Page:Criticism on the Declaration of independence, as a literary document (IA criticismondecla00seld).pdf/31

 lies that spring from this passage, multiply themselves like the plague of Popish saints. There is more than one for every day in the year. I am as much astonished in the contemplation us any of my readers can be. When I commenced this examination I did not propose to myself more than a short article. But the subject has so grown that I do not feel but half through with it yet. However I will be as brief as the nature of the case admits. The last clause of the passage quoted we have not yet inspected, namely—"deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." The government that is instituted to secure me in rights that are unalienable, derives no just powers from my consent. If it should undertake the experiment, I should say—thank you; you need not trouble yourself; I apprehend I shall be able to keep, what cannot be taken away from me. Besides it is as much as can be expected of you, to bring to light, what is self-evident.

My conviction increases as I proceed in the examination of this document, that its author had no distinct ideas on the subject be was writing about; or if he had, he possessed no faith in the truth of his own assertions. Certainly I have no disposition to undervalue any thing connected with the credit or renown of our country; but would rather pertinaciously insist upon every thing connected therewith as great and good, if I thought I could possibly maintain such a position. But in the face of this filial affection I must say, a more crude and profitless jumble of words, than fills the passages in the fore part of the Declaration, is no where to be found in any State document north of Mason and Dixon's line.

The first and most fatal mistake of its author, as I conceive, lay in his attempt to make truths. As if the truth was something that could be made. The first prerequisite and vital quality of truth, is, that it is something which exists. Men may tell it, or neglect to tell it. But the attempt to make it, is evidence, that what they purposed to make, did not exist; consequently it could not be the truth. Visionaries like the author under review, and most persons of some learning without any thorough discipline of mind, are very fond of these attempts to make important truths. They succeed in making a statement. Afterwards on looking round for facts in its support, finding none, nevertheless its author