3505. GOVERNMENT, Forms of.—
Societies
exist under three forms, sufficiently distinguishable. 1. Without government, as
among our Indians. 2. Under governments,
wherein the will of every one has a just influence;
as is the case in England, in a slight
degree, and in our States, in a great one. 3.
Under governments of force; as is the case
in all other monarchies, and in most of the
other republics. To have an idea of the
curse of existence under these last, they must
be seen. It is a government of wolves over
sheep. It is a problem, not clear in my mind,
that the first condition is not the best. But
I believe it to be inconsistent with any great
degree of population. The second state has
a great deal of good in it. The mass of mankind
under that, enjoys a precious degree of liberty and happiness. It has its evils, too;
the principle of which is the turbulence to
which it is subject. But weigh this against
the oppressions of monarchy, and it becomes
nothing.
Malo periculosam libertatem quam
quietem servitutem. Even this evil is productive
of good. It prevents the degeneracy
of government, and nourishes a general attention
to the public affairs. I hold it that a
little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing,
and as necessary in the political world as
storms are in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions,
indeed, generally establish the encroachments
on the rights of the people,
which have produced them. An observation
of this truth should render honest republican
governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions,
as not to discourage them too much.
It is a medicine necessary for the sound
health of government.—
To James Madison. Washington ed. ii, 105.
Ford ed., iv, 362.
(P.
1787)
