Assemblies that are met, and with a resolution to be all of
a mind, are assemblies that can have no opinion at all of their own. The
first proposer of any measure must be their master. I do not know that
an amicable variety of sentiment, conducted with mutual good-will, has
any sort of resemblance to discord, or that it can give any advantage
whatsoever to the enemies of our common cause. On the contrary, a forced
and fictitious agreement (which every universal agreement must be) is
not becoming the cause of freedom. If, however, any evil should arise
from it, (which I confess I do not foresee,) I am happy that those who
have brought forward new and arduous matter, when very great doubts and
some diversity of opinion must be foreknown, are of authority and weight
enough to stand against the consequences.
I humbly lay these my sentiments before the county. They are not taken
up to serve any interests of my own, or to be subservient to the
interests of any man or set of men under heaven. I could wish to be able
to attend our meeting, or that I had time to reason this matter more
fully by letter; but I am detained here upon our business: what you have
already put upon us is as much as we can do.
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