Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-05-21


/. The true found ition Of civil government,
is the equal, natural, and inalienable rights
Of all men, and the moral oblig ,iions resting
on the entire community 10 secure the free
exercise Of these rights, including life, liber-
ty, and the pursuit Of happiness 10 each inii-
vldual, in his person and his property, and
in their management.
>. The rightlul authority, therefore, of CT
vii government, under God, is vested not in
a select few, but in the mass of tho people,
who ara held responsible TO the Supreme
Judge, and Providential Governor of ali men
for the just administration of the sarre.
The resident and permanent subjects of Il
government, being Of mature age. and uncon-
vlcted of crime, being thus responsible, are
equally entitled 10 share in all the activities
and Offices OF the governments, and in the pro-
lection of its equal laws, irrespective of pro-
perry, birth, nativity, avocation, color or con-
dition.
3. The sole and indispensable business of
civil government is to secure and preserve
the natural and equal rights of all men unim-
paired to prevent and to redress violations
of original rights, and the benefits of govern
ment are not purchased by the giving up Of
any of our natural rights for the protection Of
the rest.
4. No civil government can either author
i1e or permit one individual or class of men
to infringe the natural and equal rights Of
another individual or class of men, nor may
the government itself, under any preiext, in
fringe any natural right.
5. All ~monopolics, class legislations, and
exclusive PRIVILEGES, are unequal. unjust, mo-
rally wrong, and subversiye Of the ends Of
civil government.
G. The primary and essential rights Of hui
manlty are, the right to occupy a portion OF
the earlh's surface, with its free atmosphere,
tho right Of self-ownership, the night to pos
sess and 10 WELD at discretion the powers
conferred by the Creator, for the original
ends of their bestowmeni, in the wrll.being
OF the possessor. in any manner not i~nconsis-
tent with The exercise of the same rights in
others.
7. The right of each individual to occupy
a portion OF the earth's surface implies the
right and duty Of the community, through
the action OF government, to restrict within
proper bounds, The accumulation of landed
property by individuals, to tho exclusion OF
others. It'll they are alone in the midst of the
earth"
8. The right of self-ownerShip. inherent
ia all men, can never be alienated by the 90,
yernmen or by Individuals, and consequent.
" the custom OF chatlel enslayement can ne
yer he made legal.
0. The right Of self.ownerslip includes OF
necessity. the right Of each individual to the
direction, and to the products of his skill and
industry, and the disposal of these products
by barter or sale, in any portion of the earth
where a purchaser can be found. These orr
glnal and natural rights civil governments
may neither infringe or impair and all com.
merclal restrictions, Except the wise and
neediul prohibitions of immoral and criminal
traffic which no man has a natural right tc
sngaSe in,) are unjust and oppressive.
10 a tATif Tor the protection of one partic.
ular branch of industry, SO far as it reaches
its end, is an unjust tax upon one portion OF
the community, for the benefit of another ; il
is likewise an absurd and unjust interference
with the natural laws Of supply and demand,
1t encourages, by artificial and precautions
stimulus, the disproportionate production OF
one particular article beyond the natural de,
mand, which 1t cannot increase. Its details
resting on no natural basis, and subject ,o
constant disturbance from rival interests, can
never be permanently adjusted ; thus adding
the fluctuations Of temporary policy to all ths
! other uncertainties Of trade, ~inciiing 10 the