You came to America
under the high sounding titles of commander and commissioner; not only
to suppress what you call rebellion, by arms, but to shame it out of
countenance by the excellence of your example. Instead of which, you
have been the patron of low and vulgar frauds, the encourager of
Indian cruelties; and have imported a cargo of vices blacker than
those which you pretend to suppress.
Mankind are not universally agreed in their determination of right
and wrong; but there are certain actions which the consent of all
nations and individuals has branded with the unchangeable name of
meanness. In the list of human vices we find some of such a refined
constitution, they cannot be carried into practice without seducing
some virtue to their assistance; but meanness has neither alliance nor
apology. It is generated in the dust and sweepings of other vices, and
is of such a hateful figure that all the rest conspire to disown it.
Sir William, the commissioner of George the Third, has at last
vouchsafed to give it rank and pedigree. He has placed the fugitive at
the council board, and dubbed it companion of the order of knighthood.
The particular act of meanness which I allude to in this
description, is forgery. You, sir, have abetted and patronized the
forging and uttering counterfeit continental bills. In the same New
York newspapers in which your own proclamation under your master's
authority was published, offering, or pretending to offer, pardon
and protection to these states, there were repeated advertisements
of counterfeit money for sale, and persons who have come officially
from you, and under the sanction of your flag, have been taken up in
attempting to put them off.
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