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