The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-23
WASHINGTON, ID. C.
For the National Era.
A SHORT CHAPTER on GOVERNMENT.
The three most important duties of Cover

take care of themselves
And if legislation was substantially confined
TO these great objects, the world would soon be-
come happier and better one.
/. Government should protect the person.
Every individual should be allowed to think.
speak, and act, in his own way, provided he does
not interfere with the rights of others; and in
all respects he should be protected by the arm
of the law from personal violence, so far as the
thing is practicable. These rights belong to
all men, of all nations and colors, wherever
they may be- To Thoroughly protect and secure
personal freedom, is the first duty of Govern
ment and a Government that does not do it
hardly deserves the name.
? To protect property. Every one should
be allowed TO enjoy his own property in his own
WAY, provided he does not interfere with the
rights of others. He should, however, contrib
ute, in proportion 10 his means. to sustain and
carry out the objects of the Government
;. Government should take care of all those
who are unable to take care of themselves.
ID Children are unable to take care of them
selves, and it is the duty of Government to see
that their moral, intellectual, and physical wants
are supplied. This may be done by requiring
their parents or guardians to attend to it, or in
such other way as NAV, from time TO time, seem
Just but under no circumstances should it be
neglected.
~ Insane persons, the deaf dumb, blind,
and al persons Who from defective organization
or otherwise, are unable To take care Of them
selves, should be cared for by Government, and
all their wants supplied, that they may be made
as happy and as useful As possible.
(3.) All persons who, from any cause, have
become too poor to provide themselves with the
necessares of life, and are unable to earn them
by their labor, should be supplied by Govern
-. IL IL IL Il.
are protected IN the enjoyment of their proper
", should contribute, from their abundance, to
supply the needy with the actual necessaries of
life. This course is dictated not only by sound
policy, but by the precepts of the Christian re-
hgion. If the actual necessaries of life only
are furnished to such persons by Government,
there will be ample room for private benevo-
lence to expend itself In furnishing them with
those little comforts and Injuries which render
life so much more pleasant, and the giving and
receiving Of which promotes happiness, and
creates kindly feelings between all parties
SO long as there is evil in the world, so long
there will be poverty. While Legislatures
make laws rendering taxation unequal; while
Governments levy indirect taxes, for the pur-
pose of aiding one branch Of business at the
expense of another, and in this way plumber
the people for the purpose of carrying on wars
of conquest while prolessed Christians pass
bv on the other side: while Carlyles advocate
slavery for the unfortunate, and others are
found sustaining such uuphilosophical and ire
lgious doctrines; while men are dishonest in
their business transactions; while physical mis-
fortunes continue; while We love ourselves and
the things Of the world better than we love God
and our neighbor-sO long viii poverty con-
tinue and no human being can prophesy when
the end will be.
This state of things renders it the duty of
the Government to take care of the poor, so
far as the necessaries' Of life are concerned,
more imperative, rs IT also increases the obi
cations of the charitable. The ingenuity Of
some men Is spent in devsing ways and means
10 avoid responsibility. or IN cunning arguments
Of excuse for not doing their duty. But it is
the especial Office of Government to assume all
necessary responsibility in carrying out this
third great principle of duty The system most
appropriate 10 the end in view must be left to be
determined upon from time to time, according
rs the circumstances of the Government and
people may indicate. No general rule can be
laid down. But every Government should take
all proper steps to prevent paUperism; and the
most efectual way of doing this is by carrying
out the two other great principles to wit pro
tecting the person and property.
a. hurdercrs, thieves. robbers, and all other
criminals, are unable to take care of them
selves, and should be provided for by Govern
ment. This must be done, not only for the
good Of the criminals themselves, but in order
10 protect the persons and property Of other
citizens from their violence and depredations.
The care which Government owes to such per
sons, is Just such as their peculiar character
requires. If they cannot safely be allowed to
90 at large, they should be shut UP In prisons
and put 10 such employment as their own good
and the good Of the State demands and they
should be educated and made as useful as pos
sibe. Nothing like anger or revenge should
ever be INDUCED in towards such persons; but
frm, kind, and resolute department should
be manifested towards them. 1t must be re-
membcred that the objects in view are the pro-
lection OF persons and property and the good
at the criminal and neither should be sacri-
feed to the other. A good citizen can take
care of himself, but a bad one cannot: Gov
ernment must therefore take more care of a
bad man than Of a good one.
1t has been customary among most nations
TO hang or otherwise murder certain kinds of
criminals. But this is a remnant of barbarism.
1t IS an expeditions way of getting rid of the
Just responsibility Of Government, and is about
as reasonable as it would be for parent, who
had an unruly boy, that be had neglected to-
educate properly, TO tie him up in bag and
throw HIM into the sea. Among barbarians it
satisfies revenge, and among civilized nations
IL IS a short cut to ease and comfort.
The immoral effects of hanging have been
proved to be terrible. Statistics show, beyond
doubt, that II is iuexpcdient and unwise to
dispose OF criminals in this wav Yet revenge.
ignorance superstition, bigotry. perverson of
The Holy Scriptures. political hunkerism, and
other causes, most of which originate in hell
and are nourished by evil SHIRTS operating
through the minds of men, have actually kent
up this system In most countries until the pres
ent day, to the scandal of civilization and the
Christian religion. II is to be hoped that a
more enlightened system viii soon be adopted.
The three foregoing propositions in relation
10 the duties of Government VIII be assented
10 as general propositions, but great obstacles
be encountered in carrying them out. The
love of the world aud the love of self interpose
IN the clearest cases of duty. To talk of right
and wrong, in politics, is often considered as
evidence of incapacity to Judge of the duties of
Government and in religion, some persons
deem IT of more Importance to increase the
numbers OF church, and maintain ancient dog
mas, than to advance the kingdom of God. Sla-
very is one Of the grossest violations of the first
duty OF Government. 1t deprives man of all
personal protection, 1t cOmpcls women to forni-
cation and adultery. 1t is founded on theft,
murder, robbery, and almost every vice Yet
it is sustained by some persons who pretend to
be Christians. and men who cal themselves
statesmen justify it, and insist on its extension
1t should be the aim of all men to do their
utmost in securing the practical establishment
Of the three great principles before stated TO
wit freedom to man; protection to property
and the weil-being of those who cannot, from
any cause, take care Of themselves. To bring
this about. viii require great and radical
bar fl,o s,4o