New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-02-14

II
other desires and emotions are vindicated with
zesl-,heir indulgence being the right of every in
,elieent being. They are pure in themselves, ana
as long as they are controlled by reason. the en-
press OF the mind their exercise is the source OF hn
man happiness. Wherever there is a faculty there
right its exercise, and hence are derived '.'e
rights OF man The basis Of all rights Is ,na' MAJ
shall puraue his own true and substantial happi
ness, and TO every thing which can contribute 'c
This end he has right. subject only 10 tue cSnoiiioN
tha, the means for obtaining II be adoP'eo' Il nd
be questionable whether one OF TIE oesles eho-ne
rated be natural viz: the desire o: ere aStre p'yP
erin and possession We rather Incline 10 sht
oninon of Benlham GA this point, that there is nc
sach thing as natural properiy-lt Is enl'ftiy .ie
WORK of law" If the true dehaltion OF proPest.
were limited 10 is true slSnihcaiion VIZ; in'
goods we should not raise the question-oul " SA9
that man has right to the exclusive Possee'i o1
he soiI s 10 advocate the discard oil nature. Ice
.'.e haIooo ~ the whole race. and no one he's
-, 10 the exclusive perpetual control OF Single
Go, He can use it. o. as much theFeoi Is - Ge
,ns,ded for his sustenaDce but ne oouageS 'i'
riebts Of others when he tyranniZes over Hofe, -
attempts 10 convey even that. Inc eAlenl VI .
o,,iral desire is the satisfaction OF present wan S
hovond Ich;ch there is no natural passion tor pro
srtv Man desires property because human y ann
bos created a necessity for it. and man hss aoUSo
his faculties and the gifts OF God. Inc oisa -.
meun and tuum is in human wrong nor III se -
dicfat lo1
right 10 the means of life with announcer anu Ia
.,or eI,ys co been obedent 10 her laws each "ouiu
nI;, for the good of all, and every thing &C
onired vvonld be considered the properly Oh All
But 10 proceed. ere.1 The
-;,,., ~ exisence and .. The right TO happiness
conseoueutly, all have right to all the means Oh
10 nness and the perpetuation OF existence. mere
is no natural law which opposes the happiness Oh
man Life is bestowed by the Giver OF all good tor
IN IUa q
hasnv is our right" In this connection is an argu
ynent raised against capital punishment lie being
the riff of God when once bestowed, becomes
,;obf as against all but the donor. He who con-
ferred can alone righdu!ly take away
Mans rights, then, incidents OF his very ma
ture: and if we would define his rights, we must
know his mental constitution" Man must live
and move and have his being according to the laws
of his organization. He has wants and desires and
The means of qualification are spread around MIN
g verv fsculty emotion desire, Is pure IN ITSELF
and It's abuse only is wrong DE IL admltted 10
be the master.yvork of an all-wise and benehcent
Creator. This alone ought 10 be presumptlve evl
dence of the natural excellence of his character.
They who assert the natural depravity OF man,
oueht TO consider his source before they speak 80
tightly of him Ii is not easily reconcllable with
a9proprate reverence for the Deity, for creature
10 pronounce the Doblest work of the Creator upon
earth to be totally depravcd. We have no very
satisfactory evidence that man was ever any better
Than he now appears; nay, the evidence seems TO be
in favor of his progressive improvement from the
earliest ages of the world that if ne be altogether
evil now in his advanced state Of improvement It Is
hard 10 conjecture how bad he may have been at
first. He certainly could not have promised very
fair at the commencement Of his pilgrimage upon
EARTH The earth itself has advanced toward per
lection and adaptation TO the wants of organized
beings by various stages and grades OF improve
ment and il is in harmony with all analogy 10 sup
pose that the races of animals and men have kept
pace in their improvement with the globe whlch
they nhabit."
Having determined the source of rights the CUun-
eelor next inquiries into our wants Inc nrst great
natural want of man is the society Of has feiotc men
The hermit restraints and perverts his nature The
employment of our faculties and the qualification
of our emotions aud desires, demand the general
society Of the race Man always has been IN society,
and he must always continue there. Man own
natural impulses force him into society," ano mere
fore she owes not her origin 10 calculation OF
greater security or increased faculties for pecuniary
gain. Society owes not its origin TO sense oil
fear or the love of money. Man Is incapable OF
enduring solitude Every faculty and desire demand
society," He cannot otherwise exercise his natural
rights and il is absurd 10 say that he must surren-
der any of them in order 10 live in the society Of his
f.llow,men Mans whole nature may be gratihed
SO that the harmony of its power be not disturbed
and Government cannot demand the surrender OF
single right as q condition OF Man existence IN Inc
social state. Human Legislators cannot without an
infringement of human rights, deny TO Man the
beautiful and harmonious exercise OF all his intel
lecual and moral powers, since this exercise is ne
cessary TO human happiness Tyranny asserts
that Man must surrender rights III order to en-
Joy the privileges Of society. But this error is re.
buked when we reflect that Nature conters all
rights and that it is the only business OF law to pro-
,ect them
= Who can rise superior 10 the laws of the Crca
tor and dictate the surrender of a single human
rish, a surrender of human ri ghts! Who stands
up between Man and Heaven 10 receive the dread
full sacrifice a Mani He dare not, as Man at
tempt the rash and wicked deed. But Government
-Gorernment-may swallow up all rights And
what is government, in its very nature, but the In
s,rument adopted by mankind for the declaration
aud defence Of the rights OF humanity !" Were 1t
not for what follows the origin and function OF
government, we should be compelled 10 except TO
the doctrine last advanced, that government Is
adopted by Man" Government IS coeval with
mind and truth Ii prevails in the moral as well as
the natural world. Man is born into the world sub
cct 10 Government, and her laws he Is bound 20
obey There is no alternative except dsobe-
dence and punishment He cannot choose the laws
he would be governed by, nor make a law that is
morally binding upon him. But Mr. Hurlbut Is
relieved from this criticism by saying that, gov
eminent emanaies from the moral attributes OF man
kind" If it is to be understood as emanatng in the
same manner from the moral attributes OF Man as II
does from the bodies of infinite space, this is correct
for the origin of government whether of mind OF
matter is The same. He says again, There is natural
necessity for government, arising from the disparity
which exists in the powers and faculties ofthe diff
icrcnt individuals of the human family" Govern
ment is no, founded any such necessity. Gov
ernment is order" order is the first law of nature.
Government would exist though every individual
were perfect and there We're no such disparity. Bu
If he means by government only the employment
OF coercive measures and physical restraints, he !:
/ correct-bu, this is not governmental is only its
/ outward manifestation. He next quotes Vattel with
approval where he says, :" If all men were always
equally wise. just. and equitable the law Of nature
would doubtless be sufficient for society We beg
leave 10 say that the law of Nature is the oaly law
tina, can Justly be obeyed whether men be saints or
sinners, There can be no lac but natural. All tina
Man has 10 do, under any circumstances, is 10 dis
cover The eternal dictates of justice. and follow
them,--lhese dictates divine and consequently
natural Again: Government ought 10 prescribe
such limits 10 individual action sanctioned by
and natural morality" Natural government
does thus neutrality-suspicious. the unjust instiu
tons of men do not. Government imposes re-
s;raiuls upon human coniuct \ShOsf, iustice is moi