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 COMMONWEALTH 
 
 OF 
 
 REASON. 
 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM HODGSON, 
 
 ^OW CONFINED IN THE PRISON OF NEWGATE, LONDON*, 
 jrOR SEDITION, 
 
 '* THE PRIVILEGED ORDERS MAY PASS AWAY, 
 *' BUT THE PEOPLE WILL BE ETER^AL." 
 
 Miraieatn 
 
 SECOND EDITION. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR AND SOLD BY THE AUTHOR, 
 And alfo by H. D. Symonds, No. 20, Pacernofler-Row } B. Crosby, Stationeri- 
 Court ; J. RiDG WAY , Yirk Street, St. James's Square ; J. Smith, Pcrtfmouth 
 Stre.t, Lincoln's -Inn-Fields; J. Burks, Cri'Va-Sticet, Spitalfieldfc 
 
 MDCCXCV. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 S the end of all government is, or 
 ought to be, the fecurity, happi- 
 nefs, and advantage of the governed ; and 
 not the exclufive benefit and intereft of 
 thofe intrnfled with the legiflative or execu- 
 tive power : who fhould only be confidered 
 as the organs by which the majority of the 
 community exprefs their will, and as the 
 fcrvants af the commonwealth, amenable at 
 all times, for their conduct to the people ; 
 thefe being the fountain, from whence aloJie 
 can fpring legitimate AUTHorxiTY; it may 
 not be unacceptable, in thefe fpcculative 
 times, when the fcience of political govern- 
 ment appears to have awakened mens cu- 
 a 3 riolity 
 
 / .448637 
 
Vl J»REFACE. 
 
 riofity in an extraoniinary degree ; and the 
 greattr part of the world fcem bent on the 
 * inveftigation of its princ pies, and on the 
 deftrudion of thofe abuses, the exigence of 
 w' ;ich has but too lonor dilo-raced civilized foci- 
 ety ; to ha\e Ibme mode pointed out, by which, 
 fhould any of the prelent fyftems, fo fraught 
 with ruin and injurious to the true intercfts of 
 mankind, be abolifhed, we can reafonably 
 hope to obtain what ought to conftitute the 
 only object of every inftitution, whether po- 
 litical or foclal — PUBLIC happiness, from 
 which fource alone can flow individual feli-« 
 city. 
 
 For this defireable purpofe, the following 
 plan, for a commonwealth, to be founded 
 
 ON THE BROAD AND DURABLE BASIS OF REA- 
 SON, LIBERT Y,FR ATE FN IT Y, A ^D.E QUALITY, is 
 
 fubtnitted to the candid conlidcration and im- 
 pa -aal examination of mankind. If,by the public 
 c. ion of it, the author fhall be inftrumental in 
 removing any fingle grievance, out of the en- 
 ormous and almofl: countlefs number, under 
 whicli men at prefent labour, no matter in 
 what part of nature's wide extended empire ; 
 he will confider his eiforts as amply and ho- 
 
 noiJrably 
 
PREFACE. Vii 
 
 nourably rewarded. If, on the contrary, it 
 fhall not be found to yield an idea, by which 
 theprefent miserable and unhappy condi- 
 tion of man, can be ameliorated ; he ill all 
 confole himfelf with the pleafurable reflefHon 
 that muft necefTarily refult from a convi6lion, 
 that although his judgment may have erred, 
 his intentions were honefl:, (incere and welU 
 meant ; and he will retire, without ex- 
 periencing any other painful fenfation, than 
 that of wanting the ability to do good, into 
 that obfcurity, from which he never wiflies 
 to emanate, but for the purpofe of increaiino- 
 the profperity and happinefs of his fellow 
 creatures, and which he conceives he can ne- 
 ver do more etfedlually than by pointino- 
 out to them the truth, and entreating them 
 on every occafion to confult their reason and 
 their experience. 
 
 The author hopes he fhall not be accufed 
 of egotilm, if in this place he introduces the 
 particulars of his own cafe, which he con- 
 fiders as affording a ftriking inftance of the 
 
 Engliih Adminillration of Juftice It is 
 
 briefly this : On the 30th day of September, 
 
 in the year' 1793, being ^^^ company with my 
 
 a 4 valued 
 
 4'J3637 
 
ViU PREFACE. 
 
 value] and much 1; mented friend, CharleS 
 PiGoiT, to wnofe literary exertions the 
 cauk of freedom mcft certainly is highly in- 
 debted ; I dined with him and his brother at 
 the King's Head Tavern, in the Poultry ; 
 from whence Charles Pis;! tt and mvfelf ad- 
 journed to the London Coffee-houfe, Ludgate 
 Hill, to read the news papers ; featiag our- 
 felves ill a box where no other perlbn was, 
 and reading in one of the papers an official 
 account of the retreat from before Dun* 
 kirk, in which every friend of humanity muft 
 deplore the immenfe lofs of human blood, 
 preceded by a paragraph that the King had 
 that morning taken the diverjion of flag 
 huntiitg', it induced an obfervation on the 
 impropriety and inhumanity of fuch fports 
 being purfucd, while his fubjefts were de- 
 flroyed by thoufands in battle. One remark 
 neceflprily produced another, during which 
 I obferv d, that it would be an expenfivc 
 bufinefs for Enj;land (meaning the affair of 
 Dunkirk) although beneficial to the Eledor of 
 Hanover, from the great number of Hanoveri- 
 ans defa-oyeJ on the occ'^fion; tliatthispra6tice 
 of hirinj> out troops was both fcandalous and 
 
 fhameful. 
 
PREFACE. IX 
 
 fhamcful, and that the powers concerned 
 were no better than German hog butchers; 
 at the fame time, jocofely obferving, that I 
 h^d no doubt the King and the Prince of 
 Hefle-Cailel were partners, and divided the 
 money between them for the Hefiian troops 
 that were killed and wounded. This conver- 
 fation attracted the notice of fome perfons who 
 were in the Coffee-houfe : It being jull: about 
 the time of the formation of Reeves's aflb- 
 c\?itioi\ for the proteBion of property agairjl 
 Republicans and Levellers, Speaking of which 
 Ibciety, Mr. Erskine, that great luminary of 
 Englifh jurifprudence, to whofe exertions, 
 aided by thofe of his friend Mr. Gibbs, thou- 
 fands who are prefent alive, moft aiTuredly are 
 indebted for their now occupying a place in 
 human fociety, it being tolerably apparent to 
 what lengths the profecutions were meant to 
 have been carried, had they not happily been 
 arrefted by the powerful eloquei^ce and ener- 
 getic difplay of legal knowledge ufcd on that 
 occafion, by thefe champions of the injured 
 Rights of Man, fays, '' Liberty of thought and 
 *'\rpeechjirfl produced iheconjlitution ivhich 
 *' England boajls of ;— that liberty of thought 
 
 '• and 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 *' andfpccch is as necejfayy to prefervfy as 
 •* it was to form that covjiitution. While- 
 *' fuch an hoji of merC (alluding to thefe 
 aflbciations and their fpies) " are comhined 
 •' to overwhelm the unhappy man ivho may 
 *' venture to utter a fentiment, ivhich a 
 " iveak or hiajjed underjlanding may torture 
 •' into a f editions meaning. Liberty of 
 •* thought, liberty of Jpeech, liberty of pub- 
 " li cation, ivhich may be jufly called the 
 *■*■ palladLiim of Britifi liberty, camiot exift,, 
 *'■ Of courfe^ fuch an arbitrary jurifdic- 
 *^ tion goes immediately to the annihila-^ 
 *' tion of that form of government, ivhich, 
 " they proftfs themfelves afjociated to fup- 
 " port, andfioidd be oppofed by every well- 
 **■ iL'ifker to it.-— That if the right of accufa^ 
 " tion IV as affumed by uninjured individu" 
 *'als, or by voluntary, unauthorifed, and 
 *' undefined affociaiions of Tn^n, the prime' 
 •' biffing of focial union, fcarlefs tranquil 
 *' lity of life eould never be enjoyed ; — the 
 " fources of jufiice would be no longer pur e^ 
 " nor the adminiftration of it impartial, 
 " while it might fo happen that members of 
 ♦' a grand or petit jury might be members of 
 ^^fuch nffociations ; whereby men who hadfet 
 
 '^ thcvi' 
 
PREFACE. x'i 
 
 ^^ ihemfelves up as licenfers of political fenti^ 
 *' ments and publications-'^ as tribunals that 
 *•' are to determine in the fir ft in fiance what 
 *"' fliall be deemed fedition, aEiually become 
 *' injucli cafes both accnfersandjiidses^'^ 
 
 , To refume the narrative, tlie converfation 
 having attraded notice, for at that period 
 every cofFee-houfe and other pubUc place, 
 was filled with fpies and informers ; Mr. 
 White Newman, whofe father, as he faid 
 upon the trial, keeps an oil fhop in Newgate- 
 ftreet, immediately rofe up in a great paihon, 
 called for a glafs of punch, came running to- 
 wards the box in which we were feated, and 
 ufaig many opprobrious exprefiions, iniifted 
 
 upon our drinking the King's Health. 
 
 Having never in my life been accuflomed to 
 act or fpeak otherwife than as a free-man, 
 I did not choofe to have a toalT: thus impu- 
 dently forced down ray throat, and accord- 
 ingly gave *' THE FRENCH REPUBLIC, AND 
 MAY SHE TRIUMPH OVER ALL HER ENEMIES.'* 
 
 This aroufed the patriotifin of Mr. Leach, 
 the mailer of the' London Colfee-houfe, 
 Ludgate-hill, who immediately lent for con- 
 fl:.Hbles, and we were taken to the New 
 
 Compter 
 
Alt PREFACE. 
 
 CoiMPTER 111 Glltipur-ftrcet, and placed in a 
 wretched room without flcx:)ring or windows, 
 «k.-iued the comfort of* candle-h2:ht or bed- 
 ding^'. 1 fhould add^ that- although we were 
 cnllilted, and even ftruck by fomc of the 
 company in the Coffee- houfe Ijeforc the con- 
 liable's flice, yet he refufed to take charge of 
 the ailailants. F^r this mighty offence we 
 -were taken the next morning before Mi*. 
 Alderman Andesson, who ordered us to 
 gue bail for our appearance in one thou- 
 sand FOUNDS : upon my reading a pailage 
 from MAGNA CHART A and the bull of 
 IiGFrrs, he obferved, that right or wrong, he 
 jffiould commit us, and take the ref|ionfibiHty 
 en mmfelf. After a great deal of trouble, we 
 were, at the end of tliree weeks, enlarged on^ 
 b:iil to the amount required ; when the grand 
 Jui-v threw out the bill againll my friend 
 Pigott, and found one againfl me ; in confc- 
 ^nence of whidi,. on tl"uc' 2d of Novembeir 
 
 '" Thc-Jamp of this apartment, and the then incremency' 
 a>r tho weather, I verily believe hiid the foundation of an: 
 rHuds in my late friend Charles Pigott, which ended- 
 with his death a tcw; mo*i;l>& ai"terward?j., he died in the 
 nTOiiih of Ma}' 1 794 . 
 
PREFACE, Xlll 
 
 %j^^ 1 rendeted myfelf in difcKarge of my 
 bail,, having been at krge eight days, aad 
 <5n the 19th of December, 1793, I was 
 fci«crio-lA to the bar of the Old Bailey, and 
 tried before Sir John William Rose, the 
 Recorder of the city of London ; Mr. Field- 
 ing officiating for the Attorney General — 
 when following the law of nature, which 
 teaches every animal fome mode of felf-de- 
 fence, I was my own advocate — after a trial*, 
 in which the witnefTes for the crown fre- 
 quently contradi61ed each other, and which 
 lafted from ten in the morning until feven 
 at night, the jury being near an hour in 
 confultation upon their verdidl, I was found 
 <niilty of Sedition, and fentenced to two 
 
 YEARS IMPRISONMENT IN NEWGATE, TO PAY 
 A FINE OF TWO HUNDRED POUNDS, AND GIVE 
 SECURITY FOR TWO YEARS MORE IN FOUR 
 
 HUNDRED POUNDS ! ! ! I ihall conclude with 
 infertingthe following defcriptionof-the wit- 
 nefTes againll me, written by a friend of mine. 
 
 ' The flaming zeal of this loyal chief 
 * juftice of the kitchen* (Mr. Leach was for^ 
 merly the cook to the London Coffee-houfe) 
 
 ' had, 
 
XlV PREFACE. 
 
 * had, upon the requifition of his friend, Mi^ 
 
 * Reeves, eroded his cofFee-houfe into a 
 
 * very extraordinary court of inquiOtion, 
 
 * lie the judge both of law and of fad:, fat 
 
 * {lately hi his bar; his former culinary fire 
 
 * rofe on his promotion from the kitchen to 
 
 * that dignity into a \ iolent flame of attach- 
 
 * ment to royalty and rage againfl Levellers. 
 ' He, like a dutiful fubjecl, vviflied the Lords 
 
 * anointed to rule the roafl:, and perhaps 
 
 * ventured even to hope for a fop in the pan 
 
 * as a reward for his loyalty. — 'He knew that 
 
 * Republicans were plain folks, and eat plain 
 
 * food ; he trembled for his profefiion — If 
 
 * they prev'ailed, " Othello's occupation 
 " gone-" — Mayor's feafts, company's feafts, 
 ' parilh feafts, all prefented themfelves to his 
 
 * tortured imaoinatioai. Methinks I fee him, 
 
 * his :fiiucepan for an hehnet, his pot -lid for 
 
 * a fliield, his fpit for a Ipear, and a huge 
 *■ carving knife for a fword, fallying forth the 
 ' champion of royalty. But, as according 
 ' to Mr. Burke, the age of chivalry is gone ; 
 
 * let us once more view him in his judicial 
 
 * capacity, fee him cautioufly looking round 
 ' his coffee-room, watching, left fome dif- 
 
 * loyal ^yight fhould utter profanatioils 
 
 ' againfl 
 
PREFACE. XV 
 
 *^ agamfb monarchy. Hard by fits his friend 
 
 * White Newman, the pickle-merchant, 
 ' with zeal hot as Cayenne pepper, and wrath 
 •^ fliarp as vinegar, againfl the leafl: particle 
 
 * of fedition, carefully obferving the words of 
 ' all around. And laft, though not leafl in 
 ' fame, fatinconjundion vile,withBucHANAN- 
 ^ of Glafgow, Griffith Vaughan, late of 
 
 * Brilloljinen-draper, though better known in 
 ' that city by the name of puffing Vaughan; 
 
 * his loyalty, the fhockilig maffacres at Briftol 
 ' (where he was one of the commiffioners of 
 ' the tolls,) fufficiently demonftrate—and 
 
 * certainly ought to have entitled him to a 
 
 * ihare in the Commercial Loan, fo ufeful in 
 ' patching up th6 decayed tools of the State 
 ' —although by the negligence of thofe who 
 ' ought to have rewarded this convenient 
 ' Ion of the refpeaable order of evangelical 
 ' embracers, for his uncommom zeal, prom*p- 
 
 * titude and affiduity — he is nowlanguifhino- in 
 "^ Newgate! ! Mr. Conftable's loyrdty fee'^ns 
 ' to have been much on a par with that 
 
 * of his employers — he knew it was the 
 ' King's Peaca that he was to keep.— It 
 
 * was- the King**; peace only, and. certainly 
 ^ ought not to be extended to feditious men, 
 ' who had dared, as Judge Leach faid, to 
 
 ' Ipeak 
 
XVl I'REFACE. 
 
 ' fpeak difrefpcftfully of him. — No ! let the 
 
 * vile Democrats be killed, he was not bound 
 
 * to proted them, much lefs to take into 
 
 * cuflody thole whole fole crime confifted in 
 ' inlulting men who had wickedly dared to 
 *■ utter words to each other which his worthy 
 
 * mailers did not underftand' (Vaughan faid, 
 on his examination, that we frequently 
 converfed in forne foreign language, which 
 he did not underftand). ' Belidcs, Democrats 
 
 * areknownenemiestoPERQUistTEsandiDLE- 
 
 * NESs, and fhould they prevail, nothing but 
 
 * anarchy would take place in the parifh ; the 
 
 * churchwardens and overfeers would be 
 ' forced to refund ; poor rates would no 
 ' loneer be able to be converted into venison 
 
 * and Madeira ; and, fad tale to tell, gold 
 
 * would no longer atone for nocturnal pec- 
 
 * CADiLLos,nof groupes of wretched proftitutes 
 
 * be fuffered nightly to repleiiifh the punch- 
 
 * bowls of the watch-houfe, while the houfd 
 
 * of the induftrious inhabitant who pays for 
 ' protection, is fultered carelefsly to be plun- 
 
 * dcrcd by the alert difciples of Mercury. 
 
 ' Oh ! thrice happy Britain, when fuch 
 
 * guardians protect thy liberties, and fecure 
 
 * every avenue to the Throne againfl all in* 
 ' valion oi the Swiniih Multitude.' 
 
THE 
 
 COMMONWEALTH 
 
 O F 
 
 REASON. 
 
 PLAN, &c. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 irp XPERIENCE having proved corruption" 
 i-^ to be the moft dreadful evil that can pof- 
 fibly affedt either public or private life, it is of 
 courfe that which men fliould be moft ftudious 
 and zealous to avoid ; any endeavour, therefore, 
 to raife up barriers againft this all-deftru6tive. 
 vice, may be confidered as one of the nobleft 
 efforts of the -human underftanding 5 as from 
 thence has proceeded all thofe arbitrary and 
 diabolical a6tions we have at different periods 
 witneffed ; and of which fuch innumerable ex- 
 amples, that have juftly called down the execra- 
 tion of mankind, are furniihed in the hiflory of 
 the world. 
 
 As corruption is generally the relult of power 
 
 long continued in the fame individual, and pre- 
 
 B vention 
 
l8 YHfe COMMONWEALTH 
 
 vention more liumane and far better than de- 
 teAron, it is my intention, in this Plan, to make 
 every fituation in the Commonwealth, to which 
 IS attached either truft or power, revoluti- 
 onary or rotative; thereby taking what I 
 conceive to b-^ the befl remedy for, and precau- 
 tion againll, this mofl inveterate enemy to pub- 
 lic happinefs; this epidemic, that has hitherto 
 baffled the moft ftrenuous efforts of the mofl able 
 phyficians ; this political Upas*, under whofe 
 baneful and malignant branches every virtue 
 finds immediate death. 
 
 Philofophers mull have long fince been 
 convinced that the abufe of power is much 
 more the confequence of long and uninter- 
 rupted pofleflion in the hands of individuals, 
 than of any other caufe whatever : and as it 
 is an axiom in politics, that zvherever there 
 is power there will be abufe, I imagine, that 
 by making the power neceflarily vefted in a part, 
 to be exercifed for the benefit of the whole, as 
 fleeting, and of as little duration as pofTible, in 
 the fame individual, I obviate the great error 
 in political inflitutions, which feems to have 
 been the delegation of thofe powers, to be ex- 
 ercifed without a juft controul, and for a long 
 
 * The name of the Poifon Tree, that grows in Japan. 
 
 and 
 
OF REASON". J5^ 
 
 and fometimes an indefinite fpace of time, that 
 require the eyes of an Argus, and a frequent 
 change of perfons, to prevent them from de- 
 generating, by corruption, into tyranny and op- 
 preflion. 
 
 As pretended diflindlions amongfl men, 
 who are all equal by nature, and are all un- 
 queflionably equally helplefs in infancy, and 
 equally cold in the embraces of death, have a 
 tendency to create a difference of interefts in 
 the fame community, in which the weaker is in- 
 variably fwallowed up, and deftroyed, by the 
 ftronger , and human beings, otherwife naturally 
 friends and brothers, are thereby fet at enmity 
 with each other, for the enjoyment of paltry 
 titles, that do not really diftinguiili the pofTeffors 
 from the mafs of mankind, except in particular 
 and local fituations : I propofe, that in my Plan, 
 no grade, or title of diftindion whatever, ihall 
 exiftamongthe citizens of the Commonwealth,ex- 
 cept what the exercife of fuperior benevolence and 
 virtue ihall obtain from the general refped: of 
 fociety, or what the temporary poifeilion of the 
 public fundtions (hail necelTarily demand for the 
 moment. Thus all being citizens, equal in rights, 
 none will have an intereft feparate from that of 
 his neighbour, lince no one will be capable of 
 infringing ex invading the right of another, with- 
 B 2 out 
 
*t< THE COMMONWBALTir 
 
 out involving not only his own, but that of thft 
 whole Commonwealth of which he himrelfmakesaii 
 integral part ; of courfe, every fuch attempt will, 
 in this {late of perfect equality, be refifted not 
 only by the citizen attacked, but by the collec- 
 tive force of the whole community, whofe direct 
 intereft will cftedually point out the abfolutc 
 necefTity of the oppofition : whilft daily expe- 
 rience teaches us to know, that in thofe ftates 
 where an inequality of rights does exift, it fre-» 
 qucntly becomes the intereft and defire of one 
 grade or clafs to fubvcrt and deftroy the rights 
 of another grade or clafs, thereb)', as they falfely 
 conceive, the more effeftually to eftablifh and 
 lupport what the errors of their conftitution 
 have led them to confider as their own. Thus, 
 in fuch ftates, it very rarely or never happens 
 that the colleftive body of the citizens find an 
 occaiion, where their common intereft is united. 
 On this principle we may account for the fall of 
 thofe vaft and mighty empires which Hiftory in- 
 forms us once had exiftence, and of which we 
 have not now left a fingle veftige, whereby to 
 defcry their ancient power and grandeur, except 
 the traditionary detail, handed down to us by 
 our anceftors; for it is an old proverb in England, 
 the truth of which ha^ been univerfally admit- 
 ted — " 'H'hat an Houje divided againfi itfelf cannot 
 Ptandr 
 
 As 
 
OF REASON. Zt 
 
 As the accumulation of immenfe we?-Ith in 
 the hands of individuals, by any other means, 
 than perfunal induftry, or equitable inheritance, 
 may with great truth be confidered as the pri- 
 mary and moft efFedual means by which the 
 fiend, CORRUPTION, fecretly undermrnes, and 
 finally overturns the beft and wifeft inftitutions : 
 the endeavour to deflroy this channel of abufe, 
 tbis panacea^ that infallibly turns all virtue into vice, 
 without rendering injuftice to any one, is furely 
 highly deferving the confideration and attention 
 of mankind i and as fuch, will form a part of my 
 Plan. Seeing, therefore, that entailed estates, 
 the laws of primogenitureship, and other un- 
 equal and unjuft decrees, refpecling the diftri- 
 bution of property, are the caufes of thefe mif- 
 chievous maffes of wealth, lb highly dangerous 
 to, and incompatible w^ith, the exiftence of 
 LIBERTY, and v^hich have been always found 
 to furnidi the ready means of corruption, 
 OPPRESSION and tyranny, I propofe, that iri 
 no pofiible cafe fliall the different children, whe- 
 ther male or female, of the fame father, divide 
 m other than equal portions, the property of 
 which the fire may die poffefled. Thus we fhall 
 prevent that difgraceful inequality of patrimony 
 in children of the fame parent, that at prefent 
 furnifh not unfrequent inftances, where the head 
 of the family, as he is called, has a revenue of, 
 B 3. perhaps. 
 
0.1 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 perhaps, forty t^oitfand pounds a year^ whilfl the 
 younger branches have fcarcely a fufficient in- 
 come to fupport the appearance that cuftom has 
 rendered abfolutely ncceflary to enable them to 
 dine at their elder brother's table ; to provide 
 for whom, without injuring the poffeliions of the 
 elderfon,an almod incredible numberof SINECURE 
 places, and of trifling and ufelefs offices, have 
 been created under the different governments 
 the world has hitherto witnelTed ; the burthen 
 of which has, without exception, ultimately fallen 
 on thofe, who, it muft ever be acknowledged, 
 form the great bulwark of every (late, the in- 
 dustrious art isan and LABOR lOUS CULTI- 
 VATOR, as the payment of thefe places is ufually 
 provided for, by taxes levied on articles of 
 the mod general confumption, and of the firfl: 
 neceffity : Independent of which, thefe rich 
 men, to pieferve whole and inviolate whofe pro- 
 perty fo much fhameful injuilice is done to the 
 body of the citizens, become tliemfelves t\\tfervtle 
 TOOLS and i^^V^ SLAVES of the executive power ^ 
 as upon no other condition can they reafonably 
 hope to make provifion for their poorer relatives. 
 Thus the only return the citizens receive for 
 encouraging this immoral and partial diflribution 
 of the father's cflatc, is the deprivation of the 
 independent afTiflance of thofe whom, by the 
 mod flagrant injuflicej they have loaded with 
 
 riches. 
 
OF REASON. £3 
 
 riches. For thefe reafons, I alfo propofe, not to 
 admit in the Commonwealth of any fmecure place, 
 than the exiftence of which nothing can be more 
 abfurd ; for no one can, confiftently with honefty, 
 accept of payment for fervices he has never 
 performed, nor has the remoteft intention of 
 performing : indeed, finecure places may be lite- 
 rally denominated, a robbery committed on 
 
 THE NATION, UNDER THE FALSE COLOUR ANr> 
 SPECIOUS PRETEXT OF HAVING A PUBLIC EM- 
 PLOYMENT ; and the exiftence and duration of 
 fuch emoluments can only be built on the dif- 
 graceful ignorance and culpable inattention of 
 the greater part of the citizens compofing the 
 Commonwealth ; lince no man in his fenfes 
 would, knowingly, pay his baker for a loaf he 
 never had or was to have. Neither do I propofe 
 to fuffer the eftablifhment of any ufelefs office 
 or employment in the Commonwealth which can 
 only be harafllng to the citizens, and deftruclive 
 of their common inteceft : Or to admit any 
 enormous or difproportionate falary to be an- 
 nexed to the execution of the necefTary public 
 functions : for as no citizen ought to refufe to 
 take upon him, in his turn, that public employ- 
 ment, which a majority of his fellow-citizens 
 fhall cull him to the exercife of; and as the due, 
 faithful and impartial difcharge of it is as much 
 for his own fecurity, happinefs and advantage, as 
 B 4 for 
 
^4 The COMMOXWEALTIf 
 
 for that of the Commonwealth, fo no citizen, 
 who really vviflies to promote the general pro- 
 fperityof thcCommonwealthjCanor ought to have 
 a dcfire of wickedly enriching himfelf at the 
 expence of the community j which he certainly 
 does whenever he accepts, as a remuneration for 
 his public ferviccs, of a fum greater than \\'\\\ 
 defray the necelfary expences and confumption 
 of time that has attended them, or of a fmecure 
 place, or of a penfion, or of a place of profit, 
 the funftions of which produce no general good 
 to the citizens. The not fuffering, therefore, 
 any of thefe places or profits, the exijhnce of 
 •which ^ in the governments we have hitherto witnejjedy 
 may be jufily Jiiled a radical error ^ is the befb and 
 nioft certain way to prevent the dreadful necef- 
 fity of reforming abufes, that we ourfelves are the 
 authors of, by permitting fuch temptations to 
 be thrown in the way of evil-difpofed, avaricious 
 and defigning men : for as it is an axiom in me- 
 taphyfics, that no effeSf can pqffibly exijl tvilhout a 
 canfe, it is alfo an axiom in medicine, that if you 
 can remove the catife, the effe^ will ceaje. 
 
 As the cxiftence of exclusive privileges is 
 the grand means by which thofe unhappy jealou- 
 fies, lliameful dilTentions, and deftrudtive animo- 
 fitics, that have ever been found to be abfolutely 
 neceflary to the fupport and exiflence of are i- 
 
 IRARY OPPRESSION, DESPOTIC POWER, and 
 
 LAWLESS 
 
OF REASON. 25 
 
 LAWLESS CORRUPTION, are fomented and kept 
 alive, and which efFeftually prevent that har- 
 mony that ought ever to fubfift among the mem- 
 bers of the Commowealth ; it mufh appear evident 
 to every thinking and reafonable being, that thofe 
 cuftoms, fuch as a rich man being alone -permitted 
 to dejlroy a bird or animal^ that has perhaps been 
 nourijloed at the expence of his poorer neighbour ; or 
 A being fuffered to arrejt B, for a fum of money, that 
 B may fland indebted to A, whilfi B fJoall have no 
 fuch remedy agaimji A, tvhen it happens that Afands 
 indebted to B ; which have no other tendency 
 than to deftroy the happy union of interefts, fo 
 requifite to the furtherance of the happinefs and 
 profperity of the citizens, can only have ori- 
 ginated with thofe monfters, for I will not dif- 
 grace the name of man, by giving them that ap- 
 pellation, who, loft to every focial virtue, and 
 wifhing to trample with impunity on the sa- 
 cred and INDEFEASIBLE RIGHTS OF MAN, 
 
 have cunningly introduced a fyftem of oppres- 
 sing ONE MAN FOR THE PROFIT OF ANOTHER; 
 
 which, from the extreme ignorance of mankind, 
 and their but too general inattention to their 
 trae and genuine interefts, they have been able to 
 pafb on their blindnefs and credulity, as favours 
 and advantages ; and who, by thefe nefarious 
 means, having acquired the direction of the public 
 force, have, whenever the cheat has been dif- 
 
 covered, 
 
26 THZ COMMONWEALTH 
 
 covered, and men have attempted to regain their 
 original Jl ate of hnppy equality, mvidit ufe of that 
 coraman<3, thus lurreptitioufly obtained, to per- 
 petuate a iy flem, by which alone fuch miscreants. 
 and vioLATERS OF JUSTICE, knew they could be 
 enabled to commence with fafcty, and continue 
 with impunity, their diabolical meafures,. enor- 
 mous peculations, and fanguinary adminiftration. 
 For thele reafons, I propofe, that in my Plan no 
 fuch heterogenous and corrupt monfters of in- 
 juflice, as privileged orders, game la\vs> 
 
 MANORIAL RIGHTS, EXCLUSIVE CHARTERS, 
 CORPORATIONS, and OTHER SUCH PARTIAL, 
 WICKED, AND OPPRESSIVE PRIVILEGES fhall 
 
 fiave exiflence : for nothing feems more irra- 
 tional, than that the birds of the air, wild ani- 
 mals, or the fifh of a river, which nature cer- 
 tainly has not llamped or marked with any par- 
 ticular man's name, and to which no one man 
 can juflly and honeflly fliew a fuperior claim over 
 his neighbour, fliould be made the exclulive pro- 
 perty of the rich man, and the poor man be 
 puniflicd for the killing and appropriation of 
 that which nature feems to have fent for the 
 exprefs purpofe of appeafmg thofe appetites flic 
 has given him in common with the mofh wealthy 
 and atHuent. And it can never, furely, be ar- 
 gued, that the dcftroying of thefe creatures is in 
 itfelf an immoral ad , aSj fuppoling fuch argu- 
 ment 
 
OF REASON. 27 
 
 ment to be juft, it could not but be admitted 
 at the fame time, that if it is immoral in the 
 man of poverty, it is equally fo in the man of 
 riches : unlefs, indeed, men can be fo weak and 
 ftupid, as to imagine that a rich man, lord of the 
 mianor, or other privileged perfon, has a licence 
 and authority from Heaven, which purges the 
 guilt from him, that attaches on the poor man's 
 flioulders ; and yet, ridiculous as this fuppolition 
 muft appear to every man of common fenfe, we 
 neverthelefs hear of fome men whofe infallibility 
 is accredited, and even held facred, with a great 
 part of the world ; which acknowledgment, on 
 their parts, is abfolutely fuppofing the exiftencc 
 of this monftrous and incomprehenfible abfurdity. 
 Neither can any thing be more ridiculous, cruel, 
 and unjuft, than that A fhould have a remedy 
 againft his neighbour B, that B has not in like 
 cafes againft his brother citizen A, fince what 
 is punifhable when done by B, can or ought to 
 be no lefs fo when committed by A, however 
 ignorant men, by abfurd and nonfenfical privi- 
 leges, accorded to A, may have fheltered him 
 from common juftice, and enabled, and indeed 
 encouraged him to commit, without fear of in- 
 quiry, or punifhment, thofe adls of dillionefty 
 and oppreffion to B, for which, but ftrip him of 
 his talifmanic garments, he would be held in utter 
 
 and general deteflation. 
 
 As 
 
iS THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 As what are called, national religious 
 ESTABLISHMENTS, have becH found to be the 
 great eft fcourge that ever afflided mankind ; 
 and have, at different periods, been perverted 
 from what even the original inftitutors thcm- 
 felves meant IhouPd be their objed ; and have 
 been called into the aid. of, incorporateci with, 
 and made part of almofl every national govern- 
 inent, by which means corruption has engen- 
 dered, at the moderate expence of a few mitres 
 and other fuch baubles, an additional and moft 
 implacable enemy to tho natural independance 
 of m.an : and have by inftilling the monltrous and 
 incongruous doftrine of eternal damnation to 
 fuch as differ in opinion from the national theo- 
 logy, robbed a great part of the citizens of 
 their just, necessary, and indefeasible 
 rights, under the fpecious, and diabolical pre- 
 tence of heterodoxy j and compelled the inhabi- 
 tants of one countiy, to murder the citizens of 
 another, for the propagation of what, each 
 
 HAS CALLED THE TRUE RELIGiON, tO their 
 
 mutual diiadvantao-e, and in ciiredt defiance 
 ot the morality inculcated by all j — one of the 
 great and principle tenets of thefe religion-mon- 
 gers, being, according to their language, though 
 not according to their practice, to promote brother- 
 h'jod andgood-zvill amongji men \ yet, how far this 
 principle aduatea- thole who call themfelves or-' 
 
 thodo3:j 
 
OF REASON. t^ 
 
 thoclox, which each does in his turn, may be bed col- 
 lefted from the reciprocal benevolence they ex-^ 
 ercife- towards each other ; from a Jew being 
 condemned to the Autp-de-Fe in Spain and 
 Portugal, becaufe he will not believe that Jefus 
 Chrift was the Ton of God ; from a Chriftiail 
 being held in general abhorence by the Turks, 
 becaufe he doubts the truth of Mahomet's hav- 
 ing afcended feven Heavens, and held converfc 
 with the Almighty ; from a Pvoman Cathohc 
 being-prevented in Proteftant countriesholdingany 
 public oiTice or place of truft and profit merely be- 
 caufe he believes the wine and the wafers he 
 receives when taking the facrament, is the body 
 and blood of his friend Jefus Chrift, whilft tlie 
 true believer, as he is ftiled, under what tiie 
 perfecuted catholic calls an heretical government, 
 fays, they are only taken in remembrance of their 
 Lord and Mafler ; betwixt whom and his pre- 
 fent followers, there is no more rcfcmblancc, 
 " than I to Hercules ;" — and a thoufiind other 
 wicked and diabolical pains and ]-;enalties at- 
 tached to the greatj enormous, and never to be 
 forgiven crime of a man's thinking and judging 
 for himfelf, in what is called the mofl material 
 concern of his life, the falvation of his foul , 
 not to mention the cruel andmurderous wars tliar 
 have been carried on by Jews againfl Gentiles ; 
 •Chriflians againfl Turks; Turks againft Infi- 
 dels ; 
 
50 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 dels ; and one feci: of Chriftians agalnft another 
 fedl of Chriftians ; in which barbarous, bloody, 
 and blafphemous contefts, millions of infatuated 
 men have loft their lives, without the point in 
 difpute being yet determined ; the combatants 
 having been always reduced to the fituation of 
 the hare and the hound : — where one was 
 
 TOO FATIGUED TO FOLLOW, AND THE OTHER 
 
 TOO TIRED TORUNAWAY ; therefore, as every 
 eftablifliment in a Commonwealth fhould be 
 really and truly to promote fraternity among 
 the citizens, and to draw clofely the bonds of 
 union in fociety ; it follows of ccurfe, that thefe 
 inftitutions, experience having proved them to be 
 produiftive of contrary efFefts, Ihould by every 
 well wiflier and friend to the repofe and happi* 
 nefs of mankind be avoided. And as religion 
 feems to be a fubject on which men may perhaps 
 never be perfectly agreed ; fince no one can, by 
 any thing like demonftrative evidence, prove that 
 the tenets of the particular feet to which he be* 
 longs, is more acceptable to the Supreme Being, 
 than thofe of another fedl, whether he be bap- 
 tist, JEW, gentile, MAHOMETAN, ARME- 
 NIAN, CHR I STI AN, ANTIC HR I STI AN, AD AMITE, 
 DUNKER, SWEDENBURGIAN, WORSHIPER OF 
 THE SUN, WORSHIPER OF THE MOON, UNI- 
 VERSALIST, EUTYCHIAN, ADR AMMELECHI AN, 
 PHILADELPHIAN, QU ARTODECIMANI AN, PRE- 
 
 DESTINARIAN, 
 
OF tlEASON.' 3^ 
 
 DESTINARIAN, AGONYCLITE, EONASIAN, EA- 
 SILIDIAN, HOTTENTOT, NESTOFvIAN, CARPO- 
 CRATIAN, ANTINOMIAN, MARONIST, CARTE- 
 SIAN, SCOTIST, THOMIST, SC RI PT URIST, SA- 
 CRAMENTARIAN,WORSHIPPER OF FO5GNOSTIC, 
 IDOLATOR, QUIETIST, SABATTARIAN, MANI- 
 CHEAN, ROMAN CATHOLIC, TRINITARIAN, 
 ANTITRINITARIAN, RHETORIAN, MENGRE- 
 LIAN, ANNOM^AN, BROWNIST, WHITFIEL- 
 LITE, CATAPHRYGIAN, xMESSALIAN, PELA- 
 GIAN, SEMtPELAGIAN, ELCES ACITI AN, AN- 
 THROPOMORPHITE, MILLENARIAN, ANTIDI- 
 COMARIONITE,CERDONIST, ELATERIST, STER- 
 CORANIST, JACOBITE, GEORGIAN, ANTITAC- 
 TITE, CONGREGATIONALIST, COLLUTHEAN, 
 BERULIAN, EUDOXIAN, SOLIFIDIAN, PRIS- 
 CILLIANIST, MELCHITE, HERODIAN, CERIN- 
 THIAN, APPOLLINARIAN, AGYNITE, PAPIST, 
 QUINTILLIAN, SCEPTIC, CIRCUMC E LLI AN, 
 DISCIPLINARIAN, EUNOMIAN, ALBANGIST, 
 METEMSYCHITE, LOLLARI>, HEMEROB APTIST, 
 FRATRICELLIAN, ARCHONTIC K, ETERNAL I ST, 
 DISSENTER, SAMARITAN, REMONSTRANT, OPI- 
 NIONIST, PATRIPASSIANIST, ARTOLYRIST, 
 AQUARIAN, UBIQUITARTAN, PHOTINIAN, 
 MARIANALATRIST, SUB LAPS AR I AN, SUPRA- 
 LAPSARIAN, METAMORPHIST, EEIONITE, 
 JANSENIST,R0GATIST, MENNONITE, SABEAN, 
 APELLITIAN, MARCIONIST, DULCINIST, CA- 
 
 THARIAN, 
 
r^ft THE GOMMONWJtALTPr 
 
 THARIAN, ASCORDRIGI LI AN, MACEDONIAN-, 
 AUGUS r 1 NI AN, MON TANI S T, CH I L I AST, MUN- 
 CERIAN, LIBERTINE, BONGOM I LI AN, RE- 
 TAPTIZER, BARDESANIST, SEVERIAN, GEN- 
 TOO, BARULITE, APOSTOLIAN, BACCHANA- 
 LIAN, ARIAN, SABELLIAN, QUAKER, BAGNO- 
 LENSIAN, PHARISEE, VAUDOIS, ERASTIAN, 
 PETROBRUSIAN, TIMOTHEAN, LUCIFERIAN, 
 BAANITE, EUSTATHIAN, FLAGELLANT, MONO- 
 THEIST, SOCINIAN, TRITHEITE, ST01CK,G0R- 
 TINIAN, SOFEE, BRAMAN, SETHIAN, FASTER, 
 PROTESTANT, SANDEMONIAN, LUTHERAN, 
 
 CALVINIST, FIFTHMONARCHIS r, SELEUCIAN, 
 NEW JERUSALEMITE, FOLYGAMIST, FATA- 
 LIST, POLYTHEIST, NAZARITE, GAULONITE, 
 FLORINUSITE, SABATHIAN, VALENTINIAN, 
 jOVINIANIST, SADDUSEE, PYRRHONIST, PY- 
 THAGOREAN, PRESBYTERIAN, METHODIST, 
 OPTIMIST, DONATIST, MORAVIAN, MUGCLE- 
 TONIAN, DEIST, NOVATIAN, TAO-SSE, UNI- 
 
 TA-RiAN ; it follows of courfc, that fetting up 
 one {jDccies of religion, in preference to 
 others, or nationalizing it, by countenancing, 
 protecting, and fijpporting in idlenefs and luxury 
 fuch drones as muftis, popes, ta-iio-changs, 
 
 GREAT lamas, PARSONS, ARCHBISHOPS, DEA- 
 CONESSES, RECTORS, HIGH-PRIESTS, ELDERS, FA- 
 KIRS, BISHOPS, DEACONS, PvIUSTAPHIS, ARCH- 
 DEACONS, DRUIDS, PRIESTESES, LEVITES, 
 PRIORS, CANNONS, DEANS, PRIESTS, DOCTORS 
 
 OF 
 
of reason. 33 
 
 of divinity, ho-changs, nuns, rabbis, 
 Monks, abbes, carmelites, Jesuits, Car- 
 thusians, DOMINICANS, FRANCISCANS, LADY 
 abbesses, MASORITES, L'AMAS, CARDINALS, 
 
 emirs, vicars, prophets, prebends, tala- 
 poins, bgnzes, bramins, apostles, seers, 
 pri montres, benedictines, j acobines, feu- 
 illans,bernardines,freresdel'ordrede 
 la mercy, cordeliers, capuchins, recol- 
 
 t LECTS, FRERES DE LA CHARITE, MINIMES, 
 ORATORIANS, CHARTREUX, PREDIC ATEURS, 
 PICPUCES, CARMES, AUGUSTINS, UHSULINES, 
 CALVERIANS, CLERINES, SOEURS DE LA 
 
 ' CROIX, BARNABITES, SOEURS DE LA CHA- 
 RITE, ANNONCIATS, SOEURS DE ST. THOMAS, 
 CARMES DE CHAUSSEE, PETIT PERES, DAMES 
 DE ST. CLAIRE, LAZARISTS, ORDRE DE ST. 
 EENOIT, DAMES DE LA VISITATION, CELES- 
 TINES, CHAPITRE NOBLE DES FEMMES, CHA- 
 NOINS, TRAPISTES, INCAS, FRIARS, CURATES, 
 
 CLELRGYMEN, CHAPLAINS, and Other fuch ufe- 
 lefs beings, or as they emphatically Jiyle each other im- 
 pudent IMPOSTORS, who being too proud and 
 lazy to work, have availed themfelves of man's 
 credulity, and the corruption of the executive 
 power, to get laws enaded, enabling them to fleai 
 with impunity from the laborious and induftrious 
 citizens: and who not content with thus cheatins: 
 mankind, have contrived to defraud each other in 
 the divifion of the fpoil, by giving to one, be- 
 
 C caufe 
 
34 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 caufe he wears a cap of a particular form, and of 
 his own invention, ten or twelve thousand 
 POUNDS A YEAR, wliilft the poor devils who 
 read all their tenets to the infatuated multitude 
 are allowed by thefe meek, moderate, temperate, fo- 
 ber, honeft, chafle, virtuous, modejl, dignified, and 
 fuperior interpreters of what, as they fay of each 
 other, ,t:xc\\ impioufly chooles to call God's holy 
 word, perhaps fifteen or twenty pounds 
 A YEAR ; but then their motto is patience, and 
 perhaps I may be a cardinal, bifbop, pope, mufti, Tci- 
 ho-chang Great Lama, or high-priefi ; it follows, I 
 fay, that thefe eftablifhinents, which produce fuch 
 caterpillars, who pretend that an all juft God 
 has fent them to devour the good things of this 
 world, without contributing to the labour of 
 producing them, can be attended with no other 
 confequsnce than that unhappy one of ex- 
 citing the mod rancorous animofities and im- 
 placable refentmcnts betwixt thofe whofe im- 
 mediate interell confifls in preferving the ut- 
 moft cordiality, harmony, and fraternity, with 
 each otjier, becaufe they are at every inftant en- 
 deavouring to gain fuperiority the one over the 
 other, by engendering the moft vicious hatred 
 in their followers againft all who happen to 
 dulent from their particular doArine ; I therefore 
 propofc, as reiigion is a fubjed merely of opinion, 
 r.nd consequently ought to be free as the cir- 
 cumambient air, not to fuffer the building, at 
 
 other 
 
OF REASON. 35 
 
 fVther than private expence, any cathedral, 
 
 MOSQUE, SYNAGOGUE, CONVENT, PAGOD, 
 CHURCH, MONASTERY, TABERNACLE, CONVEN- 
 TICLE, ABBEY, MEETING-HOUSE, NUNNERY, 
 PANTHaON, CHAPEL, TEMPLE, ALTAR, OF Other 
 
 edifice, to be appropriated to the purpofe of 
 what is called national religious wor- 
 ship j or the endowment of any monastry 
 X)r NUNNERY; or the exifience of any tythes, 
 or other provifion for what are called the re- 
 gular and national clergy ; taking it for 
 granted, that the citizens can never be more 
 happy, or the Commonwealth more flourilhing, 
 than when they follow that precept in ethics, of 
 
 DO UNTO ALL MEN AS YOU WOULD THEY 
 
 SHOULD DO UNTO YOU ; which great and im- 
 mutable principle of morality is invaded when- 
 ever one man attempts to deprive another of any^ 
 of his rights, merely becaufe he happens to differ 
 from him in religious opinions ; for who will 
 fay, that the Swede, when he caftrates the de- 
 luded Roman Catholic prieft, who has the mif- 
 fortune to be found in his country, would not 
 think himfelf illufed by being ferved in the fame 
 manner, whenever he chanced to go to Rome; 
 and neverthelefs this is one cf thofe favage cuf- 
 toms, amongft a prodigious number of others, 
 equally barbarous, that have b-en introduced by 
 thefe religionifts, who, with unblufliing effrontery 
 and unparalleled impudence, tell you, that in fo 
 doing they zealouHy ferve the Supreme Being, 
 C 2 promote 
 
^6 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 promote the happlnefs of man, and propagnte 
 the do<fl lines of that great and good man, Jefus 
 Chrill, of whom it is 'recorded, in the^ New 
 Tellament, a book which thefe hypocrites them- 
 felves pretend to believe the truth of, that he 
 was of fo meek a difpofition, that, in his advice 
 f ; •- VO^l.-s and followers, he faid, " If any 
 '"ee on the right cheeky turn to him the 
 '■' left aljo:' 
 
 And as the eftablifhment of laws, .however 
 good and wholefome they may be, can be of no 
 real ufe or fervice to the citizens, whilfb the 
 moft efFejflual. care is not taken to obtain a fair, 
 impartial, and fpeedy execution of them ; and as 
 all experience muft have long fmce convinced 
 men that fuffcring of the law to be pradif- 
 ed by individuals, for their own peculiar be- 
 nefit and advantage, thereby making 'a trade of 
 that which fliould form a principal and promi- 
 nent feature in the executive power of the Com- 
 monwealth, is a principle that is radically founded 
 in error, militates diredly againft a due and 
 equitable adminiflration of juflice, is attended 
 with the moft injurious confequcnces to fociety ; 
 with the moft melancholy examples of ruin and 
 poverty to the parties feeking rcdrefs, and above 
 all, has become in thehands of corruption a very 
 principal means of enllaving nations, of deftroying 
 the great and facfed rightsof man, and of rending 
 
 afunder 
 
OF REASON. 37 
 
 afunder tliofe fraternal bonds, which fliould ever 
 unite the citizens in the moft brotherly afFedion 
 to each other ; and the laws having, in moft 
 countries, under the flimfy pretext and fpecious 
 affertion of maintaining peace, order, and good 
 government, of every one of which they, are at 
 prefent entirely fubverfive, no doubt, exprefsly 
 with a view to the particular interefts of thofe legal 
 wolves, who are continually prowling in fociety, 
 feeking whom they may devour, become fo com- 
 plicated and entangled, that a whole life fpent 
 in the moft unremitting ftudy of them, is not 
 fufficient to afcertain, with precifion, what is or 
 is not law, whereby the great bulk of the citi- 
 zens of moft countries are left in ignorance, and 
 the moft fliameful ftate of blindnefs, of what 
 ought to conftitute their principal inftruc- 
 tlon, namely, a clear and accurate knowledge 
 of thofe laws under which they live, are governed, 
 and by which their lives, fortunes, and honour, 
 are liable every day to be judged j and as the 
 prefent method of adminiftering public juftice 
 in moft countries is fuch, that the greater part 
 of the citizens are imbued with a belief that they 
 have no occafion to obtain a knowledge of the 
 laws of their nation, lince they can always be 
 able to find men who have ^ftudied them in a 
 liianner that is termed profeJJiQual^ and thefe to 
 keep up the delufion and error, purpofely con- 
 trive to render them fo intricate and perplexing, 
 
 C 3 that 
 
«8 111. COMMONWEALTir 
 
 that the generality of men are deterred from en-i 
 tering upon an examination of their principles, 
 :^nd, by this trick, the public juftice of a coun- 
 try is held up to fale like goods at an aiiclion, 
 where the bcflbidder generally is thepurchaferjwith 
 this difference, that whereas in the audlion, the 
 buyer may perhaps be benefited by his bargain, 
 the gainerof a law fuit is but too generally ruined, 
 and in a worfe condition than if he had quietly 
 put up with the firfl injury,— indeed, the lawyers 
 are, infad, in almoflall countriesthe moft zealous, 
 and ftrongefl inculcators of Chriflanity ; for ex- 
 perience foon teaches all their clients, to their coftj 
 that it is much more for their advantage to foUo'.v 
 that precept of Jefus Chrift, where he fays, 
 *' And him that taketh azvay thy cloak forbid him not 
 *' to take thy coat alfo^.and of him that taketh away 
 *' thy goods, ajk them not again,'' than employ an 
 attorney to recover them, for frequently in at-, 
 tempting to recover his hat, the citizen has the 
 misfortune to lofe his coat, waiftcoat, fiilrt, 
 flockings, and breeches ; it fliould feem, there- 
 fore, that thofe focieties, who are eflabliflied for 
 the purpofe of propagating the Chrifliian Faith, 
 would do well to recommend to the Pope the 
 fupplying all vacant church eftablifhments with 
 thefe fhrenuous fupporters of the Dodlrines of 
 Jefus Chrift, inftead of ^hofe clergymen, who, by, 
 their condudt, feem determined rather to bring 
 Chriftianity into difefteem than promote its in- 
 
 tereftsi and as diflributive juftice demands that 
 
 . every 
 
OF REASON. 39 
 
 ever/ wliere the laws ought reall)'' to be what 
 the EngliOi judges fay the Jaw of their coun- 
 try is, equally open to the poor and the rich j al- 
 though how far this is the cafe in mod countries 
 may be bed judged of by the daily occurrences, 
 where, if a man have not wherewith to fee an 
 avaricious attorney, his complaints, however jufr, 
 againft his neighbour muft remain unheard and 
 unredreffed, whilft there are not wanting abun- 
 dance of inflances, where the man of wealth, by 
 the mere dint of money, properly applied^ as the 
 men of law profeJJionaJly term it, has been able to 
 harrafs, opprefs, and ruin his fallow-citizen, with- 
 out any juft caufe whatever; and to what is all 
 this to be attributed but that which isconfidered 
 by the profcllion as their Iheet anchor, and em- 
 phatically termed the glorious uncertainty 
 OF THE LAW, which rendered into plain Englifli, 
 is, zvbofe attorney is the greatejl rogue, zvho has the 
 longejl purje, and the n:ofi convenient wiinejfes ; and 
 as this glorious uncertainty of the law. fo much 
 valued and bcafted of by its profeflbrs, is, or 
 ought to be, its greated reproach, becaufe the 
 law fliouid equally apply to all the citizens, and 
 none be fuffered to be ignorant of it ; fliould be 
 definite, and never be fo made as to admit of two 
 or more conflrudions ; and as delay in the de- 
 termination of caules, is of all things the moll 
 dcfti-uclive of judice, by opening a wide and ex- 
 
 C 4 tenfivc 
 
40 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 tenfive field for corruption, perjury, an^ 
 OPPRESSTON, and is highly harrafling, and 
 cruel to the parties accufed ; there being a variety 
 of examples where citizens who were extremely 
 Innocent of the crime alledged, have been de- 
 tained in prifon for six, nine, twelve 
 MONTHS, and more, without being ever brought 
 to trial, and at lad difcharged without any thing 
 like evidence being offered of their guilt ; there- 
 fore, to remedy thefe evils, I propofe, in my plan, 
 not to fuffer any attorney or advocate to be paid 
 at the private expence of the individual feeking 
 juftice, but propofe, that the law, the jufl and 
 equitable adminiftration of which is a circum- 
 ftance mutually interefting to the whole body of 
 the citizens, fhould really be what the admi- 
 niftrators of Englifli jurifprudence fay of their 
 laws equally attainable by the affluent and 
 the needy, and for this purpofe, I propofe, that 
 it Ihould at all times be adminiftered at public 
 expence, and without any unneceflary delay ; 
 thus preventing any ufelefs and inconvenient 
 difburfemcnt of money on the part of either 
 plaintiff or defendant, and giving every citizen 
 his remedy againfl oppreflion ; thus refloring 
 JUSTICE to her original purity, by taking out 
 of" her be>am that bias v/hich at prefent but too 
 often caufes one of her fcales to preponderate, 
 and never permitting her fword to ftrike but when 
 truth dired's the blow. 
 
 PLAN, 
 
OF REASOM. 
 
 PLAN, &c. 
 
 I SHALL now proceed to lay down the outlines 
 of my plan for a Commonwealth, and here 
 I muft entreat the candid reader to bear in mind, 
 that if any part or the whole of it, may appear 
 incongruous, I fhall feel the greateft pleafure in 
 feeing my feeble attempts taken up by a more 
 mafterly hand, and that happinefs, which is the 
 undoubted right of and which I moft fervently 
 wifli my fellow creatures to poflefs, placed by 
 fuperior abilities, within the reach of opprefled 
 mortals, by the propofition for a rational Govern- 
 ment, to be founded on the indefeafible rights of 
 man; the non-exiftence of which in moft countries 
 has hitherto fo cruelly fcourged the human fpe- 
 cies, fmking them in llavery, floth and bafenefs ; 
 making them hug thofe chains they' ought to 
 rend afunder ; corrupting their morals, degene- 
 rating their habits, "and fubmitting them to the 
 
 cruel 
 
42 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 cruel and mpicious tyranny of a few crafty- 
 knaves and defigning villains, that panifh the 
 imbecility of thofe, who, imitate their example 
 Tvith the mofl bloody and dreadful tortures ; thus 
 filling their prifohs with the wretched victims of 
 their favage policy, or elfe ftrewing the earth 
 with the dead and mangled carcafes of thofe 
 who left deflituce by the negligence of fo- 
 ciety have been forced irtto criminal purfiiits 
 to obtain that provifion which their phyfical 
 wants have rendered abfolutely necefTary ; 
 but which the injuftice and rapacity of thefe 
 ■unfeeling gaolers of tlie human mind, has pre- 
 vented them from being capacitated to obtain 
 by ether means, than depredating in their 
 turn upon thofe v/ho never ceafe, for an inftant, 
 to pillage and ravage their fellow-citizens to fup- 
 port themfelves in the moft fhameful debauch- 
 ery, and extravagant diifipation : — Regardlefs of 
 the mifery and wretcheclnefs which they every- 
 where diffufe, by the gratification of thofe inor- 
 dinate and defolating paffions, that reduce themia 
 the eyes of the honeft and virtuous man, far below 
 the level of the beafls of the field. Indeed, go- 
 vernment, in the moR part of the prefent focie- 
 ties, may be compared to caterpillars and lo- 
 cufts, who defhroy, without remorfe, the pro- 
 duce of the induftry and labour of others, with- 
 out ever dreaming of giving in any manner, their 
 jiulRance in return. 
 
 I am 
 
OF REASON. 45 
 
 I can truly fay, that the endeavour to 
 point out the means of eflablifliing fuch a go- 
 vernment has been the moft prominent mo- 
 tive for the prefent publication ; confcious of 
 the deficiency of my own acquirements, in the 
 profecution of this defign, I can flatter myfelf 
 with nothing more than the hope, that I may by- 
 it excite in the bofom of the philosopher, and 
 nianof refleclion, the defire of ameliorating the 
 miferies of his fpecies j which, whatever may be 
 the difference of opinion between men, on the beft 
 means of remedying them, mufl at all events be 
 univerfally acknowledged but too- fatally to have 
 exiftence, and to cry aloud for redrefs : no man 
 of humanity can look at the cottager, and fee 
 him meagre, half familhed, and worn down 
 with exceffive toil ; his children naked afid un- 
 educated, and at the fame time, view theplump- 
 nefs and healthy appearance of the coach-horfe, 
 that drags his Lord in enervating idlenefs pafb 
 the humble thatch, and not be ready to allow, 
 that wherever fuch a wicked difparity between the 
 condition of the human and brutal fpecies exifls, 
 the government muft be radically wrong, in- 
 famous, and little calculated to produce the' 
 defirable end for-which government was ori- 
 ginally inilituted. 
 
 To the critics, I can only fay, I fliall chearfully 
 fubmit to their lailies, while they infli<ft them 
 
 only 
 
44 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 only in conformity to juflice and reafon ; and 
 that far from feeling myfelf angered by their 
 animadverfions, however fevere they may be, 
 I fliall be happy in having my miftakes i^eftified, 
 and to be drawn from my wanderings mto the 
 path of TRUTH ; to be imbued, with whofe fub- 
 lime doftrines forms the moft zealous vvifh of my 
 heart, and to inculcate the facinating, beautiful 
 and delicious tenets of this long neglefted,. 
 though radiant fun of human felicity, bounds 
 the utmoft ambition of my foul ; and fhouLd I 
 ever again appear before the public tribunal, I 
 fliall feel it the moft honourable part of -my 
 life, candidly to acknowledge my errors, and 
 thankfully to recognize the benefits that I may 
 have received from the impartial obfervations 
 of the LEARNED, and the honed criticifms of 
 the friends of humanity and truth. 
 
 This premifed,! think it proper and fuitable to 
 my fubje^t, to fet out with a declaration of rights, 
 founded on the broad and permanent bafis of li- 
 berty, FRATERNITY and EQUALITY, aS I COn- 
 
 ceive it is on the imperilhable foundation of thefe 
 rights alone, that thofe laws and regulations can 
 be built, which fnall truly and faithfully have for 
 object, what ought to be confidered the moft im- 
 portant of all human purfu its — the happiness 
 
 01- THE HUMAN RACE LIVING TOGETHER IN 
 SOCIETY. 
 
 DECLARA- 
 
OF REASON. 45 
 
 DECLARATION 
 
 OF 
 
 . RIGHTS. 
 
 ARTICLE FIRST. 
 
 All men, when they come out of the hands of 
 nature, are equal and free. This freedom and 
 equality they can never infringe without com- 
 mitting injufticcto themfeives ; they ought al- 
 ways to remain equal and free ; no diftinclion 
 ought to exifl amongfl the citizens but what is 
 conducive to the general utility and happinefs of 
 fociety ; any privilege, therefore, granted to a 
 member of fociety for his own particular ad- 
 vantage becomes an injuftice to the refb of the 
 citizens. 
 
 ARTICLE SECOInD. 
 
 The legitimate end of all allbciation what- 
 ever, is the confcrvation of fociety, and thepre- 
 fervation of the natural and imnrefcriptible 
 rights of each of its members : thefe rights are 
 Liberty, Security, and Reliilence againf!: oppref- 
 
 fion 
 
J[6 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 fion of every kind, and are founded on the na- 
 ture of man. 
 
 ARTICLE THIRD. 
 
 The sovEREiGNTv^ oiight to refide in the 
 majority of the citizens who compofe a nation* 
 No h^Iy of men of lefs amount than the abfolute 
 majority ; no indrjidtial^ unlefs authorifed by a 
 complete majority, can legitimately cxercife any 
 authority over the citizens, becaufe nature has 
 i\'illed that its part fliall always' remain fubor- 
 dinate to the whole. 
 
 ARTICLE FOURTH. 
 
 Liberty confifts in the power of doing 
 every tlung fcr the advantage of the individual 
 which doe? not trench upon the rights of another: 
 thus no redridion ought to be laid on the rights 
 of any man, becaufe, whenever the exercifc of a 
 function becomes injurious to fociety, it ceafesto 
 be Liberty, and becomes licentiousness ; but 
 as every man may not be able to form to himfelf 
 an accurate and precife idea of what conftitutes 
 Liccntioufncfs, the lav/, which, to bejuft, miift 
 be the cxprellion of the will of the abfolute ma- 
 jority of the citizens, fixes boundaries to the 
 actions of men. The true and fole limitation of 
 Liberty is, the not doing that to another which 
 youv^ould net vviili he fliould do unto you. 
 
 ARTICLE 
 
OF REASON, 47 
 
 ARTICLE FIFTH. 
 
 The law can acquire no riglit to forbid thofc 
 aftions which are not injurious to fociety. Every- 
 thing that is not forbidden by the law, each ci- 
 tizen ought to be allowed to do with fafety, and 
 ought to be by the law guaranteed in doing ; but 
 no citizen ought to be obliged to do that which 
 is not prefcribed by the law made antecedent to 
 the compulfion. - 
 
 ARTICLE THE SIXTH. 
 
 The law ought to be the expreHion of the 
 will of the majority of the citizens comprifing a 
 ftate ; a majority of the citizens, by themfelves 
 or their reprefentatives, ought to confcnt to the 
 law before it can have effed: : it ought to be the 
 fame for every citizen, otherwifc it would de- 
 generate into injufhice. 
 
 ARTICLE THE SEVENTH. 
 
 Every citizen being equal m rights, ought to 
 be equally admiffible to the occupation of that 
 poft which a majority of his follow citizens lliall 
 call upon him to hold ; each citizen oup^ht to be 
 compelled to accept the public offices in his 
 turn, it a majority of his fellow-citizens think 
 fit i but no citizen ought to be obligated to hold 
 
 a pub- 
 
4.8 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 a public fituation twice until every other citizen 
 fliall have filled the fame pod. 
 
 / ARTICLE THE EIGHTH. 
 
 Religion being a matter of opinion, ought to 
 be free as the circumambient air. No citizen 
 ought "to be compelled to adopt any particular 
 religious tenets, or be excluded from his rights 
 as a citizen on account of his faith, while the ma- 
 nifeftation of it does not tend to injure the fo- 
 ciety of which he forms a part. 
 
 ARTICLE THE NINTH. 
 
 No citizen ought to be accufed, arrefted, or 
 detained, except in cafes determined by the law, 
 and according to the forms which flaall be pre- 
 fcribcd by the law. As punifliment ought to 
 attach to illegal arrefl or detention of any citizen, 
 fo no citizen ought to withhold an obedience to 
 the la-.v, and reliftance to it becomes a crime. 
 
 ARTICLE THE TENTH. 
 
 The law ought not to eftablifh any punidiment 
 that is difproportioned to the crime committed ; 
 and })uniflimcnt to be legitimate, ought to 
 have been decreed and promulgated antecedent 
 to the offence, and be applied according to the 
 forms prefcribed. 
 
 ARTICLE 
 
t)F REASON* 49 
 
 ARTICLE THE ELEVENTH. 
 
 Every citizen being prefumed innocent until 
 fuch time as a jury j)f his fellow-citizens 
 fhall have declared him guilty ; whenever it fliall 
 be deemed neceffary to the public fafety to fe- 
 clude a citizen, all co-ercive force, not abiolutely 
 neceffary to the detention of hisperfon, ought to 
 be criminal. 
 
 ARTICLE THE TWELFTH. 
 
 The free communication of thought and of 
 opinion is one of the mod irrefragable and pre- 
 cious rights of a citizen. Every citizen there- 
 fore ought to be allowed freely to fpeak, write, and 
 publilh his fentiments, and opinion, upon any 
 and every fubjedl, when fuch writing, fpeaking, 
 or publifhing is not injurious to the interefts of 
 individuals •. the law ought, therefore, to apply 
 remedies to the abufes of the prefs and of fpeech, 
 only in the cafes of individuals. 
 
 ARTICLE THE THIRTEENTH. 
 
 The keeping of any armed force on foot, other 
 than the citizens of the ftate, being inconhftent 
 with the liberties of the citizens, ought to become 
 criminal in the parties concerned : the armed 
 force being for the benefit of all ought not to 
 
 D fee 
 
50 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 be applied to the fole ufe or advantage of any 
 individual, except in protccling his natural 
 rights. 
 
 ARTICLE THE FOURTEENTH. 
 
 Society 1-as a right to reimbnrfe thofe ex- 
 pences which it incurs, by a 1^'y on each of its 
 citizens J this impoft ought to be equally ful- 
 tained by all the citizens, according to the abi- 
 lities of each. 
 
 ARTICLE THE FIFTEENTH. 
 
 Every public funftionaiy ought to be rcfpon- 
 fible to the focicty for his adminiftration ; from 
 this rcfponfibility he ought not to be ablolved. 
 
 ARTICLE THE SIXTEENTH. 
 
 Every citizen has the imprefcriptible right by 
 himfejf, or by his rcprefentative, to give his 
 voice concerning the neceffity of the contribu- 
 tion to be levied ; it ought not to be levied 
 without the corifcnt of a majority of the citizens 
 previously obtained ; every individual has a 
 right to inveftigate the public accounts, and any 
 attempt to prevent the excrcife of this right, is 
 an inlTadion of the rights of man, and ought to 
 attach criminality. 
 
 ARTICLE 
 
OF REASON. ,. 51 
 
 ARTICLE THE SEVENTEENTH. ^ 
 
 i 
 
 Society ought to guarantee to every citizen the 
 cxerciie of his natural and unalienable rights ; 
 whenever thefe are attacked, each citizen has an 
 indefeafible right to call upon Tociety for protec- 
 tion againfh the invader — Society ceafes to be 
 juil when it refufes this affiftance. 
 
 ARTICLE THE EIGHTEENTH. 
 
 Every citizen has a right toJ:he protedion of 
 fociety in the enjoyment of his property honeflly 
 acquired ; no power can deprive him of any 
 part of it, except when a majority of his fellow- 
 citizens fliall have declared it neceffary to the 
 fafety of the ftate, and in that cafe, fociety is 
 bound to make him an indemnity. 
 
 REPRESENTATION AND EXECUTIVE 
 GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Men, in forming themfclves into focieties, 
 have tacitly made a covenant, by which they 
 engage to be mutually ferviceable to each other, 
 and to do nothing that can be injurious either to 
 their individual or colleftive capacity ; yet the 
 
 D 2 nature 
 
52 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 Rat lire of man rendering it indifpenfihly necelTary 
 that he fhoukl at every inllant fearch after hap- 
 pinefs, which he always makes confiil in the gra- 
 tification of fome paflion, it becomes neceHliry 
 to dired: thefe paflions in fuch a manner that they 
 may concur to the general profperity, by which 
 alone individual happinefs can be truly faid to ex- 
 iHi for this purpofe laws aree{lablifhed,bywhicli 
 it is or ought to be afcertained, from the united 
 wifdom of fociety, what anions are or are not 
 conducive to the maintenance of alTociation, and 
 the felicity of its members. But that thefe laws may 
 be equitable and receive a general obedience, it 
 is alfo necellary, that they iLouId, at all times, be 
 the expreflion of the public will, indeed, when- 
 ever they are not the refult of the free con- 
 sent of a majority of the citizens who compofe 
 a flate, they are an infraction of the rights of 
 man, an unjuft usurpation, and a direct rob- 
 bery. And, as in numerous alTociations, an 
 aflcmbly of the whole citizens to difcufs public 
 meafures is altogether imprafticable, and could 
 not be held. without engendering tumults and 
 iliforder ; it has been found necelfary to choofe 
 from amongd the citizens, individuals in whom 
 ibciety places a confidence, to be the organs by 
 which the general wiljj that is to fay, the vv'ill of 
 the majority of the citizens is expreifed j thefe 
 are intrufled with a certain degree of power, to 
 
 make 
 
OF REASON. 53 
 
 make fuch regulations and laws, as they mayjudge 
 expedient and neceffary to the happinefs and 
 well-being of the community, of which they 
 themfelves form a part. 
 
 Corruption, that dreadful weapon In the 
 hands of wicked and dcligning men, found means 
 to fpread its baneful influence into this wholefome 
 and falutary inftitution, and by degrees to enlarge 
 the powers of the deputy by reflriding thofe of 
 theelecflor; till at length the mofh profligate of the 
 reprefentatives,inmany inftances, feparated them- 
 felves from their companions ; aflumed the fovereign 
 authority, and having furreptitioufly obtained the 
 command of the public force, they turned that 
 which was originally meant for the protedion of 
 fociety, againft: focicty itfelf ; and through the 
 ignorance and ftupidity of man, thus made the 
 abjed flave of thofe who firft received their ap- 
 pointments from him, the fervant became 
 the mafter : ufe famlliarifed them to the afliimp- 
 tion ; ignorance and credulity concurred to rivet 
 their ihackles ; until, at laif , man entirely lofb 
 fight of the firft intention of his allbciatlon, 
 and in his delirium and blindnels, he committed 
 for thefe very men, who had ulurped over him 
 an abiblute authority, the moft cruel and op- 
 preffive a(5ts againft his fellow-citizens ; the in- 
 terefts of fociety were divided, and man be- 
 came an eafy prey to the ambitious imd defign- 
 
 ing knave. 
 
 D 3 Elevated 
 
54 IHE COMMONWEALXn 
 
 Elevated fouls at different periods, feeling 
 the natural dignity of man debafed, his rights 
 torn from him, and commiferating the wrctched- 
 nefs which every where pervades human affo- 
 clation, have endeavoured to draw focicty out 
 of this ftate of degradation, and place its mem- 
 bers once more in the pofTcffion of their legillative 
 rights ; but an unfortunate prin^ciple that has 
 hitherto infufed itfe'f into almoftall thcirlchemes, 
 I mean that of dividing thereprefentative and ex- 
 ecutive power, and making certain (ituations he- 
 reditarv, has rendered, for the greater part, their 
 moft ftrenuous efforts nugatory and abortive. 
 
 And as the fending men to legiflate without 
 giving them the neceifary power to carry their 
 laws into execution would be an abfurdity ; fo 
 the feparation of the executive and reprelenta- 
 tive body, feems to have had its origin in an in- 
 tention .o deceive and defraud the people of their 
 ju(l r.Quts ; under a pretext as flimfy as it is fal- 
 laci >u ; and not from any evident demonftra- 
 tiun ot its being productive of fuperior benefits 
 to lociety : therefore, 1 propofe that the repre- 
 Iciitative and executive government fhall be the 
 fame. The s:reat defideratum then feems to be, to 
 obtaih a perfed and practicable equality of repre- 
 feiitation ; and to give to every citizen a due parti- 
 cipation in the choice of thofe perfons, to whom is 
 delegated the power of difpofing of a part of that 
 property^ v;hich can only legitimately be the off- 
 
 fpring 
 
OF REASON. ^^ ■ 
 
 fpring of induflry, and of making thofe laws 
 which may abridge a part of man's original li- 
 berty, in Older to fecure the fafety and felicity 
 of every component member of the Common- 
 wealth ; and here I muft diilent from that dif- 
 tindlion, which has hitherto been held as an ax- 
 iom not to be departed from, that of cauling 
 property, and not perfons, to be reprefented ; and 
 my reafon for thus dillenting is this, that in all 
 cafes it is perfons, and not property, that muft 
 protect both the laws and fociety ; for all the 
 gold, lilver, and other valuables that ever came 
 out of the bowels of the earth, could never have 
 been able, without the afTiftance of men's bodies, 
 to have protecfled a fingle individual againfl the 
 depredations of rapacious villains and titled rob- 
 bers. Property, therefore, in my opinion, fliould 
 never be confidered in, any other light than as an 
 adventitious circumilance, enabling the citizen 
 who polleffes it to gratify more fenfual appetites, 
 than the citizen who has no fuch appendage ; but 
 as by no means giving the poffellor any advantage 
 in point of right or privilege over his poorer fellow- 
 citizen: whofe body, without thiscafualtywillform 
 as flrong a rampart againft the enemies of fociety, 
 as that of the richeft naeob that everlett the in- 
 fulted and enflaved ihores of Hindos'i an, glut- 
 ted with blood, diamonds, and wrltched- 
 ^^ES£ 1 ! ! 
 
 D 4 I there- 
 
j6 THE C-OMIVUNVVEALTH 
 
 ] therefore propofe that the commonwealthv 
 fhall be divided into diftricls, containing, as 
 nearly as pofnble, each twenty-five thou- 
 sand inhabitants intitled to vote ; that is to fay^ 
 male citizens, who fhall have attained the age of 
 eighteen years, and who fliall not be incapacitated 
 by crime orinianiiy, and that this may be obtained 
 as precifely as poffible, I propofe that a general 
 cenfus of the people fhould be taken, and when 
 the diflrids are formed, the inhabitants of each 
 fhall choofe, from amongfh themfelves, by an ab- 
 folute majority, that is to fay, by not lefs than 
 
 TWELVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND ONE 
 
 fufFrages, a fit and proper perfon to be their re- 
 gister, or keeperofthe archives; whofe functions 
 fhall confifh in enrolling the names of all the inha- 
 bitants of the diftrid qualified to vote; which qua- 
 lification, as I have before flated, fliall only be, 
 having attained eighteen years, being a male unat- 
 taintcd by crime , of jane intellcEly and a native of the 
 country, or if not native^ one who fJmll have had paffed 
 in his favour, by an abfolute majority of the whole re- 
 prcfentative body, a vote of denization. 
 
 This registry ouglit to be at all times open 
 to the infpedion of the citizens of the diftrid to 
 which it fhall belong;, and no one ou^ht to have 
 the right of citizenlhip who fliall have negleded 
 to enter his name, fituation and place of abode in 
 the Regifler; and he fliall, at the time of enroll- 
 mentj be obliged to bring two citizens, whole 
 
 names 
 
OF KEASON. e^-j 
 
 names fhail already be on the regiiler, as vouchers 
 to prove his qualification and right to be fo enre- 
 gillered, and any citizen who fhall give a falfe 
 voucher for another in order to obtain his en- 
 rollment Hiall, upon fuch faliity being proved to 
 the fatisfaclion of a jury, be difenfranchifed for 
 feven years; and if convided of a fecond offence, 
 for ever; but this in no cafe to afieft his children ^ 
 and in order that the citizen who may happen to 
 have refidences indifferent diflricts, fliall not be, 
 from that circumftance, enabled to obtain an un- 
 due influence over his fellow-citizens, by having 
 in confequence a plurality of votes, I propofe that 
 the citizen beingpofTeffed of fuch different abodes, 
 fliall, at the time of his being enregiflered, give 
 in the titles and defignations of fuch habitations, 
 in each diflrid where fuch pofTeiljons may be, 
 fignifying in each the diflrid in which he means 
 to exercife his right of fuffrage, and this, under 
 penalty of forfeiture for feven years of his elec- 
 tive franchife for the firfl offence, and perpetu- 
 ally for the fecond, upon convidion before a Jury 
 €t having given in a falfe account to the regiiler: 
 the fame regulations to be obferved upon any ci- 
 tizen becoming pofieifed of any other refidence 
 fubfequent to his enrollment ; the account to be 
 given in ten days next after fuch acquifition, pro- 
 vided no elec1:ion fhall intervene during the ten 
 days, fliould that happen he fliall then be bound 
 to do it immediately; and in caic of removal from 
 
 one 
 
^8 THE COMMONn-EALTH 
 
 one diftrid to another, he fhall obferve the 
 fame mode of procedure, giving notice to 
 the regifter to flrike off his name from the roll of 
 the diftricl from which he fhall depart : and I 
 propofe that every fourth day a lift of all cafes 
 of death, crimination, and lunacy, fhall be 
 publiflied by the municipal officers,, and be 
 by them tranfmitted to the regifter of the 
 diftrid, that he may accordingly rectify his 
 regiftry. And that no diftri61: may encrcafe 
 or diminiOi in too a great a degree, and thereby 
 render the reprefentation unequal j I propofe 
 that every third year the reprefentative body 
 fliall have laid before them the different re- 
 gifters, that they may compare the numbers of 
 each, and join together, or feparate, or othenvife 
 modify fuch as Ihall have encreafed or decreafed 
 in uich manner, that each body of electors 
 li.. ' ^ compofed as nearly as polTible of twen- 
 .Ti"-i:vE THOUSAND citizeus poffcffing the 
 elective franchife, who ftiall be entitled to fend 
 FOUR reprefentatives. And, as I propofe, that 
 in the Commonwealth, no place or office of any 
 ki lid fhall be held for a longer time than one 
 TEAR, (o I propofe, that one month previous to 
 the e;<piration of each year, the citizens ftiall by 
 a number of twelve thoufand five hundred and 
 one electors, being an abfolute majority of each 
 diftrid, choofe a regifter for the year enfuing: 
 
 thg 
 
OF REASON. 59 
 
 the SALARY of the REGISTER to be fixed at 
 
 THREE BUSHELS OF WHEAT PER DIEM, OF SL 
 
 confideration in money equal to the value of fuch 
 wheat, to be afcertained by the refpective returns 
 of the average price of grain in tiie diifrift where 
 he is chofen. His qualification to be, being 
 II refident in the difirici, and having elective franchije^ 
 having attained the age of twenty -five years ^ imconta^ 
 minated by crime^ and of a fane mind. The mode 
 of ELECTION to be by ballot. 
 
 The manner of eledting the four repre- 
 sentatives, for each diftrift of twenty-five 
 thoufand electors, I propofe to be by ballot, ta 
 take place one month previous to the expiration 
 of each year; the only period for which I propofe 
 they Ihould enjoy their reprefentative capacity ; 
 no citizen to be declared to have been chofen un- 
 lefs he has an abfolute majority of the citizens 
 having elective franchife in his favour ; that is to 
 fay, not having a lefs number of votes than 
 
 TWELVE thousand FIVE HUNDRED AND ONE. 
 
 The qualification for a reprefentative to be, 
 having attained the age of twenty-five years, 
 having been an inhabitant of the diftricl which 
 he is to reprefent for the year antecedent to his 
 eledion, having eledive franchife, that is to fay, 
 
 being 
 
fo THE COMM0N"W'E ALTK 
 
 being uncontaminated by crime, and of a fane 
 mind. 
 
 The rcprefentative to be incapable of holding 
 xny other public fitualion or office during the 
 year ot his deputation ; and to be paid four 
 BUSHELS of wheat per diem, or an equivalent in 
 money equal to the wheat, taking the average 
 price of the grain in the diflrid where the rcpre- 
 fentative body meet for the ftandard ,- and to be 
 allowed fuch travelling cxpences as a jury of 
 TWENT\-FivE of liis conftitucnts fliall deem 
 reafonable ; the jury for thispurpofe to be chofen 
 by lot. 
 
 At the lame ticne, w^ien the eIed:ion for the 
 four reprefenfatives takes place, I alfo propofe 
 that there fliall be chofen iourfupermmerariesywho 
 ihail fuccecd to the reprefentation in cafe of the 
 death of the member, or of his impeachment, 
 or removal, &c. and to perform the duty of the 
 Tcprefentalive in cafe of ficknefs j the fuperna- 
 merary to receive the fame falary as the rcprefen- 
 tative when on aftual fervice ; and to be allowed 
 travelling expences, to be fettled by jury ais al- 
 ready dated ; and in cafe of his fucceeding to 
 the reprefentation by the death, or difraiflal 
 of the former member, ihcn the citizens of the 
 
 dillria 
 
OF REASON- 6l 
 
 •dlllrict to proceed immediately toclioofe anatber 
 lupemumerary. 
 
 I alfo propofe, that the eleftors Ihall at any 
 time, when they fliall to the number of twelve 
 
 THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND ONE, a2;ree 
 
 that the reprefentative or his fupernumerary has 
 forfeited their coniidence be poirelfed of the 
 power of removing fuch deputy or his fuperrui- 
 merary, and proceed to the election of another. 
 
 COMMITTEE OF GOVERNMENT. 
 
 The reprefentative body, when met, fhall pro- 
 ceed to choofe from amongft their own body, a c o m- 
 MiTTEE c> GovERNMENT,tobeeIe<5ted by ballot, 
 and each member to be confidered only as having 
 his election by having in his favour an actual ma- 
 jority of the reprefentative body : for example, if 
 the deputies confiil of four hundred citizens, 
 then it fhall be abfolutely necellliry for each 
 member chofen into the committee of govern- 
 ment, to have the fufFrages of two hundred 
 AND ONE reprefentatives. I alfb propofe, that 
 four of the members of the committee fliall go 
 out monthly by rotation, and be replaced by 
 four others chofen, in the fame nianaer as the 
 firit. This committee to have no other j;ovver 
 than that of executing the decrees of the repre- 
 
 fenration, 
 
62 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 Mentation, and laying before them, for confidera* 
 tion, fuch m:;arures as they may deem ncccfTary 
 to the public advantage; but not to put any 
 meafure into'execution until after it fhall have re- 
 ceived the iani?Lion of an abfolute majority of the 
 reprefentativcs of the people. This committee 
 to have under them SIX clerks, to be chofeii 
 annually from among the people, by an abfolute 
 majority of the reprefentative body, one month 
 previous to the expiration of each year; eacji to 
 be paid two bushels ot wlieat per diem, or an 
 equivalent in money at the average price of grain 
 in the diftrid: where the reprcfentatives iliall hold 
 their fittinfrs. 
 
 o 
 
 committee of finance. 
 
 I alfo propofe, that the reprefentative body 
 fliall choofe from amongft themfelves, obferving 
 the fame forms as in the choice of the members 
 compofing the Committee of Government, a 
 committee of finance, to confifl of twelve 
 members, four of which (hall go out monthly 
 by rotation, and be replaced in the iame man- 
 ner as the citizens of the committee of govern- 
 ment. This committee to have under them six 
 clerks, to be chofen from amongft the people, 
 in the fame manner as the clerks of the com- 
 mittee of government; and each to be paid two 
 
 BUSHELS 
 
OF REASON. 65 
 
 Bushels of wheat per diem, or an equivalent 
 in money according to the value of the wheat 
 at the average market price of fuch diflrid;, 
 where the reprefentative body are aflembled. 
 
 The functions of this committee, I propofe, to 
 be the receipt of the taxes ; the care of the na- 
 tional treafure ; and the payment of all fa- 
 laries ; the infpe<5lion of public roads, build- 
 ings, canals, and rivers, and to report to the 
 reprefentative body, when, and where it is necef- 
 fary to amend old ones, or make new ones ; 
 but not to put them into execution, until they 
 Ihall have been decreed by an abfolute majority 
 of the national reprefentation. It fliall be their 
 duty to infpedt the public works of every fort, 
 and make the neceflary payments j but, previous 
 to any fuch payment taking place, they (liall re- 
 port upon it to the reprefentative body, and re- 
 ceive their fanclion. Their accounts to be al- 
 ways fubjed to the infpection of the citizens 
 compofmg the reprefentation : and every month 
 they fhall publifh an account of their receipts, and 
 expenditures, and of the money in their hands, 
 figned by the names of the whole committee, with 
 the names of the diflrifts they reprefent : thefe 
 accounts fhall be depofited with the regifters of 
 each diftria for the infpedion of the citizens, 
 
 COMMITTEE 
 
64 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 COMMITTEE OF AGRICULTURE, TRADE AND 
 PROVISIONS. 
 
 I alfo propolc, that the reprefentatlve body 
 fhall choofe, fiom among themfelves, a com- 
 mittee OF AGRICULTURE, TRADE AND PRO- 
 VISIONS, oblervlng the fame forms as in the tw6 
 other committees, four of which ihall vacate 
 their ftations monthly, by rotation, and be re- 
 placed in the fame manner as in the other com- 
 mittees. This committee to have under them 
 SIX CLERKS, chofen from among the citizens in 
 the fame manner as the clerks to the other com- 
 mittees, and each to be paid two bushels of 
 wheat per diem, or an equivalent in money, at 
 the average price of the diflrid: where the repre- 
 fentation are communed. 
 
 The functions of this committee, 1 propofc, 
 to be the infpe6lion of the agriculture of the 
 country ; the ftate of the trade ; and the tak- 
 ing meafures for providing provifions and fuel 
 tor the different ditlrids ; they fhall every month 
 make a report to the national reprefenta- 
 tion, figned by all the members compofing 
 the committee, ftating the diftricls which they 
 reprefent ; thefe reports, I propofe, fliall be 
 fent to the regifters of each diftrift for public 
 information. 
 
 The 
 
€F REASON. ^j 
 
 The qualification for a clerk to the com- 
 ■MiTTEES to be, having attained the age of twen- 
 ty-one years, and having eledlive franchife, that 
 is to fay, uncontaminated with crime, of lane 
 intelJed, a native of the country, or naturalized, 
 
 I alfo propofe, to prevent any ftagnation taking 
 place in the profecution of the public buiinefs, 
 that at the dilTolution of one reprefentative 
 body, the committees, who fliall be in office, 
 fhall remain until they are replaced by the regu- 
 lar monthly facceflfion of four members of the 
 new rcprefentation. 
 
 And as laws to be equitable, fhould always be the 
 expreiTionof the willofthe majority of the citizens, 
 I propofe, that no a6t, regulation, or decree, fhall 
 take place and have effeft, or be binding on 
 the citizens, unlefs it has received the fanction of 
 an abfoiute majority of the whole reprefentation ; 
 that is to fay, if the deputies are five hundred in 
 number, then to every adt that fhall have force, 
 two hundred and fifty-one members fliall have 
 given their aflfent, and their names, and hofe of 
 thediflrids which they reprefent, fhall be annexed 
 to every fuch decree on its promulgation, or elfe it 
 {hall be confidered as void, and of none effL^d. 
 Thus every ad of the legislature being fanc- 
 tioned by an abfoiute majority of the deputies, 
 andthefe reprefentatives being themfelves deputed 
 
 ii by 
 
66 THE COMMONWEAnrH >* 
 
 by an adlual m:ijority of the citizens, it would 
 be a fair inference to fuppofe all fuch acfls to be 
 the expreffion of the public will, and to convey, 
 as nearly as human poflibility admits, the genu- 
 ine fenfe of the community. The fame infer- 
 ence will hold good with refpeft to the committee 
 of executive government, which, being chofcn 
 by an abfolute majority of the reprefentative body 
 to which every citizen is eligible, whatever they do 
 may be juftly confidered as fpringing from the 
 free confen't-of a majority of the whole citizens. 
 I propofe alfo, that a copy of every a(5t of the 
 LEGISLATURE be fent, properly figned, to the 
 regiftcrs of each diftrK^l:, for public infpeclion, 
 and alfo to the offices of the judicial admi- 
 nistrators. 
 
 But as the long poileffion of power has been 
 found, by experience, to corrupt the human 
 mind, and make men take illegal and furrep- 
 titious means to continue the enjoyment of it, I 
 propofe, to remedy this evil, hitherto found to be 
 fraught with fuchdeftrudive confequences to the 
 LIBERTY of the human fpccies, that after having 
 ferved the oiiice of reprefentative for one year, the 
 citizen fhall be incapable of being again chofen for 
 two years aftr r : this will have two good effedts— 
 the one will be, that the reprefentative being ne- 
 ceffitated to return into the ma^sof the citizens, 
 will be careful not to give his fandion to any arbi- 
 trary 
 
* 
 
 OF REASON. 67 
 
 trary meafure, becaufc he will, in that cafe, be 
 fubjefted himfelf, for two years, to all the evils of 
 his own decrees ; — the other is, that, by this 
 means, the bufinefs of legiilating and governing 
 will be more generally diffuled amongft che peo- 
 ple ; and thus the principle of public happincfs 
 will become more univerfally underflood, and die 
 opportunities of corruption be confidcrably if 
 not entirely removed. 
 
 ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAWS. 
 
 As I conceive, that the adminiftration of the 
 laws, which ought to be made only with a view to 
 the public good, requires nothing more than in- 
 tegrity and induftry ; and, as nothing can be 
 more unjuft, or implicate a greater abfurdity, 
 than that thofe inftitutions, which are meant for 
 the benefit of all, fliould be exercifed for the 
 particular profit and advantage of a few j fo the 
 eftablilhment of attorneys, council, judges, &lc. 
 to be paid by the individual w4io feels it neceflary 
 to recur to the juflice of his country, feems to 
 be a practice that has originated in corruption, 
 the continuation of which muft ultimately be de- 
 ftrudivc of all morality, and fubverfive of that 
 equality of judicial adminiftration, that alone can 
 render it beneficial and eftimable in the eyes of 
 men. It is the boaft, indeed, of fome countries, 
 that the law is equally open to the rich and the 
 
 E a poor. 
 
6S THE COMMONWEALTll 
 
 % 
 
 poor, Hie llime may be fald of a banker's (hop; but 
 as it needs no argument to prove, that in tlu latter 
 inftance, the man who is unprovideil with a goofl 
 draft will not be allowed to receive money : fo 
 it is e quaily demonjRirable, that, in ihofc 
 countries, where the law is admin. fbered at pri- 
 vate expence, the man, who is deflitute of a long 
 purfe, will be equally unable to obtain cither 
 law or jufcice. Thus, in fu^h countries, the 
 rich man is enabled to Lord it over his poorer 
 ne'ghbour with impunity. This generates ftrife 
 amongfl the citizejis, and divides their interefts, 
 which, that they may retain their liberty, and 
 live in perfed: fccurity, they ihould always en- 
 deavour to concentrate and unite. 
 
 I propofe, therefore, that in each diftridl the 
 citizens ihall choofe, annually, from amongfl 
 their own body, by an abfolute majority, a citi- 
 zen, whofe duty it fhall be to prefide over all 
 complaints, both criminal and civil, that may 
 arife in the diflrift, and adjudge them, with the 
 alliftance of a jury, to be chofen by lot from the 
 regiftry of the diftrld, according to the laws of the 
 commonwealth. This judicial administra- 
 tor, 1 propofc, tobeafTifted by THREE clerks 
 who ihall alfo be chofen by an abfolute majority of 
 the eJeftors of the diftrift yearly : The eledion to 
 take place one month previoufly to the expira- 
 ration of each year. This tribunal, I propofe, 
 
 fliall 
 
'^ OF IlEASON. 96" 
 
 (hall be open every day for the diftribution of 
 juflice. To all parties accufcd, I propofe giv- 
 ing the right of a peremptory challenge to as 
 many jurymen as the number of which the jury^ 
 by which they are to be tried, (hall be compofed. 
 Thus fuppofe FIFTEEN citizens to be a jury, and 
 this is the number I would propofe j thirty 
 lliall be fummoned by lot, out of which he fhall 
 have a right to rejcd fifteen : the other fif- 
 teen to try thecaufe, with the afHr'ance of the 
 adminiflrator of juflice, who fhall read the law 
 upon the cafe, and in the event oFthe party ac- 
 cufed being found guilty, pafs the fcntence affix- 
 ed by the law immediately, and in all thofe cafes, 
 where the puniibment is not precilely exprefTed 
 by the legiflature of the Commonwealth, then the 
 jury, to award fuch puniflmient as they Hiall deem 
 confident with equity ; and if the party fentcnced 
 under this laft circumflance be difatisfied, 
 then an appeal to lie to the committee of execu- 
 tive government, who fhall report the affair to 
 the reprefentation, an abfolute majority of which 
 fliall finally decide the caufe. 
 
 I alfo propofe, that the fame jury fliall never 
 try two fucceffive caufes, either criminal or civil ; 
 but that fo-" as many caufes as there are to be 
 tried, lb many times thirty jurymen fliall be 
 chofen by lot, and fummoned to attend ; the 
 names to be enrolled, and called over in rotation, 
 and each fiftei n, as they are left after the chal- 
 
 E 3 lenges, 
 
yO THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 lenges, to be the jury to try the caufe. This will 
 prevent the poiTibility of bribing a jury, becaufe it 
 will be utterly impoflible to know what jury will 
 try any given caufe. 
 
 The qualification for a judicial adminiftrator to 
 be, having attained his thirtieth year, having 
 been a refident in the diftrict for three years pre- 
 vious to his eledion, having the eledive fran- 
 chife, that is to fay, uncontaminated with crime, 
 and of fane mind. — His remuneration to be 
 fixed at THREE BUSHELS of whcat per diem, or 
 an equivalent in money, at the average market 
 price of the diflrid:. 
 
 The qualification of a clerk to be, having at- 
 tained twenty-five years, having refiied in the dif- 
 tri(?c for two years antecedent to his eleftion, and 
 having elective franchife: the falary to be two 
 BUSHELS of wheat per diem, or an equivalent in 
 money. 
 
 I alfo propofc, that the laws fliould be admi- 
 niftered immediately, and without intermiilion, 
 allowing only to the parties the time necelfary 
 to prepare their documents ; and in no cafe do 
 I propofe that the adminiftration of juftice fhall 
 be attended vvith one farthing expence to either 
 party, except what a jury ihall adjudge againft 
 thofe parties whofe fuits they may pronounce liti- 
 gious and vexatious, for as juilice ought to be 
 
 dif. 
 
OP REASON. yt 
 
 distributive and impartially admihiftered, nothino- 
 can be more abfurd thr.n to make the obtainmg 
 of it a matter of expence to the citizen who ap- 
 plies for it; this being, in fa6l, nothing more 
 than eftablifliing a dangerous pre-eminence in the 
 man of property over his more needy neighbour, 
 and deciding the point in difpute by the ftrength 
 of thepurfe, and completely and effectually feclud- 
 ing POVERTY, from obtaining that redrefs which 
 is equally its right with the greateft wealth and 
 AFFLLTEN9E. . 
 
 LIBERTY OF THE PRESS. 
 
 This being one of the moft facred rights of a 
 citizen, and perhaps the only means of afcertain- 
 ing, what mod certainly ought to be the prin- 
 cipal objecl: of every citizen's purfuit, truth, 
 I piropofej that, in the Commonwealth, in no pof- 
 fible cafe flia'-l any rellriction be laid on the 
 writinq;, publifhing, or delivering any difcourfc 
 or opinion, on any fubjeft whatever. Indeed, 
 TRUTH being the end moft defirable in all well 
 regulated ftates, the mvefligation of principles 
 ought to be free to every one, and rather meet 
 with encourag-ement than reftraint ; therefore no 
 licence or authority ought to be necelTary for the 
 printing, publifliing, or delivery of kny doftrinc, 
 or of any animadverfion on the public adminiftra- 
 tion ; and thcfe are my reafons ; the doftrine, if 
 good, find capable of producing a majority of the 
 E 4 people 
 
*J2 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 people to declare in its favour, ought, mod aC- 
 luredly, to be received ; if othcrvvife, its own 
 want of importance wi'.l be its fureft and bed de- 
 ftruiftion with free-men; and all exj eiience has 
 fhewn, that the attempt to fupprefs opinions is 
 the moil infallible means of bringing them into 
 efleem: indeed, that which in itfelf is ftupid and 
 irrational, does not want the keen and crilical eye 
 of a public accufer to point out its abfurdity ; and 
 if it is reafonable andjuft, it only marks the ignor-- 
 ance, folly, and vvickednefs, of thofe who are will- 
 ing to fmother it ; for in a Commanwealth, where 
 eveiy one has an equal intereft in fupporting the 
 happinefs and tranquilLty of the nation, no one 
 will be able, by any argument, however plaufible, 
 to injure a foci- ty whofe members will, at all 
 times, be ready to refift every attempt at fub- 
 verting that felicity of which they feel the bene- 
 iicent effect. Tlius, when the government fhali 
 be RATIONAL, JUST, and equitable, all the 
 citizeus will find their greateft advantage in de- 
 fendm^^ it from infidious attacks, and they will be 
 a much better fecurity for it^ ftability than pro- 
 secutions FOR HIGH TREASON, Or IMPRISON- 
 MENTS FOR SEDITION. Thc wingS of L IBERTY 
 
 are deprived of th: ir feathers whenever the prefs 
 is laid under refbraint. 
 
 In cafes of LIBEL on private characters, I 
 propoie, that the peifon who raak^s the^at^ack, 
 
 if 
 
OF REASON, 75 
 
 if called upon, fliall either be bound to fubftanti- 
 ate the cha'*ge, or be liable to Rich penalty as a 
 
 JURY of FIFTEEN MEN, chofcH by lot, fliall 
 
 inflid, and a lo the citizen convidted, fhall be 
 deprived, /or/^i;(j«j)'^<^rj, of his eledtive franchife. 
 
 INHERITANCE AND BASTARDY, 
 
 I propofe, that, in all cafes, the children fhall 
 divide, in equal portions, the property of which 
 the father may die pofTefTed ; if the wife be alfo 
 alive, ilie Ihall be entitled to participate, and re- 
 ceive her dividend accordingly : when flie dies, 
 I propofe, the children fliall again divide equally. 
 
 And as nothing can pofTibly exceed the cruelty 
 and injuftice of the laws of baftardy, which are, in 
 fad, inf idling pimijhment on thofe who never yet had 
 it in their power to offend, I propofe, that in the 
 divifion of the father*s efFecls, all the children, 
 without exception, fliall be included, whether 
 born in wedlock or otherwife, for if any crime 
 can attach, it mufl be to the father and mother, 
 and not to the child, who is brought into this 
 world without his confent ; and furely no one 
 will attempt to deny that the baftard, as he is 
 called by the crooked policy of fome govern- 
 ments, is as much the child of the father, and a 
 citizen of the ftate, as theprefent legitimate in- 
 heritors of the parents' wealth. Thefe laws, which 
 feem to have originated in an intention to re- 
 train men from forming promifcuous con- 
 nexions. 
 
74 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 nexions, like mod other?, have been found, by- 
 experience, to be {-idly deficient in means to the 
 end propofed. Indeed, what abfurdity can be more 
 apparent than making thofe the only fufferers by 
 any particular a(5l, who had no knowledge or 
 fliare in the commiflion of it. Would it not be 
 confidered as iniquitous, to hang the (on becaufe 
 the father had committed a robbery ? — And yet 
 the laws of baftardy form a parallel cafe in 
 all thofe countries where they have exiftence. 
 In my apprehenfion, the only refult of the laws 
 of baftardy is the rendering a certain portion of 
 the citizens vicious and the enemies of thofe fo- 
 cieties who deprive them in the moft cruel and 
 unjuft manner of the immunities of a citizen, for 
 that in which they participated not, and could 
 not avoid. 
 
 In cafes where there are no children to in- 
 herit, I propofe, the pofTtfTor of property to be at 
 liberty to leave it as he pleafes ; and if he dies in- 
 tellate, the property to go to his neareft relation. 
 
 ?RICE OF LABOUR. 
 
 And that the industrious manufacturer, 
 LABOURER, cr c u LT I v ATOR, may at all times be 
 enabled to live comfortably, and bring up his fa- 
 mily in a m.anner fuitable to become good and ufe- 
 ful citizens, and that they may never be oppreffed 
 by their richer aflbciates,! propofe, that no labourer 
 or workman Ihall be paid at a lefs rate for his 
 day's labour than one bushel of wheat, or the 
 
 value 
 
OF REASON. *j^ 
 
 value of it in money, at the average n:iarkct price 
 of the diftrict where he is employed — This, will 
 always enable him to fatisfy all the real wants of his 
 nature, and make provilion for his old age ; and 
 furely no one can be more juftly entitled to be 
 rendered comfortable than he who by his la- 
 bour contributes to the comfort and happincfs of 
 others. I alfo propofe that every citizen (ball be 
 at liberty to follow that occupation which moll 
 pleafes him. and in any part of the Commonwealth 
 without reflridiion. 
 
 REGISTER OF BIRTHS AND BURIALS. 
 
 I propofe, that all citizens fliall, on pain of 
 lofmg their rights of citizenfliip, be obliged to 
 give in regularly an account of all births and 
 DEATHS that take place In their families, to the mu- 
 nicipal officers, who Iliall tranfmit them, every 
 fourth day, to the regifter of the diftricl. I alfo 
 propofe, that no dead body fliall be fuffered to be 
 interred at a lefs diftance than onk ftrlong 
 from the city, village, or town, bfecauf^ experience 
 has proved, that fufFering burial grounds in po- 
 |:^lous places is deftrudiv-c of health. 
 
 PUBLIC TAXES. 
 
 When taxes are levied on the people, they 
 ought to be of fuch defcription that they may 
 fall as equally as pofTible on all the citizens, ac- 
 cording to their refpecftive abilities ; and not to 
 be of fuch a nature as to be eafdy avoided, 
 
 becaufe. 
 
76 TFIE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 becaufc, this again has a tendency to feparate the 
 intercflsofthe citizens, which all inflitutionsoug;ht 
 to endeavour to unite ■» for this purpole, the 
 6nly tax I would propofe in the Commonwealth, is 
 fo much per acre on land, to be paid yearly, by 
 the citizens, when they go to ballot for rej)reren- 
 tatives, into the hands of the register; any 
 citizen who fliali negleft to pay his quota, orufe 
 any kind of fubterfuge to avoid paying for his 
 full number of acres, to forfeit four times the tax. 
 
 The COMMITTEE OF AGRICULTURE, TRADE 
 
 AND PROVISIONS fliall caufe furvcys to bemade ia 
 'the different diflri(fts ; and each citizen, when he 
 enrolls his name with the regifter, to declare the 
 number of acres he holds abfolutely in his own 
 pofleffion ; but as the tax thus levied would be ex- 
 tremely fmall,it would fcarcely be a temptation for 
 any one to evade it; and in this mode it would be 
 collected without cxpence. I calculate that four- 
 pence per acre would overpay all the expences 
 of a good government. Thefe taxes to be paid 
 into the hands of the committee of finance, 
 and to be depofited in the national treafury, with- 
 in one month after the receipt, this would pre- 
 clude thofe hordes of tax gatherers, excise- 
 men and customhouse officers, that fwarm 
 in every country, and arc almoft always the enC' 
 w;Vj of the people. 
 
 religion. 
 I propofe, that this being entirely a matter of 
 
 opinion. 
 
OF REASON, *I'J 
 
 opinion, in whichnoone can prove his infallibility, 
 the Commonwealth fhould not adopt any parti- 
 cular religious tenet, nor pay any prieft, of any 
 perfuafion, nor build any houfe of religious wor- 
 fhip; but that each citizen fhould be left entirely 
 at his liberty to follow that form of religion which 
 is mofl accordant to his ideas. On no account 
 would I propofe that it fhould interfere in any 
 manner with the political government of the 
 COMMONWEALTH, nor ever allow it to become a 
 iubje(ft of difcuffion in the legislature. 
 
 BREAD AND FUEL. 
 
 Thcfe being articles of the firft neceflity, with- 
 out which human nature cannot long fublift, the 
 fupply of them to the citizens at an eafy rate 
 lliould of confequence form a prominent feature 
 in the adminiftration of every good government, 
 for nothing can be more fcandalous, or a greater 
 Kproach to any government in any country, than 
 either to fee a fcarcity of thefe necelTary articles, 
 or that they fliould be at an exorbitant price, I 
 therefore propofe, that the committee of agri- 
 culture, trade AND PROVISIONS, fhall make 
 it an indifpenfable part of their duty to fee that 
 every diflri(5l has a proper fupply of thefe commo- 
 dities at the moft reafonablc rates ; and in thofc 
 places that depend for a fupply from other parts 
 of the Commonwealth by water carriage, [ 
 propofe, that they (hall eflablifli large national 
 magazines, in which fix months provifion of 
 
 thcfc 
 
)(8 THE .COMMONWEALTH 
 
 thcfe neccflarles fhall always be kept ready for 
 the public ufe : this will prevent the prices 
 being afifected by frofl, or other cafualtics, and 
 enable the inhabitants to be continually in the 
 enjoyment of a plentiful lupply at a moderate price. 
 And that this objed may be continually kept in 
 view, I propofe-, that the r fgisters fhall make a 
 monthly report of their diftncfs, on this fubjecl, 
 
 to the COMMITTEE OF AGRICULTURE, TRADE 
 
 AND PROVISIONS, who fliall lay them regularly 
 before the national reprefentation, with their own 
 remarks. The regifters and the committees to be 
 anfwerable for the truth of their ftatements. This 
 mode would deflroy thofe difgraceful monopolies 
 that frequently render thefe articles fo dear as fcarce- 
 lytobe within the reach of thepoor. InENCLAND, 
 if this mode was purfued, coals would never ex- 
 ceed six-PKNCEor stvEN-PENCE the bufliel ; or 
 bread thrre PENCE orFouR p E N c E the quar- 
 tern loaf, even under the prefent fyftem. 
 
 marriage. 
 It is, I believe, an incontrovertible principle, 
 that the ftrength of a ftate depends upon the 
 number of its citizens ; to encourage popula- 
 tion, therefore, fhould be the maxim of all wife 
 governments j for this purpofe they tell us, the 
 marriage ceremony in moft countries was infti- 
 tuted, but I apprehend it will not be denied, 
 that to render this means adequate to its end it 
 
 fhould 
 
OF REASON. Y9 
 
 thould neceflarlly be produftive of the felicity of 
 the parties contrading : this can never be the 
 cafe while two perfons, who, after living to- 
 gether for a certain time, find their tempers un- 
 accordant, and whofe manners are but little cal- 
 culated to promote each other's happinefs, have 
 no power of diffolving the bond of their union, 
 from thenceforth, contrary to nature, and ufelefs 
 to the purpofe for which it was defigned, that of 
 procreating their fpecies, and augmenting hu- 
 man happinefs. The hymenial lamp expires 
 when love ceafes to furnifh oil. To remedy 
 this evil, and render the connubial ftate really 
 conducive to the happinefs and increafe of the 
 human fpecies, Ipropofe, thatMARRiACE fhall be 
 merely a civil contrad, and be entered into before 
 the magiftrate of the place, unattended with ex- 
 pence, a copy of it being tranfmitted to the re- 
 gifter of the dlftrid ; and that it (liall at all times 
 be liable to diffolution, upon fufficient caufe being 
 Ibewn to a jury, whoiliall be immediately fum^ 
 moned upon the complaint of either the huftand 
 or wife, to the adminiftrator of the diftrid—This 
 would prevent thofe fliameful bickerings that but 
 too frequently fend the hufband oneway and the 
 wife another, to their mutual dcftrudion; becaufe 
 any thing is preferable to the company of thofe 
 who have ceafed to merit our affcdions. I alfopro- 
 pole, that the male, at the age of eighteen, and 
 the frmale, at tn^ age of fixteen, fhall be deemed 
 rn5rnage.b!.~This will have a tendency to lefl^n 
 
 thofe 
 
So THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 thofe dreadful ibenes of wretched pollution that 
 every where difgrace the moral inftitutions of ci- 
 vilized nations, and whhch are principally kept in 
 cxiftence by the impolitic reftraints which has 
 been laid on the youth of both fexes entering 
 into the hymenial bonds at a period when nature 
 has given vigour to their paffions, and that gree- 
 dinefs of v/calth that frequently induces parents 
 to oblige their children to render themfelves un- 
 happy for life, by an intermarriage with decripi- 
 tude, age, or a perfon that is their utter averfion, 
 merely becaufe it is what the world very un- 
 juftly cxdls a prudent match. Thus the youth, dif- 
 gufted at home, leeks amongft thofe unfortunate 
 females whom a fmiilar policy has driven into a 
 fiatc of proftitution, to fatisfy thofe paffions that 
 nature has implanted ftrongly in his breafl. I there- 
 fore propofe, that no- confent whatever fhall be 
 jieceflary to the jundion of a male and female, 
 except their own \ for as this is a matter in which 
 their future happinefs pr mifery is concerned, it 
 feems but rational and jufh that they alone fliould 
 be coniulted on an affair of fuch importance to 
 their welfare— Thefe regulations would alfo remedy 
 another evil, which is the immenfe expence that 
 attends the obtaining of a divorce in moft coun- 
 tries, and which frequently obliges a man and wo- 
 man, for want of the money neceflary, to live to- 
 gether, although they are confcious of each other's 
 infidelity. 
 
 CANALS, 
 
OF REASON-. 
 
 8i 
 
 CANALS, PUBLIC ROADS, AND RIVERS. 
 
 I alfo propofe, that no canal fliall be dug, pub- 
 lic road made, or river cleanfed at other than 
 public expence, and this is my reafon, thefe things 
 being a benefit to the whole community, either 
 immediately or confequently, ought to be defray- 
 ed by the generality of the citizens j they will 
 alfo, by this means, be done much better and 
 more efFedlually. I propofe, therefore, that when 
 the inhabitants of any place fhall deem it nccef- 
 fary to widen a river, make a road, or cut a canal, 
 they fliall lay their obfervations before the com- 
 mittee OF FINANCE, who fliall caufe infpec- 
 tion to be made, and report thereon to the re- 
 prefentative body immediately, on pain of im- 
 peachment for neglec^l. In every well regulated 
 ftate, CANALS fliould interfe6t the whole coun- 
 try, in order to facilitate the tranfport of the fu- 
 perfluity of one part to another, at eafy rates, 
 and diminilli the breed of horses, who confume 
 that produce w^hich ought to nourifh man, and 
 by this means increafe the price of provifions. 
 
 WASTE LANDS. 
 
 The exiflence of thefe are a reproach to any 
 government, becaufe they have a tendency to 
 check population, and augment the price of pro- 
 
 F viUons, 
 
Jz THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 \ ifions, both of which arc In their confequences 
 injurious to the Commonwealth, however bene- 
 ficial they may be to feme few of its members. 
 I therefore propofe, that no land whatever fhall 
 be fuffer; d to remain uncultivated, either fof 
 parks, pleafure grounds, common, or otherwife, 
 but that the committee of agriculttre, 
 TRADE x\ND PROVISIONS ihall make it their 
 duty continually to fee that all the foil of the 
 Commonwealth is in a ftate of culture, either for 
 pafturage or produce ; and in cafe of any citizcn*s 
 refuling to cultivate any part of his lands, the 
 committee fliall. take fuch lands into their own 
 hands, and caufe them to be cultivated for the 
 benefit of the fi.ate, referving half the profits to- 
 wards defraying the public expenditure, and pay- 
 ing the other half into the hands of the owner 
 of the land, who fliall be permitted to reclaim 
 them, on giving six citizens, having eledivc 
 f anchife, as fecurity for their future cultivation. 
 To fee an acre of land uncultivated, and a citi- 
 zen without employ in the fame flate, denotes a, 
 culpable inattention in the legiflarure, and de- 
 mands the ftrideft enquiry of the citizens int© 
 tlie caufes of this fhamcful negleft. 
 
 Magistracy. 
 
 Every town, city, and large village, I 
 prop jfe, fiio uld have aiviuxiciPALOFFicER, \v i th 
 
 clerks 
 
t)F REASON. 83 
 
 clerks to aflift him, for tlie regulation of the po- 
 lice ; thefe officers and clerks, I propofe, to be 
 chofen yearly, by ballot, by an actual majority of 
 the whole inhabitants of the municipality, havinp- 
 eleftive franchife; the number of thefe municipa- 
 lities to be fettled by the national reprefentation, 
 marking the dependencies of each. The falaries of 
 thefe municipal officers to be three bushels of 
 wheat per diem ; their clerks two bushels of 
 wheat per diem ; to be paid by the inhabitants 
 of the municipality, and to be afTefled yearly by 
 a jury of twenty-five of the citizens of the 
 municipality, to be chofen by lot. 
 
 LAME,, BLIND, LUNATICS, DEAF AND DUMB. 
 
 Thefe defcription of citizens being in moft in- 
 ftances incapacitated by nature from contributing 
 by their exertions to the common ftocT:, moR- 
 juftly claim the fupport of their more favoured 
 fellow-citizens, I therefore propofe, that all 
 fuch, after declaration of the fad, by a jury of 
 TWENTY-FIVE uicn of the difcrid, chofcu by lot, 
 fliall be penfioners of the 'Commonwealth, and 
 receive one bushel of wheat per diem, or its 
 equivalent in money, unlefs the jury are of opi- 
 nion that their circumftances do not require ir. 
 Forfuch lunatics, whofe being at liberty may b^' 
 deemed prejudicial to fociety, by a jury of twen- 
 ty-five, chofen by lot, publijc edifices fhould 
 
8^. THE COMMONWEAtTtf 
 
 be erected ; thele to be under infpeftion of the 
 
 COMMITTEE of FORTY J the KEEPER tO bc 
 
 chofen yearly by an ablblutc majority of the re- 
 prefentative body. 
 
 PUBLIC PRISOK3. 
 
 If fuch difgraceful buildings, which are ahvays 
 a reproach to the legiflative body, and can fcarcely 
 ever obtain in a well regulated Hate of fociey, 
 are rendered neceflary by the degeneracy and cor- 
 ruption of man, at leaft they ought to be rendered 
 the inftruments of public utility, and the means of 
 reconducting the citizens into the pathsof tr uth, 
 VIRTUE, and reason; and not as they are 
 in moft countries, the nurferies of vice and in- 
 famy, where the novice is hardened in crime, and 
 the profligate lofe all fenfe of fliame and of their 
 duty to their country. 
 
 I therefore propofe that in thofe diftridls where 
 the national reprefentation fiiall deem it expe- 
 dient to have prifons, they Ihall afways be fitu- 
 ated at leafl two miles from any city or town, in 
 an open airy fituation ; that the keeper and his 
 fervants fhall be chofen yearly, by an abfolute ma- 
 jority of the citizens of the diftri(5t, having elec- 
 tive franchife, that is to fay, by the fuffrage of 
 
 TWELVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND ONE 
 
 votes; that they ihall be paid by the nation, and 
 
 not 
 
OF REASON. 8^ 
 
 not fuffcred on any account to takeany fee orother 
 emolument whatever from the unhappy citizens 
 committed to their care, on pain of attaching cri- 
 minahty; their falaries to be three bushels of 
 wheat per diem to the keeper, and two bushels 
 to each of his fervants, or an equivalent in 
 money. And that no extortion or other ill 
 treatment of prifoners may obtain, I propofe, 
 that THREE members of the legislative body 
 fliall be chofen by an abfolute majority of the 
 reprefcntation every month, who fhuU vifit all 
 the prifons, and make a report, ligned with 
 their names, and the diftricls they reprefent, 
 to the reprefentation ; this report fliall be 
 printed and fent regularly to the regiiler of 
 the diftricls, for public infpedion. I alfo pro- 
 pofe, that all the prifoners Ihall be made to work 
 at fome ufeful occupation ; the profits of their 
 labour to be their own property, after deduding 
 a certain portion towards defraying the expence of 
 the prifon eflabiifliment, unlefs otherwife decreed 
 by their jury, and during their ieclufion to be fed 
 at the charge of the coMMONW^EALTH,in a mode 
 to be fettled by the representation. 
 
 ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMINTS. 
 
 As nothing can be more unnatural than that man 
 fliould deftroy his fellow man, fo focicty, in my 
 opinion, can never acquire the right of infliciing 
 
 F3 the 
 
86 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 the punlflimcnt of death on any of its citizens; 
 indeed, even in cafes of murder, the deprivation 
 of the life of the murderer is only redoubling the 
 lofs already fuftained by the Commonwealth. I 
 fhould therefore propofe the abolition of all ca- 
 pital punifliments, and in their place fubflituting 
 fome mode of making thofe whofe offences may 
 be deemed of a capital nature, work hard the re- 
 mainder of their lives, for the benefit of.the com- 
 munity they have injured, for fociety commits 
 suiciD every lime it deprives itfelf of the fer- 
 viccs of any of its members, merely becaufe they 
 have already injured it. 
 
 EDUCATION". 
 
 I have now reached what I conceive to be the 
 moft interefling and important of all human ob- 
 jefts, fmce from it fprings the only permanent 
 liberty and durable happincls of man, the cul- 
 ture OF the human mind, and the educa- 
 tion OF the members who COMPOSt SOCIETY, 
 
 and this fliould of courfe form an inftitution 
 that ought to be confidered of the firft confe- 
 quence I u tie Commonwealth, and be cordiali 
 cherlflicd by all the citizens. 
 
 Tnere needs no argument to prove the pains 
 that ha^•e betn t.d;en by defpots, priefts, and 
 uiu.-pers, to keep the bulk of the people in a flate 
 
 ok 
 
OF REASON. 87 
 
 of the moft favage ignorance ; almoft every page 
 of Hiftory, as well ancient as modern, is a ftrong 
 and irrefragable evidence of tlieir malign and 
 wicked endeavours. They well knew the im- 
 portance of education ; they were not unac- 
 quainted that KNOWLEDGE and liberty went 
 hand in hand, and that wherever the firil: pre- 
 vailed generally, the latter muft be the inevitable 
 confequence; they were perfedily aware that an en-' 
 lightened people would not confent to thatlliame- 
 ful degradation of their fpecies, of becoming the 
 vile flavesand abettors of lawless oppressers, 
 
 SANGUINARY TYRANTS, and PECULATING AD- 
 VENTURERS J they felt, that man cultivated and 
 educated, would confider his fellow man only as 
 a man, and not as a god, or being of a fuperior 
 order. To prevent, therefore, this falutary infti- 
 tution from obtaining, which would immediately 
 tend to a total fubverfion of their ufurped power, 
 formed the moft prominent and moft incerefting 
 fpeculation of every chief. But it was to be done 
 with art and circumfpeftion, with the apparent 
 confent of the citizens, and not by prohibitory 
 laws which would at once have blown up this mine 
 OF infamy, and have opened the eyes of thofc 
 whom it was neceffary, to further their own views, 
 and that they might be enabled to continue with 
 impunity their nefarious practices, to keep in a 
 ftate of utter biindnefs ; to cffeduate this iniquit- 
 F 4 ous 
 
88 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 ous fcheme, and prevent education from fendir*g 
 forth its irradiating beams amongil the citizens, 
 required Machiavellian lkill,and more than com- 
 mon duplicity and adroitnefs, becaufe it v^'as in- 
 difpenfably requifite for this purpofe to have the 
 appearance of encouraging that which they meant 
 mod effedlually to fmother and deftroy ; wc 
 therefore fee the greateft defpots encouraging 
 men of letters at their courts, and founding uni- 
 veifities, but we at the fame time have the me- 
 lancholy fpedlacle of their fixing the price of 
 labour at fo low a rate as completely fecludes the 
 labourious citizen, who lives by his induftry 
 alon^j, from any hope of being able to maintain 
 the expence of educating his children ; we fee 
 them lay heavy impofts on all the necelTaries of 
 lift , thus rendering it abfolutely requifite to em- 
 ploy that time which ought to be dedicated to 
 education in hard labour, to fupport exiflence ; 
 we fee them under every kind of fpecious pretext,, 
 clogging with flamps and other duties the free 
 circulation of knowledge , we fee newfpapers put 
 under inquifitorial laws, and in mofl countries 
 we fee licencers of publications eflablifhed, who, 
 are careful in rejetling all thofe works that have 
 any tendency to condud the people to truth, and 
 REAS'::>:, and make them throw off the bandeau 
 
 of SUTERSTl T I ON. FALSEHOOD and TYRANNY ; 
 
 the tiieatres are fhackicd in the fame manner -^ 
 
 by 
 
OF REASON. 2g 
 
 by thefe pra6llces education, and the means of ac- 
 quiring information, has been cofifincd to a fmall 
 circle of citizens, who have always been either 
 bought over by the friends of rapacious govern- 
 ment, or hunted down by oppreffion if they have 
 ever prefumed the attempting to illuminate the 
 mind and enlighten the underftanding of the mafs 
 of mankind ; unintelligible and technical terms 
 have been introduced into all the fciences, and 
 thus by a combination of circumflances tliat 
 have had all the fliew of accident and cafualty, 
 although in faft they are connedted links of the 
 great and heavy chain that has been villainoufly 
 forged to bind man down in the mod degrading 
 ignorance, knowledge and inftruttion, has beea 
 ingrofled by the few to the injury of the many, ' 
 and has been made a lucrative trade in the hands 
 of thofe, who, feduced by corrupt influence, have, 
 inftead of imparting it generally, moft fcandaloufly 
 abufed it, from a conviflion that they were in no 
 fear of dctcdlion by the generality of their fel- 
 low citizens, and concurred in the great but di- 
 abolical plan of maintaining ignorance, cre- 
 dulity and superstition, by means of which 
 men have been made slaves. Indeed, educa- 
 tion has been fo very rare and uncommon that 
 thofe who have poflelfed this advantage have ge- 
 nerally obtained a great degree of credit with the 
 people, who, though not permitted themfelves to 
 
 experience 
 
90 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 experience its beneficent effefts, have always ad- 
 mired it in others. Corruption favv this with 
 picafure, befieged and fubdued the greater part 
 of the learned; oppression and tyranny 
 putting to flight thole few honeft men who 
 oppofed its attacks ; . thus turning to its ad- 
 vantage this difpofition in the people, which 
 they feared to gratify ; thefe venal fons of educa- 
 tion thus gained over, readily lent their aid to 
 perpetuate abufes in which they were now be- 
 come interefted, to rivet clofely the fetters of a 
 tyranny in which they were permitted to partici- 
 pate, and keep man in a ftate of abjed llavery, 
 by rooting him in ignorance and folly, to 
 prevent their own iniquitous meafures from being 
 difcovered; nay, fOme of thefe have even fo in- 
 famoufly difgraced themfelves, and been fuch vile 
 tools in the hands of corrupition, as to write 
 treatifes to prove that man's felicity was con- 
 fidcrably diminiflied and abridged by literary ac- 
 quirements, and that the more ignorant the man 
 the more completely happy his condition. In 
 confequence, falfehood has every where obtained, 
 fyftems of error have been eftabliflied, and men 
 have been left to grope in blindnefs their way 
 through thofe dark caverns into which the cun- 
 ning of pricfts and tyrants have precipitated 
 them, and which their infernal policy has always 
 prevented from being enlightened by the facred 
 
 anfel 
 
OF REASON. 51 
 
 and brilliant ra^^s of education, knowledge, 
 and TRUTH, which alone can condud; them to 
 the groves of happinefs. 
 
 To reflore then liberty to long infulted man, 
 to draw immortal and immutable truth out of 
 thofe holes and corners into which falfehood, fu- 
 perflition, and tyranny has driven it, and place it 
 on thofe altars which are at prefent occupied by 
 ERROR, and to remove that difgraceful ignorance 
 which debafes human nature, rendering it cor- 
 rupt, venal, and profligate, I intend that edu- 
 cation fliallform a part of the national eftablifli- 
 ment of the Commonwealth, and be cqnfidered 
 as one of the firft objects of the legiflator's care, 
 becaufe to form good and virtuous citizens for a 
 ftate, it is abfolutcly necefTary that they fhould 
 be inftrucled in their rights, know how to main- 
 tain them, and be acquainted with their nature 
 and confequence; 1 therefore propofe, that ineacli 
 diftriifl there fhall be ereded a fufficient number 
 of PUBLIC SCHOOLS, to cducatc all the children 
 of the diftridl, and that from the age of four to 
 fourteen, no citizen fliall be fufFered to withhold 
 his child from receiving an education at one of 
 the public feminaries of the diftrift in which he 
 refides, upon pain of forfeiting his rights as a ci- 
 tizen for ever ; and that the rifing generation 
 niay at all times receive the impulfe of the pub- 
 lic 
 
9« THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 lie will, and that each parent may have a due 
 (bare in and controiil over the education of his 
 child, I propuie, that every year the masters, 
 MISTRESSES, or TUTORS, fhallbeelefted by ballot, 
 by an abfolute majority of the eledtors of the dif- 
 trid, that is fay, by the fuffrage of not le% than 
 
 TWELVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND ONE; 
 
 the new eledtion to take place one month pre- 
 vious to the expiration of each year; and each 
 maftcr, miilrefs, or tutor to receive a falary of 
 POUR BUSHELS of wheat per diem, or an equiva- 
 lent in money, taking the average market price 
 of the diftridt, and to live rent free in the national 
 fchool, which fhall always be the property of the 
 Ccmmop-wealth, and be fitted up with a library, 
 and with mathematical, aflronomical, optical and 
 other fcientific apparatus, for the ufe ofthe pupils ; 
 the children to be cloathed, boarded and lodged 
 during the ten years of their education, at the 
 public expence, and without any diftindlion what- 
 ever J the expence to be borne by the inhabitants 
 ofthe diilrid by airelTmcnt. 
 
 And to prevent abufes taking place in thefe 
 cftablifhments, and to enfure a pundual and 
 fteady conducl in the mailers, miftreffes, or 
 tutors, I propofe, that there lliall be chofen, in 
 each difirid, by a majority of the whole electors, 
 FORTY pcrfons who ihaU form a committee of 
 
 fuper- 
 
OP REASON, ^X 
 
 fuperintcndance, ten to go out every three 
 months, by rotation, and to be fuppHed by tea 
 ether citizens, who ihall alfo be chofen by aa 
 abfolute majority of the whole fuffrages of the 
 diftrid ; thefe fhall be bound to examine once 
 in every month, or as much ofteneras they fhali 
 think right, all the fchools of the diftrid, and 
 make their report to the reprefentative body, and 
 to the diftrid, which report fliall be lodged witli 
 the regifter, for public infpedion ; they fliall 
 alfo audit the accounts of the expenditure at- 
 tending the public feminaries,and fettle the quota 
 of each citizen towards defraying them, every 
 third month, for the enfuing three months 9 
 as the members of tiiis committee will be imme- 
 diately interefted in their fundions, fo I propofe, 
 that no falary fliall attend the execution of them ; 
 and to prevent the affairs of the diftrid ever 
 getting into the hands of a junto, I propofe that, 
 no citizen, after having ferved on the committee, 
 ftiail be again eligible to be chofen for twelve 
 months ; they fliall alfo infped the condud of 
 the municipal officers, and report thereon. 
 
 The qualification of a mafter or tutor to be, 
 having attained thirty years, havingrcfidcd in 
 the diftrid^for four years, being a father of a fa- 
 mily, and having elcdive franchife. 
 
 The 
 
94 THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 The qualification for a miftrefs to be, having 
 attained twenty-six years, being a mothef, 
 and having rehded in the diftricl leven years. 
 
 The qualification for a member of the com- 
 mittee of infpedlion to be, having attained twen- 
 ty-one YEARS, having been refident twelve 
 months in the diftricl, and having eledivc 
 franchife, and being father of a family. 
 
 I alfo propofe, that no religious doctrine 
 whatever fliall be taught in the national fchools; 
 and that any mafter, miftrefs, or tutor may be dif- 
 placcd, on twelve thoufand five hundred and one 
 of the electors of the diftricl fignifying to the 
 regiftcr that hej^r fhe has loft their confidence. 
 
 I alfo propofe, that twice in every year the 
 fcholars of each diftricl lliall aftcmble at fome 
 place, to be previoufly appointed by the 
 committee of fuperintendance, to celebrate civic 
 games, and other exercifes that may be produc- 
 tive of aclivlty and health amongft the youth; 
 on which days alfo, they fliall eledl from amongft 
 thcmfclves, one of the fcholars who fliall deliver 
 AN oration on liberty, and the benefits ac- 
 cruing from education, which fliall be printed 
 and diftributed through the Commonwealth and 
 
 a copy 
 
OF REASON. • 95 
 
 a copy lodged, with the regifter of the diftrlft, 
 iigned by the youth who pronounced it. 
 
 MILITARY FORCE AND DISCIPLINE. 
 
 The introdudion of what have been termed 
 SOLDIERS, that is to fay, men carefully feparated 
 from their brother citizens, and exclufively in- 
 truded in the art of murdering their fellow- 
 man, has been one of thofe means of which 
 tyrants have availed themfelves to deftroy the 
 liberty and independence of man, and fubjugatc 
 him to that difgraceful fliate of ilavery and op- 
 j)reiTion under which we at prefent fee him groan- 
 ing, and languifhing in almofl every climate ; 
 and the evil that has refulted to fociety from this 
 inllitution is too glaring and notorious to admit 
 of controverfy j yet in a ftate of affociation, 
 fome kind of defence is abfolutely neceffary to 
 preferve the citizens from foreign infuit, and do- 
 meftic depredation ; now, as every member of the 
 community is equally intereiled in the preferva- 
 tion of his rights and liberty, and as teaching one 
 ilian the ufe of oifenfive weapons in preference to 
 Another, is giving the one a decided fuperiority 
 and maftcry over his fellow-citizen ; and as 
 CORRUPTION has been enabled, by artful men, 
 to fpread its baleful influence over thefe mili- 
 tary automatons, and thus to enflave nations to 
 
 the 
 
^6 THE COMMONWEALTit 
 
 the arbitrary caprice of individuals, T propofe, as 
 a remedy fur thefe evils, and to maintain amongfl 
 all the citizens, that equality of right, from 
 which alone mufl flow their refpedive and col- 
 ledive happinefs, and fecurity againft oppreffion 
 —That EVERY CITIZEN in the Commonwealth 
 
 SHALL BE A SOLDIER AND EVERY SOLDIER A 
 
 CITIZEN. For this purpofe,! intend that the fcience 
 of MILITARY TACTICS fliall form a part of the 
 education of youth ; thus placing all the citizens 
 upon a level in the ufe of arms, after which, if 
 they fuffer their liberty to be wreiled from them, 
 by ambitious and defigning knaves, it will be their 
 own fault, and they deferve only to be Haves. 
 The man, who having the means of preferving 
 his LIBERTY, voluntarily gives it up, is un- 
 worthy of being a freeman. 
 
 I therefore propofe, that in every diftridl there 
 (hall be erected national military fchools, into 
 which the youth, after they have obtained 
 the age of fourteen, fhall be fcnt for one yeaf 
 more to learn the exercife and duty of a 
 Ibldier, and defender of himfelf and his country. 
 The MASTERS of thefe fchools to be chofen in the 
 fame manner as thofe of the other feminaries of 
 the Commonwealth, and to be paid in the fame 
 manner ; the fame qualifications to be requifite, 
 and the fchools to be under the fuperintendance 
 
 of 
 
OF REASON". 97 
 
 ioF the COMMITTEE OF FORTY; and the ex- 
 pences attending them to be defrayed by the 
 citizens of the diftricl, in the fame manner as 
 thofe incurred by other public fchools. I alfo 
 propofe, that one day in every two months, 
 every citizen from the age of fifteen to fifty, 
 Oiall form himfelf, with his neighbours, into 
 regiments, and go through the martial ex- 
 ercife, and military evolutions : this will prevent 
 their forgetting the great principle of defence, 
 and render them at all times ready and fit to de- 
 fend their country in cafe of attack. I alfo pro- 
 pofe, that every citizen who fhall Itave obtained 
 the age of fourteen, fliall be furnifhed, by his 
 difhrid, with a firelock and bayonet, which he 
 fhall be bound to keep in complete repair, and 
 fit for immediate ufe, if occafion requires, to de- 
 fend himfelf and the Commonwealth. 
 
 In cafes of public emergency, that is to fay, of 
 defence, for I would propofe, that the citizens 
 fiiould never enter upon cffcnfivc war ; the force 
 that fliall be deemed neceirary by the legillature 
 Ihall be called out by an equal portion from each 
 diftrift, to be chofen by lot, and without dif- 
 tindiion of perfons. This force to be p:dd for 
 their fervices in fuch manner, and at fuch rates as 
 the legiflative body fliall judge fitting and ex- 
 pedient, and to remain on foot only io long as 
 
 G the 
 
9? THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 the public danger fliall be declared to exifl by 
 the national reprefentation. 
 
 Thus all being adequate to the defence of them* 
 felves, and of their country, it would be impof- 
 fible to fubjugate, as at prefent, one part of a na- 
 tion by another, and, at the fame time, the fo- 
 ciety would be preferred from foreign attack, fmce 
 it would be, in fa6t, attacking an hornet's nefl to 
 attack a nation of armed men, well difciplined, 
 and whofe common and natural intereft would 
 confifl: in fupporting and proteding each other. 
 Thus thofe bloody and cruel wars that have (o 
 often depopulated the earth, would receive an 
 ej(fe(ftual check ; ambition would not know 
 where to rear its head with any probable chance 
 of fuccefs ; cruel and blood-thirfty chiefs would 
 be abandoned by an enlightened people, and we 
 fliould no more have the misfortune to fee either 
 an ALEXANDER or a c;esar -, a mahomet or 
 
 aCORTEZ; a CHARLES THE TWELFTH Of 0, 
 LEWIS the FOURTEENTH; a WILLIAM THE 
 CONQUEROR Of a CZAR. PETER. PcaCC WOUld 
 
 bcreflored to the blood drenched earth ; fecurity 
 would reign in the cottage and the city, and men 
 would no longer be liable to have infamous and 
 opprcfiive mcafures infolently crammed down 
 their throats with the point of a bayonet, or to 
 be cruelly and wicked crimped or kidnapped ; 
 
 tyranjtiy 
 
OF REASON. 9^ 
 
 tyranny would receive its vital blow, and dcf- 
 potifm become as obfolete and uncommon as it 
 is now prevalent and flifliionable. The neceffity of 
 reforming abufes would no where exift, becaufe 
 citizens inftrudled in their rights, and rendered 
 capable of defending them, would never fuffer 
 a fet of wretched and cowardly mifcreants to 
 ufurp an authority over them not warranted by 
 their nature, nor conducive to the felicity and 
 rcpofe of the people ; fpies and informers would get 
 into difufe and difeftcem ; goals would become 
 almoft unneceflary, and the fcience of govern- 
 ment really become the art of rendering the 
 Commonwealth happy and flourifhing. 
 
 PROVISION FOR THE POOR. 
 
 Nothing feems more rational than that fociety 
 fhould be obliged to provide for all its members, 
 I therefore propofe, that in every diflrid; there 
 iliall be ereded national manufactories of 
 fuch articles, that every citizen wanting employ- 
 ment may be able to afTift. In thefe manufac- 
 tories, I propofe, none fiiould be admitted unlefs 
 they produce a voucher from twelve of their 
 neighbouring fellow citizens, to the propriety of 
 their condudt, their induf!:ry,and their incapabili^ 
 ty of procuring employ. To each of thofe citizens 
 who fhall have paft the age of fifty without 
 having been enabled to provide for their old age, 
 G 2, I pro- 
 
loo THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 I propofc, that upon produdion of a certificate, 
 figned by twelve of their neighbours, who are 
 citizens, ha\ ing Jeiflive franchife, of their former 
 good condtd, mduftr}', and of their prefcnt in- 
 ca} acity, the regifter of the diflridl fliall regularly 
 pay FOUR bufhels of wheat per week, or the 
 value thereof at the average market price of the 
 diftria. 
 
 CONSTITUTION, 
 
 The firft bulinefs of the legiflative body Ihould 
 be to frame a constitution upon the facred 
 HiGHrs OF MAN, and all laws and decrees 
 Ihould be confidered as null and of none efFedl 
 that deviated from the princi|^les of this con- 
 ftitution J and the propofer, and thofe concerned, 
 to be at a'l t'mes anfwerable to the people for 
 their condua, a majority of whom fliall decide 
 thf ir fate ; <^nd in order that the conilitution 
 may be fucli as is convenient and fuitable to the 
 people, I propofc, that every seven years it 
 fhall either receive the fandiion of a miajority of 
 the people, or undergo fuch alteration as they 
 fhall deem neceifary ; for this purpofe a treble 
 number of reprefentatives fhall be chofen, inde- 
 pendent of ti>e ordinary reprefentative body, 
 whole fundt.on fhall be to examine and revife 
 the confliLUti on, and which function fliall ceafe 
 vv'lien that bufmels is completed 5 their fittings 
 
 no'; 
 
OF REASON, ^OI 
 
 not to exceed two months in any cafe. I pro- 
 pofe, that they fliall be paid in the fame manner 
 as the other reprefentatives, and their qualification 
 and mode of ele5iion to be the fame. 
 
 CALCULATION OF THE EXPENCE OF A GO- 
 VERNMENT UPON THE FOREGOING PLAN, 
 FOR A POPULATION OF TEN MILLIONS OF 
 MOUTHS, SJPREAD OVER A TERRITORY COM- 
 PRISING FIFTY MILLIONS OF ACRES. 
 
 Of the above number I fuppofe there would be 
 three millions of male citizens having eledlive 
 franchife, that is, who had obtained their eigh- 
 teenth year ; this divided into diftridis of 
 TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND cach, would make 
 
 ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY. 
 
 I reckon, for the fake of clcarnefs, the bufliel 
 of wheat at fix fliillings fterling money. 
 
 120 REGISTERS, at 3 buJJjcls of wheat \)tr 
 
 diem each — — — — ,^39,420 
 
 3 CLERKS to each r f.gtstf.r, at 2 bujheh 
 
 £/" w/:>f^/ per diem each — — — 78,840 
 
 STATIONARY, &c. for cach register's 
 OFFICE, fuppofe one hundred pounds 
 each per annum — — — — — 12,000 
 
 480 DEPUTIES, at 4 biiJJjeh of wheat per 
 
 diem each — — — — — 210,240 
 
 Carried forward 340,500 
 
 TRA- 
 
10*- THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 Brought over ^^340,50^ 
 
 TRAVELLING EXPENCES foF Cach DE- 
 PUTY, average at twenty pounds each 9,60a 
 
 6 CLERKS to the COMMITTEE OF GO-^ 
 
 VERNMENT, at 2 biifiels of zvheat per 
 
 diem each — — — — — I>3i4 
 
 STATIONARY, &C, for the OFFICE, pCF 
 
 annum — » — — — — — 250 
 
 6 CLERKS to the COMMITTEE OF FI- 
 NANCE, at 2 bufioels of wheat per diem 
 each -- — — — — — — Ij3I4 
 
 STATIONARY, &c. for the OFFICE, per 
 
 annum — — • — — — — 250 
 
 6 CLERKS to the COMMITTEE OF AGRI- 
 CULTURE, TRADE AND PROVISIONS, 
 
 at 2 hijheh of wheit per diem each — "^^o^^ 
 
 STATIONARY, OiC. for thc OFFICE, pCf 
 
 annum -^ — - — - — ■ — . — i^jo 
 PRINTING and other contingent ex- 
 ' pcnces of the representative 
 
 T?ODY, COMMITTEES, REGISTERS, hz. 25,000 
 120 JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATORS, at 3 
 
 ^if/Z/c/^ (?/" a/>ftf/ per diem each — — 39^42© 
 3 CLERKS to each judicial adminis- 
 T R A TC R, at 2 hiijhcU 'of wheat per diem 
 
 stationary, &c. for cach office, at 
 
 230I, per annum ' — «— — — 30,000 
 
 Thus 
 
OF REASON. 103 
 
 This may b.e amply provided for by a tax 
 amounting to onk twentieth part of a 
 
 BUSHEL OF WHEAT, Or about FOUR-PENCE 
 
 PER ACRE PER ANNUM on the kndsof the Com- 
 monwealth, which will produce a lum of eight 
 
 HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THREE THOUSAND 
 THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THREE POUNDS, 
 
 and may be collected without any expence, by 
 the REGISTERS of the diftridts, and will greatly 
 overbalance all the neceflary expences of an honest 
 and RATioNAi. GOVERNMENT, leaving every 
 year the confiderable fum of three hundred 
 
 AND five thousand TWO HUNDRED AND 
 
 EIGHTY-ONE POUNDS, to be applied to works of 
 PUBLIC UTILITY, and othcr cafualties, as they 
 may occur. 
 
 Taxes, raifed by four-pence per acre 
 
 on land — — — — — — £'^:'3->'^3j 
 
 Expences of Government — — — 528,052 
 
 Balance remainins; yearly in the Public ) „ 
 
 ^ 3051281 
 
 Thus every fourth year the taxes might h^ 
 remitted to all the citizens ; on fuch years I 
 v/ould propofe that they lliould celebrate a feilival 
 
 tQ.O ECONOMY. 
 
 I have 
 
J04 THE COMMONWEALTH, ^C, 
 
 I have purpofely avoided mentioning any thing 
 concerning the female ci i izens, as fhould 
 this hafty production be favourably received, I 
 have an intention of publifliing my ideas 
 concerning women, in a treatife by itfelf. 
 
 I N I S, 
 
Date Due 
 
320.1 H691C 448637 
 

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