Discussion: For every assignment posted in the discussion board (text presentation, research presentation), there is also a mandatory Q&Acomponent. Read for the text and every discussion just have to

Hom e - Civ il D is o bedie nce In tr o - Civ il D is o bedie nce - 2 I HEARTIL Y A CCEPT th e m otto , — " T ha t g ove rn m ent is b est w hic h g ove rn s le ast" ; (1 ) and I s ho uld li k e to s e e it a cte d u p to m ore r a pid ly a nd s ys te m atic a lly . C arrie d o ut, it fin a lly a m ounts to th is , w hic h a ls o I b eli e ve , — " T ha t g ove rn m ent is b est w hic h gove rn s n o t a t a ll" ; a nd w he n m en a re p re pare d fo r it, th a t w ill b e th e k in d o f gove rn m ent w hic h th e y w ill h a ve . G ove rn m ent is a t b est b ut a n e xp edie nt; b ut m ost gove rn m ents a re u sua lly , a nd a ll g ove rn m ents a re s o m etim es, in e xp edie nt. T he obje ctio ns w hic h h a ve b een b ro ug ht a gain st a s ta nd in g a rm y, a nd th e y a re m any and w eig hty , a nd d ese rv e to p re va il, m ay a ls o a t la st b e b ro ug ht a gain st a s ta nd in g gove rn m ent. T he s ta nd in g a rm y is o nly a n a rm o f th e s ta nd in g g ove rn m ent. T he gove rn m ent its e lf , w hic h is o nly th e m ode w hic h th e p eople h a ve c ho se n to e xe cute th e ir w ill, is e qua lly li a ble to b e a buse d a nd p erv e rte d b efo re th e p eople c a n a ct th ro ug h it. W itn e ss th e p re se nt M exic a n w ar, (2 ) th e w ork o f c o m para tiv e ly a fe w in d iv id ua ls u sin g th e s ta nd in g g ove rn m ent a s th e ir to ol; fo r, in th e o uts e t, th e p eople would n o t h a ve c o nse nte d to th is m easure .

[2 ] T his A m eric a n g ove rn m ent — w ha t is it b ut a tr a ditio n, th o ug h a r e ce nt o ne , end eavo rin g to tr a nsm it its e lf u nim pair e d to p oste rity , b ut e ach in sta nt lo sin g s o m e of its in te grity ? It h a s n o t th e v ita li ty a nd fo rc e o f a s in g le li v in g m an; fo r a s in g le man c a n b end it to h is w ill. It is a s o rt o f w ooden g un to th e p eople th e m se lv e s. B ut it is n o t th e le ss n e ce ssa ry fo r th is ; fo r th e p eople m ust h a ve s o m e c o m pli c a te d machin e ry o r o th e r, a nd h e ar its d in , to s a tis fy th a t id ea o f g ove rn m ent w hic h th e y ha ve . G ove rn m ents s ho w th us h o w s ucce ssfu lly m en c a n b e im pose d o n, e ve n im pose o n th e m se lv e s, fo r th e ir o w n a dva nta ge. It is e xc e lle nt, w e m ust a ll a llo w .

Ye t th is g ove rn m ent n e ve r o f its e lf fu rth e re d a ny e nte rp ris e , b ut b y th e a la crity w ith whic h it g ot o ut o f its w ay.

It d oes n o t k e ep th e c o untr y fr e e.

It d oes n o t s e ttle th e West.

It d oes n o t e duca te . T he c ha ra cte r in he re nt in th e A m eric a n p eople h a s done a ll th a t h a s b een a cco m pli s he d; a nd it w ould h a ve d one s o m ew ha t m ore , if th e g ove rn m ent h a d n o t s o m etim es g ot in its w ay. F or g ove rn m ent is a n e xp edie nt by w hic h m en w ould fa in s ucce ed in le ttin g o ne a no th e r a lo ne ; a nd , a s h a s b een sa id , w he n it is m ost e xp edie nt, th e g ove rn e d a re m ost le t a lo ne b y it.

Tra de a nd co m merc e , if th e y w ere n o t m ade o f In d ia r u b ber, (3 ) w ould n e ve r m ana ge to bounce o ve r th e o bsta cle s w hic h le gis la to rs a re c o ntin ua lly p uttin g in th e ir w ay; and , if o ne w ere to ju d ge th e se m en w ho lly b y th e e ffe cts o f th e ir a ctio ns, a nd n o t partly b y th e ir in te ntio ns, th e y w ould d ese rv e to b e c la sse d a nd p unis he d w ith th o se mis chie vo us p ers o ns w ho p ut o bstr u ctio ns o n th e r a ilr o ads.

[3 ] B ut, to s p eak p ra ctic a lly a nd a s a c itiz e n, u nli k e th o se w ho c a ll th e m se lv e s n o - gove rn m ent m en, (4 ) I a sk fo r, n o t a t o nce n o g ove rn m ent, b ut at o nce a b ette r gove rn m ent. L et e ve ry m an m ake k no w n w ha t k in d o f g ove rn m ent w ould c o m mand his r e sp ect, a nd th a t w ill b e o ne s te p to w ard o bta in in g it.

[4 ] A fte r a ll, th e p ra ctic a l r e aso n w hy, w he n th e p ow er is o nce in th e h a nd s o f th e people , a m ajo rity a re p erm itte d, a nd fo r a lo ng p erio d c o ntin ue , to r u le , is n o t beca use th e y a re m ost li k e ly to b e in th e r ig ht, n o r b eca use th is s e em s fa ir e st to th e m in o rity , b ut b eca use th e y a re p hys ic a lly th e s tr o ng est. B ut a g ove rn m ent in whic h th e m ajo rity r u le in a ll c a se s c a nno t b e b ase d o n ju stic e , e ve n a s fa r a s m en und ers ta nd it. C an th e re n o t b e a g ove rn m ent in w hic h m ajo ritie s d o n o t v ir tu a lly decid e r ig ht a nd w ro ng , b ut c o nscie nce ? — in w hic h m ajo ritie s d ecid e o nly th o se que stio ns to w hic h th e r u le o f e xp edie ncy is a ppli c a ble ? M ust th e c itiz e n e ve r fo r a mom ent, o r in th e le ast d egre e, r e sig n h is c o nscie nce to th e le gis la to r? W hy h a s eve ry m an a c o nscie nce , th e n? I th in k th a t w e s ho uld b e m en fir s t, a nd s ub je cts afte rw ard . It is n o t d esir a ble to c ult iv a te a r e sp ect fo r th e la w , s o m uch a s fo r th e rig ht. T he o nly o bli g atio n w hic h I h a ve a r ig ht to a ssum e is to d o a t a ny tim e w ha t I th in k r ig ht. It is tr u ly e no ug h s a id th a t a c o rp ora tio n h a s n o c o nscie nce ; b ut a co rp ora tio n o f c o nscie ntio us m en is a c o rp ora tio n with a c o nscie nce . L aw n e ve r made m en a w hit m ore ju st; a nd , b y m eans o f th e ir r e sp ect fo r it, e ve n th e w ell- dis p ose d a re d aily m ade th e a gents o f in ju stic e .

A c o m mon a nd n a tu ra l r e sult o f a n und ue r e sp ect fo r la w is , th a t y o u m ay s e e a file o f s o ld ie rs , c o lo ne l, c a pta in , co rp ora l, p riv a te s, p ow der-m onke ys , (5 ) a nd a ll, m arc hin g in a dm ir a ble o rd er o ve r hill a nd d ale to th e w ars , a gain st th e ir w ills , a y, a gain st th e ir c o m mon s e nse a nd co nscie nce s, w hic h m ake s it v e ry s te ep m arc hin g in d eed, a nd p ro duce s a co nve rte d b y W eb2PD FC onve rt.c o m palp ita tio n o f th e h e art. T he y h a ve n o d oub t th a t it is a d am na ble b usin e ss in w hic h th e y a re c o nce rn e d; th e y a re a ll p eace ably in cli n e d. N ow , w ha t a re th e y? M en a t all? o r s m all m ova ble fo rts a nd m agazin e s, a t th e s e rv ic e o f s o m e u nscru p ulo us man in p ow er? V is it th e N avy Y a rd , a nd b eho ld a m arin e , s uch a m an a s a n Am eric a n g ove rn m ent c a n m ake , o r s uch a s it c a n m ake a m an w ith its b la ck a rts — a m ere s ha dow a nd r e m in is ce nce o f h um anity , a m an la id o ut a li v e a nd sta nd in g , a nd a lr e ady, a s o ne m ay s a y, b urie d u nd er a rm s w ith fu ne ra l acco m panim ents , th o ug h it m ay b e "N ot a d ru m w as h e ard , n o t a fu ne ra l n o te , A s h is c o rs e to th e r a m part w e h urrie d; N ot a s o ld ie r d is cha rg ed h is fa re w ell s ho t O 'e r th e g ra ve w he re o ur h e ro w e b urie d." (6 ) [5 ] T he m ass o f m en s e rv e th e s ta te th us, n o t a s m en m ain ly , b ut a s m achin e s, with th e ir b odie s. T he y a re th e s ta nd in g a rm y, a nd th e m ili tia , ja ile rs , c o nsta ble s, posse c o m ita tu s , (7 ) e tc . In m ost c a se s th e re is n o fr e e e xe rc is e w ha te ve r o f th e ju d gm ent o r o f th e m ora l s e nse ; b ut th e y p ut th e m se lv e s o n a le ve l w ith w ood a nd earth a nd s to ne s; a nd w ooden m en c a n p erh a ps b e m anufa ctu re d th a t w ill s e rv e th e p urp ose a s w ell. S uch c o m mand n o m ore r e sp ect th a n m en o f s tr a w o r a lu m p of d ir t. T he y h a ve th e s a m e s o rt o f w orth o nly a s h o rs e s a nd d ogs. Y e t s uch a s th e se e ve n a re c o m monly e ste em ed g ood c itiz e ns. O th e rs , a s m ost le gis la to rs , poli tic ia ns, la w ye rs , m in is te rs , a nd o ffic e -h o ld ers , s e rv e th e s ta te c hie fly w ith th e ir he ads; a nd , a s th e y r a re ly m ake a ny m ora l d is tin ctio ns, th e y a re a s li k e ly to s e rv e th e d evil, w ith o ut in te ndin g it, a s G od. A v e ry fe w , a s h e ro es, p atr io ts , m arty rs , re fo rm ers in th e g re at s e nse , a nd men , s e rv e th e s ta te w ith th e ir c o nscie nce s a ls o , and s o n e ce ssa rily r e sis t it fo r th e most p art; a nd th e y a re c o m monly tr e ate d a s ene m ie s b y it. A w is e m an w ill o nly b e u se fu l a s a m an, a nd w ill n o t s ub m it to b e "c la y," a nd " s to p a h o le to k e ep th e w in d a w ay," (8 ) b ut le ave th a t o ffic e to h is d ust a t le ast: — "I a m to o h ig h-b orn to b e p ro pertie d, T o b e a s e co nd ary a t c o ntr o l, O r u se fu l s e rv in g -m an a nd in str u m ent T o a ny s o ve re ig n s ta te th ro ug ho ut th e w orld ." (9 ) [6 ] H e w ho g iv e s h im se lf e ntir e ly to h is fe llo w -m en a ppears to th e m u se le ss a nd se lf is h; b ut h e w ho g iv e s h im se lf p artia lly to th e m is p ro no unce d a b ene fa cto r a nd phila nth ro pis t.

[7 ] H ow d oes it b eco m e a m an to b eha ve to w ard th is A m eric a n g ove rn m ent to - day? I a nsw er, th a t h e c a nno t w ith o ut d is g ra ce b e a sso cia te d w ith it. I c a nno t fo r a n in sta nt r e co gniz e th a t p oli tic a l o rg aniz a tio n a s my g ove rn m ent w hic h is th e sla ve 's gove rn m ent a ls o .

[8 ] A ll m en r e co gniz e th e r ig ht o f r e vo lu tio n; th a t is , th e r ig ht to r e fu se a lle gia nce to , a nd to r e sis t, th e g ove rn m ent, w he n its ty ra nny o r its in e ffic ie ncy a re g re at a nd une nd ura ble .

But a lm ost a ll s a y th a t s uch is n o t th e c a se n o w . B ut s uch w as th e ca se , th e y th in k, in th e R evo lu tio n o f '7 5.

(1 0) If o ne w ere to te ll m e th a t th is w as a bad g ove rn m ent b eca use it ta xe d c e rta in fo re ig n c o m moditie s b ro ug ht to its p orts , it is m ost p ro bable th a t I s ho uld n o t m ake a n a do a bout it, fo r I c a n d o w ith o ut th e m .

All m achin e s h a ve th e ir fr ic tio n; a nd p ossib ly th is d oes e no ug h g ood to co unte rb ala nce th e e vil. A t a ny r a te , it is a g re at e vil to m ake a s tir a bout it. B ut whe n th e fr ic tio n c o m es to h a ve its m achin e , a nd o ppre ssio n a nd r o bbery a re org aniz e d, I s a y, le t u s n o t h a ve s uch a m achin e a ny lo ng er.

In o th e r w ord s, w he n a six th o f th e p opula tio n o f a n a tio n w hic h h a s u nd erta ke n to b e th e r e fu g e o f li b erty are s la ve s, a nd a w ho le c o untr y is u nju stly o ve rru n a nd c o nq ue re d b y a fo re ig n arm y, a nd s ub je cte d to m ili ta ry la w , I th in k th a t it is n o t to o s o on fo r h o ne st m en to re bel a nd r e vo lu tio niz e . W ha t m ake s th is d uty th e m ore u rg ent is th e fa ct th a t th e co untr y s o o ve rru n is n o t o ur o w n, b ut o urs is th e in va din g a rm y.

(1 1 ) [9 ] P ale y, a c o m mon a uth o rity w ith m any o n m ora l q ue stio ns, in h is c ha pte r o n th e "D uty o f S ub m is sio n to C iv il G ove rn m ent," r e so lv e s a ll c iv il o bli g atio n in to exp edie ncy; a nd h e p ro ce eds to s a y th a t " s o lo ng a s th e in te re st o f th e w ho le so cie ty r e quir e s it, th a t is , s o lo ng a s th e e sta bli s he d g ove rn m ent c a nno t b e re sis te d o r c ha ng ed w ith o ut p ub li c in co nve nie ncy, it is th e w ill o f G od th a t th e esta bli s he d g ove rn m ent b e o beye d, a nd n o lo ng er" — " T his p rin cip le b ein g adm itte d, th e ju stic e o f e ve ry p artic ula r c a se o f r e sis ta nce is r e duce d to a co m puta tio n o f th e q ua ntity o f th e d ang er a nd g rie va nce o n th e o ne s id e, a nd o f th e pro babili ty a nd e xp ense o f r e dre ssin g it o n th e o th e r." (1 2) O f th is , h e s a ys , e ve ry man s ha ll ju d ge fo r h im se lf . B ut P ale y a ppears n e ve r to h a ve c o nte m pla te d th o se ca se s to w hic h th e r u le o f e xp edie ncy d oes n o t a pply , in w hic h a p eople , a s w ell a s co nve rte d b y W eb2PD FC onve rt.c o m an in d iv id ua l, m ust d o ju stic e , c o st w ha t it m ay. If I h a ve u nju stly w re ste d a p la nk fr o m a d ro w nin g m an, I m ust r e sto re it to h im th o ug h I d ro w n m ys e lf .

This , a cco rd in g to P ale y, w ould b e in co nve nie nt. B ut h e th a t w ould s a ve h is li fe , in s uch a c a se , sha ll lo se it.

(1 3) T his p eople m ust c e ase to h o ld s la ve s, a nd to m ake w ar o n Mexic o , th o ug h it c o st th e m th e ir e xis te nce a s a p eople .

[1 0] In th e ir p ra ctic e , n a tio ns a gre e w ith P ale y; b ut d oes a ny o ne th in k th a t Massa chuse tts d oes e xa ctly w ha t is r ig ht a t th e p re se nt c ris is ?

"A d ra b o f s ta te , a c lo th -o '- s ilv e r s lu t, T o h a ve h e r tr a in b orn e u p , a nd h e r s o ul tr a il in th e d ir t." (1 4) Pra ctic a lly s p eakin g , th e o ppone nts to a r e fo rm in M assa chuse tts a re n o t a hund re d th o usa nd p oli tic ia ns a t th e S outh , b ut a h und re d th o usa nd m erc ha nts a nd fa rm ers h e re , w ho a re m ore in te re ste d in c o m merc e a nd a gric ult u re th a n th e y a re in h um anity , a nd a re n o t p re pare d to d o ju stic e to th e s la ve a nd to M exic o , co st what it m ay . I q ua rre l n o t w ith fa r-o ff fo es, b ut w ith th o se w ho , n e ar a t h o m e, c o - opera te w ith , a nd d o th e b id din g o f th o se fa r a w ay, a nd w ith o ut w ho m th e la tte r would b e h a rm le ss. W e a re a ccusto m ed to s a y, th a t th e m ass o f m en a re unp re pare d; b ut im pro ve m ent is s lo w , b eca use th e fe w a re n o t m ate ria lly w is e r o r bette r th a n th e m any.

It is n o t s o im porta nt th a t m any s ho uld b e a s g ood a s y o u, a s th a t th e re b e s o m e a bso lu te g oodne ss s o m ew he re ; fo r th a t w ill le ave n th e w ho le lu m p.

(1 5) T he re a re th o usa nd s w ho a re in o pin io n o ppose d to s la ve ry a nd to th e war, w ho y e t in e ffe ct d o n o th in g to p ut a n e nd to th e m ; w ho , e ste em in g th e m se lv e s child re n o f W ashin g to n a nd F ra nkli n , s it d ow n w ith th e ir h a nd s in th e ir p ocke ts , a nd sa y th a t th e y k no w n o t w ha t to d o, a nd d o n o th in g ; w ho e ve n p ostp one th e q ue stio n of fr e edom to th e q ue stio n o f fr e e-tr a de, a nd q uie tly r e ad th e p ric e s-c urre nt a lo ng with th e la te st a dvic e s fr o m M exic o , a fte r d in ne r, a nd , it m ay b e, fa ll a sle ep o ve r th e m b oth . W ha t is th e p ric e -c urre nt o f a n h o ne st m an a nd p atr io t to -d ay? T he y he sita te , a nd th e y r e gre t, a nd s o m etim es th e y p etitio n; b ut th e y d o n o th in g in earn e st a nd w ith e ffe ct. T he y w ill w ait, w ell d is p ose d, fo r o th e rs to r e m edy th e e vil, th a t th e y m ay n o lo ng er h a ve it to r e gre t. A t m ost, th e y g iv e o nly a c he ap v o te , a nd a fe eble c o unte na nce a nd G odsp eed, to th e r ig ht, a s it g oes b y th e m . T he re a re nin e h und re d a nd n in e ty -n in e p atr o ns o f v ir tu e to o ne v ir tu o us m an; b ut it is e asie r to d eal w ith th e r e al p osse sso r o f a th in g th a n w ith th e te m pora ry g ua rd ia n o f it.

[1 1 ] A ll v o tin g is a s o rt o f g am in g , li k e c he cke rs o r b ackg am mon, w ith a s li g ht mora l tin g e to it, a p la yin g w ith r ig ht a nd w ro ng , w ith m ora l q ue stio ns; a nd b ettin g na tu ra lly a cco m panie s it. T he c ha ra cte r o f th e v o te rs is n o t s ta ke d. I c a st m y v o te , perc ha nce , a s I th in k r ig ht; b ut I a m n o t v ita lly c o nce rn e d th a t th a t r ig ht s ho uld pre va il. I a m w illi n g to le ave it to th e m ajo rity . It s o bli g atio n, th e re fo re , n e ve r exc e eds th a t o f e xp edie ncy. E ve n v o tin g fo r th e r ig ht is doin g n o th in g fo r it. It is o nly exp re ssin g to m en fe ebly y o ur d esir e th a t it s ho uld p re va il. A w is e m an w ill n o t le ave th e r ig ht to th e m erc y o f c ha nce , n o r w is h it to p re va il th ro ug h th e p ow er o f th e majo rity . T he re is b ut li ttle v ir tu e in th e a ctio n o f m asse s o f m en. W he n th e m ajo rity sha ll a t le ng th v o te fo r th e a boli tio n o f s la ve ry , it w ill b e b eca use th e y a re in d iffe re nt to s la ve ry , o r b eca use th e re is b ut li ttle s la ve ry le ft to b e a boli s he d b y th e ir v o te .

They w ill th e n b e th e o nly s la ve s. O nly his v o te c a n h a ste n th e a boli tio n o f s la ve ry who a sse rts h is o w n fr e edom b y h is v o te .

[1 2] I h e ar o f a c o nve ntio n to b e h e ld a t B alt im ore , (1 6) o r e ls e w he re , fo r th e se le ctio n o f a c a nd id ate fo r th e P re sid ency, m ade u p c hie fly o f e dito rs , a nd m en who a re p oli tic ia ns b y p ro fe ssio n; b ut I th in k, w ha t is it to a ny in d epend ent, in te lli g ent, a nd r e sp ecta ble m an w ha t d ecis io n th e y m ay c o m e to ? S ha ll w e n o t ha ve th e a dva nta ge o f h is w is d om a nd h o ne sty , n e ve rth e le ss? C an w e n o t c o unt up on s o m e in d epend ent v o te s? A re th e re n o t m any in d iv id ua ls in th e c o untr y w ho do n o t a tte nd c o nve ntio ns? B ut n o : I fin d th a t th e r e sp ecta ble m an, s o c a lle d, h a s im media te ly d rifte d fr o m h is p ositio n, a nd d esp air s o f h is c o untr y , w he n h is c o untr y ha s m ore r e aso n to d esp air o f h im . H e fo rth w ith a dopts o ne o f th e c a nd id ate s th us se le cte d a s th e o nly ava ila ble o ne , th us p ro vin g th a t h e is h im se lf ava ila ble fo r a ny purp ose s o f th e d em agogue . H is v o te is o f n o m ore w orth th a n th a t o f a ny unp rin cip le d fo re ig ne r o r h ir e li n g n a tiv e , w ho m ay h a ve b een b oug ht. O h fo r a m an who is a man , a nd , a s m y n e ig hb or s a ys , h a s a b one in h is b ack w hic h y o u c a nno t pass y o ur h a nd th ro ug h! O ur s ta tis tic s a re a t fa ult : th e p opula tio n h a s b een re tu rn e d to o la rg e. H ow m any men a re th e re to a s q ua re th o usa nd m ile s in th is co untr y ? H ard ly o ne .

Does n o t A m eric a o ffe r a ny in d uce m ent fo r m en to s e ttle he re ?

The A m eric a n h a s d w in d le d in to a n O dd F ello w (1 7) — o ne w ho m ay b e kno w n b y th e d eve lo pm ent o f h is o rg an o f g re gario usne ss, a nd a m anife st la ck o f in te lle ct a nd c he erfu l s e lf - re li a nce ; w ho se fir s t a nd c hie f c o nce rn , o n c o m in g in to th e w orld , is to s e e th a t th e a lm sho use s a re in g ood r e pair ; a nd , b efo re y e t h e h a s la w fu lly d onne d th e v ir ile g arb , to c o lle ct a fu nd fo r th e s up port o f th e w id ow s a nd orp ha ns th a t m ay b e; w ho , in s ho rt v e ntu re s to li v e o nly b y th e a id o f th e M utu a l co nve rte d b y W eb2PD FC onve rt.c o m In sura nce c o m pany, w hic h h a s p ro m is e d to b ury h im d ece ntly .

[1 3] It is n o t a m an's d uty , a s a m atte r o f c o urs e , to d evo te h im se lf to th e era dic a tio n o f a ny, e ve n th e m ost e no rm ous w ro ng ; h e m ay s till p ro perly h a ve o th e r co nce rn s to e ng age h im ; b ut it is h is d uty , a t le ast, to w ash h is h a nd s o f it, a nd , if h e giv e s it n o th o ug ht lo ng er, n o t to g iv e it p ra ctic a lly h is s up port. If I d evo te m ys e lf to oth e r p urs uits a nd c o nte m pla tio ns, I m ust fir s t s e e, a t le ast, th a t I d o n o t p urs ue th e m s ittin g u p on a no th e r m an's s ho uld ers . I m ust g et o ff h im fir s t, th a t h e m ay purs ue h is c o nte m pla tio ns to o. S ee w ha t g ro ss in co nsis te ncy is to le ra te d. I h a ve he ard s o m e o f m y to w nsm en s a y, " I s ho uld li k e to h a ve th e m o rd er m e o ut to h e lp put d ow n a n in surre ctio n o f th e s la ve s, o r to m arc h to M exic o ; — s e e if I w ould g o"; and y e t th e se v e ry m en h a ve e ach, d ir e ctly b y th e ir a lle gia nce , a nd s o in d ir e ctly , a t le ast, b y th e ir m one y, fu rn is he d a s ub stitu te . T he s o ld ie r is a ppla ud ed w ho r e fu se s to s e rv e in a n u nju st w ar b y th o se w ho d o n o t r e fu se to s usta in th e u nju st gove rn m ent w hic h m ake s th e w ar; is a ppla ud ed b y th o se w ho se o w n a ct a nd auth o rity h e d is re gard s a nd s e ts a t n a ug ht; a s if th e s ta te w ere p enite nt to th a t degre e th a t it h ir e d o ne to s co urg e it w hile it s in ne d, b ut n o t to th a t d egre e th a t it le ft o ff s in nin g fo r a m om ent. T hus, u nd er th e n a m e o f O rd er a nd C iv il G ove rn m ent, we a re a ll m ade a t la st to p ay h o m age to a nd s up port o ur o w n m eanne ss. A fte r th e fir s t b lu sh o f s in c o m es its in d iffe re nce ; a nd fr o m im mora l it b eco m es, a s it w ere , un mora l, a nd n o t q uite u nne ce ssa ry to th a t li fe w hic h w e h a ve m ade.

( co ntin ued in p art tw o ) Note s 1.

Possib le r e fe re nce to " T he b est g ove rn m ent is th a t w hic h g ove rn s le ast," m otto of th e Unite d S ta te s M agazin e a nd D em ocra tic R evie w, 1837-1 859, o r " th e le ss gove rn m ent w e h a ve , th e b ette r" - fr o m R alp h W ald o E m ers o n's " P oli tic s", 1 844, so m etim es m is ta ke nly a ttr ib ute d to J e ffe rs o n - back 2.

U.S .- M exic a n W ar ( 1 846-1 848), a boli tio nis ts c o nsid ere d it a n e ffo rt to e xte nd sla ve ry in to fo rm er M exic a n te rrito ry - back 3.

M ade fr o m th e la te x o f tr o pic a l p la nts , " In d ia " b eca use it c a m e fr o m th e W est In d ie s, a nd " ru b ber" fr o m its e arly u se a s a n e ra se r - back 4.

A na rc his ts , m any o f w ho m c a m e fr o m M assa chuse tts - back 5.

Boys w ho c a rry g unp ow der fo r s o ld ie rs - back 6.

C ha rle s W olf e ( 1 791-1 823) The B uria l o f S ir J o hn M orre a t C oru nna - back 7.

G ro up e m pow ere d to u p ho ld th e la w , a s he riff's p osse - back 8.

S ha ke sp eare ( 1 564-1 616) E ng li s h d ra m atis t, fr o m Ham le t - back 9.

S ha ke sp eare , fr o m Kin g J o hn - back . 10.

T he A m eric a n R evo lu tio n b egan in C onco rd & L exin g to n in 1 775 - back 11 .

A r e fe re nce to s la ve ry in th e U .S , a nd to th e in va sio n o f M exic o b y th e U .S . - back 12.

W illi a m P ale y ( 1 743-1 805) E ng li s h th e olo gia n & p hilo so phe r, fr o m Prin cip als of M ora l a nd P olitic a l P hilo so phy, 1785 - back 13.

" H e th a t fin d eth h is li fe s ha ll lo se it..." - M atth e w 1 0:3 9 - back 14.

C yril T o urn e ur ( 1 575?-1 626) The R eve ngers T ra gadie - back 15.

"... a li ttle le ave n le ave ne th th e w ho le lu m p" - 1 C orin th ia ns 5 :6 - back 16.

In 1 848, D em ocra tic s n o m in a te d L ew is C ase fo r U .S . p re sid ent, la te r d efe ate d by Z acha ry T a lo r - back 17.

A m em ber o f th e In d epend ent O rd er o f O dd F ello w s, a fr a te rn a l o rg aniz a tio n org in a tin g in E ng la nd in th e m id -1 700s. - back Thore au R ead er:

Hom e - Civ il D is o bedie nce In tr o - Civ il D is o bedie nce - 2 co nve rte d b y W eb2PD FC onve rt.c o m Civ il D is o b ed ie n ce - P art 2 o f 3 Thore au R ead er:

Hom e - Civ il D is o bedie nce In tr o - Civ il D is o bedie nce - 3 [1 ] T he b ro ad est a nd m ost p re vale nt e rro r r e q uir e s th e m ost d is in te re ste d v ir tu e to s u sta in it .

The s lig ht r e p ro ach to w hic h th e v ir tu e o f p atr io tis m is c o m monly lia b le , th e n o ble a re m ost lik ely to in cur.

T ho se w ho , w hile th ey d is a p pro ve o f th e c hara cte r a nd m easu re s o f a go vern m ent, y ie ld to it th eir a lle gia nce a nd s u p port a re u nd oub te d ly it s m ost c o nsc ie ntio us su p porte rs , a nd s o fr e q uently th e m ost s e rio us o bsta cle s to r e fo rm . S om e a re p etit io nin g th e Sta te to d is so lv e th e U nio n, (1 ) to d is re gard th e r e q uis it io ns o f th e P re sid ent. W hy d o th ey n o t dis so lv e it th em se lv es — th e u nio n b etw een th em se lv es a nd th e S ta te — a nd r e fu se to p ay th eir q uo ta in to it s tr e asu ry ? D o n o t th ey s ta nd in th e s a m e r e la tio n to th e S ta te , th at th e S ta te does to th e U nio n? A nd h ave n o t th e s a m e r e aso ns p re vente d th e S ta te fr o m r e sis tin g th e Unio n, w hic h h ave p re vente d th em fr o m r e sis tin g th e S ta te ?

[2 ] H ow c an a m an b e s a tis fie d to e nte rta in a n o pin io n m ere ly , a nd e njo y it ?

I s th ere a ny enjo ym ent in it , if h is o pin io n is th at h e is a ggrie ved ? I f y o u a re c heate d o ut o f a s in gle d olla r b y yo ur n eig hb or, y o u d o n o t r e st s a tis fie d w it h k no w in g th at y o u a re c heate d , o r w it h s a yin g th at yo u a re c heate d , o r e ven w it h p etit io nin g h im to p ay y o u y o ur d ue; b ut y o u ta k e e ffe ctu al s te p s at o nce to o bta in th e fu ll a m ount, a nd s e e th at y o u a re n ever c heate d a gain . A ctio n fr o m prin cip le — th e p erc ep tio n a nd th e p erfo rm ance o f r ig ht — c hanges th in gs a nd r e la tio ns; it is esse ntia lly r e vo lu tio nary , a nd d oes n o t c o nsis t w ho lly w it h a nyth in g w hic h w as. I t n o t o nly div id es s ta te s a nd c hurc hes, it d iv id es fa m ilie s; a y, it d iv id es th e in div id ual , s e p ara tin g th e dia b olic al in h im fr o m th e d iv in e.

[3 ] U nju st la w s e xis t; s h all w e b e c o nte nt to o bey th em , o r s h all w e e nd eavo r to a m end th em , and o bey th em u ntil w e h ave s u cceed ed , o r s h all w e tr a nsg re ss th em a t o nce? M en g enera lly , und er s u ch a g o vern m ent a s th is , th in k th at th ey o ught to w ait u ntil th ey h ave p ers u ad ed th e majo rit y to a lt e r th em . T hey th in k th at, if th ey s h o uld r e sis t, th e r e m ed y w ould b e w ors e th an th e e vil. B ut it is th e fa ult o f th e g o vern m ent it s e lf th at th e r e m ed y is wors e th an th e e vil. It mak es it w ors e . W hy is it n o t m ore a p t to a ntic ip ate a nd p ro vid e fo r r e fo rm ? W hy d oes it n o t cheris h it s w is e m in o rit y ? W hy d oes it c ry a nd r e sis t b efo re it is h urt? W hy d oes it n o t enco ura ge it s c it iz e ns to b e o n th e a le rt to p oin t o ut it s fa ult s , a nd do b ette r th an it w ould h ave th em ?

W hy d oes it a lw ays c ru cif y C hris t, a nd e xco m munic ate C opern ic us (2 ) a nd L uth er, (3 ) and p ro no unce W ash in gto n a nd F ra nk lin r e b els ?

[4 ] O ne w ould th in k , th at a d elib era te a nd p ra ctic al d enia l o f it s a uth o rit y w as th e o nly offe nce n ever c o nte m pla te d b y g o vern m ent; e ls e , w hy h as it n o t a ssig ned it s d efin it e , it s su it a b le a nd p ro portio nate , p enalt y ? I f a m an w ho h as n o p ro perty r e fu se s b ut o nce to e arn nin e s h illin gs fo r th e S ta te , h e is p ut in p ris o n fo r a p erio d u nlim it e d b y a ny la w th at I k no w , a nd dete rm in ed o nly b y th e d is c re tio n o f th o se w ho p la ced h im th ere ; b ut if h e s h o uld s te al n in ety tim es n in e s h illin gs fr o m th e S ta te , h e is s o on p erm it te d to g o a t la rg e a gain .

[5 ] I f th e in ju stic e is p art o f th e n ecessa ry fr ic tio n o f th e m achin e o f g o vern m ent, le t it g o , le t it go ; p erc hance it w ill w ear s m ooth — c erta in ly th e m achin e w ill w ear o ut. I f th e in ju stic e h as a sp rin g, o r a p ulle y, o r a r o pe, o r a c ra nk , e xclu siv ely fo r it s e lf , th en p erh ap s y o u m ay c o nsid er wheth er th e r e m ed y w ill n o t b e w ors e th an th e e vil; b ut if it is o f s u ch a n atu re th at it r e q uir e s yo u to b e th e a gent o f in ju stic e to a no th er, th en, I s a y, b re ak th e la w . L et y o ur lif e b e a c o unte r fr ic tio n to s to p th e m achin e. W hat I h ave to d o is to s e e, a t a ny r a te , th at I d o n o t le nd m yse lf to th e w ro ng w hic h I c o nd em n.

[6 ] A s fo r a d optin g th e w ays w hic h th e S ta te h as p ro vid ed fo r r e m ed yin g th e e vil, I k no w n o t of s u ch w ays. T hey ta k e to o m uch tim e, a nd a m an's lif e w ill b e g o ne. I h ave o th er a ffa ir s to atte nd to . I c am e in to th is w orld , n o t c hie fly to m ak e th is a g o od p la ce to liv e in , b ut to liv e in it , b e it g o od o r b ad . A m an h as n o t e very th in g to d o, b ut s o m eth in g; a nd b ecause h e c anno t do ev ery th in g , it is n o t n ecessa ry th at h e s h o uld d o so m eth in g w ro ng. I t is n o t m y b usin ess to be p etit io nin g th e G overn o r o r th e L egis la tu re a ny m ore th an it is th eir s to p etit io n m e; a nd if th ey s h o uld n o t h ear m y p etit io n, w hat s h o uld I d o th en? B ut in th is c ase th e S ta te h as pro vid ed n o w ay; it s v ery C onstit u tio n is th e e vil. T his m ay s e em to b e h ars h a nd s tu b born a nd unco ncilia to ry ; b ut it is to tr e at w it h th e u tm ost k in d ness a nd c o nsid era tio n th e o nly s p ir it th at can a p pre cia te o r d ese rv es it . S o is a n c hange fo r th e b ette r, lik e b ir th a nd d eath w hic h co nvuls e th e b ody.

co nve rte d b y W eb2PD FC onve rt.c o m [7 ] I d o n o t h esit a te to s a y, th at th o se w ho c all th em se lv es A bolit io nis ts s h o uld a t o nce effe ctu ally w it h d ra w th eir s u p port, b oth in p ers o n a nd p ro perty , fr o m th e g o vern m ent o f Massa chuse tts , a nd n o t w ait till th ey c o nstit u te a m ajo rit y o f o ne, b efo re th ey s u ffe r th e r ig ht to pre vail th ro ugh th em . I th in k th at it is e no ugh if th ey h ave G od o n th eir s id e, w it h o ut w ait in g fo r th at o th er o ne. M ore o ver, a ny m an m ore r ig ht th an h is n eig hb ors c o nstit u te s a m ajo rit y o f o ne alr e ad y.

[8 ] I m eet th is A meric an g o vern m ent, o r it s r e p re se nta tiv e, th e S ta te g o vern m ent, d ir e ctly , and fa ce to fa ce, o nce a y ear — n o m ore — in th e p ers o n o f it s ta x-g ath ere r; (4 ) th is is th e o nly mode in w hic h a m an s it u ate d a s I a m n ecessa rily m eets it ; a nd it th en s a ys d is tin ctly , Reco gniz e m e; a nd th e s im ple st, th e m ost e ffe ctu al, a nd , in th e p re se nt p ostu re o f a ffa ir s , th e in d is p ensa b le st m ode o f tr e atin g w it h it o n th is h ead , o f e xp re ssin g y o ur lit tle s a tis fa ctio n w it h and lo ve fo r it , is to d eny it th en. M y c iv il n eig hb or, th e ta x-g ath ere r, is th e v ery m an I h ave to deal w it h — fo r it is , a fte r a ll, w it h m en a nd n o t w it h p arc hm ent th at I q uarre l — a nd h e h as vo lu nta rily c ho se n to b e a n a gent o f th e g o vern m ent. H ow s h all h e e ver k no w w ell w hat h e is and d oes a s a n o ffic er o f th e g o vern m ent, o r a s a m an, u ntil h e is o blig ed to c o nsid er w heth er he s h all tr e at m e, h is n eig hb or, fo r w ho m h e h as r e sp ect, a s a n eig hb or a nd w ell- d is p ose d m an, or a s a m ania c a nd d is tu rb er o f th e p eace, a nd s e e if h e c an g et o ver th is o bstr u ctio n to h is neig hb orlin ess w it h o ut a r u d er a nd m ore im petu o us th o ught o r s p eech c o rre sp ond in g w it h h is actio n? I k no w th is w ell, th at if o ne th o usa nd , if o ne h und re d , if te n m en w ho m I c o uld n am e — if te n honest m en o nly — a y, if one H O NEST m an, in th is S ta te o f M assa chuse tts , cea sin g to h old s la ves , w ere a ctu ally to w it h d ra w fr o m th is c o partn ers h ip , a nd b e lo ck ed u p in th e co unty ja il th ere fo r, it w ould b e th e a b olit io n o f s la very in A meric a. F or it m atte rs n o t h o w sm all th e b egin nin g m ay s e em to b e: w hat is o nce w ell d one is d one fo re ver. B ut w e lo ve b ette r to ta lk a b out it : th at w e s a y is o ur m is sio n.

Refo rm k eep s m any s c o re s o f n ew sp ap ers in it s se rv ic e, b ut n o t o ne m an. I f m y e ste em ed n eig hb or, th e S ta te 's a m bassa d or, (5 ) w ho w ill d evo te his d ays to th e s e ttle m ent o f th e q uestio n o f h um an r ig hts in th e C ouncil C ham ber, in ste ad o f bein g th re ate ned w it h th e p ris o ns o f C aro lin a, w ere to s it d ow n th e p ris o ner o f M assa chuse tts , th at S ta te w hic h is s o a nxio us to fo is t th e s in o f s la very u p on h er s is te r — th o ugh a t p re se nt s h e can d is c o ver o nly a n a ct o f in ho sp it a lit y to b e th e g ro und o f a q uarre l w it h h er — th e Legis la tu re w ould n o t w ho lly w aiv e th e s u b je ct th e fo llo w in g w in te r.

[9 ] U nd er a g o vern m ent w hic h im pris o ns a ny u nju stly , th e tr u e p la ce fo r a ju st m an is a ls o a pris o n. T he p ro per p la ce to -d ay, th e o nly p la ce w hic h M assa chuse tts h as p ro vid ed fo r h er fr e er a nd le ss d esp ond in g s p ir it s , is in h er p ris o ns, to b e p ut o ut a nd lo ck ed o ut o f th e S ta te b y her o w n a ct, a s th ey h ave a lr e ad y p ut th em se lv es o ut b y th eir p rin cip le s. I t is th ere th at th e fu git iv e s la ve, a nd th e M exic an p ris o ner o n p aro le , a nd th e I n d ia n c o m e to p le ad th e w ro ngs o f his r a ce, s h o uld fin d th em ; o n th at s e p ara te , b ut m ore fr e e a nd h o no ra b le g ro und , w here th e Sta te p la ces th o se w ho a re n o t wit h h er, b ut again st h er — th e o nly h o use in a s la ve S ta te in whic h a fr e e m an c an a b id e w it h h o no r. I f a ny th in k th at th eir in flu ence w ould b e lo st th ere , a nd th eir v o ic es n o lo nger a fflic t th e e ar o f th e S ta te , th at th ey w ould n o t b e a s a n e nem y w it h in it s walls , th ey d o n o t k no w b y h o w m uch tr u th is s tr o nger th an e rro r, n o r h o w m uch m ore elo quently a nd e ffe ctiv ely h e c an c o m bat in ju stic e w ho h as e xp erie nced a lit tle in h is o w n pers o n. C ast y o ur w ho le v o te , n o t a s tr ip o f p ap er m ere ly , b ut y o ur w ho le in flu ence. A m in o rit y is p ow erle ss w hile it c o nfo rm s to th e m ajo rit y ; it is n o t e ven a m in o rit y th en; b ut it is ir re sis tib le when it c lo gs b y it s w ho le w eig ht. I f th e a lt e rn ativ e is to k eep a ll ju st m en in p ris o n, o r g iv e u p war a nd s la very , th e S ta te w ill n o t h esit a te w hic h to c ho ose . I f a th o usa nd m en w ere n o t to p ay th eir ta x-b ills th is y ear, th at w ould n o t b e a v io le nt a nd b lo ody m easu re , a s it w ould b e to p ay th em , a nd e nab le th e S ta te to c o m mit v io le nce a nd s h ed in no cent b lo od. T his is , in fa ct, th e defin it io n o f a p eaceab le r e vo lu tio n, if a ny s u ch is p ossib le . I f th e ta x-g ath ere r, o r a ny o th er pub lic o ffic er, a sk s m e, a s o ne h as d one, " B ut w hat s h all I d o?" m y a nsw er is , " If y o u r e ally wis h to d o a nyth in g, r e sig n y o ur o ffic e." W hen th e s u b je ct h as r e fu se d a lle gia nce, a nd th e offic er h as r e sig ned h is o ffic e, th en th e r e vo lu tio n is a cco m plis h ed . B ut e ven s u p pose b lo od sh o uld flo w . I s th ere n o t a s o rt o f b lo od s h ed w hen th e c o nsc ie nce is w ound ed ? T hro ugh th is wound a m an's r e al m anho od a nd im morta lit y flo w o ut, a nd h e b le ed s to a n e verla stin g d eath . I se e th is b lo od flo w in g n o w .

[1 0] I h ave c o nte m pla te d th e im pris o nm ent o f th e o ffe nd er, r a th er th an th e s e iz u re o f h is go ods — th o ugh b oth w ill s e rv e th e s a m e p urp ose — b ecause th ey w ho a sse rt th e p ure st rig ht, a nd c o nse q uently a re m ost d angero us to a c o rru p t S ta te , c o m monly h ave n o t s p ent m uch tim e in a ccum ula tin g p ro perty . T o s u ch th e S ta te r e nd ers c o m para tiv ely s m all s e rv ic e, a nd a slig ht ta x is w ont to a p pear e xo rb it a nt, p artic ula rly if th ey a re o blig ed to e arn it b y s p ecia l la b or wit h th eir h and s. I f th ere w ere o ne w ho liv ed w ho lly w it h o ut th e u se o f m oney, th e S ta te it s e lf would h esit a te to d em and it o f h im . B ut th e r ic h m an — n o t to m ak e a ny in vid io us c o m paris o n — is a lw ays s o ld to th e in stit u tio n w hic h m ak es h im r ic h. A bso lu te ly s p eak in g, th e m ore money, th e le ss v ir tu e; fo r m oney c o m es b etw een a m an a nd h is o bje cts , a nd o bta in s th em fo r him ; a nd it w as c erta in ly n o g re at v ir tu e to o bta in it . I t p uts to r e st m any q uestio ns w hic h h e would o th erw is e b e ta xed to a nsw er; w hile th e o nly n ew q uestio n w hic h it p uts is th e h ard b ut co nve rte d b y W eb2PD FC onve rt.c o m su p erflu o us o ne, h o w to s p end it . T hus h is m ora l g ro und is ta k en fr o m u nd er h is fe et. T he opportu nit ie s o f liv in g a re d im in is h ed in p ro portio n a s w hat a re c alle d th e " m eans" a re in cre ase d . T he b est th in g a m an c an d o fo r h is c ult u re w hen h e is r ic h is to e nd eavo r to c arry out th o se s c hem es w hic h h e e nte rta in ed w hen h e w as p oor. C hris t a nsw ere d th e H ero dia ns acco rd in g to th eir c o nd it io n.

"S ho w m e th e tr ib ute -m oney," s a id h e; — a nd o ne to ok a p enny out o f h is p ock et; — if y o u u se m oney w hic h h as th e im age o f C æsa r o n it , a nd w hic h h e h as mad e c urre nt a nd v alu ab le , th at is , if y o u a re m en o f t h e S ta te , a nd g la d ly e njo y th e ad vanta ges o f C æsa r's g o vern m ent, th en p ay h im b ack s o m e o f h is o w n w hen h e d em and s it ; "R end er th ere fo re to C æsa r th at w hic h is C æsa r's , a nd to G od th o se th in gs w hic h a re God's " (6 ) — le avin g th em n o w is e r th an b efo re a s to w hic h w as w hic h; fo r th ey d id n o t w is h to kno w .

[1 1 ] W hen I c o nvers e w it h th e fr e est o f m y n eig hb ors , I p erc eiv e th at, w hate ver th ey m ay s a y ab out th e m agnit u d e a nd s e rio usn ess o f th e q uestio n, a nd th eir r e gard fo r th e p ub lic tr a nq uillit y , th e lo ng a nd th e s h o rt o f th e m atte r is , th at th ey c anno t s p are th e p ro te ctio n o f th e e xis tin g go vern m ent, a nd th ey d re ad th e c o nse q uences to th eir p ro perty a nd fa m ilie s o f d is o bed ie nce to it . F or m y o w n p art, I s h o uld n o t lik e to th in k th at I e ver r e ly o n th e p ro te ctio n o f th e S ta te .

But, if I d eny th e a uth o rit y o f th e S ta te w hen it p re se nts it s ta x-b ill, it w ill s o on ta k e a nd w aste all m y p ro perty , a nd s o h ara ss m e a nd m y c hild re n w it h o ut e nd . T his is h ard . T his m ak es it im possib le fo r a m an to liv e h o nestly , a nd a t th e s a m e tim e c o m fo rta b ly in o utw ard r e sp ects . I t will n o t b e w orth th e w hile to a ccum ula te p ro perty ; th at w ould b e s u re to g o a gain . Y ou m ust hir e o r s q uat s o m ew here , a nd r a is e b ut a s m all c ro p, a nd e at th at s o on. Y ou m ust liv e w it h in yo urs e lf , a nd d ep end u p on y o urs e lf a lw ays tu ck ed u p a nd r e ad y fo r a s ta rt, a nd n o t h ave m any affa ir s . A m an m ay g ro w r ic h in T urk ey e ven, if h e w ill b e in a ll r e sp ects a g o od s u b je ct o f th e Turk is h g o vern m ent.

Confu ciu s s a id , " If a s ta te is g o vern ed b y th e p rin cip le s o f r e aso n, p overty and m is e ry a re s u b je cts o f s h am e; (7 ) if a s ta te is n o t g o vern ed b y th e p rin cip le s o f r e aso n, ric hes a nd h o no rs a re th e s u b je cts o f s h am e." N o: u ntil I w ant th e p ro te ctio n o f M assa chuse tts to b e e xte nd ed to m e in s o m e d is ta nt S outh ern p ort, w here m y lib erty is e nd angere d , o r u ntil I am b ent s o le ly o n b uild in g u p a n e sta te a t h o m e b y p eacefu l e nte rp ris e , I c an a ffo rd to r e fu se alle gia nce to M assa chuse tts , a nd h er r ig ht to m y p ro perty a nd lif e . I t c o sts m e le ss in e very se nse to in cur th e p enalt y o f d is o bed ie nce to th e S ta te th an it w ould to o bey. I s h o uld fe el a s if I w ere w orth le ss in th at c ase .

[1 2] S om e y ears a go , th e S ta te m et m e in b ehalf o f th e C hurc h, a nd c o m mand ed m e to p ay a certa in s u m to w ard th e s u p port o f a c le rg ym an w ho se p re achin g m y fa th er a tte nd ed , b ut n ever I m yse lf . " P ay," it s a id , " o r b e lo ck ed u p in th e ja il. " I d eclin ed to p ay. B ut, u nfo rtu nate ly , ano th er m an s a w fit to p ay it . I d id n o t s e e w hy th e s c ho olm aste r s h o uld b e ta xed to s u p port th e p rie st, a nd n o t th e p rie st th e s c ho olm aste r: fo r I w as n o t th e S ta te 's s c ho olm aste r, b ut I su p porte d m yse lf b y v o lu nta ry s u b sc rip tio n.

I d id n o t s e e w hy th e ly ceum (8 ) sh o uld n o t pre se nt it s ta x-b ill, a nd h ave th e S ta te to b ack it s d em and , a s w ell a s th e C hurc h. H ow ever, a t th e r e q uest o f th e s e le ctm en, I c o nd esc end ed to m ak e s o m e s u ch s ta te m ent a s th is in w rit in g:

— " K no w a ll m en b y th ese p re se nts , th at I , H enry T ho re au, d o n o t w is h to b e r e gard ed a s a mem ber o f a ny in co rp ora te d s o cie ty w hic h I h ave n o t jo in ed ." T his I g ave to th e to w n c le rk ; and h e h as it . T he S ta te , h avin g th us le arn ed th at I d id n o t w is h to b e r e gard ed a s a m em ber o f th at c hurc h, h as n ever m ad e a lik e d em and o n m e s in ce; th o ugh it s a id th at it m ust a d here to it s orig in al p re su m ptio n th at tim e. I f I h ad k no w n h o w to n am e th em , I s h o uld th en h ave s ig ned o ff in d eta il fr o m a ll th e s o cie tie s w hic h I n ever s ig ned o n to ; b ut I d id n o t k no w w here to fin d a co m ple te lis t.

[1 3] I h ave p aid n o p oll- ta x fo r s ix y ears . I w as p ut in to a ja il o nce o n th is a cco unt, fo r o ne nig ht; a nd , a s I s to od c o nsid erin g th e w alls o f s o lid s to ne, tw o o r th re e fe et th ic k , th e d oor o f wood a nd ir o n, a fo ot th ic k , a nd th e ir o n g ra tin g w hic h s tr a in ed th e lig ht, I c o uld n o t h elp b ein g str u ck w it h th e fo olis h ness o f th at in stit u tio n w hic h tr e ate d m e a s if I w ere m ere fle sh a nd b lo od and b ones, to b e lo ck ed u p . I w ond ere d th at it s h o uld h ave c o nclu d ed a t le ngth th at th is w as th e b est u se it c o uld p ut m e to , a nd h ad n ever th o ught to a vail it s e lf o f m y s e rv ic es in s o m e way. I s a w th at, if th ere w as a w all o f s to ne b etw een m e a nd m y to w nsm en, th ere w as a s till more d if fic ult o ne to c lim b o r b re ak th ro ugh, b efo re th ey c o uld g et to b e a s fr e e a s I w as. I d id no t fo r a m om ent fe el c o nfin ed , a nd th e w alls s e em ed a g re at w aste o f s to ne a nd m orta r. I fe lt as if I a lo ne o f a ll m y to w nsm en h ad p aid m y ta x. T hey p la in ly d id n o t k no w h o w to tr e at m e, but b ehaved lik e p ers o ns w ho a re u nd erb re d . I n e very th re at a nd in e very c o m plim ent th ere was a b lu nd er; fo r th ey th o ught th at m y c hie f d esir e w as to s ta nd th e o th er s id e o f th at s to ne wall. I c o uld n o t b ut s m ile to s e e h o w in d ustr io usly th ey lo ck ed th e d oor o n m y m ed it a tio ns, whic h fo llo w ed th em o ut a gain w it h o ut le t o r h in d ra nce, a nd th ey w ere r e ally a ll th at w as dangero us. A s th ey c o uld n o t r e ach m e, th ey h ad r e so lv ed to p unis h m y b ody; ju st a s b oys, if th ey c anno t c o m e a t s o m e p ers o n a gain st w ho m th ey h ave a s p it e , w ill a b use h is d og. I s a w th at th e S ta te w as h alf - w it te d , th at it w as tim id a s a lo ne w om an w it h h er s ilv er s p oons, a nd th at it d id n o t k no w it s fr ie nd s fr o m it s fo es, a nd I lo st a ll m y r e m ain in g r e sp ect fo r it , a nd p it ie d it .

co nve rte d b y W eb2PD FC onve rt.c o m [1 4] T hus th e S ta te n ever in te ntio nally c o nfr o nts a m an's s e nse , in te lle ctu al o r m ora l, b ut o nly his b ody, h is s e nse s. I t is n o t a rm ed w it h s u p erio r w it o r h o nesty , b ut w it h s u p erio r p hysic al str e ngth . I w as n o t b orn to b e fo rc ed . I w ill b re ath e a fte r m y o w n fa sh io n. L et u s s e e w ho is th e s tr o ngest. W hat fo rc e h as a m ult it u d e? T hey o nly c an fo rc e m e w ho o bey a h ig her la w th an I. T hey fo rc e m e to b eco m e lik e th em se lv es. I d o n o t h ear o f men b ein g fo rc ed to h ave th is way o r th at b y m asse s o f m en. W hat s o rt o f lif e w ere th at to liv e? W hen I m eet a g o vern m ent whic h s a ys to m e, " Y our m oney o r y o ur lif e ," w hy s h o uld I b e in h aste to g iv e it m y m oney? I t may b e in a g re at s tr a it , a nd n o t k no w w hat to d o: I c anno t h elp th at. I t m ust h elp it s e lf ; d o a s I do. I t is n o t w orth th e w hile to s n iv el a b out it . I a m n o t r e sp onsib le fo r th e s u ccessfu l w ork in g of th e m achin ery o f s o cie ty . I a m n o t th e s o n o f th e e ngin eer. I p erc eiv e th at, w hen a n a co rn and a c hestn ut fa ll s id e b y s id e, th e o ne d oes n o t r e m ain in ert to m ak e w ay fo r th e o th er, b ut both o bey th eir o w n la w s, a nd s p rin g a nd g ro w a nd flo uris h a s b est th ey c an, till o ne, perc hance, o vers h ad ow s a nd d estr o ys th e o th er. I f a p la nt c anno t liv e a cco rd in g to it s n atu re , it die s; a nd s o a m an.

( co ntin ued in p art th re e ) Note s 1.

"N o U nio n w ith S la ve ho ld ers " h a d b eco m e a n a boli tio nis t s lo gan - back 2.

N ic o la s C opern ic a s ( 1 473-1 543) P oli s h fo und er o f m odern a str o no m y; h is w ork On th e R evo lu tio ns w as d edic a te d to P ope P aul III a nd p ub li s he d in 1 543, a nd h e was w as not e xc o m unic a te d - back 3.

M artin L uth e r ( 1 483-1 546) G erm an m onk a nd P ro te sta nt R efo rm atio n le ader - back 4.

Sam S ta ple s, lo ca l c o nsta ble a nd ta x c o lle cto r in C onco rd - back 5.

Sam ue l H oar ( 1 778-1 856) o f C onco rd , s e nt b y M ass. le gis la tu re to S . C aro li n a to p ro te st th e im pound m ent o f fr e e b la ck s a ilo rs , a nd w as fo rc e d to le ave . H is daug hte r w as a c lo se fr ie nd o f th e E m ers o ns a nd a c hild ho od fr ie nd o f T ho re au - back 6.

Matth e w 2 2:1 9-2 2 - back 7.

Anale cts , 8 :1 3 - back 8.

A h a ll w he re p ub li c le ctu re s a re h e ld - back Thore au R ead er:

Hom e - Civ il D is o bedie nce In tr o - Civ il D is o bedie nce - 3 co nve rte d b y W eb2PD FC onve rt.c o m Civ il D is o b ed ie n ce - P art 3 o f 3 Thore au R ead er:

Hom e - Civ il D is o bedie nce In tr o [1 ] T he n ig ht in p ris o n w as n o vel a nd in te re stin g e no ugh. T he p ris o ners in th eir s h ir t- sle eves were e njo yin g a c hat a nd th e e venin g a ir in th e d oorw ay, w hen I e nte re d . B ut th e ja ile r s a id , "C om e, b oys, it is tim e to lo ck u p "; a nd s o th ey d is p ers e d , a nd I h eard th e s o und o f th eir s te p s re tu rn in g in to th e h o llo w a p artm ents . M y r o om -m ate w as in tr o duced to m e b y th e ja ile r a s " a fir s t- ra te fe llo w a nd a c le ver m an." W hen th e d oor w as lo ck ed , h e s h o w ed m e w here to h ang my h at, a nd h o w h e m anaged m atte rs th ere . T he r o om s w ere w hit e w ash ed o nce a m onth ; a nd th is o ne, a t le ast, w as th e w hit e st, m ost s im ply fu rn is h ed , a nd p ro bab ly th e n eate st a p artm ent in th e to w n. H e n atu ra lly w ante d to k no w w here I c am e fr o m , a nd w hat b ro ught m e th ere ; a nd , when I h ad to ld h im , I a sk ed h im in m y tu rn h o w h e c am e th ere , p re su m in g h im to b e a n h o nest man, o f c o urs e ; a nd , a s th e w orld g o es, I b elie ve h e w as. " W hy," s a id h e, " th ey a ccuse m e o f burn in g a b arn ; b ut I n ever d id it ." A s n ear a s I c o uld d is c o ver, h e h ad p ro bab ly g o ne to b ed in a b arn w hen d ru nk , a nd s m oked h is p ip e th ere ; a nd s o a b arn w as b urn t. H e h ad th e re p uta tio n o f b ein g a c le ver m an, h ad b een th ere s o m e th re e m onth s w ait in g fo r h is tr ia l to co m e o n, a nd w ould h ave to w ait a s m uch lo nger; b ut h e w as q uit e d om estic ate d a nd co nte nte d , s in ce h e g o t h is b oard fo r n o th in g, a nd th o ught th at h e w as w ell tr e ate d .

[2 ] H e o ccup ie d o ne w in d ow , a nd I th e o th er; a nd I s a w th at if o ne s ta yed th ere lo ng, h is prin cip al b usin ess w ould b e to lo ok o ut th e w in d ow . I h ad s o on r e ad a ll th e tr a cts th at w ere le ft th ere , a nd e xam in ed w here fo rm er p ris o ners h ad b ro ken o ut, a nd w here a g ra te h ad b een sa w ed o ff, a nd h eard th e h is to ry o f th e v ario us o ccup ants o f th at r o om ; fo r I fo und th at e ven here th ere w as a h is to ry a nd a g o ssip w hic h n ever c ir c ula te d b eyo nd th e w alls o f th e ja il.

Pro bab ly th is is th e o nly h o use in th e to w n w here v ers e s a re c o m pose d , w hic h a re a fte rw ard prin te d in a c ir c ula r fo rm , b ut n o t p ub lis h ed . I w as s h o w n q uit e a lo ng lis t o f v ers e s w hic h w ere co m pose d b y s o m e y o ung m en w ho h ad b een d ete cte d in a n a tte m pt to e sc ap e, w ho a venged th em se lv es b y s in gin g th em .

[3 ] I p um ped m y fe llo w -p ris o ner a s d ry a s I c o uld , fo r fe ar I s h o uld n ever s e e h im a gain ; b ut at le ngth h e s h o w ed m e w hic h w as m y b ed , a nd le ft m e to b lo w o ut th e la m p.

[4 ] I t w as lik e tr a vellin g in to a fa r c o untr y , s u ch a s I h ad n ever e xp ecte d to b eho ld , to lie th ere fo r o ne n ig ht. I t s e em ed to m e th at I n ever h ad h eard th e to w n-c lo ck s tr ik e b efo re , n o r th e e venin g s o und s o f th e v illa ge; fo r w e s le p t w it h th e w in d ow s o pen, w hic h w ere in sid e th e gra tin g. I t w as to s e e m y n ativ e v illa ge in th e lig ht o f th e M id dle A ges, a nd o ur C onco rd w as tu rn ed in to a R hin e s tr e am , a nd v is io ns o f k nig hts a nd c astle s p asse d b efo re m e. T hey w ere th e vo ic es o f o ld b urg hers th at I h eard in th e s tr e ets . I w as a n in vo lu nta ry s p ecta to r a nd a ud it o r o f whate ver w as d one a nd s a id in th e k it c hen o f th e a d ja cent v illa ge-in n — a w ho lly n ew a nd r a re exp erie nce to m e. I t w as a c lo se r v ie w o f m y n ativ e to w n.

I w as fa ir ly in sid e o f it . I n ever h ad se en it s in stit u tio ns b efo re . T his is o ne o f it s p eculia r in stit u tio ns; fo r it is a s h ir e to w n.

(1 ) I b egan to c o m pre hend w hat it s in hab it a nts w ere a b out.

[5 ] I n th e m orn in g, o ur b re ak fa sts w ere p ut th ro ugh th e h o le in th e d oor, in s m all o blo ng- sq uare tin p ans, m ad e to fit , a nd h o ld in g a p in t o f c ho co la te , w it h b ro w n b re ad , a nd a n ir o n sp oon. W hen th ey c alle d fo r th e v esse ls a gain , I w as g re en e no ugh to r e tu rn w hat b re ad I h ad le ft; b ut m y c o m ra d e s e iz e d it , a nd s a id th at I s h o uld la y th at u p fo r lu nch o r d in ner. S oon a fte r he w as le t o ut to w ork a t h ayin g in a n eig hb orin g fie ld , w hit h er h e w ent e very d ay, a nd w ould no t b e b ack till n o on; s o h e b ad e m e g o od-d ay, s a yin g th at h e d oub te d if h e s h o uld s e e m e again .

[6 ] W hen I c am e o ut o f p ris o n — fo r s o m e o ne in te rfe re d , a nd p aid th at ta x — I d id n o t perc eiv e th at g re at c hanges h ad ta k en p la ce o n th e c o m mon, s u ch a s h e o bse rv ed w ho w ent in a y o uth a nd e m erg ed a to tte rin g a nd g ra y-h ead ed m an; a nd y et a c hange h ad to m y e yes c o m e over th e s c ene — th e to w n, a nd S ta te , a nd c o untr y — g re ate r th an a ny th at m ere tim e c o uld effe ct. I s a w y et m ore d is tin ctly th e S ta te in w hic h I liv ed . I s a w to w hat e xte nt th e p eo ple am ong w ho m I liv ed c o uld b e tr u ste d a s g o od n eig hb ors a nd fr ie nd s; th at th eir fr ie nd sh ip w as fo r s u m mer w eath er o nly ; th at th ey d id n o t g re atly p ro pose to d o r ig ht; th at th ey w ere a d is tin ct ra ce fr o m m e b y th eir p re ju d ic es a nd s u p ers tit io ns, a s th e C hin am en a nd M ala ys a re ; th at in th eir s a crif ic es to h um anit y , th ey r a n n o r is k s, n o t e ven to th eir p ro perty ; th at a fte r a ll th ey w ere no t s o n o ble b ut th ey tr e ate d th e th ie f a s h e h ad tr e ate d th em , a nd h o ped , b y a c erta in o utw ard obse rv ance a nd a fe w p ra yers , a nd b y w alk in g in a p artic ula r s tr a ig ht th o ugh u se le ss p ath fr o m co nve rte d b y W eb2PD FC onve rt.c o m tim e to tim e, to s a ve th eir s o uls . T his m ay b e to ju d ge m y n eig hb ors h ars h ly ; fo r I b elie ve th at many o f th em a re n o t a w are th at th ey h ave s u ch a n in stit u tio n a s th e ja il in th eir v illa ge.

[7 ] I t w as fo rm erly th e c usto m in o ur v illa ge, w hen a p oor d eb to r c am e o ut o f ja il, fo r h is acq uain ta nces to s a lu te h im , lo okin g th ro ugh th eir fin gers , w hic h w ere c ro sse d to r e p re se nt th e gra tin g o f a ja il w in d ow , " H ow d o y e d o?" M y n eig hb ors d id n o t th us s a lu te m e, b ut fir s t lo oked a t m e, a nd th en a t o ne a no th er, a s if I h ad r e tu rn ed fr o m a lo ng jo urn ey. I w as p ut in to ja il a s I w as g o in g to th e s h o em ak er's to g et a s h o e w hic h w as m end ed . W hen I w as le t o ut th e next m orn in g, I p ro ceed ed to fin is h m y e rra nd , a nd , h avin g p ut o n m y m end ed s h o e, jo in ed a huck le b erry p arty , w ho w ere im patie nt to p ut th em se lv es u nd er m y c o nd uct; a nd in h alf a n ho ur — fo r th e h o rs e w as s o on ta ck le d — w as in th e m id st o f a h uck le b erry fie ld , o n o ne o f our h ig hest h ills , tw o m ile s o ff, a nd th en th e S ta te w as n o w here to b e s e en.

[8 ] T his is th e w ho le h is to ry o f " M y P ris o ns." (2 ) [9 ] I h ave n ever d eclin ed p ayin g th e h ig hw ay ta x, b ecause I a m a s d esir o us o f b ein g a g o od neig hb or a s I a m o f b ein g a b ad s u b je ct; a nd a s fo r s u p portin g s c ho ols , I a m d oin g m y p art to ed ucate m y fe llo w -c o untr y m en n o w . I t is fo r n o p artic ula r it e m in th e ta x-b ill th at I r e fu se to pay it . I s im ply w is h to r e fu se a lle gia nce to th e S ta te , to w it h d ra w a nd s ta nd a lo of fr o m it effe ctu ally . I d o n o t c are to tr a ce th e c o urs e o f m y d olla r, if I c o uld , till it b uys a m an o r a musk et to s h o ot o ne w it h — th e d olla r is in no cent — b ut I a m c o ncern ed to tr a ce th e e ffe cts of m y a lle gia nce. I n fa ct, I q uie tly d ecla re w ar w it h th e S ta te , a fte r m y fa sh io n, th o ugh I w ill s till mak e w hat u se a nd g et w hat a d vanta ge o f h er I c an, a s is u su al in s u ch c ase s.

[1 0] I f o th ers p ay th e ta x w hic h is d em and ed o f m e, fr o m a s y m path y w it h th e S ta te , th ey d o but w hat th ey h ave a lr e ad y d one in th eir o w n c ase , o r r a th er th ey a b et in ju stic e to a g re ate r exte nt th an th e S ta te r e q uir e s. I f th ey p ay th e ta x fr o m a m is ta k en in te re st in th e in d iv id ual ta xed , to s a ve h is p ro perty , o r p re vent h is g o in g to ja il, it is b ecause th ey h ave n o t c o nsid ere d wis e ly h o w fa r th ey le t th eir p riv ate fe elin gs in te rfe re w it h th e p ub lic g o od.

[1 1 ] T his , th en, is m y p osit io n a t p re se nt. B ut o ne c anno t b e to o m uch o n h is g uard in s u ch a case , le st h is a ctio n b e b ia se d b y o bstin acy o r a n u nd ue r e gard fo r th e o pin io ns o f m en. L et him s e e th at h e d oes o nly w hat b elo ngs to h im se lf a nd to th e h o ur.

[1 2] I th in k s o m etim es, W hy, th is p eo ple m ean w ell; th ey a re o nly ig no ra nt; th ey w ould d o bette r if th ey k new h o w : w hy g iv e y o ur n eig hb ors th is p ain to tr e at y o u a s th ey a re n o t in clin ed to ? B ut I th in k , a gain , T his is n o r e aso n w hy I s h o uld d o a s th ey d o, o r p erm it o th ers to s u ffe r much g re ate r p ain o f a d if fe re nt k in d . A gain , I s o m etim es s a y to m yse lf , W hen m any m illio ns o f men, w it h o ut h eat, w it h o ut ill- w ill, w it h o ut p ers o nal fe elin g o f a ny k in d , d em and o f y o u a fe w sh illin gs o nly , w it h o ut th e p ossib ilit y , s u ch is th eir c o nstit u tio n, o f r e tr a ctin g o r a lt e rin g th eir pre se nt d em and , a nd w it h o ut th e p ossib ilit y , o n y o ur s id e, o f a p peal to a ny o th er m illio ns, w hy exp ose y o urs e lf to th is o verw helm in g b ru te fo rc e? Y ou d o n o t r e sis t c o ld a nd h unger, th e w in d s and th e w aves, th us o bstin ate ly ; y o u q uie tly s u b m it to a th o usa nd s im ila r n ecessit ie s. Y ou d o no t p ut y o ur h ead in to th e fir e . B ut ju st in p ro portio n a s I r e gard th is a s n o t w ho lly a b ru te fo rc e, b ut p artly a h um an fo rc e, a nd c o nsid er th at I h ave r e la tio ns to th o se m illio ns a s to s o many m illio ns o f m en, a nd n o t o f m ere b ru te o r in anim ate th in gs, I s e e th at a p peal is p ossib le , fir s t a nd in sta nta neo usly , fr o m th em to th e M ak er o f th em , a nd , s e co nd ly , fr o m th em to th em se lv es. B ut, if I p ut m y h ead d elib era te ly in to th e fir e , th ere is n o a p peal to fir e o r to th e Mak er o f fir e , a nd I h ave o nly m yse lf to b la m e.

If I c o uld c o nvin ce m yse lf th at I h ave a ny r ig ht to b e s a tis fie d w it h m en a s th ey a re , a nd to tr e at th em a cco rd in gly , a nd n o t a cco rd in g, in s o m e re sp ects , to m y r e q uis it io ns a nd e xp ecta tio ns o f w hat th ey a nd I o ught to b e, th en, lik e a g o od Mussu lm an (3 ) a nd fa ta lis t, I s h o uld e nd eavo r to b e s a tis fie d w it h th in gs a s th ey a re , a nd s a y it is th e w ill o f G od.

And , a b ove a ll, th ere is th is d if fe re nce b etw een r e sis tin g th is a nd a p ure ly bru te o r n atu ra l fo rc e, th at I c an r e sis t th is w it h s o m e e ffe ct; b ut I c anno t e xp ect, lik e Orp heus, (4 ) to c hange th e n atu re o f th e r o ck s a nd tr e es a nd b easts .

[1 3] I d o n o t w is h to q uarre l w it h a ny m an o r n atio n. I d o n o t w is h to s p lit h air s , to m ak e fin e dis tin ctio ns, o r s e t m yse lf u p a s b ette r th an m y n eig hb ors . I s e ek r a th er, I m ay s a y, e ven a n excuse fo r c o nfo rm in g to th e la w s o f th e la nd . I a m b ut to o r e ad y to c o nfo rm to th em . I n d eed , I h ave r e aso n to s u sp ect m yse lf o n th is h ead ; a nd e ach y ear, a s th e ta x-g ath ere r c o m es r o und , I fin d m yse lf d is p ose d to r e vie w th e a cts a nd p osit io n o f th e g enera l a nd S ta te g o vern m ents , and th e s p ir it o f th e p eo ple , to d is c o ver a p re te xt fo r c o nfo rm it y .

"W e m ust a ffe ct o ur c o untr y a s o ur p are nts , A nd if a t a ny tim e w e a li e na te O ur lo ve o r in d ustr y fr o m d oin g it h o no r, W e m ust r e sp ect e ffe cts a nd te ach th e s o ul M atte r o f c o nscie nce a nd r e li g io n, A nd n o t d esir e o f r u le o r b ene fit." (5 ) co nve rte d b y W eb2PD FC onve rt.c o m [1 4] I b elie ve th at th e S ta te w ill s o on b e a b le to ta k e a ll m y w ork o f th is s o rt o ut o f m y hand s, a nd th en I s h all b e n o b ette r a p atr io t th an m y fe llo w -c o untr y m en. S een fr o m a lo w er poin t o f v ie w , th e C onstit u tio n, w it h a ll it s fa ult s , is v ery g o od; th e la w a nd th e c o urts a re v ery re sp ecta b le ; e ven th is S ta te a nd th is A meric an g o vern m ent a re , in m any r e sp ects , v ery ad m ir a b le a nd r a re th in gs, to b e th ank fu l fo r, s u ch a s a g re at m any h ave d esc rib ed th em ; b ut se en fr o m a p oin t o f v ie w a lit tle h ig her, th ey a re w hat I h ave d esc rib ed th em ; s e en fr o m a hig her s till, a nd th e h ig hest, w ho s h all s a y w hat th ey a re , o r th at th ey a re w orth lo okin g a t o r th in k in g o f a t a ll?

[1 5] H ow ever, th e g o vern m ent d oes n o t c o ncern m e m uch, a nd I s h all b esto w th e fe w est possib le th o ughts o n it . I t is n o t m any m om ents th at I liv e u nd er a g o vern m ent, e ven in th is world . I f a m an is th o ught- fr e e, fa ncy-fr e e, im agin atio n-fr e e, th at w hic h is not n ever fo r a lo ng tim e a p pearin g to b e to h im , u nw is e r u le rs o r r e fo rm ers c anno t fa ta lly in te rru p t h im .

[1 6] I k no w th at m ost m en th in k d if fe re ntly fr o m m yse lf ; b ut th o se w ho se liv es a re b y pro fe ssio n d evo te d to th e s tu d y o f th ese o r k in d re d s u b je cts , c o nte nt m e a s lit tle a s a ny.

Sta te sm en a nd le gis la to rs , s ta nd in g s o c o m ple te ly w it h in th e in stit u tio n, n ever d is tin ctly a nd nak ed ly b eho ld it . T hey s p eak o f m ovin g s o cie ty , b ut h ave n o r e stin g-p la ce w it h o ut it . T hey may b e m en o f a c erta in e xp erie nce a nd d is c rim in atio n, a nd h ave n o d oub t in vente d in genio us and e ven u se fu l s y ste m s, fo r w hic h w e s in cere ly th ank th em ; b ut a ll th eir w it a nd u se fu ln ess lie wit h in c erta in n o t v ery w id e lim it s . T hey a re w ont to fo rg et th at th e w orld is n o t g o vern ed b y polic y a nd e xp ed ie ncy. W eb ste r n ever g o es b ehin d g o vern m ent, a nd s o c anno t s p eak w it h auth o rit y a b out it . H is w ord s a re w is d om to th o se le gis la to rs w ho c o nte m pla te n o e sse ntia l re fo rm in th e e xis tin g g o vern m ent; b ut fo r th in k ers , a nd th o se w ho le gis la te fo r a ll tim e, h e never o nce g la nces a t th e s u b je ct. I k no w o f th o se w ho se s e re ne a nd w is e s p ecula tio ns o n th is th em e w ould s o on r e veal th e lim it s o f h is m in d 's r a nge a nd h o sp it a lit y . Y et, c o m pare d w it h th e cheap p ro fe ssio ns o f m ost r e fo rm ers , a nd th e s till c heap er w is d om a nd e lo quence o f p olit ic ia ns in g enera l, h is a re a lm ost th e o nly s e nsib le a nd v alu ab le w ord s, a nd w e th ank H eaven fo r h im .

Com para tiv ely , h e is a lw ays s tr o ng, o rig in al, a nd , a b ove a ll, p ra ctic al. S till, h is q ualit y is n o t wis d om , b ut p ru d ence. T he la w yer's tr u th is n o t tr u th , b ut c o nsis te ncy o r a c o nsis te nt exp ed ie ncy. T ru th is a lw ays in h arm ony w it h h ers e lf , a nd is n o t c o ncern ed c hie fly to r e veal th e ju stic e th at m ay c o nsis t w it h w ro ng-d oin g. H e w ell d ese rv es to b e c alle d , a s h e h as b een calle d , th e D efe nd er o f th e C onstit u tio n. T here a re r e ally n o b lo w s to b e g iv en b y h im b ut defe nsiv e o nes.

He is n o t a le ad er, b ut a fo llo w er. H is le ad ers a re th e m en o f '8 7.

(6 ) " I h ave never m ad e a n e ffo rt," h e s a ys, " a nd n ever p ro pose to m ak e a n e ffo rt; I h ave n ever co unte nanced a n e ffo rt, a nd n ever m ean to c o unte nance a n e ffo rt, to d is tu rb th e a rra ngem ent as o rig in ally m ad e, b y w hic h th e v ario us S ta te s c am e in to th e U nio n." S till th in k in g o f th e sa nctio n w hic h th e C onstit u tio n g iv es to s la very , h e s a ys, " B ecause it w as a p art o f th e o rig in al co m pact — le t it s ta nd ." (7 ) N otw it h sta nd in g h is s p ecia l a cute ness a nd a b ilit y , h e is u nab le to ta k e a fa ct o ut o f it s m ere ly p olit ic al r e la tio ns, a nd b eho ld it a s it lie s a b so lu te ly to b e d is p ose d of b y th e in te lle ct — w hat, fo r in sta nce, it b eho oves a m an to d o h ere in A meric a to -d ay w it h re gard to s la very , b ut v entu re s, o r is d riv en, to m ak e s o m e s u ch d esp era te a nsw er a s th e fo llo w in g, w hile p ro fe ssin g to s p eak a b so lu te ly , a nd a s a p riv ate m an — fr o m w hic h w hat n ew and s in gula r c o de o f s o cia l d utie s m ig ht b e in fe rre d ? " T he m anner," s a ys h e, " in w hic h th e go vern m ents o f th o se S ta te s w here s la very e xis ts a re to r e gula te it is fo r th eir o w n co nsid era tio n, u nd er th eir r e sp onsib ilit y to th eir c o nstit u ents , to th e g enera l la w s o f p ro prie ty , hum anit y , a nd ju stic e, a nd to G od. A sso cia tio ns fo rm ed e ls e w here , s p rin gin g fr o m a fe elin g o f hum anit y , o r a ny o th er c ause , h ave n o th in g w hate ver to d o w it h it . T hey h ave n ever r e ceiv ed any e nco ura gem ent fr o m m e, a nd th ey n ever w ill. " [1 7] T hey w ho k no w o f n o p ure r s o urc es o f tr u th , w ho h ave tr a ced u p it s s tr e am n o h ig her, sta nd , a nd w is e ly s ta nd , b y th e B ib le a nd th e C onstit u tio n, a nd d rin k a t it th ere w it h r e vere nce and h um ilit y ; b ut th ey w ho b eho ld w here it c o m es tr ic k lin g in to th is la k e o r th at p ool, g ir d u p th eir lo in s o nce m ore , a nd c o ntin ue th eir p ilg rim age to w ard it s fo unta in -h ead .

[1 8] N o m an w it h a g eniu s fo r le gis la tio n h as a p peare d in A meric a. T hey a re r a re in th e his to ry o f th e w orld . T here a re o ra to rs , p olit ic ia ns, a nd e lo quent m en, b y th e th o usa nd ; b ut th e sp eak er h as n o t y et o pened h is m outh to s p eak w ho is c ap ab le o f s e ttlin g th e m uch-v exed questio ns o f th e d ay. W e lo ve e lo quence fo r it s o w n s a k e, a nd n o t fo r a ny tr u th w hic h it m ay utte r, o r a ny h ero is m it m ay in sp ir e . O ur le gis la to rs h ave n o t y et le arn ed th e c o m para tiv e v alu e of fr e e-tr a d e a nd o f fr e ed om , o f u nio n, a nd o f r e ctit u d e, to a n atio n. T hey h ave n o g eniu s o r ta le nt fo r c o m para tiv ely h um ble q uestio ns o f ta xatio n a nd fin ance, c o m merc e a nd manufa ctu re rs a nd a gric ult u re . I f w e w ere le ft s o le ly to th e w ord y w it o f le gis la to rs in C ongre ss fo r o ur g uid ance, u nco rre cte d b y th e s e aso nab le e xp erie nce a nd th e e ffe ctu al c o m pla in ts o f th e peo ple , A meric a w ould n o t lo ng r e ta in h er r a nk a m ong th e n atio ns. F or e ig hte en h und re d years , th o ugh p erc hance I h ave n o r ig ht to s a y it , th e N ew T esta m ent h as b een w rit te n; y et where is th e le gis la to r w ho h as w is d om a nd p ra ctic al ta le nt e no ugh to a vail h im se lf o f th e lig ht whic h it s h ed s o n th e s c ie nce o f le gis la tio n?

co nve rte d b y W eb2PD FC onve rt.c o m [1 9] T he a uth o rit y o f g o vern m ent, e ven s u ch a s I a m w illin g to s u b m it to — fo r I w ill cheerfu lly o bey th o se w ho k no w a nd c an d o b ette r th an I , a nd in m any th in gs e ven th o se w ho neit h er k no w n o r c an d o s o w ell — is s till a n im pure o ne: to b e s tr ic tly ju st, it m ust h ave th e sa nctio n a nd c o nse nt o f th e g o vern ed . I t c an h ave n o p ure r ig ht o ver m y p ers o n a nd p ro perty but w hat I c o nced e to it . T he p ro gre ss fr o m a n a b so lu te to a lim it e d m onarc hy, fr o m a lim it e d monarc hy to a d em ocra cy, is a p ro gre ss to w ard a tr u e r e sp ect fo r th e in d iv id ual. Even th e Chin ese p hilo so pher (8 ) w as w is e e no ugh to r e gard th e in d iv id ual a s th e b asis o f th e e m pir e . I s a d em ocra cy, s u ch a s w e k no w it , th e la st im pro vem ent p ossib le in g o vern m ent? I s it n o t possib le to ta k e a s te p fu rth er to w ard s r e co gniz in g a nd o rg aniz in g th e r ig hts o f m an? T here w ill never b e a r e ally fr e e a nd e nlig hte ned S ta te u ntil th e S ta te c o m es to r e co gniz e th e in d iv id ual a s a h ig her a nd in d ep end ent p ow er, fr o m w hic h a ll it s o w n p ow er a nd a uth o rit y a re d eriv ed , a nd tr e ats h im a cco rd in gly . I p le ase m yse lf w it h im agin in g a S ta te a t le ast w hic h c an a ffo rd to b e ju st to a ll m en, a nd to tr e at th e in d iv id ual w it h r e sp ect a s a n eig hb or; w hic h e ven w ould n o t th in k it in co nsis te nt w it h it s o w n r e p ose if a fe w w ere to liv e a lo of fr o m it , n o t m ed dlin g w it h it , no r e m bra ced b y it , w ho fu lf ille d a ll th e d utie s o f n eig hb ors a nd fe llo w -m en. A S ta te w hic h bore th is k in d o f fr u it , a nd s u ffe re d it to d ro p o ff a s fa st a s it r ip ened , w ould p re p are th e w ay fo r a s till m ore p erfe ct a nd g lo rio us S ta te , w hic h a ls o I h ave im agin ed , b ut n o t y et a nyw here se en.

Note s 1.

At th e tim e, C onco rd w as a c o unty s e at - back 2.

R efe re nce to Le M ie P rig io ni b y S ilv io P elli c o ( 1 789-1 854), a bout h is 8 y e ars as a p oli tic a l p ris o ne r, E ng li s h tr a nsla tio n 1 833 - back 3.

A M usli m - back 4.

In G re ek m yth o lo gy, a m usic ia n w ho se s o ng s c o uld c ha rm ro ck s a nd tr e es a nd beasts - back 5.

G eorg e P eele ( 1 557?-1 597?), Battle o f A lc a za r (in la te r e ditio ns o nly ) - back 6.

W rite rs o f th e C onstitu tio n in 1 787 - back 7.

D ania l W ebste r ( 1 782-1 852) fr o m s p eech in U .S . S ena te - back 8.

P ro bably C onfu ciu s ( 5 51-4 79 B .C .) - back Thore au R ead er:

Hom e - Civ il D is o bedie nce In tr o co nve rte d b y W eb2PD FC onve rt.c o m