Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-06-01

onlled States, that The subjects, can and
may, alter il at will2 Who can believe
that benevolent God has LEFT man without
law? Who believe that He has pu, au-
thoriIY and dominion over his equal brother
into the hands Of man? The very idea Of
equals giving law to equals, is an absurdity
which houts in the face of all common sense.
II am 10 render an account to God, on my
individual responsibility, and no, through
my fellow as proxy, what right can the
latter have 10 dictate the conduct of my life?
To exercise such claim, is TO let loose
upon mankind the dragons Of heil-to shat
ter human souls with the club Of madness.
Who does not see that our mutual relations
and equal obligations TO superior, and our
equal rights, neutralize all authority over
one anotaer2 The impiely Of human gov
eminent exceeds all conception. Its prin-
Iciple is that of slavery, piracy, robbery and
: murder Il is built up of human signs and
fgroans, and bodies, and souls, Genes ,ed
with tears and blood. II is vast prison.
house Of demons, where out come shrieks
Of phrenzy, wrung out by despair.
III. In r0hom lies the rigM of gouera-
lment? @
This is an important step in our inquiries.
Does the right TO punish crime, belong 10
every human being? If we are injured in
our person or property, have we right to
redress our own wrongs, or must we en-
: ploy third person? On This poini, Locke
says, If any one may punish another for
any evil he has done, every one may do so.
What any one may do erery one must
needs have right 10 do" This is self
evident, if meu are equal in nature and ia
rights. Blackstone observes-"Pow 10
inaict discretionary penalties for crimes,
must be vested in somebody; and if that
power is vested in any one, it must be vested
in all, since all are equal" This theory
explodes the dogma of the divine right Of
kings, as also do the considerations con,
lained under the foregoing heads. e..
Let US now further consider, whether
any one has The right to punish anothel
for any eDH he may DO" We have seen
that no one has the right to make his own
; will rule even To himself. Impossible
then, ligh,lully to make i, a law for another
, equal. Let it be remembered, that human
law is human qDiH with death as the sane
> lion. Further, we have no right to maia
our persons, or TO sell-inAict death. ABSURD
, then, 10 suppose that we have right te
: brandish the 2hoslly terrors over the head;
, Of our brethren. If we have not the righ
: 10 shattet our own existence into duml
!. noihingness, it were internal madness Il
smite our brothers. to cold ashes, AM
scatter them to the whirlwind. Suppose
: neghbor dash with an iron heel upon GU
4 rights. We trample him down, and Their
!, keep him until he makes restitution, an,
II accedes TO such re,ributive demands as W
: choose to make. Our will is as essential
n supposed upon him as law, as though he ma
10 never ofTendeds while we flourish deaf
re over his fear-sliGened soul. We are as mac
ge a tyrant, as though, unprovoked, we ha
as His violation Of the law of love can neve
We be justification for our doing the sans
cd Our obligation to love him as ourseIf is ne
i lessened by his hatred towards US. Chris
an tianity fcrbids our rewarding him evil.
as But perhaps it may be said, the right
10 govern lies not in individuals, but in all Ii
lis people, embodied in a compact = that a
nd personal rights TO rule have been transfe
cd red tolhe community - and that the joiI
ire wills and powers of the iptegrants const
ZEE iute the government. But We have see
All that there is no such Ibing as a persons
,e. ris ne to legislate in any human being. Ho
RI. can no right be delegated SO as TO become
no right2 Mankind possess no right TO "a
Die ienate' either their happiness, liberties
VS. lives. Why then talk Of surrendering il
ar a comracl2 As well might company
of frogs confer upon their croaking 'conamun
nd ~, the right and power TO blot out the 81
cir which warns them into life. As well mig
Cd a scompact Of monkies delegate the
personal rights Of jurisdiction, and Co
III fer upon one of their ehaiieFing che
universal empire. This philosophy is siron
w, ly asserted in the American Declaration
il. Independence. We hold these truths
ok, be self eUident, thai all men are endoD'
yer By their Creator 1cih certain INALIEl
"A Is 4 -
The ABLE RIGHTS, that among them a
icy LIFE, Liberty, and the PuRsUlT or HAP
bic NESS Another fundamental maxim OF Z