The foundations on which obedience to governments is founded, are not
to be constantly discussed. That we are here, supposes the discussion
already made and the dispute settled. We must assume the rights of what
represents the public to control the individual, to make his will and
his acts to submit to their will, until some intolerable grievance shall
make us know that it does not answer its end, and will submit neither to
reformation nor restraint. Otherwise we should dispute all the points
of morality before we can punish a murderer, robber, and adulterer; we
should analyze all society. Dangers by being despised grow great;
so they do by absurd provision against them. Stulti est dixisse
non putaram. Whether an early discovery of evil designs, an early
declaration, and an early precaution against them, be more wise than to
stifle all inquiry about them, for fear they should declare themselves
more early than otherwise they would, and therefore precipitate the
evil--all this depends on the reality of the danger. Is it only an
unbookish jealousy, as Shakspeare calls it? It is a question of fact.
Does a design against the constitution of this country exist? If it
does, and if it is carried on with increasing vigour and activity by a
restless faction, and if it receives countenance by the most ardent
and enthusiastic applauses of its object, in the great council of this
kingdom, by men of the first parts, which this kingdom produces, perhaps
by the first it has ever produced, can I think that there is no danger?
If there be danger, must there be no precaution at all against it? If
you ask whether I think the danger urgent and immediate, I answer, thank
God, I do not. The body of the people is yet sound, the constitution is
in their hearts, while wicked men are endeavouring to put another into
their heads. But if I see the very same beginnings, which have commonly
ended in great calamities, I ought to act as if they might produce the
very same effects. Early and provident fear is the mother of safety;
because in that state of things the mind is firm and collected, and the
judgment unembarrassed. But when the fear, and the evil feared, come
on together, and press at once upon us, deliberation itself is ruinous,
which saves upon all other occasions; because when perils are instant,
it delays decision; the man is in a flutter, and in a hurry, and his
judgment is gone, as the judgment of the deposed king of France and his
ministers was gone, if the latter did not premeditately betray him. He
was just come from his usual amusement of hunting, when the head of the
column of treason and assassination was arrived at his house. Let not
the king, let not the prince of Wales, be surprised in this manner. Let
not both houses of parliament be led in triumph along with him, and
have law dictated to them by the constitutional, the revolution, and
the Unitarian societies. These insect reptiles, whilst they go on only
caballing and toasting, only fill us with disgust; if they get above
their natural size, and increase the quantity, whilst they keep the
quality, of their venom, they become objects of the greatest terror. A
spider in his natural size is only a spider, ugly and loathsome; and
his flimsy net is only fit for catching flies. But, good God! suppose
a spider as large as an ox, and that he spread cables about us, all the
wilds of Africa would not produce anything so dreadful--
"Quale portentum neque militaris
Daunia in latis alit esculetis,
Nec Jubae tellus generat leonum
Arida nutrix."
Think of them, who dare menace in the way they do in their present
state, what would they do if they had power commensurate to their
malice. God forbid I ever should have a despotic master; but if I must,
my choice is made. I will have Louis XVI. rather than Monsieur Bailly,
or Brissot, or Chabot; rather George III., or George IV., than Dr.
Priestley or Dr. Kippis, persons who would not load a tyrannous power
by the poisoned taunts of a vulgar, low-bred insolence. I hope we
have still spirit enough to keep us from the one or the other. The
contumelies of tyranny are the worst parts of it.