Believe me, Gentlemen, the way still before you is intricate, dark, and full of perplexed and treacherous mazes.  Those who think they have the clew may lead us out of this labyrinth.  We may trust them as amply as we think proper; but as they have most certainly a call for all the reason which their stock can furnish, why should we think it proper to disturb its operation by inflaming their passions?  I may be unable to lend an helping hand to those who direct the state; but I should be ashamed to make myself one of a noisy multitude to halloo and hearten them into doubtful and dangerous courses.  A conscientious man would be cautious how he dealt in blood.  He would feel some apprehension at being called to a tremendous account for engaging in so deep a play without any sort of knowledge of the game.  It is no excuse for presumptuous ignorance, that it is directed by insolent passion.  The poorest being that crawls on earth, contending to save itself from injustice and oppression, is an object respectable in the eyes of God and man.  But I cannot conceive any existence under heaven (which in the depths of its wisdom tolerates all sorts of things) that is more truly odious and disgusting than an impotent, helpless creature, without civil wisdom or military skill, without a consciousness of any other qualification for power but his servility to it, bloated with pride and arrogance, calling for battles which he is not to fight, contending for a violent dominion which he can never exercise, and satisfied to be himself mean and miserable, in order to render others contemptible and wretched.

If you and I find our talents not of the great and ruling kind, our conduct, at least, is conformable to our faculties.  No man’s life pays the forfeit of our rashness.  No desolate widow weeps tears of blood over our ignorance.  Scrupulous and sober in a well-grounded distrust of ourselves, we would keep in the port of peace and security; and perhaps in recommending to others something of the same diffidence, we should show ourselves more charitable to their welfare than injurious to their abilities.

There are many circumstances in the zeal shown for civil war which seem to discover but little of real magnanimity.  The addressers offer their own persons, and they are satisfied with hiring Germans.  They promise their private fortunes, and they mortgage their country.  They have all the merit of volunteers, without risk of person or charge of contribution; and when the unfeeling arm of a foreign soldiery pours out their kindred blood like water, they exult and triumph as if they themselves had performed some notable exploit.  I am really ashamed of the fashionable language which has been held for some time past, which, to say the best of it, is full of levity.  You know that I allude to the general cry against the cowardice of the Americans, as if we despised them for not making the king’s soldiery purchase the advantage they have obtained at a dearer rate.