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The Peril of the Republic of the United States of America - Percy T. Magan

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Treachery to friends, bro<strong>the</strong>rs, and sisters was<br />

encouraged by a provision “that if any man being<br />

present at any secret conventicle shall afterwards<br />

come forward and betray his fellow members <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> congregation, he shall receive full pardon.”<br />

Nor was this any mere fanatical decree for <strong>the</strong><br />

purpose <strong>of</strong> inspiring terror, for <strong>the</strong> sovereign<br />

continued to ordain:--<br />

“To <strong>the</strong> end that <strong>the</strong> judges and <strong>of</strong>ficers may<br />

have no reason, under pretext that <strong>the</strong> penalties are<br />

too great and heavy, and only devised to terrify<br />

delinquents, to punish <strong>the</strong>m less severely than <strong>the</strong>y<br />

deserve-- that <strong>the</strong> punished be really punished by<br />

<strong>the</strong> penalties above declared; forbidding all judges<br />

to alter or moderate <strong>the</strong> penalties in any manner;<br />

forbidding any one, <strong>of</strong> whatsoever condition, to ask<br />

<strong>of</strong> us, or <strong>of</strong> any one having authority, to grant<br />

pardon, or to present any petition in favor <strong>of</strong> such<br />

heretics, exiles, or fugitives, on penalty <strong>of</strong> being<br />

declared forever incapable <strong>of</strong> civil and military<br />

<strong>of</strong>fice, and <strong>of</strong> being arbitrarily punished<br />

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