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Paine, Thomas

"The American Crisis"

The
castles of Glengary and Lochiel were plundered and burned; every
house, hut, or habitation, met with the same fate, without
distinction; and all the cattle and provision were carried off; the
men were either shot upon the mountains, like wild beasts, or put to
death in cold blood, without form of trial; the women, after having
seen their husbands and fathers murdered, were subjected to brutal
violation, and then turned out naked, with their children, to starve
on the barren heaths. One whole family was enclosed in a barn, and
consumed to ashes. Those ministers of vengeance were so alert in the
execution of their office, that in a few days there was neither house,
cottage, man, nor beast, to be seen within the compass of fifty miles;
all was ruin, silence, and desolation."
I have here presented the reader with one of the most shocking
instances of cruelty ever practised, and I leave it, to rest on his
mind, that he may be fully impressed with a sense of the destruction
he has escaped, in case Britain had conquered America; and likewise,
that he may see and feel the necessity, as well for his own personal
safety, as for the honor, the interest, and happiness of the whole
community, to omit or delay no one preparation necessary to secure the
ground which we so happily stand upon.
TO THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA
On the expenses, arrangements and disbursements for
carrying on the war, and finishing it with honor
and advantage
WHEN any necessity or occasion has pointed out the convenience of
addressing the public, I have never made it a consideration whether
the subject was popular or unpopular, but whether it was right or
wrong; for that which is right will become popular, and that which
is wrong, though by mistake it may obtain the cry or fashion of the
day, will soon lose the power of delusion, and sink into disesteem.


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