The present state of America is truly alarming to every man who is capable of reflexion.  Without law, without government, without any other mode of power than what is founded on, and granted by courtesy.  Held together by an unexampled concurrence of sentiment, which, is nevertheless subject to change, and which, every secret enemy is endeavouring to dissolve.  Our present condition, is, Legislation without law; wisdom without a plan; a constitution without a name; and, what is strangely astonishing, perfect Independance contending for dependance.  The instance is without a precedent; the case never existed before; and who can tell what may be the event?  The property of no man is secure in the present unbraced system of things.  The mind of the multitude is left at random, and seeing no fixed object before them, they pursue such as fancy or opinion starts.  Nothing is criminal; there is no such thing as treason; wherefore, every one thinks himself at liberty to act as he pleases.  The Tories dared not have assembled offensively, had they known that their lives, by that act, were forfeited to the laws of the state.  A line of distinction should be drawn, between, English soldiers taken in battle, and inhabitants of America taken in arms.  The first are prisoners, but the latter traitors.  The one forfeits his liberty, the other his head.

Notwithstanding our wisdom, there is a visible feebleness in some of our proceedings which gives encouragement to dissensions.  The Continental Belt is too loosely buckled.  And if something is not done in time, it will be too late to do any thing, and we shall fall into a state, in which, neither RECONCILIATION nor INDEPENDANCE will be practicable.  The king and his worthless adherents are got at their old game of dividing the Continent, and there are not wanting among us, Printers, who will be busy in spreading specious falsehoods.  The artful and hypocritical letter which appeared a few months ago in two of the New York papers, and likewise in two others, is an evidence that there are men who want either judgment or honesty.

It is easy getting into holes and corners and talking of reconciliation:  But do such men seriously consider, how difficult the task is, and how dangerous it may prove, should the Continent divide thereon.  Do they take within their view, all the various orders of men whose situation and circumstances, as well as their own, are to be considered therein.  Do they put themselves in the place of the sufferer whose ALL is ALREADY gone, and of the soldier, who hath quitted ALL for the defence of his country.  If their ill judged moderation be suited to their own private situations only, regardless of others, the event will convince them, that “they are reckoning without their Host.”