If we neglect this opportunity of promoting our common felicity, and of establishing our liberties upon a firm and lasting basis, we may, perhaps, never have another, and we shall repent of our fatal folly and infatuation, when too late to retrieve the mistake ; when the horrors and miseries of a civil war shall be increased, if possible, ten fold upon our heads, by the curses and execration of our distracted and deluded constituents ; when all orders and degrees of men shall, in the bitterness of their hearts, point us out as the authors of their ruin ; when we shall be obliged to submit to the laws of conquest, or the penalties of rebellion.
" I have now sir, delivered my sentiments freely and candidly upon the subject of our consideration. I have shown that the rise of our present disputes with Great Britain has been an unreasonable jealousy on our part, originating from an impolitic exertion of authority, on hers. I have proved that it is both our duty and interest, to cultivate the closest and most intimate union with her. I have shown that the authority of the British Parliament, which is the supreme Legislature of the empire, extends over these colonies, which are parts of that empire. I have shown the extreme danger of undue opposition to that authority, which, either by exerting itself against us, or giving us up to our own government, will equally involve us in misery and destruction. I have shown, that by a peaceable and loyal conduct, we may procure for