If there is any true cauſe for fear, reſpecting independence, it is becauſe no plan is yet laid down. Men do not ſee their way out—Wherefore, as an opening into that buſineſs, I offer the following hints, at the ſame time modeſtly affirming, that I have no other opinion of them myſelf, than that they may be the means of giving riſe to ſomething better. Could the ſtraggling thoughts of individuals be collected, they would frequently form materials for wiſe and able men to improve into uſeful matter.—Let the Aſſemblies be annual, with a Preſident only. The repreſentation more equal. Their buſineſs wholly domeſtic, and ſubject to the authority of a Continental Congreſs.—Let each Colony be divided into ſix, eight or ten convenient diſtricts, each diſtrict to ſend a proper number of Delegates to Congreſs, ſo that each Colony ſend at leaſt thirty. The whole number in Congreſs will be at leaſt 390. Each Congreſs to ſit and to chooſe a Preſident by the following method. When the Delegates are met, let a Colony be taken from the whole thirteen Colonies by lot, after which let the whole Congreſs chooſe (by ballot) a Preſident from out of the Delegates of that province. In the next Congreſs let a Colony be taken by lot from twelve only, omitting that Colony from which the Preſident was taken in the former Congreſs, and ſo proceeding on till the whole thirteen ſhall have had their proper rotation. And in order that nothing may paſs into a law but what is ſatiſfactorily juſt, not leſs than three fifths of the Congreſs to be called a majority. He that will promote diſcord under a government ſo equally formed as this, would have joined Lucifer in his revolt.—But as there is a peculiar delicacy from whom, or in what manner, this buſineſs muſt firſt ariſe, and as it ſeems moſt agreeable and conſiſtent, that it ſhould come from ſome intermediate body between the governed and governors, that is, between the Congreſs and the people, let a Continental Conference be held in the following manner, and for the following purpoſe.
A committee of twenty-ſix members of the Congreſs, viz. two for each Colony; two members from each Houſe of Aſſembly, or Provincial Convention; and five Repreſentatives of the people at large, to be choſen in the capital city or town of each Province, for and in behalf of the whole Province, by as many qualified voters as ſhall think proper to attend from all parts of the Province for that purpoſe; or, if more convenient, the Repreſentatives may be choſen in two or three of the moſt populous parts thereof. In this Conference, thus aſſembled, will be united the two grand principles of buſineſs, knowledge and power. The members of Congreſs, Aſſemblies or Conventions, by having had experience in national concerns, will be able and uſeful counſellors, and the whole, by being impowered by the people, will have a truly legal authority.
The conferring members being met, let their buſineſs be to frame a Continental Charter, or Charter of the United Colonies (anſwering to what is called the Magna Charta of England) fixing the number and manner of chooſing members of Congreſs, members of Aſſembly, with their date of ſitting, and drawing the line of buſineſs and juriſdiction between them: (Always remembering, that our ſtrength and happineſs is Continental, not Provincial.) Securing freedom and property to
