Introduction

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 defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason.

Perhaps the views in the following pages are not yet popular enough to win widespread support. A long habit of not thinking something wrong makes it seem right on the surface. At first, that habit also sparks a fierce outcry in defense of custom. But the uproar soon dies down. Time wins 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 hath 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.

Long and violent abuses of power generally lead people to question the right to wield that power. (Such questions might never have arisen if the victims had not been provoked into asking them.) The King of England has claimed his own right to support Parliament in exercising what he calls its rights. Together, the King and Parliament grievously oppress the good people of this country. For these reasons, the people have an unquestionable right to examine the claims of both. They also have an equal right to reject either one's seizure of power without right.

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.

In the following pages, the author has carefully avoided personal remarks about anyone among us. These pages contain neither praise nor criticism of individuals. The wise and worthy do not need a pamphlet to celebrate their success. And those with unwise or unfriendly views will fall silent on their own, unless too much effort goes into persuading them to change.

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 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 Censure, is the

America’s cause is, to a great extent, the cause of all humanity. Many events have arisen, and will arise, that are not local but universal. These events affect the principles of all who love humanity, and their outcomes stir those people’s feelings. Laying waste to a country with fire and sword concerns everyone whom nature has given the ability to feel. So does declaring war on the natural rights of all humanity and wiping their defenders from the earth. Among those who share this concern, regardless of criticism from any political party, is the

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 Independance: 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.

P.S. Publication of this new edition was delayed so that any attempt to refute the case for independence could be addressed, if necessary. Since no response has appeared, it is now presumed that none will. More than enough time has passed to prepare such a response for publication.

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.

The public has no need to know who wrote this work. What deserves attention is the teaching itself, not the man. Still, it may be worth saying that the author has no ties to any party. He is under no public or private influence except that of reason and principle.