Old Virginia and her neighbours

78 OLD VIRGINIA AND HER NEIGHBOURS." If virtue be a sin, if piety be guilt, all theprinciples of morality, goodness and justice beperverted, we must confess that those who areHjgnow called Rebels may be in danger ofmanifesto,tliosc high imputations. Those loud andseveral bulls would affrightinnocents, and renderthe defence of our brethren and the inquiry intoour sad and heavy oppressions Treason. But ifthere be (as sure there is) a just God to appealto, if religion and justice be a sanctuary here, ifto plead the cause of the oppressed, if sincerely toaim at his Majesty's honour and the public goodwithout any reservation or by-interest, if to standin the gap after so much blood of our dearbrethren bought and sold, if after the loss of agreat part of his Majesty's colony deserted anddispeopled freely with our lives and estates toendeavour to save the remainders, be treason —God Almighty judge and let guilty die. But sincewe cannot in our hearts find one single spot ofrebellion or treason, or that we have in any manneraimed at subverting the settled government orattempting of the person of any either magistrateor private man, notwithstanding the several reproachesand threats of some who for sinister endswere disaffected to us and censured our innocentand honest designs, and since all people in allplaces where we have yet been can attest our civil,quiet, peaceable behaviour, far different from thatof rebellion [rebellious ?] and tumultuous persons,let Truth be bold and all the world know the realfoundations of pretended guilt. We appeal tothe country itself, what and of what nature their