102 OUR RELATION TO OUR COUNTRY. [Part II.

cause; — but, with or without right, a revolution will be thevery last resource of the thinking and the good.” *

Our Declaration of Independence has marked the right andduty of resistance with as much definiteness as seems practi-cable. “ Prudence will dictate,” it says, “ that governments longestablished should not be changed for light and transient causes ;but, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing inva-riably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them (apeople) under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is theirduty to throw off such government and to provide new guardsfor their future security.” Is it not one of the characteristicsof the present day, to rush into revolutions with too little regardto the circumstances and consequences ? f

The duties of patriotism may be ranged under seven divis-ions. I. The moral duties of rulers of every grade. II. Du-ties of citizens or subjects towards the civil magistrate. III. Theduty of exercising the elective franchise with integrity and dis-cretion. IV. The duty of cultivating a patriotic spirit and thepatriotic virtues. V. The duty of citizens to keep themselveswell informed respecting public men and public measures.VI. The duty of aiding in the defence of the country, and inthe administration of justice by serving on juries, giving testi-mony on oath, &c. VII. Moral duties of the United States,viewed as communities, towards each other.

CHAPTER I.

MORAL DUTIES OF RULERS OF EVERY GRADE.

It is not within the province of ethics, to discuss the consti-tutional, legal, or other official duties of public officers of any par-ticular grade ; and, in doing so, the author would be going out ofhis way ; but the moral duties of them all are so similar, that they

* Burke's Works, Vol. V. p. 73. London, 1803.f Gisborne’s Inquiry, Vol. I. p. 77 - 83, 97,107.