The republic., 1851-01-25
Rsnarl1s on Government.

The following extracts from work ON Gov
ernment have been handed to US for publication
by Col. HITcHcocK, Of the United States ar
my. The work was originally published at
Amsterdam in 1910, but was republshed in
England in l6s9 The observations and re-
Elections contained in these extracts have Pc
culiar appositeness to The existing state of af-
fairs on much mooted political question:
EXTRACTS.
'Reason and experience teach US, that to live in
safety, there is no way ready and certain as TO
nient part of the earth for habitation and to unite
every individual persons strength TO preserve the
whole collective body: but ~ the forming and pre-
serving societies no little wisdom and diligence are
required; and therefore that society shall be more
secure, moro lasting, and less subject to fortune
ard accidents, which il founded and ordered by
prudent and careful men and, on the contrary,
those societies which are formed and governed by
men of gross and mean Understandings. do for the
most part depend upon fortune, and are Of no long
continuance; but, where such society stands lsng
1t owes it, duration not to its own, but to some
other conduct
"The end Of all society and government 10 to
live in happiness and security. But government
cannot subsist without laws, which every man must
obey; for when the members of society refuse to
be governed by the laws, in that very instant the
society is dissolved, and the government destroyed
''Society 10 not only convenient but absolutely
necessary 10 uv1ng securely from the danger OF
enemies, and likewise for the quicker and more
easy despatch of human labor and business for,
unless men mutually assist one another, they must
want both time and means to preserve themselves;
all men are not equally fit for all things; nor is
every one able to procure those things Of which he
singiy stands in need; no individual person hath
time or strength enough to plough, SOW, reap,
grind. bake, boil, weave, knit, and do very many
other things necessary to support life, not mention
ing arts and sciences, which perfect and make hu-
man nature happy; we see that those people who live
barbarously, without any policy, lead miserable,
and sorry household stuff which they have, with
out helping one another. II men were 80 constitu-
ted by nature that they would desire nothing but
what right reason dictates societies would need no
laws, and only to instruct men in the precepts of
morality would be sufficient to make them, with
free and constant mind, do whatever should be for
the public good; but is far otherwise with human
nature. All men, indeed, seek their own good and
advantage, not according to the dictates Of right
reason, but according to their own particular de-
sires, and, hurried with the violence oftheir own
affections, without rsgard often to any thing else
.'If every man have liberty Of interpreting the
public laws as he pleaseth, no commonwealth can
stand, but presently dssolves; but in religion
it il quite different, 1.-THE writer is contending
for liberty Of COINCIDENCE rather a new doc.
trne in $780, for seeing that religion doth not so
much consist in external actions as in truth and
singenes of heart, is not subject to public power
or authority. For truth and sincerity of mind are
not infused by the command of laws or by public
authority; and no man can be compelled by force
or by laws to be made holy nothing but good bro
judgment, do that Seeing, then, every man
hath right to think of religion a he peaseth-and
It cannot be imagined that any man can part with
this right Is in every mans power to Judge Of re.
it to himself For, the chief power Of interpret
ing the laws, and judging of public matters,
sides in the government. upon no other account
but because they are public; 80 likewise for the
came reason the supreme authority of explaining
and judging Of religion Is in every private pcrson
because 1t il every private mans right
"All external religion: worship and outward
dated to the peace Of the commonwealth; that is,
SO ordered and regulated as may make most for
the quiet thereof. l speak only of the
Of piety itself and the inward worship Of God, or
the means whereby the mind il internally disposed
to worship God in sincerity; for the inward wor-
ship Of God. and piety itself, is in every mans
power, which power can transfer upon
another.
[Speaking of the power Of the Government to
regulate external conduct, whereby the act Of one
man affects another, the writer says:l "He, them
that endeavors to deprive the Government Of this
power, goes about to share and divide else usurp
the government, from which must necessarily
arise such contention and discords as were hereto
fore between the kings and Jewish high priests,
which could never be appeased. II this power be
taken away from the government, how can those
in authority determine Of peace or war, or Of any
other mems opinions, by whom they are to be
taught what is good or evil.
"The ultimate end of government is not 10 DOM
ineer and to keep men in subsection, but to free
men from terror, that every man may, as far as it
ia possible live securely that is, may still retain
his natural right of subsisting and acting without
hurting himself or any other person;
80 that the end of public government IL indeed lib
erty; and to the forming of a commonwealth it is
absolutely necessary that the power of making
laws and DEGREES should be either in all, in some,
or in one single person for, seeing that in every
mans opinion, though it bc free, there isdifercnce
and variety, and every man is apt to believe that
lie knows all things, il is impossible to make them
all of one mind, to agree in their discourse. So
part with his power of doing alithings to which
his own mind prompts him. But, though every
ono part with the power Of doing what he pleases,
yet he doth not part with his power Of reasoning
and judging; SO that, though he cannot without
offence act or do any thing against the DEGREES or
determinations Of the government. yet he may
freely think, judge and consequently speak pro
hers
tired or revenge, to make, by virtue of his own
thority, innovation in the commonwealth. For
example, If a man think a particular law contrary
to right reason and therefore tit TO be repealed yet
fhe submit his opinion to the judgment OF the
government, whose right it is to make and repeal
laws, and in the mean 49, 1" nothing contrary to
the tsnoy Of that law he deserves w-,. ~ .s cor
a. ootn every good subject; but it, on
- - -t'"~ oHoiuss ttlut law QurpOBcly
y, III. =, -'-''.'" nf injustice. and to render
him odious to the people; or if be scditiously en-
dcavor to abrogase that law in spite of the magis-
tratc he rebcllious disturbcr the public peace
fsWc see, then, upon what ground every man,
wealth. or to the rights of those in authority, may
speak and teacn what he thinks il he leave them
the power of regulating mems actions, and do no.
thing contrary 70 their DEGREES, though he some
times do contrary to that which, in hs own opinion
and judgment, he thinks to be good; which, not
withstandng be may with good conscience, yea
ought to do, If he will be accounted good subject.
Picty chiefly consists in tho practice
Of things which preserve the peace and tranquility
of the commonwealth, which cannot possibly be
preserved If every man should live as he peaseth;
trary TO the dccrees of the government, because,
were it lawful for every to do, the total ruin
Of the commonwealth must necessarily follow No
of the government, because every man, by