The Virginia Gazette

To Messrs. Dixon & Hunter.

GENTLEMEN,

Several ignorant people in different parts of the country have been led to believe that by taking the oath they would be compelled to go to the northward whenever the Governor pleased to order them, I think it would have a good effect if you would publish it in your next paper, prefixing the following remarks on it.

Whoever will read the oath will see that it requires nothing more of the good people of this State than what every government requires of its subjects. By it we are bound, as we ought to be, to discover all traitorous conspiracies against the State, which we may know of; and to secure our present free and happy form of government, we swear that we do not owe allegiance, and will not pay obedience to the tyrant of Britain, or any of his successors. It is impossible for any man, who knows or recollects, that under our old form of government our Assemblies met by the indulgence of the King alone, were dissolved at his pleasure, and that all their proceedings were nugatory and of no effect without his consent, which could not be obtained without sending them to him at the distance of three thousand miles; that the King appointed our Governors and Councillors; that the British Parliament declared they had a right to bind us in all cases whatsoever; that, by an act of Parliament we were restrained from making nails and hats, and might as well have been hindered from making houses, and shoes, or any thing else; I say, it is impossible that any one who knows, or recollects these things, can wish to give up the present constitution of our country, under which we are sure of having an Assembly every year, and a Governor and Council of our own appointment, to execute the laws as soon as enacted; a constitution, which has in it all that is excellent of the British, without one of its defects—under it, we are free indeed; we labour under no cruel restrictions in our manufactures or commerce, and instead of being bound as slaves, or factors at least, to Britain, we may trade unconfined, with all the world and if we preserve this constitution, and once obtain peace, we may enjoy it through all ages, for we shall not be dragged again by Britain into her quarrels, and, being unconquered by that formidable kingdom in all its glory, we shall never be attempted by any other nation; and the Thirteen United States must flourish, the admiration and envy of the world, till time shall be no more.