Page:Thoughts on civil liberty, on licentiousness and faction.djvu/107

 the Fears of the Guilty, the Comforts of the Afflicted, and the Hopes of the Virtuous.

Such, then, hath been the Progress of this public Evil; which hath proceeded almost without Cognizance from the Magistrate: Instead of That, it is well known, that some of these public Enemies of their Country and Mankind were formerly pensioned, and others privately encouraged by Those in Power. How This came to pass, and aggravated the growing Evil, it is now necessary to point out.

We have seen above, that a Foundation was laid for this, in an ill-conducted Opposition to the Enemies of Freedom. They who were employed to sweep away false Principles, imprudently struck at all Principles.

But beyond This, a famous Minister assumed, and long held the Reins of Power. There seems not the least Foundation for the Charge laid against him by his Enemies, "That his Design was to inslave his Country." Neither had he any