Updated Version

The Chronicle April 30^th 1775

April 2^nd 1775

Dear Editor,

For some time now the Northern colonies of New England have been persistent in campaigning for war with our Mother Country, and the articles in your paper have been very supportive of the idea. I have been rather shocked and concerned by this strong one sided propaganda your paper has been publishing. Though I do believe there is ground for upset feelings, the idea of all out war is preposterous. We are still Englishmen and have our duty to the crown, and more importantly we are Christian and have our duty to God. It is true our rights have been stepped on, but despite how your writings would lead one to believe, war is not the answer and there is still time for negotiation. I feel that this side of the argument has been slighted and your readers deserve and need to hear it.

Respectfully,

A Friend

April 10^th 1775

Dear Reader,

Of late our paper has been rather one sided, but for the simple reason that we are showing what is happening now and what currently needs top be done. For some time now England has been traipsing and trampling all over our land, rights, property, and all around over stepping her authority to the point of bloodshed. I believe decisive action must be taken. This action is to declare war with England. Other methods have been tried and all have failed. The only thing left that can be done to preserve our freedoms and establish fitting government for this country, is to wean ourselves from the Mother Country who is forcing us like a child to do all she commands under the threat of punishment; refusing to let us grow into ourselves. So we must do it on our own, and the only way left is by force.

The English clearly have no respect for the colonies as they have continually show through their tyrannical actions. They have passed act after act, putting taxes on more and more items. They have forced us to use only their currency to control us and secure their own profit, while the Quartering Act has subjected us to intrusion by British soldiers; causing a ruckus and endangering our families. The English forced the Coercive Acts on us; however these Acts are better known as the intolerable Acts because that is exactly what they are to all the colonists. In Boston 5 colonists were killed because of the forceful arrogant English soldiers. Force must be met with force. All this is done to us without care by the English, no peaceful negotiation has helped, and certainly will not now.

The Editor

April 16^th 1775

Dear Editor,

In your response to my previous letter, I found it strange that you continually referenced those you regarded your enemy as "the English". Do you forget that we are all still Englishmen? As Englishmen we have our duty to the King George and the government of England. England is our country, and we can try to have a say in our government, but in the end we are English and are under England. Would you really have us all separate ourselves from our heritage and fight brother to brother?

Making war with Our Country is far from the will of God and no one who calls himself a Christian should be able to have a clean conscience if he agrees with the idea of this war. Killing is against God's law, and the only violence scripture warrants is God commanded, and by scripture we are bound to authority; the authority of God, of our parents of our King and of our Government. Perfection won't be reached until the after life, so if we must work and suffer for our rights then we will. When the Chosen People were held in captivity they did not rise up with weapons against their captors, but in time God saved them.

There are always alternatives to war. There are always more peaceable ways to find a solution to a conflict, and we can find a compromise to spare us war.

Respectfully,

A Friend

April 22^nd 1775

Dear Reader,

By this time it is too late to keep trying for peaceful solutions. In a perfect world we would all like to solve our problems without the troubles of violence; but as you have already said, perfection can not be reached in this world, and therefore war must at times be had.

In essence, the war has already begun. While our fellow colonists stood guard protecting their own ammunition that the British were attempting to take by force in the town square of Lexington, a shot was fired and war began. Eighteen of our country men died shedding blood for the cause, and in Concord a battle has already been fought where our men found the strength to push the British troops back. My dear Reader, it is no longer a question of whether we should make war or not for war has found us, and from Concord we can see that our cause has a chance of winning while we fight for our homes, rights, children and freedom.

The Editor