The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-12-29
The Nature and Extent of Liberty.

The Nature and Extent of liberty.
G At this time, when democratic
and p~ro.slayery politicians are designa-
ting the truths in lie American Declare
ton Of Independence as being only
"glitering generalilies." it is useful and
necessary 10 take a survey of first prin-
ciples, and TO inquire from time TO time
what liberty really is, and what is its ma
iure and extent.
BY liberty, we mean the power which
every man has over his own actions, and
the right to enjoy the fruits OF his labor,
art, and industry, as far as by it he hurts
not society or any mel bers Of it by him
dering the enjoyment of what he him
self enjoys. The fruits Of a mans hon
est industry are the. just rewards of it by
every rule Of natural and eternal equity,
AS is his title to use them in the manner
which he thinks fit. And thus, with the
above limitations, every man is sole lord
and arbileri Of his W private actions
and pro%perty-a character of which no
man living can divest him except by
u~surpation or his own consent.
vThe entering into political society is
so far from the departure from his natu-
,al right, that to preserve it was the sole
reason why men did so; and mutual pro-
lection and assistance is The only reason
able purpose of all reasonable society.
TO make such projection practicable,
magistracy was formed, with power to
defend the innocent from violence, and
to punish those who offered it; nor can
there be any other pretence for magis-
tracy in the world. In order to this good
end. the magistrate is entrusted with con-
Quoting and applying the united force of
the community and with exacting such
n share Of every mans property as is
necessary to preserve the whole, and to
defend every man and his property from
foreign and domestic injuries. These are
The boundaries of the power of the mag
~istrate, who deserts his function when
ever he breaks them. By the laws of So
cietv, lie is o limited aud restrained
than any man in the community, since,
while they are absolutely free in all their
actions which purely concern themselves,
all his actions as a public person being
for the sake of society, must refer to it
and answer The ends Of it.
1t is a mistaken notion in government,
that the interest Of the majority is only
10 be consulted, since in society every
man has a right to every man assistance
in the enjoyment and defence of his pri-
,ate property otherwise the greater num-
Der, for example. might sell the lesser,
ana divide their estates and their persons
among themselves and so. instead Of a
society where all peaceable men are pro-
teei, there would be a conspiracy of the
many against a minority. With as much
equity may one man wantonly dispose Of
Ill, and violence be sanctioned by mere
power. 1t is foolish tosay hatgoyernment
is concerned TO NEEDLE with the private
thoughts and actions Of men while they
! jnre neither society or any of its men,
beers, Every man, in nature and reason,
is the judge and disposer of his own do
mes,ic affairs. and, according to the
rules Of religion and equity, every MAI
must carry his own conscience, Meth
er magistrates. or anybody else. possess
any more just power to control the relig-
ious opini ions Of citizens, than to direct
heir dreams. The legitimate object of
governments merely 10 protect men from
be injus.ice Of one another, and not to
xercise authority, in matters in which
are only interested themselves. III
) plain thst mems thoughts and domestic
oncsrns are exempt from its jurisdiction,
OF thought is the boon of all
aman beings ; and freedom of speech ,
q necessary accom- paniment in all /
,untries where that liberty prevails. a
Idiots and iunasics. indeed, who can n
/ Ike care Of themselves, must be ia t.