their govern- ments. The individuals then who main- tain the contrary opinion in this country, fhould have the modefty to fuppofe it pof- fible that they may be wrong, and the reft of America right. But if there be only a poflibility of their being wrong, if only a plaufible doubt remains of the validity of the ordinance of government. Is it not better to remove that doubt, by placing it on a bottom which none will difpute?
If they be right we fhall only have the unneceffary trouble of meeting once in convention. If they be wrong, they ex- pofe us to the hazard of having no funda- mental rights at all. True it is, this is no time for deliberating on forms of government. While an enemy is within our bowels, the firft objeft is to expel him. But when this fhall be done, when peace fhall be eftablifhed, and leifure given us for intrenching within good forms, the rights for which we have bled, let no man be found indolent enough to decline a little more trouble for placing them beyond the reach of queftion. If any thing more be requifite to produce a conviftion of the expediency of calling a convention at a [ 239 1 proper feafon to fix our form of government, let it be the refledion;