lute. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the ind sovereign."-J. Stuart Mill on Liberty, Introduction, p. 23. "The only freedom which deserves the name is that of our own good in our own way, so long as we do not atte prive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it." Throughout this work will be found annotations and from Blackstone, J. Stuart Mill, and other English writers. giving European authorities for American ideas, the sug once occurs that many of the peculiarities of our system from foreign sources, and should therefore be found in th in the countries where they originated. The student of h understand that though many of our fundamental ideas result of English thought, it was only in the free air of An men were at liberty to collate those ideas and put them tice. In the words of the late Thos. Starr King: "All t thinkers have done to justify the principle of freedom, a have achieved against the oppressions of despotism, an have suffered for their perilous love of liberty; all the which religion, in the past, has given to the heart's rev right and the head's loyalty to truth; all that eloquence h make tyranny tremble and fan the popular sense of ju flame; all that literature has preserved in treatise, song or past devotion to liberty and longing for its triumph, are r have contributed to our success in the structure of a soc We may properly enjoy the pride, if we will be faithful to lege of bearing in our institutions the best thought a the past concerning public justice and social welfare.". Patriotism. The antitheses pointed out in this work between Am European ideas of government must be understood wit to the state of European thought previous to the rise of can system. During the nineteenth century the progress towards popular liberty has been greatly influenced by t of the United States. Thus in England, whose common 1 basis of American law, had it not been for our example doubtful whether she would have extended the franchise t holders; revised her public school system; introduced disestablished the Irish church; liberalized her bankrup mitted Jews to Parliament; restricted the death penalt ished the Catholic disabilities. Nor would the power of 1 who now constitute the real power of the British Stat American example would republican ideas have made the Continent of Europe, where this century has witn gress in religious toleration; in extending the freedo in abolishing the passport system; in the recognit sovereignty; in the use of trial by jury, and the su adoption of the American doctrines of naturalizatio education by the State. Though the contrast betw and European political ideas is now far less striking t century, the American must not therefore lose sight o his distinctive national principles, which, originally spite of European opposition and contumely, have g vinced the world of their truth, and won the once ho of monarchists to the attitude of respectful imitation. 40. In our first lesson we defined "politic liberty to be the freedom to every individual to pleases, so long as he does no evil to any d Now suppose that some members of society insi rying out the natural idea of liberty, by doing please without any regard to the rights of othe peaceable citizens enjoy civil liberty where such p allowed their own way? They cannot. No man can be free whe liable to be knocked down, robbed, insu murdered by any evil disposed person. P people require that society shall protect their otherwise each must go armed for his own prote 40. Can peaceable citizens enjoy liberty in a see OF LAW. The authority of society, which is suppos press its will through government. But in no save the ancient Grecian democracies and th States, has the authority of laws been actually stantly drawn from the free, voluntary expressi people who were to obey them. A great proporti in other countries has been enacted by governme posed of the ruling classes, for their own exclus fit, not only without consulting the people, but the purpose of oppressing and plundering ther has always been a powerful weapon in the hand great for striking down the the natural rights masses. *1 Kent. 447. 41. What relieves the citizen from the duty of protecting himself & men? 42. What three ideas are inseperable in the American system? 44. What gives to law its power? In what countries only has law power solely from the governed? How have laws 45. What are the principle objects of Ameri First. To protect the life, liberty, p happiness of every person alike, witho race, religion, birth, or color, from viole pression, whether attempted by individ ties, Government or its officers, or by tions. Second. To promote the greatest g greatest number. 46. Why do our laws operate precisely alike sons under their control? Because in no other way can equality among the people. If there be any rights law, given to one man or set of men, which th not enjoy, then there is inequality, and w ready seen that without perfect equality the portion of the people must be interfered w Sec. 36.) 47. You said that the objects of laws in the U were to protect the people from oppression, tempted by individuals or by the Government. necessary that the citizens should be protected from Government. Because all history reeks with the innocent subjects that has been shed by Kings, Empero and tyrants under every pretext, and under e of government except our own. It is a law nature that unchecked power is sure to b 45. What are the principal objects of American laws? 46. Why do our laws operate alike on all persons? Can liberty equality? 47. Why must the citizen he protected urm his OF LAW. Power loves to be felt, and to strengthen itse tious men are everywhere found who seek it, attained it, then they labor to subjugate th every possible means. *The American system gives to its Go officers power enough to serve the pub trusts them no further than this necessity It is nearly impossible for our Governme officers to do harm to any citizen. Nor ca sion of any kind be inflicted on our people, principles of Republicanism be overthrown. 48. What is a Constitution? A written statement of the principles on whi ernment is founded, together with the for construction, the division and limitation of it the description of its various offices, and their to each other. 49. How many Constitutions are there in th States? There is one for each State, known as stitution," and one for the whole Union, called th the St eral Constitution." 50. What relation does a Constitution bear to the The Constitution is like the frame of a ho laws like the boarding, roofing, plastering and fi The frame gives to the building its size, streng proportion; but unless it be covered in and com it is of no use as a house. To the Constitution t must be fitted, each law also bearing its proper re *See Montesquieu, Esprit des Loix XI, 5, also Leiber's Pol. Ethics lxxxiii. 48. What is a Constitution? 49. How many Constitutions exe |