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each； directly by their allegiance； and so indirectly； at least； by
their money； furnished a substitute。 The soldier is applauded who
refuses to serve in an unjust war by those who do not refuse to
sustain the unjust government which makes the war； is applauded by
those whose own act and authority he disregards and sets at naught；
as if the state were penitent to that degree that it hired one to
scourge it while it sinned； but not to that degree that it left off
sinning for a moment。 Thus； under the name of Order and Civil
Government； we are all made at last to pay homage to and support our
own meanness。 After the first blush of sin comes its indifference；
and from immoral it becomes； as it were； unmoral； and not quite
unnecessary to that life which we have made。
The broadest and most prevalent error requires the most
disinterested virtue to sustain it。 The slight reproach to which
the virtue of patriotism is commonly liable； the noble are most
likely to incur。 Those who； while they disapprove of the character
and measures of a government； yield to it their allegiance and
support are undoubtedly its most conscientious supporters； and so
frequently the most serious obstacles to reform。 Some are
petitioning the State to dissolve the Union； to disregard the
requisitions of the President。 Why do they not dissolve it
themselves the union between themselves and the State and
refuse to pay their quota into its treasury？ Do not they stand in
the same relation to the State； that the State does to the Union？
And have not the same reasons prevented the State from resisting the
Union； which have prevented them from resisting the State？
How can a man be satisfied to entertain an opinion merely； and
enjoy it？ Is there any enjoyment in it； if his opinion is that he
is aggrieved？ If you are cheated out of a single dollar by your
neighbor； you do not rest satisfied with knowing that you are
cheated； or with saying that you are cheated； or even with
petitioning him to pay you your due； but you take effectual steps at
once to obtain the full amount； and see that you are never cheated
again。 Action from principle the perception and the performance
of right changes things and relations； it is essentially
revolutionary； and does not consist wholly with anything which was。
It not only divides states and churches； it divides families； ay； it
divides the individual； separating the diabolical in him from the
divine。
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。 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。 It makes it worse。 Why is it not more apt to anticipate and
provide for reform？ Why does it not cherish its wise minority？ Why
does it cry and resist before it is hurt？ Why does it not encourage
its citizens to be on the alert to point out its faults； and do
better than it would have them？ Why does it always crucify Christ；
and excommunicate Copernicus and Luther； and pronounce Washington
and Franklin rebels？
One would think； that a deliberate and practical denial of its
authority was the only offence never contemplated by government；
else； why has it not assigned its definite； its suitable and
proportionate； penalty？ If a man who has no property refuses but
once to earn nine shillings for the State； he is put in prison for a
period unlimited by any law that I know； and determined only by the
discretion of those who placed him there； but if he should steal
ninety times nine shillings from the State； he is soon permitted to
go at large again。
If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the
machine of government； let it go； let it go； perchance it will wear
smooth certainly the machine will wear out。 If the injustice has
a spring； or a pulley； or a rope； or a crank； exclusively for
itself； then perhaps you may consider whether the remedy will not be
worse than the evil； but if it is of such a nature that it requires
you to be the agent of injustice to another； then； I say； break the
law。 Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine。 What
I have to do is to see； at any rate； that I do not lend myself to
the wrong which I condemn。
As for adopting the ways which the State has provided for
remedying the evil； I know not of such ways。 They take too much
time； and a man's life will be gone。 I have other affairs to attend
to。 I came into this world； not chiefly to make this a good place
to live in； but to live in it； be it good or bad。 A man has not
everything to do； but something； and because he cannot do
everything； it is not necessary that he should do something wrong。
It is not my business to be petitioning the Governor or the
Legislature any more than it is theirs to petition me； and if they
should not hear my petition； what should I do then？ But in this
case the State has provided no way； its very Constitution is the
evil。 This may seem to be harsh and stubborn and unconciliatory；
but it is to treat with the utmost kindness and consideration the
only spirit that can appreciate or deserves it。 So is an change for
the better； like birth and death which convulse the body。
I do not hesitate to say； that those who call themselves
Abolitionists should at once effectually withdraw their support；
both in person and property； from the government of Massachusetts；
and not wait till they constitute a majority of one； before they
suffer the right to prevail through them。 I think that it is enough
if they have God on their side； without waiting for that other one。
Moreover； any man more right than his neighbors constitutes a
majority of one already。
I meet this American government； or its representative； the
State government； directly； and face to face； once a year no more
in the person of its tax…gatherer； this is the only mode in which
a man situated as I am necessarily meets it； and it then says
distinctly； Recognize me； and the simplest； the most effectual； and；
in the present posture of affairs； the indispensablest mode of
treating with it on this head； of expressing your little
satisfaction with and love for it； is to deny it then。 My civil
neighbor； the tax…gatherer； is the very man I have to deal with
for it is； after all； with men and not with parchment that I quarrel
and he has voluntarily chosen to be an agent of the government。
How shall he ever know well what he is and does as an officer of the
government； or as a man； until he is obliged to consider whether he
shall treat me； his neighbor； for whom he has respect； as a neighbor
and well…disposed man； or as a maniac and disturber of the peace；
and see if he can get over this obstruction to his neighborliness
without a ruder and more impetuous thought or speech corresponding
with his action？ I know this well； that if one thousand； if one
hundred； if ten men whom I could name if ten honest men only
ay； if one HONEST man； in this State of Massachusetts； ceasing to
hold slaves； were actually to withdraw from this copartnership； and
be locked up in the county jail therefor； it would be the abolition
of slavery in America。 For 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。 If my
esteemed neighbor； the State's ambassador； who will devote his days
to the settlement of the question of human rights in the Council
Chamber； instead of being threatened with the prisons of Carolina；
were to sit down the prisoner