The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-23
AN APPEAL TO REASON.

AN APPEAL TO REASON.
It Is a remarkable fact that the weak
est members Of society frequently defy
the law and seele to bring 1t into oon-
Tempt. This Is strange indeed. when IT
Is remembered that the weak are more
fependent than the strong upon the law
for the protection and preservation OF
their natural rights.
I'VE hold these truths to be self-evi-
dent says our Declaration OF lndepen-
i dence, that all men are created equhli
that they arc endowed by their Creator
with certain unalenable rights; that
among these are life. liberty and the
pursuit OF happiness; that to secure these
lights governments are instituted among
men,.
Or. as Mr.. Blackstone puts II, ''The
right of personal security consists IN
persons legal and uninterrupted enjoy
1nent of his life, his limbs. his health
and his reputation"
But 1t ID one thing to have an 'un'
alenable right" and another thing to be
protected in that right. There is no abso-
lxte liberty in civilized society, much as
we boast of our American freedom.
There is no absolute liberty except among
savages. where each man Is law unto
himself; where each takes who has the
power, and each holds who can. In or
ganized government. however. each man
surrenders something of his natural lib
erty in order that he may be the better
protected.
'srhe absolute rights OF man." quoting
again from Mr.. Blackstone. "con-
s!dered as a free agnnt, en-
dowed with the discernment to
know good from evil, and with power
OF choosing those measures which APP
pear to him to be most desirable, are
usually summed UP in one general ap-
pellauon, and denominated the natural
liberty OF mankind. This natural liberty
consists properly in a power OF acting
as one thinks ut. without any restraint
or control, unless by The law OF. nature;
being a right Inherent in US by birth,
and one of tlte gifts OF God to man Mt his
creation, when he endued him with the
faculty OF free will. But every man,
when he enters into society, gives up
a part OF his natural liberty, as the price
of so valuable purchase. and. In con-
sideration Of receiving the advantages
of mutual commerce, obliges himself to
conform to those laws. which the COM
munity has thought proper to establish.
And this species OF legal obedience and
conformity Is infinitely moro desirable
than that wild and savage liberty which
Is sacrificed to obtain 1t. For no man
that considers a moment would wish to
retain the absolute and uncontrolled
power OF doing whatever he pleases; tho
consequence of which is that every other
man would also have the same power,
Individuals in any OF the enjoyments of
life Political, therefore, or civil liberty.
which Is that Of q member OF society,
is no other than natural liberty SO far re-
strained by. human laws (and no farther)
as Is necessary and eXpedient for the
general advantage OF the public"
Let us suppose that there were, nc
such thing as government and laws In
the State of Virginia, or in the city OF
richmond, lsel us suppose tildt tleTe
were no restraints whatever upon the
actions OF men; that each man was tbs
custodian OF his own life. OF his OWL
liberty, OF his own property. In short
that there was no rule but the rule OF
brute force. In such situation tn
strong and rich man would make for him
self castle and fortity 1t. and probabl!
hire or capture servants. and put then
on the inside and arm them TO the teetl
y and defy his neighbors In short. h
would do the hest that he could to protec
himself. his family and his belongings
and. If he chose, ne might. upon occasion
go out and make raids upon his weaker
neighbors and take their possessions
and take them and their wives and thell
children into his own service
1t Is already Implied what. in such
state of lawlessness. the fate of the poo
man and the weak man would be- II,
would be absolutely at the mercy OF tn
strong and tho rich.
Nothing prl@ents such q condition ex
cept the government under which W
live BY common consent this govern
ment has been established. and II IS tn
business of government 10 see that III
natural rights and the civil rights. a
ordained by law. of every citizen, how
--ar Door and weak be may be. arc pre-