1, INTRODU
Perhaps the ses tained in the following pages, are not YET suffitly fashioo procure them general favour; 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 . But the tumult soon subsides.
Time makes more verts than reason.
As a long and violent abuse of power, is generally the Means of calling the right of it iion (and in Matters too which might never have been thought of, had not the Sufferers been aggravated into the inquiry) and as the King of England hath uaken in his HT, to support the Parliament in what he calls THEIRS, and as the good people of this try are grievously oppressed by the bination, they have an undoubted privilege to inquire into the pretensions of both, and equally to reject the usurpation of either.
In the following sheets, the author hath studiously avoided every thing which is personal among ourselves. pliments as well as sure to individuals make no part thereof. The wise, and the worthy, need not the triumph of a pamphlet; and those whose ses are injudicious, or unfriendly, will cease of themselves uoo much pains are bestowed upon their version.
The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.
Many circumstances hath, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of all Lovers of Mankind are affected, and in the Event of which, their Affes are ied.
The laying a try desolate with Fire and Sword, declaring War against the natural rights of all Mankind, airpating the Defehereof from the Face of the Earth, is the of every Man to whom Nature hath given the Power of feeling; of which Class, regardless of Party sure, is the AUTHOR.
P.S. The Publication of this ion hath been delayed, with a View of taking notice (had it been necessary) of any Attempt to refute the Doe of Independance: As no Answer hath yet appeared, it is now presumed that none will, the Time needful fetting such a Performance ready for the Public being siderably past.
Who the Author of this Produ is, is wholly unnecessary to the Public, as the Object for Attention is the DOE ITSELF, not the MAN. Yet it may not be unnecessary to say, That he is unected with any Party, and under no sort of Influence public or private, but the influence of reason and principle.
Philadelphia, February 14, 1776