the servants of the olic, regardless of the or appointed them. the Constitution which he taxes or fees which :done for the whole, e. Consequently the blic, not for themNo officer can lawr time than that for But if he be ambiy can, and generally higher office. Good venue to the gratiur country. Disilged without corof government, for of human liberty. and degree are pub lon of Rights, Sec. 31. licly sworn to do their duty according to the Con and laws. What is the nature of this oath? It is solemnly calling God to witness that the taking it is sincere and honest in his intention to his whole duty in accordance with the requiren the authorities creating his office. Whoever viol oath is guilty of moral perjury. 111. What offenses does that office-holder commit u his position to steal the public money; who sells or tr vote as a legislator; or who wilfully in any manner sa the good of the people to his own or his friends' advantage? Several offenses are involved in every such action Moral perjury in all cases, for he violates his oath of 2d. Breach of trust. 3d. Larceny or theft. 4th. son to the Constitution. 5th. Injury to the righ liberties of the people. And there may be a rep of these crimes in the same act, or there may be offenses committed, according to the nature of th feasance. Remember this, that no man can betray his as a public officer in the United States, wi being of a nature so contemptible as to be a sociate only for thieves and the outcasts of so Whatever there is of honesty, manliness, pa ism, conscience and honor in the human cha cries out aloud for strict fidelity in trusts o nature. No man can be capable of betraying without first parting with every virtue that him worthy the name of an American citizen 111. What offenses does the office-holder commit who uses his positio the people's money, who sells or trades his vote as legislator, or bene self or friends at the public expense? What is the character in the ma capable of violating his trust as a public officer in the 7-1 NOTES. (a) The Constitution of Vermont decla being originally inherent in and consequently people, all officers of Government, whether legis are their trustees and servants, and at all tin accountable to them."-Chapter 1, sec. 6. The Declaration of Rights in the Massachusett the same language, but using the words "substi instead of "trustees and servants."-Part 1, sec. (b) The Constitution of Vermont provides th office, through increase of fees or otherwise, bec as to occasion many to apply for it, the profits ough the Legislature. And if any officer shall wittingly greater fees than the law allows him, it shall eve him from holding any office in this State, until he by act of legislation."-Chapter 2, sec. 25. OF FREE OPINION AND PUBLIC OPINI 112. In Lesson I, Secs. 28 and 32, you lear principal object of the American form of Go secure the political liberty of every human bei "political liberty is the freedom to every indiv he pleases, so long as he does no evil to any on The numerous declarations and prohib Bills of Rights of the several States seen native-born Americans of this generation, ad they are to live in the secure enjoyment of under the protection of a Government fra principle above quoted. Never having felt of the old tyranny out of which our father and painfully educed the Code of American rmont declares "that all power onsequently derived from the hether legislative or executive, at all times in a legal way 6. ssachusetts Constitution uses as "substitutes and agents," Part 1, sec. 5. provides that "whenever an erwise, becomes so profitable profits ought to be lessened by all wittingly and wilfully take it shall ever after disqualify te, until he shall be restored 25. III. BLIC OPINION. 2, you learned that "the rm of Government is to uman being," and that very individual to do as to any one else. A prohibitions in the ates seem useless to ration, accustomed as ment of their liberty ment framed on the ving felt the weight ur fathers so slowly American Ideas, and the history of the LESSON 8] FREE OPINION AND PUBLIC OPINION. past, the masses of our people are apt to for suffering entailed upon our progenitors by a press, prohibition of free thought, of free of free association and communication. We the tyranny of a State Church, of religious cution, of orders of nobility, of taxation without sentation, of military rule, of legal monopol inquisitorial trials, of forced loans, of popular ign and of the rights of conquest. There is but little circumstances of this generation to remind us tha things ever existed; and by this very ignorance liable to the gradual revival, at the hands of ambiti intrigue, of all the evils from which the wisdom of cestors has thus far protected us. To explain the ing of the principal ideas contained in American tutions and laws, and thus forewarn the coming of the dangers to which political liberty is always ex is the chief design of this work. 113. Can any one be free who is not allowed to THINE pleases? Clearly not. "As a man thinketh so is he." was created in the image of God. He is endowed mind and soul. He has reason, understanding, mer imagination, invention, and other faculties which immortal. By the use of these talents he must ma living for himself and those dependent on him in world, and according to their development he exp his future existence to be happy or miserable. 114. But some men are better thinkers than others, or had more time and opportunities to learn. Why wou 113. Can any one be free who is not allowed to think as he pleases? Wh 114. Why ought not the best thinkers be allowed to compel others to b them? Have men a right to interfere between any man's thoughts and hi or his Maker? Can the attempt to roculet not be better therefore, that such minds thinking, and the rest be compelled to belie Because each man is responsib thoughts only to himself and his Ma to think exists in every healthy mind; an given this power, and made the happine and his dependents contingent upon the it, is not for any other man to deny him t cise it.* Indeed, the attempt to ma alike by force, while it is the vilest k can never succeed. It only makes th cal and deceitful, and a nation of l never be free. 115. But in a society where every ma thinking, must there not be great differences ing to error, to sectarianism, to party feeling, gering the public peace? The law of Nature, which America has of the land, provides a remedy for all su without the necessity of any interference 1 is the equal right all possess of enjoyir opinion. Cromwell said: "Approbation (i. what one hears) is an act of conveniency, nc Does a man speak foolishly? Suffer him are wise. Does he speak erroneously? man's mouth with sound words that cannot Does he speak truly? Rejoice in the truth. 116. Every man has the right to dispr *"Prove all things, hold fast to that which is good."-I The † 1 Thurloe, 161. minds should do all the I to believe them? ponsible for his own his Maker. The power hind; and when God has happiness of every man pon the use he makes of my him the right to exert to make men think vilest kind of tyranny, makes them hypocrition of hypocrites can rery man does his own erica has made the law r all such differences, erence by force. This enjoying individual >ation (i. e., approving ency, not of necessity. er him gladly, for ye usly? Stop such a ¡ cannot be gainsaid. e truth." › disprove what he 1."-I Thess., v: 21. sion and discord in society? or's errors? What decides thinks is another's error, and the universal common sense in the hearers of both parties erally decide which of the two is right. mighty and will prevail." "Truth, crushed will rise again." Contests of thought are me bats. No man's mere opinions can injure any is not forced to receive them. The State has n punish what does no injury to another. Bu holding of an opinion leads its votaries to oppose by violence the laws of the land, power of the State will be used, not to cr opinion, but to put down the violence that sulted from it. 117. We have already seen that the American Go is a system of institutions created by the people an people, and that the men who administer the Gover well as the laws they make and execute, must be su people choose. Now, could the people have any such matters unless each individual had the right speak and act as he pleased? Certainly not. These rights must be unive inalienable, or tyranny would at once result. part of society had the power forcibly to co silence of the remainder on any subject, the lib that remainder would be at the mercy of th De Tocqueville says: "Society can only exist great number of men consider a great number o in the same point of view-when they hold t opinions upon many subjects, and when the currences suggest the same thoughts and im 117. Could American institutions exist without freedom to thinl act on the part of every person? What would result if some could en upon others? Can people think as ind t |