<FONT color="#004080"><FONT size="+4">Thomas Paine's Common Sense</FONT></FONT>
Common Sense
Thomas Paine - 1776
Thoughts of the present state of American Affairs
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 three
hundred ninety. 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 join 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 the 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 Congress, viz., two for each colony. Two members for 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, being empowered 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 is continental, not provincial: Securing freedom and property to all men,
and above all things the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; with such other matter as is
necessary for a charter to contain. Immediately after which, the said conference to dissolve, and the bodies which shall be
chosen conformable to the said charter, to be the legislators and governors of this continent for the time being: Whose
peace and happiness, may God preserve, Amen.
Should any body of men be hereafter delegated for this or some similar purpose, I offer them the following extracts from
that wise observer on governments Dragonetti. "The science" says he, "of the politician consists in fixing the true point
of happiness and freedom. Those men would deserve the gratitude of ages, who should discover a mode of government
that contained the greatest sum of individual happiness, with the least national expense."- Dragonetti on Virtue and
Rewards.
But where says some is the king of America? I'll tell you Friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind
like the Royal of Britain. Yet that we may not appear to be defective even in earthly honors, let a day be solemnly set
apart for proclaiming the charter; let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God; let a crown be placed
thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America the law is king. For as in
absolute governments the king is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king; and there ought to be no other. But
lest any ill use should afterwards arise, let the crown at the conclusion of the ceremony be demolished, and scattered
among the people whose right it is.
A government of our own is our natural right: And when a man seriously reflects on the precariousness of human affairs,
he will become convinced, that it is in finitely wiser and safer, to form a constitution of our own in a cool deliberate
manner, while we have it in our power, than to trust such an interesting event to time and chance. If we omit it now, some
Massenello1 may hereafter arise, who laying hold of popular disquietudes, may collect together the desperate and the
discontented, and by assuming to themselves the powers of government, may sweep away the liberties of the continent
like a deluge. Should the government of America return again into the hands of Britain, the tottering situation of things,
will be a temptation for some desperate adventurer to try his fortune; and in such a case, what relief can Britain give? Ere
she could hear the news the fatal business might be done, and ourselves suffering like the wretched Britons under the
oppression of the Conqueror. Ye that oppose independence now, ye know not what ye do; ye are opening a door to
eternal tyranny, by keeping vacant the seat of government.
1 Thomas Anello, otherwise Massenello, a fisherman of Naples, who after spiriting up his countrymen in the public
market place, against the oppression of the Spaniards, to whom the place was then subject, prompted them to revolt, and
in the space of a day became king.
There are thousands and tens of thousands; who would think it glorious to expel from the continent, that barbarous and
hellish power, which hath stirred up the Indians and Negroes to destroy us; the cruelty hath a double guilt, it is dealing
brutally by us, and treacherously by them. To talk of friendship with those in whom our reason forbids us to have faith,
and our affections, (wounded through a thousand pores) instruct us to detest, is madness and folly. Every day wears out
the little remains of kindred between us and them, and can there be any reason to hope, that as the relationship expires,
the affection will increase, or that we shall agree better, when we have ten times more and greater concerns to quarrel
over than ever?
Ye that tell us of harmony and reconciliation, can ye restore to us the time that is past? Can ye give to prostitution its
former innocence? Neither can ye reconcile Britain and America. The last cord now is broken, the people of England are
presenting addresses against us. There are injuries which nature cannot forgive; she would cease to be nature if she did.
As well can the lover forgive the ravisher of his mistress, as the continent forgive the murders of Britain. The Almighty
hath implanted in us these inextinguishable feelings for good and wise purposes. They are the guardians of his image in
our hearts. They distinguish us from the herd of common animals. The social compact would dissolve, and justice be
extirpated the earth, of have only a casual existence were we callous to the touches of affection. The robber and the
murderer, would often escape unpunished, did not the injuries which our tempers sustain, provoke us into justice.
O ye that love mankind! Ye that dare oppose, not only the tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth! Every spot of the old
world is overrun with oppression. Freedom hath been hunted round the globe. Asia, and Africa, have long expelled her.
Europe regards her like a stranger, and England hath given her warning to depart. O! receive the fugitive, and prepare in
time an asylum for mankind.
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