Allvotingisasortofgaming，likecheckersorbackgammon，withaslightmoraltingetoit，aplayingwithrightandwrong，withmoralquestions；andbettingnaturallyaccompaniesit。Thecharacterofthevotersisnotstaked。Icastmyvote，perchance，asIthinkright；butIamnotvitallyconcernedthatthatrightshouldprevail。Iamwillingtoleaveittothemajority。Itsobligation，therefore，neverexceedsthatofexpediency。Evenvotingfortherightisdoingnothingforit。Itisonlyexpressingtomenfeeblyyourdesirethatitshouldprevail。Awisemanwillnotleavetherighttothemercyofchance，norwishittoprevailthroughthepowerofthemajority。Thereisbutlittlevirtueintheactionofmassesofmen。Whenthemajorityshallatlengthvotefortheabolitionofslavery，itwillbebecausetheyareindifferenttoslavery，orbecausethereisbutlittleslaverylefttobeabolishedbytheirvote。Theywillthenbetheonlyslaves。
Onlyhisvotecanhastentheabolitionofslaverywhoassertshisownfreedombyhisvote。
IhearofaconventiontobeheldatBaltimore，orelsewhere，fortheselectionofacandidateforthePresidency，madeupchieflyofeditors，andmenwhoarepoliticiansbyprofession；butIthink，whatisittoanyindependent，intelligent，andrespectablemanwhatdecisiontheymaycometo？Shallwenothavetheadvantageofhiswisdomandhonesty，nevertheless？Canwenotcountuponsomeindependentvotes？Aretherenotmanyindividualsinthecountrywhodonotattendconventions？Butno:Ifindthattherespectableman，socalled，hasimmediatelydriftedfromhisposition，anddespairsofhiscountry，whenhiscountryhasmorereasontodespairofhim。Heforthwithadoptsoneofthecandidatesthusselectedastheonlyavailableone，thusprovingthatheishimselfavailableforanypurposesofthedemagogue。Hisvoteisofnomoreworththanthatofanyunprincipledforeignerorhirelingnative，whomayhavebeenbought。Ohforamanwhoisaman，and，asmyneighborsays，hasaboneinhisbackwhichyoucannotpassyourhandthrough！Ourstatisticsareatfault:thepopulationhasbeenreturnedtoolarge。Howmanymenaretheretoasquarethousandmilesinthiscountry？Hardlyone。DoesnotAmericaofferanyinducementformentosettlehere？TheAmericanhasdwindledintoanOddFellow——onewhomaybeknownbythedevelopmentofhisorganofgregariousness，andamanifestlackofintellectandcheerfulself-reliance；whosefirstandchiefconcern，oncomingintotheworld，istoseethatthealmshousesareingoodrepair；
and，beforeyethehaslawfullydonnedthevirilegarb，tocollectafundforthesupportofthewidowsandorphansthatmaybe；who，inshortventurestoliveonlybytheaidoftheMutualInsurancecompany，whichhaspromisedtoburyhimdecently。
Itisnotaman’sduty，asamatterofcourse，todevotehimselftotheeradicationofany，eventhemostenormouswrong；hemaystillproperlyhaveotherconcernstoengagehim；butitishisduty，atleast，towashhishandsofit，and，ifhegivesitnothoughtlonger，nottogiveitpracticallyhissupport。IfIdevotemyselftootherpursuitsandcontemplations，Imustfirstsee，atleast，thatIdonotpursuethemsittinguponanotherman’sshoulders。Imustgetoffhimfirst，thathemaypursuehiscontemplationstoo。Seewhatgrossinconsistencyistolerated。I
haveheardsomeofmytownsmensay，“Ishouldliketohavethemordermeouttohelpputdownaninsurrectionoftheslaves，ortomarchtoMexico；——seeifIwouldgo“；andyettheseverymenhaveeach，directlybytheirallegiance，andsoindirectly，atleast，bytheirmoney，furnishedasubstitute。Thesoldierisapplaudedwhorefusestoserveinanunjustwarbythosewhodonotrefusetosustaintheunjustgovernmentwhichmakesthewar；isapplaudedbythosewhoseownactandauthorityhedisregardsandsetsatnaught；
asifthestatewerepenitenttothatdegreethatithiredonetoscourgeitwhileitsinned，butnottothatdegreethatitleftoffsinningforamoment。Thus，underthenameofOrderandCivilGovernment，weareallmadeatlasttopayhomagetoandsupportourownmeanness。Afterthefirstblushofsincomesitsindifference；
andfromimmoralitbecomes，asitwere，unmoral，andnotquiteunnecessarytothatlifewhichwehavemade。
Thebroadestandmostprevalenterrorrequiresthemostdisinterestedvirtuetosustainit。Theslightreproachtowhichthevirtueofpatriotismiscommonlyliable，thenoblearemostlikelytoincur。Thosewho，whiletheydisapproveofthecharacterandmeasuresofagovernment，yieldtoittheirallegianceandsupportareundoubtedlyitsmostconscientioussupporters，andsofrequentlythemostseriousobstaclestoreform。SomearepetitioningtheStatetodissolvetheUnion，todisregardtherequisitionsofthePresident。Whydotheynotdissolveitthemselves——theunionbetweenthemselvesandtheState——andrefusetopaytheirquotaintoitstreasury？DonottheystandinthesamerelationtotheState，thattheStatedoestotheUnion？
AndhavenotthesamereasonspreventedtheStatefromresistingtheUnion，whichhavepreventedthemfromresistingtheState？
Howcanamanbesatisfiedtoentertainanopinionmerely，andenjoyit？Isthereanyenjoymentinit，ifhisopinionisthatheisaggrieved？Ifyouarecheatedoutofasingledollarbyyourneighbor，youdonotrestsatisfiedwithknowingthatyouarecheated，orwithsayingthatyouarecheated，orevenwithpetitioninghimtopayyouyourdue；butyoutakeeffectualstepsatoncetoobtainthefullamount，andseethatyouarenevercheatedagain。Actionfromprinciple——theperceptionandtheperformanceofright——changesthingsandrelations；itisessentiallyrevolutionary，anddoesnotconsistwhollywithanythingwhichwas。
Itnotonlydividesstatesandchurches，itdividesfamilies；ay，itdividestheindividual，separatingthediabolicalinhimfromthedivine。
Unjustlawsexist；shallwebecontenttoobeythem，orshallweendeavortoamendthem，andobeythemuntilwehavesucceeded，orshallwetransgressthematonce？Mengenerally，undersuchagovernmentasthis，thinkthattheyoughttowaituntiltheyhavepersuadedthemajoritytoalterthem。Theythinkthat，iftheyshouldresist，theremedywouldbeworsethantheevil。Butitisthefaultofthegovernmentitselfthattheremedyisworsethantheevil。Itmakesitworse。Whyisitnotmoreapttoanticipateandprovideforreform？Whydoesitnotcherishitswiseminority？Whydoesitcryandresistbeforeitishurt？Whydoesitnotencourageitscitizenstobeonthealerttopointoutitsfaults，anddobetterthanitwouldhavethem？WhydoesitalwayscrucifyChrist，andexcommunicateCopernicusandLuther，andpronounceWashingtonandFranklinrebels？
Onewouldthink，thatadeliberateandpracticaldenialofitsauthoritywastheonlyoffencenevercontemplatedbygovernment；
else，whyhasitnotassigneditsdefinite，itssuitableandproportionate，penalty？IfamanwhohasnopropertyrefusesbutoncetoearnnineshillingsfortheState，heisputinprisonforaperiodunlimitedbyanylawthatIknow，anddeterminedonlybythediscretionofthosewhoplacedhimthere；butifheshouldstealninetytimesnineshillingsfromtheState，heissoonpermittedtogoatlargeagain。
Iftheinjusticeispartofthenecessaryfrictionofthemachineofgovernment，letitgo，letitgo；perchanceitwillwearsmooth——certainlythemachinewillwearout。Iftheinjusticehasaspring，orapulley，orarope，oracrank，exclusivelyforitself，thenperhapsyoumayconsiderwhethertheremedywillnotbeworsethantheevil；butifitisofsuchanaturethatitrequiresyoutobetheagentofinjusticetoanother，then，Isay，breakthelaw。Letyourlifebeacounterfrictiontostopthemachine。WhatIhavetodoistosee，atanyrate，thatIdonotlendmyselftothewrongwhichIcondemn。
AsforadoptingthewayswhichtheStatehasprovidedforremedyingtheevil，Iknownotofsuchways。Theytaketoomuchtime，andaman’slifewillbegone。Ihaveotheraffairstoattendto。Icameintothisworld，notchieflytomakethisagoodplacetolivein，buttoliveinit，beitgoodorbad。Amanhasnoteverythingtodo，butsomething；andbecausehecannotdoeverything，itisnotnecessarythatheshoulddosomethingwrong。
ItisnotmybusinesstobepetitioningtheGovernorortheLegislatureanymorethanitistheirstopetitionme；andiftheyshouldnothearmypetition，whatshouldIdothen？ButinthiscasetheStatehasprovidednoway；itsveryConstitutionistheevil。Thismayseemtobeharshandstubbornandunconciliatory；
butitistotreatwiththeutmostkindnessandconsiderationtheonlyspiritthatcanappreciateordeservesit。Soisanchangeforthebetter，likebirthanddeathwhichconvulsethebody。
Idonothesitatetosay，thatthosewhocallthemselvesAbolitionistsshouldatonceeffectuallywithdrawtheirsupport，bothinpersonandproperty，fromthegovernmentofMassachusetts，andnotwaittilltheyconstituteamajorityofone，beforetheysuffertherighttoprevailthroughthem。IthinkthatitisenoughiftheyhaveGodontheirside，withoutwaitingforthatotherone。
Moreover，anymanmorerightthanhisneighborsconstitutesamajorityofonealready。
ImeetthisAmericangovernment，oritsrepresentative，theStategovernment，directly，andfacetoface，onceayear——nomore——inthepersonofitstax-gatherer；thisistheonlymodeinwhichamansituatedasIamnecessarilymeetsit；anditthensaysdistinctly，Recognizeme；andthesimplest，themosteffectual，and，inthepresentpostureofaffairs，theindispensablestmodeoftreatingwithitonthishead，ofexpressingyourlittlesatisfactionwithandloveforit，istodenyitthen。Mycivilneighbor，thetax-gatherer，istheverymanIhavetodealwith——
foritis，afterall，withmenandnotwithparchmentthatIquarrel——andhehasvoluntarilychosentobeanagentofthegovernment。
Howshallheeverknowwellwhatheisanddoesasanofficerofthegovernment，orasaman，untilheisobligedtoconsiderwhetherheshalltreatme，hisneighbor，forwhomhehasrespect，asaneighborandwell-disposedman，orasamaniacanddisturberofthepeace，andseeifhecangetoverthisobstructiontohisneighborlinesswithoutaruderandmoreimpetuousthoughtorspeechcorrespondingwithhisaction？Iknowthiswell，thatifonethousand，ifonehundred，iftenmenwhomIcouldname——iftenhonestmenonly——
ay，ifoneHONESTman，inthisStateofMassachusetts，ceasingtoholdslaves，wereactuallytowithdrawfromthiscopartnership，andbelockedupinthecountyjailtherefor，itwouldbetheabolitionofslaveryinAmerica。Foritmattersnothowsmallthebeginningmayseemtobe:whatisoncewelldoneisdoneforever。Butwelovebettertotalkaboutit:thatwesayisourmission。Reformkeepsmanyscoresofnewspapersinitsservice，butnotoneman。Ifmyesteemedneighbor，theState’sambassador，whowilldevotehisdaystothesettlementofthequestionofhumanrightsintheCouncilChamber，insteadofbeingthreatenedwiththeprisonsofCarolina，weretositdowntheprisonerofMassachusetts，thatStatewhichissoanxioustofoistthesinofslaveryuponhersister——thoughatpresentshecandiscoveronlyanactofinhospitalitytobethegroundofaquarrelwithher——theLegislaturewouldnotwhollywaivethesubjectthefollowingwinter。
Underagovernmentwhichimprisonsanyunjustly，thetrueplaceforajustmanisalsoaprison。Theproperplaceto-day，theonlyplacewhichMassachusettshasprovidedforherfreerandlessdespondingspirits，isinherprisons，tobeputoutandlockedoutoftheStatebyherownact，astheyhavealreadyputthemselvesoutbytheirprinciples。Itistherethatthefugitiveslave，andtheMexicanprisoneronparole，andtheIndiancometopleadthewrongsofhisrace，shouldfindthem；onthatseparate，butmorefreeandhonorableground，wheretheStateplacesthosewhoarenotwithher，butagainsther——theonlyhouseinaslaveStateinwhichafreemancanabidewithhonor。Ifanythinkthattheirinfluencewouldbelostthere，andtheirvoicesnolongerafflicttheearoftheState，thattheywouldnotbeasanenemywithinitswalls，theydonotknowbyhowmuchtruthisstrongerthanerror，norhowmuchmoreeloquentlyandeffectivelyhecancombatinjusticewhohasexperiencedalittleinhisownperson。Castyourwholevote，notastripofpapermerely，butyourwholeinfluence。Aminorityispowerlesswhileitconformstothemajority；itisnotevenaminoritythen；butitisirresistiblewhenitclogsbyitswholeweight。Ifthealternativeistokeepalljustmeninprison，orgiveupwarandslavery，theStatewillnothesitatewhichtochoose。Ifathousandmenwerenottopaytheirtax-billsthisyear，thatwouldnotbeaviolentandbloodymeasure，asitwouldbetopaythem，andenabletheStatetocommitviolenceandshedinnocentblood。Thisis，infact，thedefinitionofapeaceablerevolution，ifanysuchispossible。Ifthetax-gatherer，oranyotherpublicofficer，asksme，asonehasdone，“ButwhatshallI
do？“myansweris，“Ifyoureallywishtodoanything，resignyouroffice。“Whenthesubjecthasrefusedallegiance，andtheofficerhasresignedhisoffice，thentherevolutionisaccomplished。Butevensupposebloodshouldflow。Istherenotasortofbloodshedwhentheconscienceiswounded？Throughthiswoundaman’srealmanhoodandimmortalityflowout，andhebleedstoaneverlastingdeath。Iseethisbloodflowingnow。
Ihavecontemplatedtheimprisonmentoftheoffender，ratherthantheseizureofhisgoods——thoughbothwillservethesamepurpose——becausetheywhoassertthepurestright，andconsequentlyaremostdangeroustoacorruptState，commonlyhavenotspentmuchtimeinaccumulatingproperty。TosuchtheStaterenderscomparativelysmallservice，andaslighttaxiswonttoappearexorbitant，particularlyiftheyareobligedtoearnitbyspeciallaborwiththeirhands。Iftherewereonewholivedwhollywithouttheuseofmoney，theStateitselfwouldhesitatetodemanditofhim。Buttherichman——nottomakeanyinvidiouscomparison——isalwayssoldtotheinstitutionwhichmakeshimrich。
