S. To overcome the oppression of the mother country.
C. Canst thou make one wrong justify another?
S. No; but I see no wrong in that which results in good.
C. Thou hast not shown that wrong ever did, or ever will, result in good.
S. But I will show, that the American colonies would never have been free without it.
C. Thou mayest say, that they are not free with it.
S. How dost thou mean? Are they not free from the mother country?
C. How can a people be free, who are dependent? Are not the States as dependent now as ever on the mother country? Whence cometh her luxuries, which thou seest crossing the Atlantic? Whence comest her language, her customs, her religion, her glory in war, and her manufactured articles which her people import? Are these signs of freedom, or of dependence?
S. But they are free to enact their own laws, and choose their own rulers?
C. They are free to choose as the majority may elect. I would say a majority of such as are not proscribed by law from choosing their own rulers. But thou seest more than one half of those who are ruled by law, who have no choice in the election of their rulers, and very many, who have a secured right to elect, do not exercise it.