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Show 110 LIBERTY AND SLAVERY. selves. Thus, after all his wild extravagancies about inherent, inalienable, and equal rights, Dr. Channing bas, in one of his calmer moods, recognised this great fundamental truth. "The slave," says he, "~annot rightfully, and should not, be owned by the individual. But, like every citizen, lw is subJec~ to tlte commUnity, AND THE COMMUNITY ITAS A RIGITT AND IS BOUND TO CONTINUE ALL SUCH RESTRAINTS AS ITS OWN SAFETY AND THE WELL-BEING OF THE SLAVE DEMANDS." Now this is all we ask in regard to the question of equal rights. All we ask is, that each and every individual may be in such wise and so far restrained as the public good demands and no farther. All we ask is, as may be seen from the first chapter of this Essay, that the right of the individual, whether real or imaginary, may be held in subjection to the undoubted right of the community to protect itself and to secure its own highest good. This solemn right, so inseparably linked to a sacred duty, is paramount to the rights and powers of the individual. Nay, as we have already seen,* the individual can have no right that conflicts with this; because it is his duty to co-operate in * In the first chapter ARGUMENTS OF ABOLITIONISTS. 111 the establishment of the general good. Surely he can have no right which is adverse to duty. Indeed, if for the general good, he would not cheerfully lay down both liberty and life, then both may be rightfully taken from him. Wo have, it is true, inherent and inalienable rz"gltts, but among these is neither liberty nor life. For these, upon our country's altar, may be sacrificed; but conscience, truth, honor may not be touched by man. lias the community, then, after all, the right to compel "a man," a" rational and immortal being," to work? Let Dr. Channing answer: "I: be (the slave) cannot be induced to work by ratwual and natural motives, !te s!tould be obliged to labor, on t!te same principle on which t!te vagrant in other comm1.mitiea z's confined and compelled to eam !tis b1·ead." Now, if a man be "confined, and compelled" to work in his confinement, what becomes of his "inalienable right to liberty?" We think there must be a slight mistake somewhere. Perhaps it is in the Declaration of Independence itself. Nay, is it not evident, indeed, that if all men have an inalienable right to liberty," then is this sacred right trampled in the dust by every government on earth? Is it not as really disregarded by tbo |