, in this state of hostile separation, are we to take the two
first (the latter can not be removed) to perish in a wilderness,
with hunger, cold, and nakedness?

"'If peace takes place, never sheathe your swords,' says he, 'until
you have obtained full and ample justice.' This dreadful
alternative of either deserting our country in the extremest hour
of her distress, or turning our arms against it--which is the
apparent object--unless Congress can be compelled into instant
compliance, has something so shocking in it, that humanity revolts
at the idea. My God! what can this writer have in view by
recommending such measures? Can he be a friend to the army? Can he
be a friend to this country? Rather, is he not an insidious foe?
some emissary, perhaps, from New York, plotting the ruin of both,
by sowing the seeds of discord and separation between the civil and
military powers of the continent? And what a compliment does he pay
to our understandings, when he recommends measures, in either
alternative, impracticable in their nature?

"But, here, gentlemen, I will drop the curtain, because it would be
as imprudent in me to assign my reasons for this opinion, as it
would be insulting to your conception to suppose you stood in need
of them. A moment's reflection will convince every dispassionate
mind of the physical impossibility of carrying either proposal into
execution. There might, gentlemen, be an impropriety in my taking
notice, in this address to you, of an anonymous production; but the
manner in which that performance has been introduced to the army,
the effect it was intended to have, together with some other
circumstances, will amply justify my observations on the tendency
of that writing.

"With respect to the advice given by the author, to suspect the man
who shall recommend moderate measures and longer forbearance, I
spurn it, as every man, who regards that liberty and reveres that
justice for which we contend, undoubtedly must; for, if men are to
be precluded from offering their sentiments on a matter which may
involve the most serious and alarming consequences that can invite
the consideration of mankind, reason is of no use to us. The
freedom of speech may be taken away, and dumb and silent we may be
led, like sheep, to the slaughter.