This is just a clip from
           
            Samuel Adams, "American Independence," 1 August 1776
            Occasion: Speech delivered at the State House in Philadelphia.    
            http://douglass.speech.nwu.edu/adam_a29.htm
             
             Were the talents and virtues which heaven has
             bestowed on men given merely to make them more
             obedient drudges, to be sacrificed to the follies and
             ambition of a few? Or, were not the noble gifts so
             equally dispensed with a divine purpose and law, that
             they should as nearly as possible be equally exerted,
             and the blessings of Providence be equally enjoyed by
             all? Away, then, with those absurd systems which to
             gratify the pride of a few debase the greater part of
             our species below the order of men. What an affront to
             the King of the universe, to maintain that the happiness
             of a monster, sunk in debauchery and spreading
             desolation and murder among men, of a Caligula, a
             Nero, or a Charles, is more precious in his sight than
             that of millions of his suppliant creatures, who do
             justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God!
             No, in the judgment of heaven there is no other
             superiority among men than a superiority in wisdom
             and virtue.
             
             Ye darkeners of counsel, who would make the
             property, lives, and religion of millions depend on the
             evasive interpretations of musty parchments; who
             would send us to antiquated charters of uncertain and
             contradictory meaning, prove that the present
             generation are not bound to be victims to cruel and
             unforgiving despotism, tell us whether our pious and
             generous ancestors bequeathed to us the miserable
             privilege of having the rewards of our honesty,
             industry, the fruits of those fields which they
             purchased and bled for, wrested from us at the will of
             men over whom we have no check. Did they contract
             for us that, with folded arms, we should expect that
             justice and mercy from brutal and inflamed invaders
             which have been denied to our supplications at the
             foot of the throne? Were we to hear our character as a
             people ridiculed with indifference? Did they promise
             for us that our meekness and patience should be
             insulted;