第1章

INTRODUCTION

Perhapsthesentimentscontainedinthefollowingpages,arenotYETsufficientlyfashionabletoprocurethemgeneralfavour;

alonghabitofnotthinkingathingWRONG,givesitasuperficialappearanceofbeingRIGHT,andraisesatfirstaformidableoutcryindefenseofcustom。Butthetumultsoonsubsides。

Timemakesmoreconvertsthanreason。

Asalongandviolentabuseofpower,isgenerallytheMeansofcallingtherightofitinquestion(andinMatterstoowhichmightneverhavebeenthoughtof,hadnottheSufferersbeenaggravatedintotheinquiry)andastheKingofEnglandhathundertakeninhisOWNRIGHT,tosupporttheParliamentinwhathecallsTHEIRS,andasthegoodpeopleofthiscountryaregrievouslyoppressedbythecombination,theyhaveanundoubtedprivilegetoinquireintothepretensionsofboth,andequallytorejecttheusurpationofeither。

Inthefollowingsheets,theauthorhathstudiouslyavoidedeverythingwhichispersonalamongourselves。Complimentsaswellascensuretoindividualsmakenopartthereof。Thewise,andtheworthy,neednotthetriumphofapamphlet;andthosewhosesentimentsareinjudicious,orunfriendly,willceaseofthemselvesunlesstoomuchpainsarebestowedupontheirconversion。

ThecauseofAmericaisinagreatmeasurethecauseofallmankind。

Manycircumstanceshath,andwillarise,whicharenotlocal,butuniversal,andthroughwhichtheprinciplesofallLoversofMankindareaffected,andintheEventofwhich,theirAffectionsareinterested。

ThelayingaCountrydesolatewithFireandSword,declaringWaragainstthenaturalrightsofallMankind,andextirpatingtheDefendersthereoffromtheFaceoftheEarth,istheConcernofeveryMantowhomNaturehathgiventhePoweroffeeling;

ofwhichClass,regardlessofPartyCensure,istheAUTHOR。

P。S。ThePublicationofthisnewEditionhathbeendelayed,withaViewoftakingnotice(haditbeennecessary)

ofanyAttempttorefutetheDoctrineofIndependance:

AsnoAnswerhathyetappeared,itisnowpresumedthatnonewill,theTimeneedfulforgettingsuchaPerformancereadyforthePublicbeingconsiderablypast。

WhotheAuthorofthisProductionis,iswhollyunnecessarytothePublic,astheObjectforAttentionistheDOCTRINEITSELF,nottheMAN。Yetitmaynotbeunnecessarytosay,ThatheisunconnectedwithanyParty,andundernosortofInfluencepublicorprivate,buttheinfluenceofreasonandprinciple。

Philadelphia,February14,1776

OFTHEORIGINANDDESIGNOFGOVERNMENTINGENERAL。

WITHCONCISEREMARKSONTHEENGLISHCONSTITUTION

Somewritershavesoconfoundedsocietywithgovernment,astoleavelittleornodistinctionbetweenthem;

whereastheyarenotonlydifferent,buthavedifferentorigins。

Societyisproducedbyourwants,andgovernmentbyourwickedness;

theformerpromotesourPOSITIVELYbyunitingouraffections,thelatterNEGATIVELYbyrestrainingourvices。Theoneencouragesintercourse,theothercreatesdistinctions。

Thefirstapatron,thelastapunisher。

Societyineverystateisablessing,butgovernmenteveninitsbeststateisbutanecessaryevil;initsworststateanintolerableone;

forwhenwesuffer,orareexposedtothesamemiseriesBYAGOVERNMENT,whichwemightexpectinacountryWITHOUTGOVERNMENT,ourcalamityisheightenedbyreflectingthatwefurnishthemeansbywhichwesuffer。

Government,likedress,isthebadgeoflostinnocence;thepalacesofkingsarebuiltontheruinsofthebowersofparadise。Forweretheimpulsesofconscienceclear,uniform,andirresistiblyobeyed,manwouldneednootherlawgiver;butthatnotbeingthecase,hefindsitnecessarytosurrenderupapartofhispropertytofurnishmeansfortheprotectionoftherest;andthisheisinducedtodobythesameprudencewhichineveryothercaseadviseshimoutoftwoevilstochoosetheleast。WHEREFORE,securitybeingthetruedesignandendofgovernment,itunanswerablyfollows,thatwhateverFORMthereofappearsmostlikelytoensureittous,withtheleastexpenseandgreatestbenefit,ispreferabletoallothers。

Inordertogainaclearandjustideaofthedesignandendofgovernment,letussupposeasmallnumberofpersonssettledinsomesequesteredpartoftheearth,unconnectedwiththerest,theywillthenrepresentthefirstpeoplingofanycountry,oroftheworld。

Inthisstateofnaturalliberty,societywillbetheirfirstthought。

Athousandmotiveswillexcitethemthereto,thestrengthofonemanissounequaltohiswants,andhismindsounfittedforperpetualsolitude,thatheissoonobligedtoseekassistanceandreliefofanother,whoinhisturnrequiresthesame。Fourorfiveunitedwouldbeabletoraiseatolerabledwellinginthemidstofawilderness,butonemanmightlabouroutofthecommonperiodoflifewithoutaccomplishinganything;whenhehadfelledhistimberhecouldnotremoveit,norerectitafteritwasremoved;hungerinthemeantimewouldurgehimfromhiswork,andeverydifferentwantcallhimadifferentway。Disease,nayevenmisfortunewouldbedeath,forthoughneithermightbemortal,yeteitherwoulddisablehimfromliving,andreducehimtoastateinwhichhemightratherbesaidtoperishthantodie。

Thusnecessity,likeagravitatingpower,wouldsoonformournewlyarrivedemigrantsintosociety,thereciprocalblessingsofwhich,wouldsupersede,andrendertheobligationsoflawandgovernmentunnecessarywhiletheyremainedperfectlyjusttoeachother;

butasnothingbutheavenisimpregnabletovice,itwillunavoidablyhappen,thatinproportionastheysurmountthefirstdifficultiesofemigration,whichboundthemtogetherinacommoncause,theywillbegintorelaxintheirdutyandattachmenttoeachother;

andthisremissnesswillpointoutthenecessityofestablishingsomeformofgovernmenttosupplythedefectofmoralvirtue。

SomeconvenienttreewillaffordthemaState-House,underthebranchesofwhich,thewholecolonymayassembletodeliberateonpublicmatters。

ItismorethanprobablethattheirfirstlawswillhavethetitleonlyofREGULATIONS,andbeenforcedbynootherpenaltythanpublicdisesteem。

Inthisfirstparliamenteveryman,bynaturalright,willhaveaseat。

Butasthecolonyincreases,thepublicconcernswillincreaselikewise,andthedistanceatwhichthemembersmaybeseparated,willrenderittooinconvenientforallofthemtomeetoneveryoccasionasatfirst,whentheirnumberwassmall,theirhabitationsnear,andthepublicconcernsfewandtrifling。

Thiswillpointouttheconvenienceoftheirconsentingtoleavethelegislativeparttobemanagedbyaselectnumberchosenfromthewholebody,whoaresupposedtohavethesameconcernsatstakewhichthosewhoappointedthem,andwhowillactinthesamemannerasthewholebodywouldact,weretheypresent。

Ifthecolonycontinuesincreasing,itwillbecomenecessarytoaugmentthenumberoftherepresentatives,andthattheinterestofeverypartofthecolonymaybeattendedto,itwillbefoundbesttodividethewholeintoconvenientparts,eachpartsendingitspropernumber;andthattheELECTEDmightneverformtothemselvesaninterestseparatefromtheELECTORS,prudencewillpointouttheproprietyofhavingelectionsoften;becauseastheELECTED

mightbythatmeansreturnandmixagainwiththegeneralbodyoftheELECTORSinafewmonths,theirfidelitytothepublicwillbesecuredbytheprudentreflectionofnotmakingarodforthemselves。Andasthisfrequentinterchangewillestablishacommoninterestwitheverypartofthecommunity,theywillmutuallyandnaturallysupporteachother,andonthis(notontheunmeaningnameofking)dependstheSTRENGTHOFGOVERNMENT,ANDTHEHAPPINESSOFTHEGOVERNED。

Herethenistheoriginandriseofgovernment;namely,amoderenderednecessarybytheinabilityofmoralvirtuetogoverntheworld;

heretooisthedesignandendofgovernment,viz。freedomandsecurity。

Andhoweveroureyesmaybedazzledwithshow,orourearsdeceivedbysound;

howeverprejudicemaywarpourwills,orinterestdarkenourunderstanding,thesimplevoiceofnatureandofreasonwillsay,itisright。

Idrawmyideaoftheformofgovernmentfromaprincipleinnature,whichnoartcanoverturn,viz。thatthemoresimpleanythingis,thelessliableitistobedisordered;andtheeasierrepairedwhendisordered;andwiththismaximinview,IofferafewremarksonthesomuchboastedconstitutionofEngland。Thatitwasnobleforthedarkandslavishtimesinwhichitwaserected,isgranted。

Whentheworldwasoverrunwithtyrannytheleastremovetherefromwasagloriousrescue。Butthatitisimperfect,subjecttoconvulsions,andincapableofproducingwhatitseemstopromise,iseasilydemonstrated。

Absolutegovernments(tho’thedisgraceofhumannature)havethisadvantagewiththem,thattheyaresimple;ifthepeoplesuffer,theyknowtheheadfromwhichtheirsufferingsprings,knowlikewisetheremedy,andarenotbewilderedbyavarietyofcausesandcures。

ButtheconstitutionofEnglandissoexceedinglycomplex,thatthenationmaysufferforyearstogetherwithoutbeingabletodiscoverinwhichpartthefaultlies;somewillsayinoneandsomeinanother,andeverypoliticalphysicianwilladviseadifferentmedicine。

Iknowitisdifficulttogetoverlocalorlongstandingprejudices,yetifwewillsufferourselvestoexaminethecomponentpartsoftheEnglishconstitution,weshallfindthemtobethebaseremainsoftwoancienttyrannies,compoundedwithsomenewrepublicanmaterials。

FIRST-Theremainsofmonarchialtyrannyinthepersonoftheking。

SECONDLY-Theremainsofaristocraticaltyrannyinthepersonsofthepeers。

THIRDLY-Thenewrepublicanmaterialsinthepersonsofthecommons,onwhosevirtuedependsthefreedomofEngland。

Thetwofirst,bybeinghereditary,areindependentofthepeople;

whereforeinaCONSTITUTIONALSENSEtheycontributenothingtowardsthefreedomofthestate。

TosaythattheconstitutionofEnglandisaUNIONofthreepowersreciprocallyCHECKINGeachother,isfarcical,eitherthewordshavenomeaning,ortheyareflatcontradictions。

Tosaythatthecommonsisacheckupontheking,presupposestwothings:

FIRST-Thatthekingisnottobetrustedwithoutbeinglookedafter,orinotherwords,thatathirstforabsolutepoweristhenaturaldiseaseofmonarchy。

SECONDLY-Thatthecommons,bybeingappointedforthatpurpose,areeitherwiserormoreworthyofconfidencethanthecrown。

Butasthesameconstitutionwhichgivesthecommonsapowertocheckthekingbywithholdingthesupplies,givesafterwardsthekingapowertocheckthecommons,byempoweringhimtorejecttheirotherbills;

itagainsupposesthatthekingiswiserthanthosewhomithasalreadysupposedtobewiserthanhim。Amereabsurdity!

Thereissomethingexceedinglyridiculousinthecompositionofmonarchy;

itfirstexcludesamanfromthemeansofinformation,yetempowershimtoactincaseswherethehighestjudgmentisrequired。Thestateofakingshutshimfromtheworld,yetthebusinessofakingrequireshimtoknowitthoroughly;whereforethedifferentparts,byunnaturallyopposinganddestroyingeachother,provethewholecharactertobeabsurdanduseless。

SomewritershaveexplainedtheEnglishconstitutionthus:Theking,saythey,isone,thepeopleanother;thepeersareahouseinbehalfoftheking,thecommonsinbehalfofthepeople;butthishathallthedistinctionsofahousedividedagainstitself;andthoughtheexpressionsbepleasantlyarranged,yetwhenexamined,theyappearidleandambiguous;anditwillalwayshappen,thatthenicestconstructionthatwordsarecapableof,whenappliedtothedescriptionofsomethingwhicheithercannotexist,oristooincomprehensibletobewithinthecompassofdescription,willbewordsofsoundonly,andthoughtheymayamusetheear,theycannotinformthemind,forthisexplanationincludesapreviousquestion,viz。

HOWCAMETHEKINGBYAPOWERWHICHTHEPEOPLEAREAFRAIDTOTRUST,ANDALWAYSOBLIGEDTOCHECK?Suchapowercouldnotbethegiftofawisepeople,neithercananypower,WHICHNEEDSCHECKING,befromGod;yettheprovision,whichtheconstitutionmakes,supposessuchapowertoexist。

Buttheprovisionisunequaltothetask;themeanseithercannotorwillnotaccomplishtheend,andthewholeaffairisafelodese;

forasthegreaterweightwillalwayscarryuptheless,andasallthewheelsofamachineareputinmotionbyone,itonlyremainstoknowwhichpowerintheconstitutionhasthemostweight,forthatwillgovern;

andthoughtheothers,orapartofthem,mayclog,or,asthephraseis,checktherapidityofitsmotion,yetsolongastheycannotstopit,theirendeavourswillbeineffectual;thefirstmovingpowerwillatlasthaveitsway,andwhatitwantsinspeed,issuppliedbytime。

ThatthecrownisthisoverbearingpartintheEnglishconstitution,needsnotbementioned,andthatitderivesitswholeconsequencemerelyfrombeingthegiverofplacesandpensions,isself-evident,wherefore,thoughwehavebeenwiseenoughtoshutandlockadooragainstabsolutemonarchy,weatthesametimehavebeenfoolishenoughtoputthecrowninpossessionofthekey。

TheprejudiceofEnglishmeninfavouroftheirowngovernmentbyking,lords,andcommons,arisesasmuchormorefromnationalpridethanreason。

IndividualsareundoubtedlysaferinEnglandthaninsomeothercountries,buttheWILLofthekingisasmuchtheLAWofthelandinBritainasinFrance,withthisdifference,thatinsteadofproceedingdirectlyfromhismouth,itishandedtothepeopleunderthemoreformidableshapeofanactofparliament。ForthefateofCharlestheFirsthathonlymadekingsmoresubtle-notmorejust。

Wherefore,layingasideallnationalprideandprejudiceinfavourofmodesandforms,theplaintruthis,thatITISWHOLLYOWINGTOTHECONSTITUTIONOFTHEPEOPLE,ANDNOTTOTHECONSTITUTIONOFTHEGOVERNMENT,thatthecrownisnotasoppressiveinEnglandasinTurkey。

AninquiryintotheCONSTITUTIONALERRORSintheEnglishformofgovernmentisatthistimehighlynecessary;forasweareneverinaproperconditionofdoingjusticetoothers,whilewecontinueundertheinfluenceofsomeleadingpartiality,soneitherarewecapableofdoingittoourselveswhileweremainfetteredbyanyobstinateprejudice。

Andasaman。whoisattachedtoaprostitute,isunfittedtochooseorjudgeawife,soanyprepossessioninfavourofarottenconstitutionofgovernmentwilldisableusfromdiscerningagoodone。

OFMONARCHYANDHEREDITARYSUCCESSION

Mankindbeingoriginallyequalsintheorderofcreation,theequalitycouldonlybedestroyedbysomesubsequentcircumstance;thedistinctionsofrich,andpoor,mayinagreatmeasurebeaccountedfor,andthatwithouthavingrecoursetotheharsh,ill-soundingnamesofoppressionandavarice。

OppressionisoftentheCONSEQUENCE,butseldomornevertheMEANSofriches;

andthoughavaricewillpreserveamanfrombeingnecessitouslypoor,itgenerallymakeshimtootimoroustobewealthy。

Butthereisanotherandgreaterdistinction,forwhichnotrulynaturalorreligiousreasoncanbeassigned,andthatis,thedistinctionofmenintoKINGSandSUBJECTS。Maleandfemalearethedistinctionsofnature,goodandbadthedistinctionsofheaven;buthowaraceofmencameintotheworldsoexaltedabovetherest,anddistinguishedlikesomenewspecies,isworthinquiringinto,andwhethertheyarethemeansofhappinessorofmiserytomankind。

Intheearlyagesoftheworld,accordingtothescripturechronology,therewerenokings;theconsequenceofwhichwas,therewerenowars;

itistheprideofkingswhichthrowmankindintoconfusion。HollandwithoutakinghathenjoyedmorepeaceforthislastcenturythananyofthemonarchialgovernmentsinEurope。Antiquityfavoursthesameremark;forthequietandrurallivesofthefirstpatriarchshathahappysomethinginthem,whichvanishesawaywhenwecometothehistoryofJewishroyalty。

GovernmentbykingswasfirstintroducedintotheworldbytheHeathens,fromwhomthechildrenofIsraelcopiedthecustom。

ItwasthemostprosperousinventiontheDevileversetonfootforthepromotionofidolatry。TheHeathenspaiddivinehonourstotheirdeceasedkings,andtheChristianworldhathimprovedontheplan,bydoingthesametotheirlivingones。Howimpiousisthetitleofsacredmajestyappliedtoaworm,whointhemidstofhissplendoriscrumblingintodust!

Astheexaltingonemansogreatlyabovetherestcannotbejustifiedontheequalrightsofnature,soneithercanitbedefendedontheauthorityofscripture;forthewilloftheAlmighty,asdeclaredbyGideonandtheprophetSamuel,expresslydisapprovesofgovernmentbykings。Allanti-monarchicalpartsofscripturehavebeenverysmoothlyglossedoverinmonarchicalgovernments,buttheyundoubtedlymerittheattentionofcountrieswhichhavetheirgovernmentsyettoform。

RENDERUNTOCAESARTHETHINGSWHICHARECAESAR’Sisthescripturedoctrineofcourts,yetitisnosupportofmonarchicalgovernment,fortheJewsatthattimewerewithoutaking,andinastateofvassalagetotheRomans。

NowthreethousandyearspassedawayfromtheMosaicaccountofthecreation,tilltheJewsunderanationaldelusionrequestedaking。

Tillthentheirformofgovernment(exceptinextraordinarycases,wheretheAlmightyinterposed)wasakindofrepublicadministeredbyajudgeandtheeldersofthetribes。Kingstheyhadnone,anditwasheldsinfultoacknowledgeanybeingunderthattitlebuttheLordofHosts。Andwhenamanseriouslyreflectsontheidolatroushomagewhichispaidtothepersonsofkings,heneednotwonderthattheAlmighty,everjealousofhishonour,shoulddisapproveofaformofgovernmentwhichsoimpiouslyinvadestheprerogativeofheaven。

MonarchyisrankedinscriptureasoneofthesinsoftheJews,forwhichacurseinreserveisdenouncedagainstthem。

Thehistoryofthattransactionisworthattendingto。

ThechildrenofIsraelbeingoppressedbytheMidianites,Gideonmarchedagainstthemwithasmallarmy,andvictory,throughthedivineinterposition,decidedinhisfavour。TheJews,elatewithsuccess,andattributingittothegeneralshipofGideon,proposedmakinghimaking,saying,RULETHOUOVERUS,THOUANDTHY

SONANDTHYSON’SSON。Herewastemptationinitsfullestextent;

notakingdomonly,butanhereditaryone,butGideoninthepietyofhissoulreplied,IWILLNOTRULEOVERYOU,NEITHERSHALLMYSONRULEOVERYOU_THELORDSHALLRULEOVERYOU。_

Wordsneednotbemoreexplicit;Gideondothnotdeclinethehonour,butdenieththeirrighttogiveit;neitherdothhecomplimentthemwithinventeddeclarationsofhisthanks,butinthepositivestyleofaprophetchargesthemwithdisaffectiontotheirproperSovereign,theKingofheaven。

Aboutonehundredandthirtyyearsafterthis,theyfellagainintothesameerror。ThehankeringwhichtheJewshadfortheidolatrouscustomsoftheHeathens,issomethingexceedinglyunaccountable;butsoitwas,thatlayingholdofthemisconductofSamuel’stwosons,whowereentrustedwithsomesecularconcerns,theycameinanabruptandclamorousmannertoSamuel,saying,BEHOLDTHOUARTOLD,ANDTHY

SONSWALKNOTINTHYWAYS,NOWMAKEUSAKINGTOJUDGEUS,LIKEALL

OTHERNATIONS。Andherewecannotbutobservethattheirmotiveswerebad,viz。thattheymightbeLIKEuntoothernations,i。e。theHeathens,whereastheirtrueglorylaidinbeingasmuchUNLIKEthemaspossible。BUTTHETHINGDISPLEASEDSAMUELWHENTHEYSAID,GIVEUS

AKINGTOJUDGEUS;ANDSAMUELPRAYEDUNTOTHELORD,ANDTHELORD

SAIDUNTOSAMUEL,HEARKENUNTOTHEVOICEOFTHEPEOPLEINALLTHAT

THEYSAYUNTOTHEE,FORTHEYHAVENOTREJECTEDTHEE,BUTTHEYHAVE

REJECTEDME,_THATISHOULDNOTREIGNOVERTHEM。_ACCORDINGTO

ALLTHEWORKSWHICHTHEYHAVESINCETHEDAYTHATIBROUGHTTHEM

UPOUTOFEGYPT,EVENUNTOTHISDAY;WHEREWITHTHEYHAVEFORSAKENME

ANDSERVEDOTHERGODS;SODOTHEYALSOUNTOTHEE。NOWTHEREFOREHEARKEN

UNTOTHEIRVOICE,HOWBEIT,PROTESTSOLEMNLYUNTOTHEMANDSHEWTHEM

THEMANNEROFTHEKINGTHATSHALLREIGNOVERTHEM,I。E。notofanyparticularking,butthegeneralmannerofthekingsoftheearth,whomIsraelwassoeagerlycopyingafter。Andnotwithstandingthegreatdistanceoftimeanddifferenceofmanners,thecharacterisstillinfashion。ANDSAMUELTOLDALLTHEWORDSOFTHELORDUNTO

THEPEOPLE,THATASKEDOFHIMAKING。ANDHESAID,THISSHALLBE

THEMANNEROFTHEKINGTHATSHALLREIGNOVERYOU;HEWILLTAKEYOUR

SONSANDAPPOINTTHEMFORHIMSELF,FORHISCHARIOTS,ANDTOBEHIS

HORSEMAN,ANDSOMESHALLRUNBEFOREHISCHARIOTS(thisdescriptionagreeswiththepresentmodeofimpressingmen)ANDHEWILLAPPOINT

HIMCAPTAINSOVERTHOUSANDSANDCAPTAINSOVERFIFTIES,ANDWILLSETTHEM

TOEARHISGROUNDANDREAPHISHARVEST,ANDTOMAKEHISINSTRUMENTSOFWAR,ANDINSTRUMENTSOFHISCHARIOTS;ANDHEWILLTAKEYOURDAUGHTERS

TOBECONFECTIONARIES,ANDTOBECOOKSANDTOBEBAKERS

(thisdescribestheexpenseandluxuryaswellastheoppressionofkings)ANDHEWILLTAKEYOURFIELDSANDYOUROLIVEYARDS,EVENTHEBESTOFTHEM,ANDGIVETHEMTOHISSERVANTS;

ANDHEWILLTAKETHETENTHOFYOURSEED,ANDOFYOURVINEYARDS,ANDGIVETHEMTOHISOFFICERSANDTOHISSERVANTS

(bywhichweseethatbribery,corruption,andfavouritismarethestandingvicesofkings)ANDHEWILLTAKETHETENTH

OFYOURMENSERVANTS,ANDYOURMAIDSERVANTS,ANDYOUR

GOODLIESTYOUNGMENANDYOURASSES,ANDPUTTHEMTOHISWORK;

ANDHEWILLTAKETHETENTHOFYOURSHEEP,ANDYESHALLBEHISSERVANTS,ANDYESHALLCRYOUTINTHATDAYBECAUSEOFYOURKINGWHICHYESHALLHAVE

CHOSEN,_ANDTHELORDWILLNOTHEARYOUINTHATDAY。_

Thisaccountsforthecontinuationofmonarchy;

neitherdothecharactersofthefewgoodkingswhichhavelivedsince,eithersanctifythetitle,orblotoutthesinfulnessoftheorigin;

thehighencomiumgivenofDavidtakesnonoticeofhimOFFICIALLYASAKING,butonlyasaMANafterGod’sownheart。

NEVERTHELESSTHEPEOPLEREFUSEDTOOBEYTHEVOICEOFSAMUEL,ANDTHEYSAID,NAY,BUTWEWILLHAVEAKINGOVERUS,THATWEMAYBELIKEALLTHENATIONS,ANDTHATOURKINGMAYJUDGEUS,ANDGOOUTBEFOREUS,ANDFIGHTOURBATTLES。

Samuelcontinuedtoreasonwiththem,buttonopurpose;hesetbeforethemtheiringratitude,butallwouldnotavail;andseeingthemfullybentontheirfolly,hecriedout,IWILLCALLUNTOTHELORD,ANDHESHALLSENDTHUNDERANDRAIN(whichthenwasapunishment,beinginthetimeofwheatharvest)THATYEMAYPERCEIVEANDSEE

THATYOURWICKEDNESSISGREATWHICHYEHAVEDONEINTHESIGHTOFTHELORD,ANDTHELORDSENTTHUNDERANDRAINTHATDAY,ANDALLTHEPEOPLEGREATLY

FEAREDTHELORDANDSAMUEL。ANDALLTHEPEOPLESAIDUNTOSAMUEL,PRAYFORTHYSERVANTSUNTOTHELORDTHYGODTHATWEDIENOT,FOR_WEHAVEADDEDUNTOOURSINSTHISEVIL,TOASKAKING。_

Theseportionsofscripturearedirectandpositive。

Theyadmitofnoequivocalconstruction。ThattheAlmightyhathhereenteredhisprotestagainstmonarchicalgovernment,istrue,orthescriptureisfalse。Andamanhathgoodreasontobelievethatthereisasmuchofkingcraft,aspriestcraft,inwithholdingthescripturefromthepublicinPopishcountries。

FormonarchyineveryinstanceisthePoperyofgovernment。

Totheevilofmonarchywehaveaddedthatofhereditarysuccession;

andasthefirstisadegradationandlesseningofourselves,sothesecond,claimedasamatterofright,isaninsultandanimpositiononposterity。Forallmenbeingoriginallyequals,noONEbyBIRTHcouldhavearighttosetuphisownfamilyinperpetualpreferencetoallothersforever,andthoughhimselfmightdeserveSOME

decentdegreeofhonoursofhiscontemporaries,yethisdescendantsmightbefartoounworthytoinheritthem。OneofthestrongestNATURALproofsofthefollyofhereditaryrightinkings,is,thatnaturedisapprovesit,otherwiseshewouldnotsofrequentlyturnitintoridiculebygivingmankindanASSFORALION。

Secondly,asnomanatfirstcouldpossessanyotherpublichonoursthanwerebestoweduponhim,sothegiversofthosehonourscouldhavenopowertogiveawaytherightofposterity。Andthoughtheymightsay,\"WechoosesyouforOURhead,\"theycouldnot,withoutmanifestinjusticetotheirchildren,say,\"thatyourchildrenandyourchildren’schildrenshallreignoverOURSforever。\"Becausesuchanunwise,unjust,unnaturalcompactmight(perhaps)inthenextsuccessionputthemunderthegovernmentofarogueorafool。

Mostwisemen,intheirprivatesentiments,haveevertreatedhereditaryrightwithcontempt;yetitisoneofthoseevils,whichwhenonceestablishedisnoteasilyremoved;

manysubmitfromfear,othersfromsuperstition,andthemorepowerfulpartshareswiththekingtheplunderoftherest。

Thisissupposingthepresentraceofkingsintheworldtohavehadanhonourableorigin;whereasitismorethanprobable,thatcouldwetakeoffthedarkcoveringofantiquities,andtracethemtotheirfirstrise,thatweshouldfindthefirstofthemnothingbetterthantheprincipalruffianofsomerestlessgang,whosesavagemannersorpreeminenceinsubtletyobtainedthetitleofchiefamongplunderers;

andwhobyincreasinginpower,andextendinghisdepredations,overawedthequietanddefenselesstopurchasetheirsafetybyfrequentcontributions。Yethiselectorscouldhavenoideaofgivinghereditaryrighttohisdescendants,becausesuchaperpetualexclusionofthemselveswasincompatiblewiththefreeandunrestrainedprinciplestheyprofessedtoliveby。Wherefore,hereditarysuccessionintheearlyagesofmonarchycouldnottakeplaceasamatterofclaim,butassomethingcasualorcomplemental;butasfewornorecordswereextantinthosedays,andtraditionalhistorystuffedwithfables,itwasveryeasy,afterthelapseofafewgenerations,totrumpupsomesuperstitioustale,convenientlytimed,Mahometlike,tocramhereditaryrightdownthethroatsofthevulgar。Perhapsthedisorderswhichthreatened,orseemedtothreaten,onthedeceaseofaleaderandthechoiceofanewone(forelectionsamongruffianscouldnotbeveryorderly)inducedmanyatfirsttofavourhereditarypretensions;bywhichmeansithappened,asithathhappenedsince,thatwhatatfirstwassubmittedtoasaconvenience,wasafterwardsclaimedasaright。

England,sincetheconquest,hathknownsomefewgoodmonarchs,butgroanedbeneathamuchlargernumberofbadones;yetnomaninhissensescansaythattheirclaimunderWilliamtheConquerorisaveryhonourableone。AFrenchbastardlandingwithanarmedbanditti,andestablishinghimselfkingofEnglandagainsttheconsentofthenatives,isinplaintermsaverypaltryrascallyoriginal。Itcertainlyhathnodivinityinit。However,itisneedlesstospendmuchtimeinexposingthefollyofhereditaryright;ifthereareanysoweakastobelieveit,letthempromiscuouslyworshiptheassandlion,andwelcome。

Ishallneithercopytheirhumility,nordisturbtheirdevotion。

YetIshouldbegladtoaskhowtheysupposekingscameatfirst?Thequestionadmitsbutofthreeanswers,viz。eitherbylot,byelection,orbyusurpation。Ifthefirstkingwastakenbylot,itestablishesaprecedentforthenext,whichexcludeshereditarysuccession。Saulwasbylot,yetthesuccessionwasnothereditary,neitherdoesitappearfromthattransactiontherewasanyintentionitevershouldbe。Ifthefirstkingofanycountrywasbyelection,thatlikewiseestablishesaprecedentforthenext;fortosay,thattheRIGHTofallfuturegenerationsistakenaway,bytheactofthefirstelectors,intheirchoicenotonlyofaking,butofafamilyofkingsforever,hathnoparallelinoroutofscripturebutthedoctrineoforiginalsin,whichsupposesthefreewillofallmenlostinAdam;

andfromsuchcomparison,anditwilladmitofnoother,hereditarysuccessioncanderivenoglory。ForasinAdamallsinned,andasinthefirstelectorsallmenobeyed;asintheoneallmankindweresubjectedtoSatan,andintheothertoSovereignty;asourinnocencewaslostinthefirst,andourauthorityinthelast;andasbothdisableusfromreassumingsomeformerstateandprivilege,itunanswerablyfollowsthatoriginalsinandhereditarysuccessionareparallels。

Dishonourablerank!Ingloriousconnection!Yetthemostsubtlesophistcannotproduceajustersimile。

Astousurpation,nomanwillbesohardyastodefendit;andthatWilliamtheConquerorwasanusurperisafactnottobecontradicted。

Theplaintruthis,thattheantiquityofEnglishmonarchywillnotbearlookinginto。

Butitisnotsomuchtheabsurdityastheevilofhereditarysuccessionwhichconcernsmankind。Diditensurearaceofgoodandwisemenitwouldhavethesealofdivineauthority,butasitopensadoortotheFOOLISH,theWICKED,andtheIMPROPER,ithathinitthenatureofoppression。Menwholookuponthemselvesborntoreign,andotherstoobey,soongrowinsolent;selectedfromtherestofmankindtheirmindsareearlypoisonedbyimportance;

andtheworldtheyactindifferssomateriallyfromtheworldatlarge,thattheyhavebutlittleopportunityofknowingitstrueinterests,andwhentheysucceedtothegovernmentarefrequentlythemostignorantandunfitofanythroughoutthedominions。

Anotherevilwhichattendshereditarysuccessionis,thatthethroneissubjecttobepossessedbyaminoratanyage;allwhichtimetheregency,actingunderthecoveraking,haveeveryopportunityandinducementtobetraytheirtrust。Thesamenationalmisfortunehappens,whenaking,wornoutwithageandinfirmity,entersthelaststageofhumanweakness。Inboththesecasesthepublicbecomesapreytoeverymiscreant,whocantampersuccessfullywiththefollieseitherofageorinfancy。

Themostplausibleplea,whichhatheverbeenofferedinfavourofhereditarysuccession,is,thatitpreservesanationfromcivilwars;

andwerethistrue,itwouldbeweighty;whereas,itisthemostbarefacedfalsityeverimposeduponmankind。ThewholehistoryofEnglanddisownsthefact。Thirtykingsandtwominorshavereignedinthatdistractedkingdomsincetheconquest,inwhichtimetherehavebeen(includingtheRevolution)nolessthaneightcivilwarsandnineteenrebellions。Whereforeinsteadofmakingforpeace,itmakesagainstit,anddestroystheveryfoundationitseemstostandon。

Thecontestformonarchyandsuccession,betweenthehousesofYorkandLancaster,laidEnglandinasceneofbloodformanyyears。

Twelvepitchedbattles,besidesskirmishesandsieges,werefoughtbetweenHenryandEdward。TwicewasHenryprisonertoEdward,whoinhisturnwasprisonertoHenry。Andsouncertainisthefateofwarandthetemperofanation,whennothingbutpersonalmattersarethegroundofaquarrel,thatHenrywastakenintriumphfromaprisontoapalace,andEdwardobligedtoflyfromapalacetoaforeignland;yet,assuddentransitionsoftemperareseldomlasting,Henryinhisturnwasdrivenfromthethrone,andEdwardrecalledtosucceedhim。

Theparliamentalwaysfollowingthestrongestside。

ThiscontestbeganinthereignofHenrytheSixth,andwasnotentirelyextinguishedtillHenrytheSeventh,inwhomthefamilieswereunited。

Includingaperiodof67years,viz。from1422to1489。

Inshort,monarchyandsuccessionhavelaid(notthisorthatkingdomonly)

buttheworldinbloodandashes。TisaformofgovernmentwhichthewordofGodbearstestimonyagainst,andbloodwillattendit。

Ifweinquireintothebusinessofaking,weshallfindthatinsomecountriestheyhavenone;andaftersaunteringawaytheirliveswithoutpleasuretothemselvesoradvantagetothenation,withdrawfromthescene,andleavetheirsuccessorstotreadthesameidleground。Inabsolutemonarchiesthewholeweightofbusiness,civilandmilitary,liesontheking;thechildrenofIsraelintheirrequestforaking,urgedthisplea\"thathemayjudgeus,andgooutbeforeusandfightourbattles。\"Butincountrieswhereheisneitherajudgenorageneral,asinEngland,amanwouldbepuzzledtoknowwhatIShisbusiness。

Theneareranygovernmentapproachestoarepublicthelessbusinessthereisforaking。ItissomewhatdifficulttofindapropernameforthegovernmentofEngland。SirWilliamMeredithcallsitarepublic;

butinitspresentstateitisunworthyofthename,becausethecorruptinfluenceofthecrown,byhavingalltheplacesinitsdisposal,hathsoeffectuallyswallowedupthepower,andeatenoutthevirtueofthehouseofcommons(therepublicanpartintheconstitution)

thatthegovernmentofEnglandisnearlyasmonarchicalasthatofFranceorSpain。Menfalloutwithnameswithoutunderstandingthem。

ForitistherepublicanandnotthemonarchicalpartoftheconstitutionofEnglandwhichEnglishmengloryin,viz。thelibertyofchoosinganhouseofcommonsfromoutoftheirownbody-anditiseasytoseethatwhenrepublicanvirtuefails,slaveryensues。WhyistheconstitutionofEnglandsickly,butbecausemonarchyhathpoisonedtherepublic,thecrownhathengrossedthecommons?

InEnglandakinghathlittlemoretodothantomakewarandgiveawayplaces;whichinplainterms,istoimpoverishthenationandsetittogetherbytheears。Aprettybusinessindeedforamantobeallowedeighthundredthousandsterlingayearfor,andworshippedintothebargain!OfmoreworthisonehonestmantosocietyandinthesightofGod,thanallthecrownedruffiansthateverlived。

THOUGHTSONTHEPRESENTSTATEOFAMERICANAFFAIRS

InthefollowingpagesIoffernothingmorethansimplefacts,plainarguments,andcommonsense;andhavenootherPreliminariestosettlewiththereader,thanthathewilldivesthimselfofprejudiceandprepossession,andsufferhisreasonandhisfeelingstodetermineforthemselves;thathewillputON,orratherthathewillnotputOFF

thetruecharacterofaman,andgenerouslyenlargehisviewsbeyondthepresentday。

VolumeshavebeenwrittenonthesubjectofthestrugglebetweenEnglandandAmerica。Menofallrankshaveembarkedinthecontroversy,fromdifferentmotives,andwithvariousdesigns;butallhavebeenineffectual,andtheperiodofdebateisclosed。Arms,asthelastresource,decidethiscontest;theappealwasthechoiceoftheking,andthecontinenthathacceptedthechallenge。

IthathbeenreportedofthelateMr。Pelham(whotho’anableministerwasnotwithouthisfaults)thatonhisbeingattackedinthehouseofcommons,onthescore,thathismeasureswereonlyofatemporarykind,replied\"THEYWILLLASTMYTIME。\"

Shouldathoughtsofatalandunmanlypossessthecoloniesinthepresentcontest,thenameofancestorswillberememberedbyfuturegenerationswithdetestation。

Thesunnevershinedonacauseofgreaterworth。’Tisnottheaffairofacity,acounty,aprovince,orakingdom,butofacontinent-ofatleastoneeighthpartofthehabitableglobe。

’Tisnottheconcernofaday,ayear,oranage;posterityarevirtuallyinvolvedinthecontest,andwillbemoreorlessaffected,eventotheendoftime,bytheproceedingsnow。

Nowistheseed-timeofcontinentalunion,faithandhonour。

Theleastfracturenowwillbelikeanameengravedwiththepointofapinonthetenderrindofayoungoak;thewoundwillenlargewiththetree,andposterityreaditinfullgrowncharacters。