The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Advertisement.
• Observations, &c.
• Of the Importance of the Revolution Which Has Established the Independence of the United States.
• Of the Means of Promoting Human Improvement and Happiness In the United States.—and First, of Public Debts.
• Of Peace, and the Means of Perpetuating It.
• Of Liberty.
• Of Liberty of Discussion.
• Of Liberty of Conscience, and Civil Establishments of Religion.
• Of Education.
• Of the Dangers to Which the American States Are Exposed.
• Of Debts and Internal Wars.
• Of an Unequal Distribution of Property.
• Of Trade, Banks, and Paper Credit.
• Of Oaths.
• Of the Negro Trade and Slavery.
• Conclusion.
• Advertisement.
• Letter From M. Turgot
• Appendix,
• Advertisement.
• The Testament of Fortune Ricard
• Tables.
• Observations.
• Remark, By the Translator.
• No. II. Table of the Produce of Each Sum of 100 Livres, Bequeathed By the Testator, From One Hundred to Five Hundred Years.
• No. VI. Table of the Disposition of the 4 Th Sum, Amounting to 29,782,761,461 Liv. 13 Sous.

OfLiberty.

THE next point I would insist on, as an object of supreme importance, is the establishment of such a system of perfect liberty, religious as well as civil, in America, as shall render it a country where truth and reason shall have fair play, and the human powers find full scope for exerting themselves, and for shewing how far they can carry human improvement.

The faculties of man have hitherto, in all countries, been more or less cramped by the interference of civil authority in matters of speculation, by tyrannical laws against heresy and schism, and by slavish hierarchies and religious establishments. It is above all things desirable that no such fetters on reason should be admitted into America. I observe, with inexpressible satisfaction, that at present they have no existence there. In this respect the governments of the United States are liberal to a degree that is unparalleled. They have the distinguished honour of being the first states under heaven in which forms of government have been established favourable to universal liberty. They have been thus distinguished in their infancy. What then will they be in a more advanced state; when time and experience, and the concurring assistance of the wise and virtuous in every part of the earth, shall have introduced into the new governments, corrections and amendments which will render them still more friendly to liberty, and more the means of promoting human happiness and dignity?—May we not see there the dawning of brighter days on earth, and a new creation rising. But I must check myself. I am in danger of being carried too far by the ardor of my hopes.

The liberty I mean includes in it liberty of conduct in all civil matters—liberty of discussion in all speculative matters—and liberty of conscience in all religious matters.—And it is then perfect, when under no restraint except when used to injure any one in his person, property, or good name; that is, except when used to destroy itself.

In liberty of discussion, I include the liberty of examining all public measures, and the conduct of all public men; and of writing and publishing on all speculative and doctrinal points.