common sense-第9节
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would often escape unpunished； did not the injuries which our tempers sustain；
provoke us into justice。
O ye that love mankind！ Ye that dare oppose； not only the tyranny；
but the tyrant； stand forth！ Every spot of the old world is overrun with
oppression。 Freedom hath been hunted round the globe。 Asia； and Africa；
have long expelled herEurope regards her like a stranger； and England
hath given her warning to depart。 O！ receive the fugitive； and prepare
in time an asylum for mankind。
OF THE PRESENT _ABILITY_ OF _AMERICA_； WITH SOME MISCELLANEOUS _REFLECTIONS_
I have never met with a man； either in England or America； who hath not
confessed his opinion that a separation between the countries；
would take place one time or other： And there is no instance； in which we
have shewn less judgement； than in endeavouring to describe； what we call
the ripeness or fitness of the Continent for independence。
As all men allow the measure； and vary only in their opinion of the time；
let us； in order to remove mistakes； take a general survey of things；
and endeavour； if possible； to find out the VERY time。 But we need not
go far； the inquiry ceases at once； for； the TIME HATH FOUND US。
The general concurrence； the glorious union of all things prove the fact。
It is not in numbers； but in unity； that our great strength lies；
yet our present numbers are sufficient to repel the force of all the world。
The Continent hath； at this time； the largest body of armed and
disciplined men of any power under Heaven； and is just arrived at that
pitch of strength； in which no single colony is able to support itself；
and the whole； when united； can accomplish the matter； and either more；
or； less than this； might be fatal in its effects。 Our land force is
already sufficient； and as to naval affairs； we cannot be insensible；
that Britain would never suffer an American man of war to be built；
while the continent remained in her hands。 Wherefore； we should be no
forwarder an hundred years hence in that branch； than we are now；
but the truth is； we should be less so； because the timber of the country
is every day diminishing； and that； which will remain at last；
will be far off and difficult to procure。
Were the continent crowded with inhabitants； her sufferings under
the present circumstances would be intolerable。 The more seaport towns
we had； the more should we have both to defend and to lose。 Our present
numbers are so happily proportioned to our wants； that no man need be idle。
The diminution of trade affords an army； and the necessities of an army
create a new trade。
Debts we have none； and whatever we may contract on this account will
serve as a glorious memento of our virtue。 Can we but leave posterity
with a settled form of government； an independent constitution of its own；
the purchase at any price will be cheap。 But to expend millions for the sake
of getting a few vile acts repealed； and routing the present ministry only；
is unworthy the charge； and is using posterity with the utmost cruelty；
because it is leaving them the great work to do； and a debt upon their backs；
from which they derive no advantage。 Such a thought is unworthy
of a man of honor； and is the true characteristic of a narrow heart
and a peddling politician。
The debt we may contract doth not deserve our regard； if the work
be but accomplished。 No nation ought to be without a debt。
A national debt is a national bond； and when it bears no interest；
is in no case a grievance。 Britain is oppressed with a debt of upwards
of one hundred and forty millions sterling； for which she pays upwards
of four millions interest。 And as a compensation for her debt；
she has a large navy； America is without a debt； and without a navy；
yet for the twentieth part of the English national debt；
could have a navy as large again。 The navy of England is not worth；
at this time； more than three millions and an half sterling。
The first and second editions of this pamphlet were published without
the following calculations； which are now given as a proof that the
above estimation of the navy is just。
＇See Entic's naval history； intro。 page 56。＇
The charge of building a ship of each rate； and furnishing her with masts；
yards； sails and rigging； together with a proportion of eight months
boatswain's and carpenter's seastores； as calculated by Mr。 Burchett；
Secretary to the navy。
＇pounds Sterling＇
For a ship of a 100 guns … 35；553
90 … … 29；886
80 … … 23；638
70 … … 17；795
60 … … 14；197
50 … … 10；606
40 … … 7；558
30 … … 5；846
20 … … 3；710
And from hence it is easy to sum up the value； or cost rather； of
the whole British navy； which in the year 1757； when it was
at its greatest glory consisted of the following ships and guns：
Ships。 Guns。 Cost of one。 Cost of all
6 … 100 … 35；553 … 213；318
12 … 90 … 29；886 … 358；632
12 … 80 … 23；638 … 283；656
43 … 70 … 17；785 … 764；755
35 … 60 … 14；197 … 496；895
40 … 50 … 10；606 … 424；240
45 … 40 … 7；558 … 340；110
58 … 20 … 3；710 … 215；180
85 Sloops； bombs；
and fireships； one 2；000 170；000
with another； _________
Cost 3；266；786
Remains for guns； _________ 233；214
_________
3；500；000
No country on the globe is so happily situated； or so internally capable
of raising a fleet as America。 Tar； timber； iron； and cordage are her
natural produce。 We need go abroad for nothing。 Whereas the Dutch；
who make large profits by hiring out their ships of war to the Spaniards
and Portuguese； are obliged to import most of their materials they use。
We ought to view the building a fleet as an article of commerce； it being
the natural manufactory of this country。 It is the best money we can lay out。
A navy when finished is worth more than it cost。 And is that nice point
in national policy； in which commerce and protection are united。 Let us build；
if we want them not； we can sell； and by that means replace our paper currency
with ready gold and silver。
In point of manning a fleet； people in general run into great errors；
it is not necessary that one fourth part should he sailors。
The Terrible privateer； Captain Death； stood the hottest engagement
of any ship last war； yet had not twenty sailors on board；
though her complement of men was upwards of two hundred。
A few able and social sailors will soon instruct a sufficient number
of active landmen in the common work of a ship。 Wherefore； we never
can be more capable to begin on maritime matters than now；
while our timber is standing； our fisheries blocked up；
and our sailors and shipwrights out of employ。 Men of war of seventy
and eighty guns were built forty years ago in New…England；
and why not the same now？ Ship…building is America's greatest pride；
and in which she will in time excel the whole world。
The great empires of the east are mostly inland；
and consequently excluded from the possibility of rivalling her。
Africa is in a state of barbarism； and no power in Europe hath either
such an extent of coast； or such an internal supply of materials。
Where nature hath given the one； she has withheld the other；
to America only hath she been liberal of both。 The vast empire of Russia
is almost shut out from the sea： wherefore； her boundless forests； her tar；
iron； and cordage are only articles of commerce。
In point of safety； ought we to be without a fleet？ We are not the
little people now； which we were sixty years ago； at that time we might
have trusted our property in the streets； or fields rather； and slept
securely without locks or bolts to our doors or windows。 The case now
is altered； and our methods of defense ought to improve with our increase
of property。 A common pirate； twelve months ago； might have come up
the Delaware； and laid the city of Philadelphia under instant contribution；
for what sum he pleased； and the same might have happened to other places。
Nay； any daring fellow； in a brig of fourteen or sixteen guns might have
robbed the whole continent； and carried off half a million of money。
These are circumstances which demand our attention； and point out
the necessity of naval protection。
Some； perhaps； will say； that after we have made it up
