JB/137/214/001

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1819 Dec. 10
Radicalism not

7 2o
Introd
(2) 2 §.14 Handiness of this discussion
Subversion of the Constitution
Falshood and Nonsense

Now as to the existence of a Constitution — for these
six years and more we have known what a Constitution
is, and so long every man who has chosen to know and been able to see
has known that we have no such thing. Look to
United America. Behold there 22 States, each of them
having a Constitution of its own — a real Constitution,
and the Congressional Government which has a Constitution
in which all these others are included.

These Constitutions were all of them established by
each of them by a Convention chosen by the great body
of the population, by that body out of whose interest obedience
all power is composed and th the interest of which
in all power ought will in its exercise, on pain of being a in so far as it is not
tyranny, direct itself. There we see so many real
Constitutions.

In this country what have we to which we give
that name? A mere fictitious fiction entity, a sh creature
of the imagination — a sham — an imposter
When the existence of a Constitution is asserted or assumed
what is done? Out of his own head, to each his own
purpose private or party purpose in the form of words that presents itself as best
adapted to their sinister purpose. The Constitution is
so and so, the Constitution says so and so: what the
truth is, the Constitution not being any thing is not so and
so: not being any thing it says nothing — neither so and so
nor any thing else. Common sense being none: truth being none
reason being none, argument being none on either side, these
deficiencies how are they to be made up? With endeavour In the By effrontery, by
arrogance, by violence, by intolerance. Without doors by sabres,
by bayonets, by forelocks by field-pieces.

Do you Is it really among your wishes that we should have possess
this blessing Give us then a Constitution or let us give one to ourselves:
this done, then and for the first time we shall
have one. So Let us first have a Constitution: and then
the option of aiming at the subversion of it will be a possible one.

Identifier: | JB/137/214/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 137.
Date_1	1819-12-10	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	137	Main Headings	radicalism not dangerous
Folio number	214	Info in main headings field	radicalism not
Image	001	Titles
Category	text sheet	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	c2 / d7 / e2
Penner	jeremy bentham	Watermarks
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	46931
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