Under a government which imprisons unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison … the only house in a slave State in which a free man can abide with honor. If any think that their influence would be lost there, and their voices no longer afflict the ear of the State, that they would not be as an enemy within its walls, they do not know by how much truth is stronger than error, nor how much more eloquently and effectively he can combat injustice who has experienced a little in his own person. Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence.
Is a democracy, such as we know it, the last improvement possible in government? Is it not possible to take a step further toward recognizing and organizing the rights of man? There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly. I please myself with imagining a State at last which can afford to be just to all men, and to treat the individual with respect as a neighbor; which even would not think it inconsistent with its own repose if a few were to live aloof from it, not meddling with it, nor embraced by it, who fulfilled all the duties of neighbors and fellow men. A State which bore this kind of fruit, and suffered it to drop off as fast as it ripened, would prepare the way for a still more perfect and glorious State, which I have also imagined, but not yet anywhere seen
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, because 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. ...
A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; it is not even a minority then; but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight. If the alternative is to keep all just men in prison, or give up war and slavery, the State will not hesitate which to choose. If a thousand men were not to pay their tax bills this year, that would not be a violent and bloody measure, as it would be to pay them, and enable the State to commit violence and shed innocent blood. This is, in fact, the definition of a peaceable revolution, if any such is possible.
I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe -- "That government is best which governs not at all"; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have. ... The government itself, which is only the mode which the people have chosen to execute their will, is equally liable to be abused and perverted before the people can act through it. Witness the present Mexican war, the work of comparatively a few individuals using the standing government as their tool; for in the outset, the people would not have consented to this measure.
All men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable. … When a sixth of the population of a nation which has undertaken to be the refuge of liberty are slaves, and (our country is occupying Mexico), I think that it is not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize.
I have never declined paying the highway tax, because I am as desirous of being a good neighbor as I am of being a bad subject; and as for supporting schools, I am doing my part to educate my fellow countrymen now. It is for no particular item in the tax bill that I refuse to pay it. I simply wish to refuse allegiance to the State, to withdraw and stand aloof from it effectually. I do not care to trace the course of my dollar, if I could, till it buys a man a musket to shoot one with -- the dollar is innocent -- but I am concerned to trace the effects of my allegiance. In fact, I quietly declare war with the State, after my fashion, though I will still make use and get what advantages of her I can, as is usual in such cases.
… I have paid no poll tax for six years. I was put into a jail once on this account, for one night; and, as I stood considering the walls of solid stone, two or three feet thick, the door of wood and iron, a foot thick, and the iron grating which strained the light, I could not help being struck with the foolishness of that institution which treated me as if I were mere flesh and blood and bones, to be locked up. … I did not for a moment feel confined, and the walls seemed a great waste of stone and mortar. I felt as if I alone of all my townsmen had paid my tax. … As they could not reach me, they had resolved to punish my body; just as boys, if they cannot come at some person against whom they have a spite, will abuse his dog.
I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. … Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience then? I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right. … How does it become a man to behave toward the American government today? I answer, that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it. I cannot for an instant recognize that political organization as my government which is the slave's government also.
There are thousands who are in opinion opposed to slavery and to the war, who yet in effect do nothing to put an end to them; who, esteeming themselves children of Washington and Franklin, sit down with their hands in their pockets, and say that they know not what to do, and do nothing. … Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it. It is only expressing to men feebly your desire that it should prevail. A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority. There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men. … It matters not how small the beginning may seem to be: what is once well done is done forever. But we love better to talk about it: that we say is our mission. Reform keeps many scores of newspapers in its service, but not one man.
This government allows slavery that imprisons the slave. Then the true place for a just and honest man is also in a prison. It is the only house in a slave state in which a free man can live with honor. You are not lost or forgotten in prison, for the ear of the state hears your voice. Your truth is stronger than the government's mistake. So cast your vote, not a strip of paper, but with your whole body.
I have not paid one of the taxes for six years, so I was put in jail. I stood in my cell, looking at the walls of solid stone and the door of wood and iron, a foot thick, but I did not feel trapped. I was free. This was my own free way to pay my tax. They could not reach me. They just punished my body, not me. They are like boys who can't hurt someone they do not like, so they punish his dog.
Unjust laws exist. Shall we obey them or shall we begin to disobey them? Men usually think that they should wait until they can make the majority change. They also worry that, if they break laws, it would be worse than the laws that are wrong, but it is the government itself and its law that are wrong. That is worse.
Revolution is our right and we have the right to refuse to support a government that allows a sixth of the population to live as slaves. I also believe we cannot allow our country to control our neighbor, Mexico.
There are thousands opposed to slavery and to war with Mexico. They call themselves children of Washington and Franklin, but they sit down with their hands in their pockets. They do nothing and our votes do little to change our government, for the power of the majority is hard to win. Calls for change are seen in many newspapers, but no one acts.
A minority is powerless when it goes along with the majority. But a small number can get in the way and make it harder for the government to work. If a thousand men were not to pay their tax bills this year, that would be a nonviolent action. Paying the taxes lets the state pay for more war. Not paying taxes is a peaceful revolution.
"That government is best which governs least," I believe. I want this to happen soon, but in the future I believe that government will be best "which governs not at all." The people must have a government that knows what the people want. Today, only a few in the government act for all the people. Look at the current Mexican war. A few people used the government to start this war, but the American people were against it.
I am not asking for no government, but I want a better government. We know unfair laws are being passed. There can be no respect for law that is not right. How can the American government be a government that allows slavery? It cannot be.
I have always paid the highway and school taxes because I am a good neighbor, and I support schools that educate my fellow countrymen. The dollar is innocent, but I am worried about what it buys.
Is a democracy, such as we know it, the best possible government? Is it not possible to take a step further? There will never be a really free democratic state until the state sees that each person is the higher power. I look to see a state that is fair to all men, treats the individual with respect and does not try to control its neighbors. This is what I do imagine, but not yet have seen anywhere.
