suffering likewise softened the whole body of the people into a
degree of pliability, which laid the principal foundation-stone of
union, order, and government; and which, at any other time, might
only have fretted and then faded away unnoticed and unimproved. But
Providence, who best knows how to time her misfortunes as well as her
immediate favors, chose this to be the time, and who dare dispute it?

It did not seem the disposition of the people, at this crisis, to
heap petition upon petition, while the former remained unanswered.
The measure however was carried in Congress, and a second petition
was sent; of which I shall only remark that it was submissive even to
a dangerous fault, because the prayer of it appealed solely to what
it called the prerogative of the crown, while the matter in dispute
was confessedly constitutional. But even this petition, flattering as
it was, was still not so harmonious as the chink of cash, and
consequently not sufficiently grateful to the tyrant and his
ministry. From every circumstance it is evident, that it was the
determination of the British court to have nothing to do with America
but to conquer her fully and absolutely. They were certain of
success, and the field of battle was the only place of treaty. I am
confident there are thousands and tens of thousands in America who
wonder now that they should ever have thought otherwise; but the sin
of that day was the sin of civility; yet it operated against our
present good in the same manner that a civil opinion of the devil
would against our future peace.

Independence was a doctrine scarce and rare, even towards the
conclusion of the year 1775; all our politics had been founded on the
hope of expectation of making the matter up- a hope, which, though
general on the side of America, had never entered the head or heart