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despairs of his country； when his country has more reason to despair
of him。 He forthwith adopts one of the candidates thus selected as
the only available one； thus proving that he is himself available
for any purposes of the demagogue。 His vote is of no more worth
than that of any unprincipled foreigner or hireling native； who may
have been bought。 Oh for a man who is a man； and； as my neighbor
says； has a bone in his back which you cannot pass your hand
through！ Our statistics are at fault： the population has been
returned too large。 How many men are there to a square thousand
miles in this country？ Hardly one。 Does not America offer any
inducement for men to settle here？ The American has dwindled into
an Odd Fellow one who may be known by the development of his
organ of gregariousness； and a manifest lack of intellect and
cheerful self…reliance； whose first and chief concern； on coming
into the world； is to see that the almshouses are in good repair；
and； before yet he has lawfully donned the virile garb； to collect a
fund for the support of the widows and orphans that may be； who； in
short ventures to live only by the aid of the Mutual Insurance
company； which has promised to bury him decently。
It is not a man's duty； as a matter of course； to devote himself
to the eradication of any； even the most enormous wrong； he may
still properly have other concerns to engage him； but it is his
duty； at least； to wash his hands of it； and； if he gives it no
thought longer； not to give it practically his support。 If I devote
myself to other pursuits and contemplations； I must first see； at
least； that I do not pursue them sitting upon another man's
shoulders。 I must get off him first； that he may pursue his
contemplations too。 See what gross inconsistency is tolerated。 I
have heard some of my townsmen say； 〃I should like to have them
order me out to help put down an insurrection of the slaves； or to
march to Mexico； see if I would go〃； and yet these very men have
each； directly by their allegiance； and so indirectly； at least； by
their money； furnished a substitute。 The soldier is applauded who
refuses to serve in an unjust war by those who do not refuse to
sustain the unjust government which makes the war； is applauded by
those whose own act and authority he disregards and sets at naught；
as if the state were penitent to that degree that it hired one to
scourge it while it sinned； but not to that degree that it left off
sinning for a moment。 Thus； under the name of Order and Civil
Government； we are all made at last to pay homage to and support our
own meanness。 After the first blush of sin comes its indifference；
and from immoral it becomes； as it were； unmoral； and not quite
unnecessary to that life which we have made。
The broadest and most prevalent error requires the most
disinterested virtue to sustain it。 The slight reproach to which
the virtue of patriotism is commonly liable； the noble are most
likely to incur。 Those who； while they disapprove of the character
and measures of a government； yield to it their allegiance and
support are undoubtedly its most conscientious supporters； and so
frequently the most serious obstacles to reform。 Some are
petitioning the State to dissolve the Union； to disregard the
requisitions of the President。 Why do they not dissolve it
themselves the union between themselves and the State and
refuse to pay their quota into its treasury？ Do not they stand in
the same relation to the State； that the State does to the Union？
And have not the same reasons prevented the State from resisting the
Union； which have prevented them from resisting the State？
How can a man be satisfied to entertain an opinion merely； and
enjoy it？ Is there any enjoyment in it； if his opinion is that he
is aggrieved？ If you are cheated out of a single dollar by your
neighbor； you do not rest satisfied with knowing that you are
cheated； or with saying that you are cheated； or even with
petitioning him to pay you your due； but you take effectual steps at
once to obtain the full amount； and see that you are never cheated
again。 Action from principle the perception and the performance
of right changes things and relations； it is essentially
revolutionary； and does not consist wholly with anything which was。
It not only divides states and churches； it divides families； ay； it
divides the individual； separating the diabolical in him from the
divine。
Unjust laws exist； shall we be content to obey them； or shall we
endeavor to amend them； and obey them until we have succeeded； or
shall we transgress them at once？ Men generally； under such a
government as this； think that they ought to wait until they have
persuaded the majority to alter them。 They think that； if they
should resist； the remedy would be worse than the evil。 But it is
the fault of the government itself that the remedy is worse than the
evil。 It makes it worse。 Why is it not more apt to anticipate and
provide for reform？ Why does it not cherish its wise minority？ Why
does it cry and resist before it is hurt？ Why does it not encourage
its citizens to be on the alert to point out its faults； and do
better than it would have them？ Why does it always crucify Christ；
and excommunicate Copernicus and Luther； and pronounce Washington
and Franklin rebels？
One would think； that a deliberate and practical denial of its
authority was the only offence never contemplated by government；
else； why has it not assigned its definite； its suitable and
proportionate； penalty？ If a man who has no property refuses but
once to earn nine shillings for the State； he is put in prison for a
period unlimited by any law that I know； and determined only by the
discretion of those who placed him there； but if he should steal
ninety times nine shillings from the State； he is soon permitted to
go at large again。
If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the
machine of government； let it go； let it go； perchance it will wear
smooth certainly the machine will wear out。 If the injustice has
a spring； or a pulley； or a rope； or a crank； exclusively for
itself； then perhaps you may consider whether the remedy will not be
worse than the evil； but if it is of such a nature that it requires
you to be the agent of injustice to another； then； I say； break the
law。 Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine。 What
I have to do is to see； at any rate； that I do not lend myself to
the wrong which I condemn。
As for adopting the ways which the State has provided for
remedying the evil； I know not of such ways。 They take too much
time； and a man's life will be gone。 I have other affairs to attend
to。 I came into this world； not chiefly to make this a good place
to live in； but to live in it； be it good or bad。 A man has not
everything to do； but something； and because he cannot do
everything； it is not nec