dollars, he has received no more than five dollars' worth. The case is the same with education. Men may have teachers worth five hundred or one thousand, or two thousand, or three thousand dollars per annum. But they will greatly mistake, if they suppose, that by any process yet discovered, services worth three thousand dollars can be procured for five hundred dollars.

By merely reducing the cost, education will decrease in quality as it increases in quantity. As the article is found to be less valuable, it will in the end, be less in demand; and thus, at last, not merely will the quality have deteriorated, but the quantity produced will also have diminished.

On the other hand, if the efforts of the public be directed to improvement of education, the increased value of an education will induce a greater number to avail themselves of its advantages. The literary taste of the community will be elevated; the demand for education will increase, and thus, not only will the quality of the product be improved, but the amount disposed of will be greatly augmented. If these views be correct, it will follow, that the efforts in behalf of a collegiate education in this country, have not always been wisely directed, and that, if much that has been done to render education cheap, had been done to render education good, it would have been far better for the cause of science, and of professional learning among us.

III. Of expenses for maintaining religious worship.

These expenses need to be borne by men in some manner associated together. It, however, by no means follows, that they are to be borne by men as members of civil society. It cannot be proved that the Christian religion needs the support of civil government, since it has existed and flourished when entirely deprived of this support. And, if it be said, that every man derives benefit from religious services, inasmuch as these services improve the

moral and intellectual character of his neighbors; and hence, that every man ought to pay for their maintenance; the argument may be easily met as follows. It is granted, that every man is benefitted by the regular administration of the ordinances of religion, but this is not the reason for which these ordinances are established. Nor is it to be taken for granted that a man denies this benefit unless he assert it. Men unite with their neighbors to procure religious instruction, for their own benefit, and not for the benefit of others. If it happen, accidentally, that others are benefitted, it does not follow, that they are obliged to pay for this benefit. If my neighbor erect a building for his own profit, on his own land, and thus improve my property, I am not obliged to unite in defraying the expenses of his building. I am entitled gratuitously to this accidental advantage. I think the same principle applies to the case in question.

The only ground on which the support of religion by public taxation can be defended, is, that its existence is necessary to the support of civil government, and that it can be sustained in no other manner than by compulsion. The first assertion we grant to be true. The second, we utterly deny. Hence we do not believe that any taxation for this purpose is necessary. All that religious societies have a right to ask of the civil government, is, the same privileges for transacting their own affairs, which societies of every other sort possess. This, they have a right to demand, not because they are religious societies, but, because the exercise of religion is an innocent mode of pursuing happiness. If these be not granted, religious men are oppressed, and the country where such oppression prevails, let it call itself what it may, is not free.

IV. Of national improvement.

Another purpose, for which the public funds are frequently expended, is national improvement. The principles which seem to apply to this case, have

been already stated. They are briefly these. Improvements of coasts, and harbors, and all that is necessary for the security of external commerce, must be done by the public. Internal improvements, such as roads, canals, railroads, &c., may, in general, be safely left to individual enterprise. If they would be a profitable investment of capital, individuals will be willing to undertake them. If they would be an unprofitable investment, both parties had better let them alone. The only case in which a government should assume such works, is that in which their magnitude is too great for individual enterprise, or that in which the power which they confer, is too great to be intrusted to private corporations. Whenever they are undertaken, the principles on which the expenditure should be made, are the same as those which govern the expenditure of individuals.

V. Of the expenses of pauperism.

To relieve the sick, the destitute and the helpless, is a religious duty, and therefore should, like every other religious duty, be a voluntary service. Hence, charity in a moral and religious community, should generally be dispensed by individuals from their own resources, or from the resources of voluntary associations.

Nevertheless, as cases frequently occur which could not, with sufficient promptness, be relieved by the aid of individuals, or in which the burden would press too heavily on the most charitable, it may be proper that some public provision should be made for the relief of those whom old age, or infancy, or sickness, has deprived of the power of providing the means necessary for sustenance.

By far the greater number of persons requiring such aid, are however, capable of some labor, and are also possessed of some skill. They are also far happier, when engaged in suitable labor, than when idle. It is therefore the dictate of benevolence, as well as of economy, to provide them

with means of profitable occupation. This labor and skill, if judiciously employed upon capital, will commonly defray the expenses of the support of paupers. Hence, the best method of relieving the poor, is to provide some establishment furnished with sufficient capital, in which, all the poor who need assistance, may be employed and supported. In many cases in New England and New York, farms have been purchased by towns or by counties, for this purpose. It has generally been found, that the only expense necessary to be incurred, is the purchase of the farm, or the first investment of the capital. The establishment, after this, under judicious management, has generally paid its own expenses, and, in some cases, as I have been informed, has even yielded a revenue to the public. The expenses of pauperism, if they be defrayed in this manner, must of necessity, be very moderate: while a competent and convenient provision may be made, for every individual who actually deserves assistance.

VI. Of War.

The cheapest defence of nations, I suppose to be the exercise of justice and benevolence. If, however, a nation resolve to rely upon its military prowess, and to encounter the dangers to its liberty, which necessarily arise from the existence and employment of military force, economy would direct that both its plans and means of defence, should be extensive, scientific and complete. Its territory and its coasts should be accurately surveyed with reference to this object. Its assailable positions should all be strongly fortified. Munitions of war should be provided in abundance. Schools for instruction in the art of war, should be supported at the public expense, and the persons so educated should be maintained, either in whole or in part, at the public expense, so that their services may be commanded, whenever they may be required. In this, as in every other case, economy teaches us, that if a given

object is to be effected, no expense is unreasonable, which is necessary to effect it in the most perfect manner. The manner of expenditure is to be learned from the teachers of military science. Economy therefore, directs that the most valuable talent should be employed, at whatever expense, for providing the plans of defence, that these plans should be fully and perfectly carried into effect, and that all should be done at no greater cost than is necessary to the accomplishment of the object,

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