Wesley Corpus

What if we had conquered France, ought we not still to have allowed them their own laws and religion? Yea, if the Russians had conquered Constantinople, or the whole Ottoman empire, ought they not to have allowed to all they conquered, both their own religion and their own laws; nay, and to have given them, not a precarious toleration, but a legal security for both? 49. “But the wild Indians, and their own slaves, have been instigated to attack them.” I doubt the fact. What proof is there of this, either with regard to the Indians or the Negroes? “And attempts have been made to gain the assistance of a large body of Russians.” Another hearty assertion, which many will swallow, without ever asking for proof: In truth, had any such attempts been made, they would not have proved ineffectual. Very small pay will induce a body of Russians to go wherever they hope for good plunder. It might just as well have been said, “Attempts were made to procure a large body of Tartars.” 50. Now for a little more encouragement to your good friends and allies in America: “The utmost force we can employ does not exceed thirty thousand men to conquer half a million of determined men, fighting for that sacred blessing of liberty, without which man is a beast, and government a curse.” (Page 95.) I am not sure that our utmost force is either thirty, or forty, or fifty, thousand men. But are you sure, that “half a million, at least, are determined to fight” against them? Yes: For “a quarter of the inhabitants of every country are fighting men; and the colonies consist of two millions.” Here are several points which are not quite clear. I doubt, (1.) Whether those colonies contain two millions. I doubt, (2.) Whether a quarter of the inhabitants of any country are fighting men: We usually reckon a sixth part. I doubt, (3.) Whether a quarter of the American fighting men, are determined to fight in so bad a cause; to fight, not for liberty, which they have long enjoyed, but for independency. Will you affirm, that “without this, man is a beast, and government a curse?” Then, show me where man is not a beast, and where government is not a curse. 51.