Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1862-12-29
NatIonaI md 1ndiyidnRH Mo-
r0litys

by the same prtnctplesroK mOrailty winch
are Applicable to individuals that what
ever is expedient is right in q sovereign
Stats; while forthe Individual, whsteyer
is right is expedient, And BY this it is meant
todistihguish between expediency and right
and assert that while the former affords
the rule Of action for the government, the
latter furnishes the rule Of conduct for the
individual. Sovereignties may be viola
ted with impunity, and without disgrace,
provided IN advantage is obtained thereby;
but contracts Of individuals, made in good
faith, and in the absence of all fraud, are
enforced by legislative enactments, Ju-
dicial decisions. andby public opinion
Nations may contract debts, and withhold
payment as long as they please, for being
sovereign there is no means Of compelling
them to do justice, and when it is done it
is an act Of favor and not of necessity. II
individuals contract debts, they must, if
the creditor requires it, pay them, provid-
ed they have property or the means of dis
charging their liabilities. Nations EN-
ploy men for the public service, give them
valuable contracts, and furnish them the
means of growing rich at the public treas
ury, because of their political views or pro-
fesions-because they are noisy, ignorant,
arrogant, obstinate and insolent political
babblers, and not because they are i%ntelli-
gent, discreet, industrious and yirtuous'-
individuals employ their servants, agents,
&c, because they believe them honest and
capable, or because they are the best they
can obtain for the object they have in view,
without regard to their modes Of thought,
except as connected with their contempla-
ted employment. Nations impose %restric-
tons upon trade-forbid their citizens to
purchase from foreigners, at less expense
than the same articles can be found at
home, and force them to buy from theii
own countrymen, to whom they are com
PEELED to pay higher prices than they would
give elsewhere, thus impoverishing one
class Of the people in order to enrich an
other, who has no better claim to the pro
lection Of Government while at the same
time the earth, which is the common prop
erty Of all. is thus monopolized by a few,
who like the dog in the manger 'neithei
eat themselves nor suffer others to eat"
individuals always buy wherever and
from whomsoever they can procure
what they want at the lowest price,
without regard to the nationality or char
acter of the persons from whom they pur-
chase and in this they think they do no
wrong, for we are not required to love our
neIghbor better than ourselves, and If we
impoverish ourselves in order to enrich
him, it follows, that he by the very excess
Of our %benevolence is presented from culti-
waiting that christian virture of loving his
neighbor as nell as himself. Moreover in
dividuals think it their duty to reward well
directed intelligence and industry, wherev-
ever found, without regard to national
boundaries which were established by men,
and not by Ged, "who made all the mem
bers ofthe human family of one blood, to
dwell together in harmony"
Nations construct railroads, canals,
turnpikes, DC, out of money raised by tax
alton upon the whole people, regardless o.
the fact that these Improvements are fol
the most part, of partial and not genera
utility hat their beneftsaa are local and
not national. individuals think that eve.
ry man ought to pay for his own improve,
ments or TO use the words, of Ban FRANK,
LIN, 'to pay for his own whistle ant
then he will be duly cautious in selecting
it whereas, If ii is paid out of the peck.
cts of other men. he will procure many
whistles which are not needed, and of lit
tie value"
Nations claim the right to regulate th'
currency for the public good and then suf
fer bank officers TO regulate it for theil
own good. Individuals never claim 1
right as incident to their existence, anC
necessary to its preservation. and then sui
fer other men to take it away from them
provided they have strength to resist.
Nations do many other tb;nos has;do