instrument, liberty, by foregoing its use, would experience
the same fate, as she would suffer from surrendering to
despotism the exclusive use of fire arms. And as these,
however dangerous to liberty, united with the invention of
standing armies, may be made subservient to her safety by a
good militia system, so a good system of education, would
send large contributions into that reservoir of materials, of
which knowledge is compounded. The superstitious mode
of trial by battle, would have been rendered too ridiculous
even for its Gothick æra, by allowing to one, and withholding from the other combatant, the most formidable weapon
which imagination could suggest. Neither philosophers
nor priests will ever be able so far to change the materials
of human nature, as to invest one with the powers of all. It
is difficult to form education into a despot by precept; for
however undisciplined the militia of man's other powers
may be, education will constantly lean towards their regulation. But if a fraudulent system of education and a mercenary army, can bestow long life upon a tyrannical form
of government, it is probable that a just system of education
and a sound militia, would perpetuate a free one. Why
should auxiliaries so powerful to a bad cause, be renounced
by a good one? Wisdom will work for vice as well as for
virtue. The rulers of the civilized world at this time, possess a far greater portion of knowledge, than the individuals composing a nation could ever acquire ; some displaying
its effects under the tutelage of political law, and others its
effects under no such restraint. And a comparison between these effects is a decisive proof, both that Mr. Godwin's idea of extracting from wisdom unrestrained by political law a free government, is chimerical; and also that this restraint, imposed by national wisdom, causes the wisdom of governours to be infinitely more subservient to publick good. The facts on both sides go to demonstrate the impossibility of national freedom, if nations, by losing the custom of enacting and enforcing political law, should suffer this right to be gradually usurped by their governments. The doctrine.
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616
THE LEGAL POLICY OF THE U. STATES.