What enlightenment principle is Paine arguing in favor of in this excerpt

it is D. representative government

Right or Wrong I tried my best : P

Here Paine rebuts the first argument for reconciliation - that American has thrived as a British colony and would fail on her own. How does this dismiss this argument?

1. He slams in down!

2. Argument is beyond misdirected and has errors in reasoning.

3. Paine argues with ideas while convincing with emotion.