, am I to
suffer it? What signifies it to me, whether he who does it is a king
or a common man; my countryman or not my countryman; whether it be
done by an individual villain, or an army of them? If we reason to
the root of things we shall find no difference; neither can any just
cause be assigned why we should punish in the one case and pardon in
the other. Let them call me rebel and welcome, I feel no concern from
it; but I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore
of my soul by swearing allegiance to one whose character is that of a
sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man. I conceive
likewise a horrid idea in receiving mercy from a being, who at the
last day shall be shrieking to the rocks and mountains to cover him,
and fleeing with terror from the orphan, the widow, and the slain of
America.

There are cases which cannot be overdone by language, and this is
one. There are persons, too, who see not the full extent of the evil
which threatens them; they solace themselves with hopes that the
enemy, if he succeed, will be merciful. It is the madness of folly,