"Having proceeded to this length, for which they are now ripe, we shall have a formidable rebellion against reason, the principle of all government, and against the very name of liberty"

In this quote, Henry Knox is cautioning of the possible effects of enabling a scenario to escalate too far. He keeps in mind that the people in question have actually reached a point where they are "ripe" for rebellion, suggesting that they have actually become adequately discontented with the existing state of affairs to think about doing something about it against it. He goes on to suggest that this disobedience will be directed not simply versus the government, however versus reason itself - indicating that individuals in concern are so upset and disillusioned that they are willing to reject even one of the most standard concepts of governance. In general, Knox's message is among caution, highlighting the value of dealing with complaints before they reach a crucial point.