We have had rebellions with more or less
justification. Some of our kings have made adulterous connections
abroad, and trucked away for foreign gold the interests and glory of
their crown. But, before this time, our liberty has never been
corrupted. I mean to say, that it has never been debauched from its
domestic relations. To this time it has been English liberty, and
English liberty only. Our love of liberty and our love of our country
were not distinct things. Liberty is now, it seems, put upon a larger
and more liberal bottom. We are men,--and as men, undoubtedly, nothing
human is foreign to us. We cannot be too liberal in our general wishes
for the happiness of our kind. But in all questions on the mode of
procuring it for any particular community, we ought to be fearful of
admitting those who have no interest in it, or who have, perhaps, an
interest against it, into the consultation. Above all, we cannot be too
cautious in our communication with those who seek their happiness by
other roads than those of humanity, morals, and religion, and whose
liberty consists, and consists alone, in being free from those
restraints which are imposed by the virtues upon the passions.
Pages:
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153