Dear Mr. Niles,
The American Revolution was not a common event.
Its'effects and consequences have already been
awful over a great part of the globe and when
and where are they to cease?
But what do we mean by American Revolution? Do we
mean the American war? The Revolution was effected
before the war commensed. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people. A change in
their religious sentiments of their duties and
obligations.
While the king and all in authority under him,
were believed to govern, in justice and mercy
according to the laws and Constitution derived to
them from God of nature, and transmitted to them
by their ancesters. They thought themselves bound
to pray for the king and queen and all the royal
family and all the authority under them, as Ministries ordained by God for their good.
But when they saw those powers renouncing all the
the principles of authority and bent upon the
destruction of all securities of their lives,
liberties and properties, they thought it their
duty to pray for the Continental Congress and all
thirteen state congresses.
There might be, and were others who thought
less about religion and conscience but had certain habitual sentiments of allegiance and
loyalty derived from their education, but believing allegiance and protection to be reciprocal, when protection was withdrawn, they
thought allegiance was desolved.
Another alteration was common to all. The people
of America had been educated in the habitual
affection for England as their Mother-Country;
and while they thought her a kind and tender parent(erroniously enough however, for she never was such a mother,)no affection could be more like Lady McBeth, "to dash their brains out"
it is no wonder if their fillial affections ceased and were changed into indignation and horror.
This radical change in the principles, opinions,
sentiments and affections of the people, was the
real American Revolution.....