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Chamber； instead of being threatened with the prisons of Carolina；
were to sit down the prisoner of Massachusetts； that State which is
so anxious to foist the sin of slavery upon her sister though at
present she can discover only an act of inhospitality to be the
ground of a quarrel with her the Legislature would not wholly
waive the subject the following winter。
Under a government which imprisons any unjustly； the true place
for a just man is also a prison。 The proper place to…day； the only
place which Massachusetts has provided for her freer and less
desponding spirits； is in her prisons； to be put out and locked out
of the State by her own act； as they have already put themselves out
by their principles。 It is there that the fugitive slave； and the
Mexican prisoner on parole； and the Indian come to plead the wrongs
of his race； should find them； on that separate； but more free and
honorable ground； where the State places those who are not with
her； but against her 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。 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。 If the tax…gatherer； or any
other public officer； asks me； as one has done； 〃But what shall I
do？〃 my answer is； 〃If you really wish to do anything； resign your
office。〃 When the subject has refused allegiance； and the officer
has resigned his office； then the revolution is accomplished。 But
even suppose blood should flow。 Is there not a sort of blood shed
when the conscience is wounded？ Through this wound a man's real
manhood and immortality flow out； and he bleeds to an everlasting
death。 I see this blood flowing now。
I have contemplated the imprisonment of the offender； rather
than the seizure of his goods though both will serve the same
purpose because they who assert the purest right； and
consequently are most dangerous to a corrupt State； commonly have
not spent much time in accumulating property。 To such the State
renders comparatively small service； and a slight tax is wont to
appear exorbitant； particularly if they are obliged to earn it by
special labor with their hands。 If there were one who lived wholly
without the use of money； the State itself would hesitate to demand
it of him。 But the rich man not to make any invidious comparison
is always sold to the institution which makes him rich。
Absolutely speaking； the more money； the less virtue； for money
comes between a man and his objects； and obtains them for him； and
it was certainly no great virtue to obtain it。 It puts to rest many
questions which he would otherwise be taxed to answer； while the
only new question which it puts is the hard but superfluous one； how
to spend it。 Thus his moral ground is taken from under his feet。
The opportunities of living are diminished in proportion as what are
called the 〃means〃 are increased。 The best thing a man can do for
his culture when he is rich is to endeavor to carry out those
schemes which he entertained when he was poor。 Christ answered the
Herodians according to their condition。 〃Show me the
tribute…money；〃 said he； and one took a penny out of his pocket；
if you use money which has the image of Caesar on it； and which
he has made current and valuable； that is； if you are men of the
State； and gladly enjoy the advantages of Caesar's government； then
pay him back some of his own when he demands it； 〃Render therefore
to Caesar that which is Caesar's； and to God those things which are
God's〃 leaving them no wiser than before as to which was which；
for they did not wish to know。
When I converse with the freest of my neighbors； I perceive
that； whatever they may say about the magnitude and seriousness of
the question； and their regard for the public tranquillity； the long
and the short of the matter is； that they cannot spare the
protection of the existing government； and they dread the
consequences to their property and families of disobedience to it。
For my own part； I should not like to think that I ever rely on the
protection of the State。 But； if I deny the authority of the State
when it presents its tax…bill； it will soon take and waste all my
property； and so harass me and my children without end。 This is
hard。 This makes it impossible for a man to live honestly； and at
the same time comfortably in outward respects。 It will not be worth
the while to accumulate property； that would be sure to go again。
You must hire or squat somewhere； and raise but a small crop； and
eat that soon。 You must live within yourself； and depend upon
yourself always tucked up and ready for a start； and not have many
affairs。 A man may grow rich in Turkey even； if he will be in all
respects a good subject of the Turkish government。 Confucius said；
〃If a state is governed by the principles of reason； poverty and
misery are subjects of shame； if a state is not governed by the
principles of reason； riches and honors are the subjects of shame。〃
No： until I want the protection of Massachusetts to be extended to
me in some distant Southern port； where my liberty is endangered； or
until I am bent solely on building up an estate at home by peaceful
enterprise； I can afford to refuse allegiance to Massachusetts； and
her right to my property and life。 It costs me less in every sense
to incur the penalty of disobedience to the State than it would to
obey。 I should feel as if I were worth less in that case。
Some years ago； the State met me in behalf of the Church； and
commanded me to pay a certain sum toward the support of a clergyman
whose preaching my father attended； but never I myself。 〃Pay；〃 it
said； 〃or be locked up in the jail。〃 I declined to pay。 But；
unfortunately； another man saw fit to pay it。 I did not see why the
schoolmaster should be taxed to support the priest； and not the
priest the schoolmaster： for I was not the State's schoolmaster； but
I supported myself by voluntary subscription。 I did not see why the
lyceum should not present its tax…bill； and have the State to back
its demand； as well as the Church。 However； at the request of the
selectmen； I condescended to make some such statement as this in
writing： 〃Know all men by these presents； that I； Henry Thoreau；
do not wish to be regarded as a member of any incorporated society
which I have not joined。〃 This I gave to the town clerk； and he has
it。 The State； having thus learned that I did not wish to be
regarded as a member of that church； has never made a like demand on
me since； though it said that it must adhere to its original
presumption that time。 If I had known how to name them； I should
then have signed off in detail from all the societies which I never
signed on to； but I did not know where to find a complete list。
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 s