I ... [rely] Upon The Merits Of

In A State Of Tranquility, Wealth, And Luxury, Our Descendants Would Forget The Arts Of War And The Noble Activity And Zeal Which Made Their Ancestors Invincible. Every Art Of Corruption Would Be Employed To Loosen The Bond Of Union Which Renders Our Resistance Formidable. When The Spirit Of Liberty Which Now Animates Our Hearts And Gives Success To Our Arms Is Extinct, Our Numbers Will Accelerate Our Ruin And Render Us Easier Victims To Tyranny.

Principally, And First Of All, I Resign My Soul To The Almighty Being Who Gave It, And My Body I Commit To The Dust, Relying On The Merits Of Jesus Christ For The Pardon Of My Sins.

No People Ever Yet Groaned Under The Heavy Yoke Of Slavery, But When They Deserv'd It. ...the Truth Is, All Might Be Free If They Valued Freedom, And Defended It As They Ought. ...if Therefore A People Will Not Be Free; If They Have Not Virtue Enough To Maintain Their Liberty Against A Presumptuous Invader, They Deserve No Pity, And Are To Be Treated With Contempt And Ignominy.

Every One Knows That The Exercise Of Military Power Is Forever Dangerous To Civil Rights; And We Have Had Recent Instances Of Violences That Have Been Offer'd To Private Subjects.

He Who Is Void Of Virtuous Attachments In Private Life Is, Or Very Soon Will Be, Void Of All Regard For His Country. There Is Seldom An Instance Of A Man Guilty Of Betraying His Country, Who Had Not Before Lost The Feeling Of Moral Obligations In His Private Connections.