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¬large insensibly mixes itself with the air, and scarcely lifts a feather in its ascent, would, when imprisoned, unhinge a world for its freedom. — Over this subtle and almost omnipotent agent they had gained a complete dominion, and, by a limited and wisely adjusted compression, to give it a safe direction, had obtained a momen- tum for their most ponderous engines, which neither wind nor water, nor any combinations of matter could have produced. ¬May not politicians take a lesson from this? May they not learn from it that there is a re- straint of liberty, which cannot safely be im- posed ; and that man must finally be free to the extent at least which Heaven has appointed for his happiness ? — Like the constructors of those powerful engines, they may give health and vigour to their governments by the honest and judicious restraints of a liberal system of laws, but, if they transgress that just and necessary dominion, human nature, like the natural ele- ¬i 3 ments ¬
