Liberty and licentiousness are nearly allied to each other ; like wit and madness, there is but a thin partition between them ; and, licentiousness invariably leads to slavery. Almost every page of history will furnish abundant proofs of the truths of these observations ; and God grant that the annals of this country i,;.y not add to the number; but I fear from the present licentious conduct we are much nearer to *a state of slavery and oppression than we seem to be aware of. So far already have we advanced towards it, thatall internal order and subordination is nearly at an end amongst us. The authority of the civil magistrate is become useless, and almost contemptible ; even the authority of this House, nay, of the whole Legislative body of this Province, has been treated with the utmost contempt, and our power in a manner wrested from us, by a set of men who have arrogated to themselves the style of the People's Representatives. If they are in reality such, to what purpose are we here assembled? If they are authorized to make laws, to establish penalties, and to regulate the concerns of this Colony, why are we called together 1 what is lelt for us to do ] Nothing sir, but to do our duty ; to undo, if possible, all that they have done ; to strip them of their borrowed plumes, and to resume that authority, which has been delegated to us forthe most important purposes ; for the preservation of liberty,