第 2 节
作者:
想聊 更新:2021-02-19 21:08 字数:9322
〃so long as the interest of the whole society requires it; that is;
so long as the established government cannot be resisted or changed
without public inconveniency; it is the will of God。。。 that the
established government be obeyed; and no longer。。。。 This principle
being admitted; the justice of every particular case of resistance
is reduced to a computation of the quantity of the danger and
grievance on the one side; and of the probability and expense of
redressing it on the other。〃 Of this; he says; every man shall
judge for himself。 But Paley appears never to have contemplated
those cases to which the rule of expediency does not apply; in which
a people; as well as an individual; must do justice; cost what it
may。 If I have unjustly wrested a plank from a drowning man; I must
restore it to him though I drown myself。 This; according to Paley;
would be inconvenient。 But he that would save his life; in such a
case; shall lose it。 This people must cease to hold slaves; and to
make war on Mexico; though it cost them their existence as a people。
In their practice; nations agree with Paley; but does any one
think that Massachusetts does exactly what is right at the present
crisis?
〃A drab of state; a cloth…o'…silver slut;
To have her train borne up; and her soul trail in the dirt。〃
Practically speaking; the opponents to a reform in Massachusetts are
not a hundred thousand politicians at the South; but a hundred
thousand merchants and farmers here; who are more interested in
commerce and agriculture than they are in humanity; and are not
prepared to do justice to the slave and to Mexico; cost what it may。
I quarrel not with far…off foes; but with those who; near at home;
co…operate with; and do the bidding of those far away; and without
whom the latter would be harmless。 We are accustomed to say; that
the mass of men are unprepared; but improvement is slow; because the
few are not materially wiser or better than the many。 It is not so
important that many should be as good as you; as that there be some
absolute goodness somewhere; for that will leaven the whole lump。
There are thousands who are in opinion opposed to slavery and to the
war; who yet in effect do nothing to put an end to them; who;
esteeming themselves children of Washington and Franklin; sit down
with their hands in their pockets; and say that they know not what
to do; and do nothing; who even postpone the question of freedom to
the question of free…trade; and quietly read the prices…current
along with the latest advices from Mexico; after dinner; and; it may
be; fall asleep over them both。 What is the price…current of an
honest man and patriot to…day? They hesitate; and they regret; and
sometimes they petition; but they do nothing in earnest and with
effect。 They will wait; well disposed; for others to remedy the
evil; that they may no longer have it to regret。 At most; they give
only a cheap vote; and a feeble countenance and Godspeed; to the
right; as it goes by them。 There are nine hundred and ninety…nine
patrons of virtue to one virtuous man; but it is easier to deal
with the real possessor of a thing than with the temporary guardian
of it。
All voting is a sort of gaming; like checkers or backgammon;
with a slight moral tinge to it; a playing with right and wrong;
with moral questions; and betting naturally accompanies it。 The
character of the voters is not staked。 I cast my vote; perchance;
as I think right; but I am not vitally concerned that that right
should prevail。 I am willing to leave it to the majority。 Its
obligation; therefore; never exceeds that of expediency。 Even
voting for the right is doing nothing for it。 It is only expressing
to men feebly your desire that it should prevail。 A wise man will
not leave the right to the mercy of chance; nor wish it to prevail
through the power of the majority。 There is but little virtue in
the action of masses of men。 When the majority shall at length vote
for the abolition of slavery; it will be because they are
indifferent to slavery; or because there is but little slavery left
to be abolished by their vote。 They will then be the only slaves。
Only his vote can hasten the abolition of slavery who asserts his
own freedom by his vote。
I hear of a convention to be held at Baltimore; or elsewhere;
for the selection of a candidate for the Presidency; made up chiefly
of editors; and men who are politicians by profession; but I think;
what is it to any independent; intelligent; and respectable man what
decision they may come to? Shall we not have the advantage of his
wisdom and honesty; nevertheless? Can we not count upon some
independent votes? Are there not many individuals in the country
who do not attend conventions? But no: I find that the respectable
man; so called; has immediately drifted from his position; and
despairs of his country; when his country has more reason to despair
of him。 He forthwith adopts one of the candidates thus selected as
the only available one; thus proving that he is himself available
for any purposes of the demagogue。 His vote is of no more worth
than that of any unprincipled foreigner or hireling native; who may
have been bought。 Oh for a man who is a man; and; as my neighbor
says; has a bone in his back which you cannot pass your hand
through! Our statistics are at fault: the population has been
returned too large。 How many men are there to a square thousand
miles in this country? Hardly one。 Does not America offer any
inducement for men to settle here? The American has dwindled into
an Odd Fellow one who may be known by the development of his
organ of gregariousness; and a manifest lack of intellect and
cheerful self…reliance; whose first and chief concern; on coming
into the world; is to see that the almshouses are in good repair;
and; before yet he has lawfully donned the virile garb; to collect a
fund for the support of the widows and orphans that may be; who; in
short ventures to live only by the aid of the Mutual Insurance
company; which has promised to bury him decently。
It is not a man's duty; as a matter of course; to devote himself
to the eradication of any; even the most enormous wrong; he may
still properly have other concerns to engage him; but it is his
duty; at least; to wash his hands of it; and; if he gives it no
thought longer; not to give it practically his support。 If I devote
myself to other pursuits and contemplations; I must first see; at
least; that I do not pursue them sitting upon another man's
shoulders。 I must get off him first; that he may pursue his
contemplations too。 See what gross inconsistency is tolerated。 I
have heard some of my townsmen say; 〃I should like to have them
order me out to help put down an insurrection of the slaves; or to
march to Mexico; see if I would go〃; and yet these very men have
each; directly by their allegiance; and so indirectly; at least; by
their money; furnished a substitute。 The soldier is applauded who
refuses to serve in an unjust war by those who do not refuse to
sustain the unjust government which makes the war; is applauded by
those whose own act and authority he disregards and sets at naught;
as if the state were penitent to that degree that it hired one to
scourge it while it sinned; but not to that degree that it left off
sinning for a moment。 Thus; under the name of Order and Civil
Government; we are all made at last to pay homage to and support our
own meanness。 After the first blush of sin comes its indifference;
and from immoral it becomes; as it were; unmoral; and not quite
unnecessary to that life which we have made。
The broadest and most prevalent error requires the most
disinterested virtue to sustain it。 The slight reproach to which
the virtue of patriotism is commonly liable; the noble are most
likely to incur。 Those who; while they disapprove of the character
and measures of a government; yield to it their allegiance and
support are undoubtedly its most conscientious supporters; and so
frequently the most serious obstacles to reform。 Some are
petitioning the State to dissolve the Union; to disregard the
requisitions of the President。 Why do they not dissolve it
themselves the union between themselves and the State and
refuse to pay their quota into its treasury? Do not they stand in
the same relation to the State; that the State does to the Union?
And have not the same reasons prevented the State from resisting the
Union; which have prevented them from resisting the State?
How can a man be satisfied to entertain an opinion merely; and
enjoy it? Is there any enjoyment in it; if his opinion is that he
is aggrieved? If you are cheated out of a single dollar by your
neighbor; you do not rest satisfied with knowing that you are
cheated; or with saying that you are cheated; or even with
petitioning him to pay you your due; b