it was a growing conviction that the scheme of the British court was
to create, ferment and drive on a quarrel, for the sake of
confiscated plunder: and men of this class ripened into independence
in proportion as the evidence increased. While a third class
conceived it was the true interest of America, internally and
externally, to be her own master, and gave their support to
independence, step by step, as they saw her abilities to maintain it
enlarge. With many, it was a compound of all these reasons; while
those who were too callous to be reached by either, remained, and
still remain Tories.

The legal necessity of being independent, with several collateral
reasons, is pointed out in an elegant masterly manner, in a charge to
the grand jury for the district of Charleston, by the Hon. William
Henry Drayton, chief justice of South Carolina, [April 23, 1776].
This performance, and the address of the convention of New York, are
pieces, in my humble opinion, of the first rank in America.

The principal causes why independence has not been so universally
supported as it ought, are fear and indolence, and the causes why it
has been opposed, are, avarice, down-right villany, and lust of
personal power. There is not such a being in America as a Tory from
conscience; some secret defect or other is interwoven in the
character of all those, be they men or women, who can look with
patience on the brutality, luxury and debauchery of the British
court, and the violations of their army here. A woman's virtue must
sit very lightly on her who can even hint a favorable sentiment in
their behalf. It is remarkable that the whole race of prostitutes in
New York were tories; and the schemes for supporting the Tory cause
in this city, for which several are now in jail, and one hanged, were