below them, detest work for fear it shou[1]d make them look like Slaves. Then that poverty which will ever attend upon Idleness, disposes them as much to pilfer as it do[e]s the Portuguese, who account it much more like a Gentleman to steal, than to dirty their hands with Labour of any kind.

Another unhappy Effect of Many Negros is the necessity of being severe. Numbers make them insolent, and then foul Means must do what fair will not. We have however nothing like the Inhumanity here that is practiced in the Islands, and God forbid we ever shou[1]d. But these base tempers require to be rid [den] with a tort [taut] Rein, or they will be apt to throw their Rider. Yet even this is terrible to a good natur[e]d Man, who must submit to be either a Fool or a Fury. And this will be more our unhappy case, the more Negros are increast

amongst us.

But these private mischeifs are nothing if compar[e]d to the publick danger. We have already at least 10,000 Men of these descendants of Ham fit to bear Arms, and their Numbers increase every day as well by birth as Importation. And in case there shou[1]d arise a Man of desperate courage amongst us, exasperated by a desperate fortune, he might with more advantage than Such a man Cataline kindle a Servile War.

might be dreadfully mischeivous before any op

position could be formed against him, and tinge our Rivers as wide as they are with blood. besides the Calamitys which wou[1]d be brought upon us by such an Attempt, it wou[1]d cost our Mother Country many a fair Million to make us as profitable as we are at present.

It were therefore worth the consideration of a British Parliament, My Lord, to put an end to this unchristian Traffick of makeing Merchandize of Our Fellow Creatures. At least the farthar Importation of them into Our Colonys shou[1]d be prohibited lest they prove as troublesome and dangerous everywhere, as they have been lately in Jamaica, where besides a vast expence of Mon[e]y, they have cost the lives of many of his Majesty's Subjects. We have mountains in Virginia too, to which they may retire as safely, and do as much mischeif as they do in Jamaica. All these matters duly consider [e]d, I wonder the Legislature will Indulge a few ravenous Traders to the danger of the Publick safety, and such. Traders as wou[1]d freely sell their Fathers, their Elder Brothers, and even the Wives of their bosomes, if they cou[1]d black their faces and get anything by them.

I entirely agree with your Lord in the Detestation you seem to have for that Diabolical Liquor Rum, which do [e]s more mischief to Peoples Industry and morals than any thing except Gin and the Pope. And if it were not a little too Poetical,

I shou[1]d fancy, as the Gods of Old were said to quaff Nectar, so the Devils are fobb[e]d off with Rumm. Tho' my Dear Country Men wou[1]d think this unsavory Spirit much too Good for Devils, because they are fonder of it than they are of their Wives and Children.

American Historical Review (N. Y., etc., 1896), I. 88-90.

16. The Right to Tell the Truth
About Government (1737)

By ANDREW HAMILTON

An attorney of Philadelphia, who from patriotic motives, took up the difficult defense of Zenger.

MR. HAMILTON.

If a Libel is understood in

the large and unlimited Sense urged by Mr. At-
torney, there is scarce a Writing I know that may
not be called a Libel, or scarce any Person safe
from being called to an Account as a Libeller:
For Moses, meek as he was, Libelled Cain; and
who is it that has not libelled the Devil? For ac-
cording to Mr. Attorney, it is no Justification to
say one has a bad Name.
I sincerely be-
lieve, that were some Persons to go thro' the
Streets of New-York now-a-days, and read a
Part of the Bible, if it was not known to be such,
Mr. Attorney, with the Help of his Innuendo's,

r

would easily turn it into a Libel. As, for instance, Is. IX. 16. The Leaders the People cause them to err, and they that are led by them are destroyed. . . .

Gentlemen: The Danger is great, in Proportion to the Mischief that may happen, through our too great Credulity. . . .

...

The loss of liberty to a generous Mind, is worse than Death; and yet we know there have been those in all Ages, who for the sake of Preferment, or some imaginary Honour, have freely lent a helping Hand, to oppress, nay to destroy their country. This is what every Man (that values Freedom) ought to consider: He should act by Judgment and not by Affection or Self-Interest; for, where those prevail, No Ties of either Country or Kindred are regarded, as upon the other Hand, the Man, who loves his Country, prefers it's Liberty to all other Considerations, well knowing that without Liberty, life is a Misery. .

Power may justly be compared to a great River, while kept within its due Bounds, is both Beautiful and Useful; but when it overflows it's Banks, it is then too impetuous to be stemm'd, it bears down all before it, and brings Destruction and Desolation wherever it comes. If then this is the Nature of Power, let us at least do our Duty, and like wise Men (who value Freedom) use our utmost care to support Liberty, the only

Bulwark against lawless Power, which in all Ages has sacrificed to it's wild Lust and boundless Ambition, the Blood of the best Men that ever liv'd.

I hope to be pardon'd Sir for my Zeal upon this Occasion; it is an old and wise Caution, That when our Neighbours House is on Fire, we ought to take Care of our own. For tho' Blessed be God, I live in a Government where Liberty is well understood, and freely enjoy'd; yet Experience has shewn us all (I'm sure it has to me) that a bad Precedent in one Government, is soon set up for an Authority in another; and therefore I cannot but think it mine, and every Honest Man's Duty, that (while we pay all due Obedience to Men in Authority) we ought at the same Time to be upon our Guard against Power, wherever we apprehend that it may affect ourselves or our Fellow-Subjects.

I am truely very unequal to such an Undertaking on many Accounts. And you see I labour under the Weight of many Years, and am born [e] down with great Infirmities of Body; yet Old and Weak as I am, I should think it my Duty, if required, to go to the utmost Part of the Land, where my Service could be of any Use in assisting to quench the Flame of Prosecutions upon Informations, set on Foot by the Government, to deprive a People of the Right of Remonstrating (and complaining too) of the arbitrary At