The Project Gutenberg EBook of Count The Cost, by Jonathan Steadfast

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Title: Count The Cost
An Address To The People Of Connecticut,On Sundry Political
Subjects, And Particularly On The Proposition For A New
Constitution.

Author: Jonathan Steadfast

Release Date: January 23, 2004 [EBook #10805]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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Produced by John Orcutt

COUNT THE COST.

AN
ADDRESS
TO THE
PEOPLE of CONNECTICUT,
ON
SUNDRY POLITICAL SUBJECTS,

AND

PARTICULARLY ON THE PROPOSITION FOR A NEW CONSTITUTION.

BY JONATHAN STEADFAST

1804

"However combinations or associations of the above description may now
and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and
things to become potent engines, by which cunning ambitions and
unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and
to usurp to themselves, the reins of government, destroying afterwards
the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion."

WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS.

AN ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF CONNECTICUT.

"FOR which of you intending to build a tower sitteth not down first and
counteth the cost?"

An interesting question is here asked by the direction of infinite
wisdom. This question contains the following useful and important
instruction: That no man or body of men should attempt the
accomplishment of any great object without duly estimating the evils and
benefits probably resulting from it. Such a rule of life and adopted and
adhered to would have prevented many schemes and projects which have
cost much, and which have been productive of nothing but the disgrace to
their authors and misery to the human race--it would induce men to obey
the dictates of experience rather than the dreams of enthusiasm, and
would drive from the world a species of wisdom which is indeed folly.

An attempt is now making in this State to change the vital principles of
our government, to remove from office all our present rulers, and to
introduce a new order of things. To these innovations the people ar