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AN

IMPARTIAL VIEW,

OF THE

CAUSES

LEADING THIS COUNTRY TO THE NECESSITY OF

AN

UNION;

IN WHICH

THE TWO LEADING CHARACTERS OF THE STATE ARE
CONTRASTED;

AND IN WHICH IS CONTAINED,

A REPLY

ΤΟ

CEASE YOUR FUNNING,

AND

MR. JEB B.

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI,
QUO MÉ CUNQUE TAPIT TEMPESTAS DEBEROR HOPSES,

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PRINTED FOR BERNARD DORNIN, GRAFTON-STRE£T.

UNION, &c.

I Write not to the lawyer, the metaphysician or

the statesman, my humble labours fhall be dedicated to the PEOPLE; and if, by a fummary statement of facts I can convince them that in the projected Union the hour of their redemption is at hand; I care not for the local or selfish sensibility of a profeffion, a Bank, or a Corporation. The anvil* heretofore confecrated to the Green, may now confederate with the Orange; and false eloquence and falfe reafoning may pamphlet forth the fecurities and the bleffings of our independent conftitution. But if I can fhew my country, that under that constitution she fighed for tranquilli

B

Vide the Addrefs of the Smiths,

ty,

1

ty, but fighed in vain, and that in the principles of that conftitution are contained the reciprocal feeds of oppreffion and rebellion, she will think with me, that her tranquillity is incompatible with its exiftence. Upon this ground I fix my foot, upon the mere ground of neceffity I fhall reft the wisdom of the meafure; for though I think as highly as any one can, of the probable advantages to be derived in point of commerce and national wealth, from a federation with the greatest state in the univerfe, yet I' fhould difdain to confider those as any recompence for a conftitution tolerably found or tolerably tranquil; the measure I admit to be a ftrong one, and as in order to reconcile a patient to a violent operation, it is neceffary, however diftreffing, to apprize him of the mortal symptoms by which he is environed; fo it must be my painful duty to apprize my country of the inherent vices of that conftitution which it is now thought neceffary to fupport, by uniting it with one of a founder, more temperate, and more vigorous habit.

In every fpecies of political fociety, it is of the effence of government, that the power

fhould

fhould be lodged in the hands of the few for the benefit of the many. In feveral states, both ancient and modern, that power fo lodged has been practically exercised, to the injury of the many. But Ireland is the only country in the world where it formed a fundamental and theoretical part of the conftitution, that the depreffion of the many fhould be neceffary to the welfare and even the existence of the few. This vital malady, which was inflicted upon the constitution of this country, at the moment it first drew its breath, has grown with its growth, and ftrengthened with its ftrength; and to this fource may be traced the inflammations by which it has been agitated; the fevers by which it has been deranged, the convulfions by which it has been fhaken; and finally, thofe paroxifims that at this moment indicate its rapid diffolution.

After the rebellions that had taken place in this country, in the reign of Elizabeth, and in the beginning of the reign of James the first, the forfeitures of lands were very confiderable; and James fent over two colonies of English Proteftants, to occupy thofe forfeited lands: He faw, however, that in a country where thofe Proteftants

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