Wesley Corpus

Wilkes.” I cannot in conscience; I think it is encouraging vice. “Then they will all be broken.” That is, in plain English, Give them twenty shillings, or they will rob you of five pounds. Here are champions for the laws of the land I for liberty and property ! O vile horse-guards! That dared, so grim and terrible, to advance Their miscreated fronts athwart the way ! True, they did nothing and said nothing. Yet, in default of the civil powers, who did not concern themselves with the matter, they hindered the mob from finishing their work. 22. Why, then, these men, instead of anyway abridging it, plainly preserved my liberty and property. And by their benefit, not the care of those to whom it properly belonged, I still enjoy full civil liberty. I am free to live, in every respect, according to my own choice. My life, my person, my property, are safe. I am not murdered, maimed, tortured at any man’s pleasure; I am not thrown into prison; I am not manacled; see, I have not one fetter, either on my hands or feet. And are not you as free as I am? Are not you at liberty to enjoy the fruit of your labours? Who hinders you from doing it? Does King George 2 Does Lord North? Do any of His Majesty’s officers or soldiers? No, nor any man living. Perhaps some would hinder you, if you acted contrary to law; but this is not liberty, it is licentiousness. Deny the fact who can ; am not I free to use my substance according to my own discretion? And do. not you enjoy the self-same freedom? You cannot, you dare not, deny it. At this hour I am at full liberty to use my property as I please. And so are you; you do, in fact, use your house, your goods, your land, as is right in your own eyes. Does any one take them from you? No; nor does any one restrain you from the full enjoyment of them. What then is the matter? What is it you are making all this pother about? Why are you thus wringing your hands, and screaming, to the terror of your quiet neighbours, “Destruction | slavery 1 bondage ' Help, countrymen | Our liberty is destroyed! Weare ruined, chained, fettered, undone!” Fettered ! How?