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in their village。
It was formerly the custom in our village； when a poor debtor
came out of jail； for his acquaintances to salute him； looking
through their fingers； which were crossed to represent the grating
of a jail window； 〃How do ye do？〃 My neighbors did not thus salute
me； but first looked at me； and then at one another； as if I had
returned from a long journey。 I was put into jail as I was going to
the shoemaker's to get a shoe which was mended。 When I was let out
the next morning； I proceeded to finish my errand； and； having put
on my mended shoe； joined a huckleberry party； who were impatient to
put themselves under my conduct； and in half an hour for the
horse was soon tackled was in the midst of a huckleberry field；
on one of our highest hills； two miles off； and then the State was
nowhere to be seen。
This is the whole history of 〃My Prisons。〃
I have never declined paying the highway tax； because I am as
desirous of being a good neighbor as I am of being a bad subject；
and as for supporting schools； I am doing my part to educate my
fellow…countrymen now。 It is for no particular item in the tax…bill
that I refuse to pay it。 I simply wish to refuse allegiance to the
State； to withdraw and stand aloof from it effectually。 I do not
care to trace the course of my dollar； if I could； till it buys a
man or a musket to shoot one with the dollar is innocent but I
am concerned to trace the effects of my allegiance。 In fact； I
quietly declare war with the State； after my fashion； though I will
still make what use and get what advantage of her I can； as is usual
in such cases。
If others pay the tax which is demanded of me； from a sympathy
with the State； they do but what they have already done in their own
case； or rather they abet injustice to a greater extent than the
State requires。 If they pay the tax from a mistaken interest in the
individual taxed； to save his property； or prevent his going to
jail； it is because they have not considered wisely how far they let
their private feelings interfere with the public good。
This； then； is my position at present。 But one cannot be too
much on his guard in such a case； lest his action be biased by
obstinacy or an undue regard for the opinions of men。 Let him see
that he does only what belongs to himself and to the hour。
I think sometimes； Why； this people mean well； they are only
ignorant； they would do better if they knew how： why give your
neighbors this pain to treat you as they are not inclined to？ But I
think； again； This is no reason why I should do as they do； or
permit others to suffer much greater pain of a different kind。
Again； I sometimes say to myself； When many millions of men； without
heat； without ill…will； without personal feeling of any kind； demand
of you a few shillings only； without the possibility； such is their
constitution； of retracting or altering their present demand； and
without the possibility； on your side； of appeal to any other
millions； why expose yourself to this overwhelming brute force？ You
do not resist cold and hunger； the winds and the waves； thus
obstinately； you quietly submit to a thousand similar necessities。
You do not put your head into the fire。 But just in proportion as I
regard this as not wholly a brute force； but partly a human force；
and consider that I have relations to those millions as to so many
millions of men； and not of mere brute or inanimate things； I see
that appeal is possible； first and instantaneously； from them to the
Maker of them； and； secondly； from them to themselves。 But； if I
put my head deliberately into the fire； there is no appeal to fire
or to the Maker of fire； and I have only myself to blame。 If I
could convince myself that I have any right to be satisfied with men
as they are； and to treat them accordingly； and not according； in
some respects； to my requisitions and expectations of what they and
I ought to be； then； like a good Mussulman and fatalist； I should
endeavor to be satisfied with things as they are； and say it is the
will of God。 And； above all； there is this difference between
resisting this and a purely brute or natural force； that I can
resist this with some effect； but I cannot expect； like Orpheus； to
change the nature of the rocks and trees and beasts。
I do not wish to quarrel with any man or nation。 I do not wish
to split hairs； to make fine distinctions； or set myself up as
better than my neighbors。 I seek rather； I may say； even an excuse
for conforming to the laws of the land。 I am but too ready to
conform to them。 Indeed； I have reason to suspect myself on this
head； and each year； as the tax…gatherer comes round； I find myself
disposed to review the acts and position of the general and State
governments； and the spirit of the people； to discover a pretext for
conformity。
〃We must affect our country as our parents；
And if at any time we alienate
Our love or industry from doing it honor；
We must respect effects and teach the soul
Matter of conscience and religion；
And not desire of rule or benefit。〃
I believe that the State will soon be able to take all my work
of this sort out of my hands； and then I shall be no better a
patriot than my fellow…countrymen。 Seen from a lower point of view；
the Constitution； with all its faults； is very good； the law and the
courts are very respectable； even this State and this American
government are； in many respects； very admirable and rare things；
to be thankful for； such as a great many have described them； but
seen from a point of view a little higher； they are what I have
described them； seen from a higher still； and the highest； who shall
say what they are； or that they are worth looking at or thinking of
at all？
However； the government does not concern me much； and I shall
bestow the fewest possible thoughts on it。 It is not many moments
that I live under a government； even in this world。 If a man is
thought…free； fancy…free； imagination…free； that which is not never
for a long time appearing to be to him； unwise rulers or reformers
cannot fatally interrupt him。
I know that most men think differently from myself； but those
whose lives are by profession devoted to the study of these or
kindred subjects； content me as little as any。 Statesmen and
legislators； standing so completely within the institution； never
distinctly and nakedly behold it。 They speak of moving society； but
have no resting…place without it。 They may be men of a certain
experience and discrimination； and have no doubt invented ingenious
and even useful systems； for which we sincerely thank them； but all
their wit and usefulness lie within certain not very wide limits。
They are wont to forget that the world is not governed by policy and
expediency。 Webster never goes behind government； and so cannot
speak with authority about it。 His words are wisdom to those
legislators who contemplate no essential reform in the existing
government； but for thinkers； and those who legislate for all time；
he never once glances at the subject。 I know of those whose serene
and wise speculations on this theme would soon reveal the limits of
his mind's range and hospitality。 Yet； compared with the cheap
professions of most reformers； and the still cheaper wisdom and
eloquence of politicians in general； his are almost the only
sensible and valuable words； and we thank Heaven for him。
Comparatively； he is always strong； original； and； above all；
practical。 Still； his quality is not wisdom； but prudence。 The
lawyer's truth is not truth； but consistency or a consistent
expediency。 Truth is always in harmony with herself； and is not
concerned chiefly to reveal the justice that may consist with
wrong…doing。 He well deserves to be called； as he has been called；
the Defender of the Cons