The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. 2. (of 2): With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and EnglandConway, Moncure Daniel
History
The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. 2. (of 2): With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and England
Conway, Moncure Daniel
Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809
"It is probable that towards the close of the session I may make an
excursion to Washington. The piece on Gouverneur Morris's Oration
on Hamilton and that on the Louisiana Memorial are the last I have
published; and as every thing of public affairs is now on a good ground
I shall do as I did after the War, remain a quiet spectator and attend
now to my own affairs.
"I intend making a collection of all the pieces I have published,
beginning with Common Sense, and of what I have by me in manuscript,
and publish them by subscription. I have deferred doing this till the
presidential election should be over, but I believe there was not much
occasion for that caution. There is more hypocrisy than bigotry in
America. When I was in Connecticut the summer before last, I fell
in company with some Baptists among whom were three Ministers. The
conversation turned on the election for President, and one of them who
appeared to be a leading man said 'They cry out against Mr. Jefferson
because, they say he is a Deist. Well, a Deist may be a good man, and if
he think it right, it is right to him. For my own part, said he, 'I had
rather vote for a Deist than for a blue-skin presbyterian.' 'You judge
right,' said I, 'for a man that is not of any of the sectaries will hold
the balance even between all; but give power to a bigot of any sectary
and he will use it to the oppression of the rest, as the blue-skins
do in connection,' They all agree in this sentiment, and I have always
found it assented to in any company I have had occasion to use it.
"I judge the collection I speak of will make five volumes octavo of four
hundred pages each at two dollars a volume to be paid on delivery; and
as they will be delivered separately, as fast as they can be printed and
bound the subscribers may stop when they please. The three first volumes
will be political and each piece will be accompanied with an account
of the state of affairs at the time it was written, whether in America,
france, or England, which will also shew the occasion of writing it.
The first expression in the first No. of the Crisis published the 19th
December '76 is '_These are the times that try men's souls,_' It is
therefore necessary as explanatory to the expression in all future times
to shew what those times were. The two last volumes will be theological
and those who do not chuse to take them may let them alone. They will
have the right to do so, by the conditions of the subscription. I shall
also make a miscellaneous Volume of correspondence, Essays, and
some pieces of Poetry, which I believe will have some claim to
originality....
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