This Day in History: April 28

The address now reported from the committee of the whole house appears to me unfounded, rash and sanguinary, and most unjust to draw the sword against America; but before administration are suffered to plunge this nation in the horrors of a civil war, before they are permitted to force Englishmen to sheath their swords in the bowels of their fellow subjects, I hope this house will seriously weigh the original ground and cause of this unhappy dispute, and, in time, reflect whether justice is on our side.

From “[T]he speech of John Wilkes, esquire, lord mayor of London, in the House of Commons…”