第1章

类别:其他 作者:Thomas Paine字数:15365更新时间:19/01/04 15:18:02
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。