This is the present condition of my mind; and this is my apology for not
going as fast as others may choose to go in this business. I do not by
any means reject the propositions; much less do I condemn the gentlemen
who, with equal good intentions, with much better abilities, and with
infinitely greater personal weight and consideration than mine, are of
opinion that this matter ought to be decided upon instantly.
I most heartily wish that the deliberate sense of the kingdom on this
great subject should be known. When it is known, it _must_ be prevalent.
It would be dreadful indeed, if there was any power in the nation
capable of resisting its unanimous desire, or even the desire of any
very great and decided majority of the people. The people may be
deceived in their choice of an object; but I can scarcely conceive any
choice they can make to be so very mischievous as the existence of any
human force capable of resisting it. It will certainly be the duty of
every man, in the situation to which God has called him, to give his
best opinion and advice upon the matter: it will _not_ be his duty, let
him think what he will, to use any violent or any fraudulent means of
counteracting the general wish, or even of employing the legal and
constructive organ of expressing the people's sense against the sense
which they do actually entertain.
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