and our lives?  I know there is not a man here, who would not rather see a general conflagration sweep over the land, or an earthquake sink it, than one jot or tittle of that plighted faith fall to the ground.  For myself, having, twelve months ago, in this place, moved you, that George Washington be appointed commander of the forces raised, or to be raised, for defence of American liberty,[8] may my right hand forget her cunning, and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I hesitate or waver in the support I give him.

“The war, then, must go on.  We must fight it through.  And if the war must go on, why put off longer the Declaration of Independence?  That measure will strengthen us.  It will give us character abroad.  The nations will then treat with us, which they never can do while we acknowledge ourselves subjects, in arms against our sovereign.  Nay, I maintain that England herself will sooner treat for peace with us on the footing of independence, than consent, by repealing her acts, to acknowledge that her whole conduct towards us has been a course of injustice and oppression.  Her pride will be less wounded by submitting to that course of things which now predestinates our independence, than by yielding the points in controversy to her rebellious subjects.  The former she would regard as the result of fortune; the latter she would feel as her own deep disgrace.  Why, then, why then, Sir, do we not as soon as possible change this from a civil to a national war?  And since we must fight it through, why not put ourselves in a state to enjoy all the benefits of victory, if we gain the victory?

“If we fail, it can be no worse for us.  But we shall not fail.  The cause will raise up armies; the cause will create navies.  The people, the people, if we are true to them, will carry us, and will carry themselves, gloriously, through this struggle.  I care not how fickle other people have been found.  I know the people of these Colonies, and I know that resistance to British aggression is deep and settled in their hearts and cannot be eradicated.  Every Colony, indeed, has expressed its willingness to follow, if we but take the lead.  Sir, the Declaration will inspire the people with increased courage.  Instead of a long and bloody war for the restoration of privileges, for redress of grievances, for chartered immunities, held under a British king, set before them the glorious object of entire independeuce, and it will breathe into them anew the breath of life.  Read this Declaration at the head of the army; every sword will be drawn from its scabbard, and the solemn vow uttered, to maintain it, or to perish on the bed of honor.  Publish it from the pulpit; religion will approve it, and the love of religious liberty will cling round it, resolved to stand with it, or fall with it.  Send it to the public halls; proclaim it there; let them hear it who heard the first roar of the enemy’s cannon; let them see it who saw their brothers and their sons fall on the field of Bunker Hill, and in the streets of Lexington and Concord, and the very walls will cry out in its support.