It is natural for man to indulge in the illusions of hope.  We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts.  Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty?  Are we disposed to be of the number of those, who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?  For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience.  I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past; and, judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the house?  Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received?  Trust it not:  it will prove a snare to your feet.  Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss.  Ask yourselves, how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land.  Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation?  Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love?  Let us not deceive ourselves.  These are the implements of war and subjugation,—­ the last arguments to which kings resort.

I ask, gentlemen, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us into submission?  Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it?  Has Great Britain any enemy in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies?  No, she has none.  They are meant for us:  they can be meant for no other.  They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging.  And what have we to oppose to them?  Shall we try argument?  We have been trying that for the last ten years.  Have we anything new to offer upon the subject?  Nothing.  We have held the subject up in every light in which it was capable; but it has been all in vain.

Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication?  What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted?  Let us not, I beseech you, deceive ourselves longer.  We have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on.  We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves at the foot of the throne, and implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical bands of the ministry and parliament.  Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications disregarded; and we have been spurned with contempt from the foot of the throne.