of the Council of Safety, 1775-76. 73

the other, whilst a military force is employed to support the
former, and to vindicate the Latter, unhappy must be the Con-
test, unhappy must the issue of it be, whatever may finally be
the contingent Decision We most ardently wish to see not
only a Cessation of all Hostilities; but a perfect Restoration
of peace, good order, & the just Authorities of Government,
& a Renovation of that cordial Affection, Intercourse, & Con-
fidence whence so many reciprocal Benefits have been derived
to the parent State, & the Colonies, we can with the greatest
Truth assert that Independence of G. Britain is not the Aim,
or wish of the people of this Province, & that they wou'd
chearfully, & in the most explicit Terms, Acknowledge their
Subordination, as Instruments of the National Commerce, &
the Authority of Parliament to bind them by Laws corres-
ponding with & adapted to this Degree of Subordination; but
we do not deny, nor can we reprobate, or disapprove of, their
claim to all the Rights, and Privileges of British Subjects com-
patible with the check & Control exerciseable by the British
Legislature for the important purpose of securing, directing,
& regulating their commercial Instrumentality, the original
view in settling the American Plantations, nor can we wish
them to renounce that Right of Property, w^ch protects the
owner's Enjoyment of it by securing it against the Disposal of
others without his Consent, a Right w^ch we conceive to be
inseparable from the Nature ol Property, without w^ch Liberty
can't exist, & our Charter notwithstanding the Energy & Pre-
cision of its Language, notwithstanding the royal Faith
solemnly plighted that no part of the Compact it contains,
shou'd be violated, or impeached, notwithstanding the various
confirmatory Sanctions it has recev'd wou'd become a Delu-
sion, so far our Sentiments correspond with the general per-
suasion, & in our present Avowal of them, we only repeat our
Declaration on a former occasion, tho' we very much disap-
prove of the violences, w^ch some rash Men have committed &
are not satisfied of the propriety, Utilily or Expediency of
some Measures that have been recommended, yet are we dis-
posed to make favorable Allowances in the present general
Perturbation of Men's Minds flowing from their firm persua-
sion that the Defence of Liberty requires extraordinary Exer-
tions, & we observe with pleasure that tho' your Excell^y cant
approve, yet your Humanity inclines you to view them with
Indulgence.

[Indorsed August 29, 1776.]