addressed to the
INHABITANTS
of
AMERICA,
On the following interesting
A new edition, with several additions in the body of the work. To which is added an appendix; together with an address to the people called Quakers.
Man knows no Master save creating Heaven
Or those whom choice and common good ordain.
Thomson.
PHILADELPHIA
Printed and sold by W. & T. Bradford, February 14, 1776.
MDCCLXXVI
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.
2As a long and violent abuse of power, is generally the Means of callingthe right of it in question (and in Matters too which might never havebeen thought of, had not the Sufferers been aggravated into theinquiry) and as the King of England hath undertaken in his own Right,to support the Parliament in what he calls Theirs, and as the goodpeople of this country are grievously oppressed by the combination,they have an undoubted privilege to inquire into the pretensions ofboth, and equally to reject the usurpation of either.
3In the following sheets, the author hath studiously avoided every thingwhich is personal among ourselves. Compliments as well as censure toindividuals make no part thereof. The wise, and the worthy, need notthe triumph of a pamphlet; and those whose sentiments are injudicious,or unfriendly, will cease of themselves unless too much pains arebestowed upon their conversion.
4The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.Many circumstances hath, and will arise, which are not local, butuniversal, and through which the principles of all Lovers of Mankindare affected, and in the Event of which, their Affections areinterested. The laying a Country desolate with Fire and Sword,declaring W