A Serious Address (Fourth Edition) - 5
This Province has been a Land of Liberty; and Justice has hitherto been effectually administred, without Assistance of a Military Force. It has also been an Asylum for People of tender Consciences, who removed hither for the Liberty of worshipping the Supreme Being in the Manner they believed most agreeable to Him. These inestimable Priveleges induced our Ancestors to leave their Native Land, to encounter the Dangers of the Deep, and settle in this Howling Wilderness; which is now become a fertile Field, a Land of Plenty. But alas! is it likely we shall long enjoy these Priveleges? Can you imagine that Great Britain will suffer the Administrations of Justice in so valuable a Province as Pennsylvania to be interrupted, the Goals broke open, the Civil Officers insulted, Trade rendered precarious, and every Thing put into Confusion, by a Mob? -----No certainly.
Insurrections which had but small Beginnings have often arose to great Heights; Because, when once a Mob have broke through the Limits prescribed by the Laws, ’tis uncertain, how far they will wander in the Fields of Anarchy and Confusion; and what Extravagancies they will run into which at first they did not Design. If these People should take it into their Heads, not to pay Taxes, or not to pay the Proprietaries for their Lands, or the Merchants for their Goods; what would be the Consequence? Is it not highly probable, that, to prevent the like, the English Government will oblige us to maintain a Military Force to support the Civil Authority; and dragoon us into our Duty, at our own Expence? The Iron Rod of Military Power must correct those who are deaf to the Voice of Reason, and superior to the Fear of the Laws.--Great is the Law, it must, and it will prevail. Whoever thinks himself exempted from the civil Jurisdiction only gnaws a File which will break his Teeth.--Besides, as ’tis currently reported, that these Outrages, Tumults and Insurrections have been excited, executed, and abetted, principally and chiefly, if not altogether, by Persons dissenting from the Church established in England; it is too likely, if they are repeated and encouraged, that every Person
