***Gen. Benjamin Lincoln's address to Society of the Cincinnati, Boston,
Oct 11^th^, 1786***

At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, holden at Boston, on the 11^th^ October, 1786, the
following resolves were passed unanimously.

IN ASMUCH as it becomes the duty of e­very good citizen, openly and
publickly to declare his allegiance and attachment to the government
which protects him, when­ever commotions are excited which interrupt the
peace of society, and threaten destruction to the Constitution and Laws:

RESOLVED, 1^st^. That in the opinion of this Society, the late tumults
and insurrec­tions, which have interrupted the regular ad­ministration of
justice, and destroyed the publick peace, are a violent infringement on
the rights of individuals and society, and merit the reprehension of
every honest mind.

2\. At this alarming period, when every publick and private right is
invaded, when our constitution of government, that work of labour and of
blood, is shaken to its foundation, it is the duty, of every individual,
and of every class of citizens to stand forth in their defence.

3\. Having the happiness to live under \" A government of laws and not
of men,\" attached to that government by the strong ties of principle
and habit, and valuing freedom in proportion to the sacrifices they made
in her support; this Society will never tamely suffer those inestimable
blessings to be wrested from their hands by foreign force or domestick
faction.

4\. If grievances are suffered by any particular citizens, surely the
yet unpaid army may be said to be aggrieved; but knowing no relief can
be expected from tumults, and from riots, their appeal for redress shall
ever be directed to the laws and the constitution, in the full
confidence that they shall receive ample and complete justice.

5\. And whereas it is possible there may be instances in which some
officers and soldiers deluded by the councils, may have joined in the
measures of those abandoned men who have in the most flagitious manner
invaded the peace and good order of government; this Society, impelled
by a tenderness to the reputation and happiness of such, do in the
strongest and most manner intreat them to desist from these dangerous
and disgraceful proceedings, and conjure them by the honour they have
acquired in the field, by their regard for the feelings and reputation
of their brethren, and above all by the love they bear their country and
posterity, to listen no longer to the councils of these designing men,
who would involve their country in a scene of blood, and who probably
may prove the first victims of the flame they are kindling.

6\. As citizens and as publick creditors this Society are interested in
the preservation of the constitution, and so long as life and its
attendant blessings, so long as publick faith and private credit are
made the sacred objects of government, agreeably to its original
institution, this Society pledge themselves to support it by every means
and by every exertion in their power.

B. LINCOLN, President

***At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, holden at Boston, on the 11^th^ October, 1786, the
following resolves were passed unanimously*, . . . *B. Lincoln,
President****,* **[The Worcester Magazine]{.underline}, no. XXIX, v. II,
pp. 353-4, Worcester, Mass, Printed by I. Thomas, September, 1786.**