The American Revolution: A Lesson in Dissent. The Case of John Joachim Zubly

Authors

Leo Schelbert

Keywords

John Joachim Zubly, American Revolution, Law of Liberty

Abstract

On September 3, 1775, John Joachim Zubly, pastor of the Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, Georgia, and at that date a delegate of that province to the Second Continental Congress of the Thirteen Colonies assembled in Philadelphia, put the final touch to a manuscript which soon thereafter went to press . It was entitled The Law of Liberty. A Sermon on American Affairs Preached at the Opening of the Provincial Congress of Georgia. The manifesto consisted of three parts: The first was an introductory address "To the Right Honourable William Henry, Earl of Dartmouth" (3/III),** which presented an incisive view on the British-American crisis; the second part was a sermon which gave an extended commentary on the 12th verse, 2nd chapter of the Letter of St. James, the Apostle: "So speak ye , and so do, as they that shall be judged by the Law o f Liberty" (3/1) ; the third part consisted of a nine-page essay and was entitled "A Short and Concise Account of the Struggles of Swisserland for Liberty"; it was to show, as Zubly explained, "by what means the Swiss recovered and preserved their freedom" (3/33).

Recommended Citation

Schelbert, Leo (1976) "The American Revolution: A Lesson in Dissent. The Case of John Joachim Zubly," Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter: Vol. 12: Iss. 3, Article 3.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/sahs_newsletter/vol12/iss3/3