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122 Deparns of the GENERAL AosEMULY
arguinents of the member from Franklin ? no it was not. rhat article
was conceived to prevent an individual fate from engaging ina fo-
reign War, OF attacking her neighbours, and by no means to wrefe from
her the mean cf felf-defence. Viewed inthis Hehe fir, the confeder-
ation docs not apply to the prefent menfure. View them as enemies
froin abroad, and this exertion is warranted by the excep fon. But the
true flate of the cafe is to cenfider then: ag rebels, and that your civik-
authority being inadequate to preferve peace, and inforce a due execution
of your laws, it becomes requifite to callin the aidof the military. And
here permit ine to obferve, that it is unjuft wo infer we are about wa-
ging Wor, becuufe fir we do not commence hoftilities, but only endea-
vour to. perform thofe duties we owe our conflituents, and reflore to
thein the full authority over the whole flate, which they are undeniably
entitled to. It is only an endeavour to eruth oppofition in its infancy,
which if fefered to continue in growth, may rife gigantic and hurl
defiance to all the ftrength of Pennfylvanio. +
. The fecend peint to be confidered is, that a cafe ef this momentcus
concern ought well to be deliberated and adjufied, Jeft we err beyond
correétion. I jcia perfeGly in fentiment with the honorable ventic-
saan from Weftunoreland (Mr. Findley) that it is a gocd rule to deli-
berate ferioufly in the firit place, and to act afterwards with firmnefs
and decifon; but what would be the fituation of Pennfylvania, if
thofe incendiaries are permitted to continue their violence and diforder
much longer? it is known to a demonttration, that a’rebellicn exifts
in that country, avd that meafures of a milder afpe@t have hitherto
proved incfcétual to allay that rage for oppofition. Has not the flate
of Pennfylvania hitherto purfued meafures of uniform Icnity towards
them, even until we are become contemptible in the eyes of the fur-
rounding lates? Mas not the ground of diference been decided con-
formably to the articles of confederation by the decree at ‘Trenton 2
Has not the Legifature of Pennfylvania pafied an act, confirming to
the Conncéticut clsimants certain Jands which they beld under that
(late? Wave they not abolifhed the rights of their own citizens as a
peace- offering ? Have they not been allowed a fufficicnt time to return
to their duty, inflead of which they have applied it folely to increafe
‘lice force and uferp the jurifdiciion over that part of the ftate ? Let
ome afk Mrs Speaker, ifafter all this lenity—lenity fo ineficciual, we
fall cre moment longer deliberate on the propricty of adopting mca-
fures of a Ciilerent cait, and on which we have to reply. admit fir
it isa coed rule to deliberate, but not to deliberate until all oportu-
nity oF aéting js pafied away. When we find thefe people have
fo long licen dealt mi'ély with, and that ths confequence Is adding
firengin to their oppofiticn, we ought not longer to hefitatc on drawing
ithe tword of (clf-prefervation. ,
It hias alfo been alleged, a3 an argument to cefest this meafure, that
funds are not provided, and that the expence is Likely to be a great-
ex injury: to the fate, than would be counterbalanced by any benefit
. that
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