Farmer Calls For American Unity
Letters From a Pennsylvania Farmer #3: Warning: Freedom Will Be Lost
After writing his first two letters, Dickinson began to get some feedback that he felt needed to be addressed. He was concerned that too many people were feeling discouraged about defending their God given rights and British Liberty. In this letter his goal was to encourage those who were feeling hopeless. He also wrote some admonition and advice for those who thought that violence was the best and only way to secure their freedom. His earnest warning was that Freedom must be protected or it will be lost.
Letters From a Farmer in Pennsylvania to the Inhabitants of the British Colonies - Letter #3
Issue: American freedoms were in danger of having their liberty confiscated.
Dickinson:
The reason for writing these letters to the colonies is to make sure they understand just how dangerous these new acts of parliament are. It is vital that they are convinced to "immediately, vigorously, and unanimously ... exert themselves in the most firm, but most peaceable manner, for obtaining relief.”
Problem: Too many people were not willing to act in freedom’s defense but there were also too many people who were supporting violence and civil unrest as the solution.
Dickinson:
It is distressing to see some folks resign themselves to the fact that "Great Britain is too powerful to contend with". We cannot take the attitude that "it is in vain to speak of right on one side, when there is power on the other." We cannot afford to wait until we feel we are strong enough and in the meantime sit here and take it on the chin.
On the other hand “riots and tumults” are not the answer either. " The cause of liberty is a cause of too much dignity to be sullied by turbulence and tumult." Liberty should be preserved with the kind of class that it deserves. Anyone who takes up her defense "should breathe a sedate, yet fervent spirit, animating them to actions of prudence, justice, modesty, bravery, humanity and magnanimity.”
Solution: This problem is best solved by thoughtfully applying every legal recourse possible to come to a peaceful resolution.
Dickinson:
“We cannot act with too much caution in our disputes. Anger produces anger". We need to do this one by the book. We have many ways to legally protest these issues. We can petition our own assemblies and if those assemblies are illegally dissolved then the people must directly petition the powers that be. In the worst case, if neither the King nor Parliament will listen to our pleas, then we can resort to boycotts and other peaceful measures that have been proven to get their attention.
The Farmers Call For Unity, Diligence and Faith
“Let us all be united with one spirit, in one cause. Let us invent—let us work—let us save—let us, continually, keep up our claim, and incessantly repeat our complaints—But, above all, let us implore the protection of that infinitely good and gracious Being, 'by Whom kings reign, and princes decree justice'.”
Nil desperandum (Nothing is to be despaired of)
Click here to read about The Pennsylvania Farmer's 2nd Letter
Click here to read about The Pennsylvania Farmer's 4th Letter
Letters From a Farmer in Pennsylvania to the Inhabitants of the British Colonies by John Dickinson, Esq.
