,a ,,lett]      ,,to      ,,?omas ,f4   
,,bay>d      ,,*all5g+ ,,8 ,,"r--,,& ,,t
 ,,( ,,all ,,!     ,,o!r ,,s-,,call$    
,,s5ators ,,& ,,repres5tatives     ,,9  
,,congress--      ,,to ,,ex]cise ,,any  
,,legislative ,,p[] ,,:atev]     ,,ov]  
,,! ,,p ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates4        
,,by ,,lys&] ,,spoon]4       ,,bo/on1   
,,mass43     ,,publi%$ ,,by ,,! ,,au?or4
     #ahhb4     ,a ,lett] to ,?omas ,f4 
,bay>d      ,*all5g+ 8 "r--& t ( all !  
o!r s-call$ s5ators     & repres5tatives
 9 ,congress--to ex]cise any legislative
 p[]     :atev] ov] ! p ( ! ,unit$      
,/ates4      by ,lys&] ,spoon]   ,to    
,?omas ,f4 ,bay>d1 ( ,delaw>e3  ,sir--,i
 h read y\r lett] to ,rev4 ,lyman       
,abbott1 9 :i* y express ! op9ion t x is
 at lea/ possible = a man to be a       
legislator 7"u ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$
 ,/ates7 & yet be an hone/ man4  ,?is   
proposition implies t y hold x to be at 
lea/ possible t "s f\r hundr$ m5 %\ld1  
by "s process or o!r1 become inve/$ ) ! 
"r to make laws ( _! own--t is1 laws    

:olly ( _! own device1 & !re=e          
necess>ily di/9ct f ! law ( nature1 or !
 pr9ciples ( natural ju/ice2 & t ^! laws
 ( _! own mak+ %all be really & truly   
obligatory ^u ! p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 &  
t1 !re=e1 ! p may rightfully be compell$
 to obey !m4  ,all ?is implies t y are (
 ! op9ion t ! ,congress ( ! ,unit$      
,/ates1 ( :i* y are a memb]1 has1 by "s 
process or o!r1 become possess$ ( "s "r 
( arbitr>y dom9ion ov] ! p ( ! ,unit$   
,/ates2 :i* "r ( arbitr>y dom9ion is n  
giv5 by1 & is1 !re=e1 necess>ily 9      
conflict )1 ! law ( nature1 ! pr9ciples 
( natural ju/ice1 & ! natural rights (  
m51 z individuals4 ,all ?is is          
necess>ily impli$ 9 ! idea t ! ,congress
 n[ possesses any "r :atev] to make any 
laws :atev]1 ( its own device--t is1 any
 laws t %all be ei!r m1 less1 or o!r ?an
 t natural law1 :i* x c nei!r make1     
unmake1 nor alt]--& cause !m to be en=c$
 ^u ! p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 or any ( !m1 
aga9/ _! w4  ,y assume t ! "r ( arbitr>y
 dom9ion--t is1 ! "r ( mak+ laws ( _!   

own device1 & compell+ ob$i5ce to !m--is
 a tru/ t has be5 delegat$ to ^? :o n[  
ex]cise t p[]4 ,y call x ! tru/ ( public
 p[]4  ,b1 ,sir1 y are mi/ak5 9 suppos+ 
t any su* p[] has ev] be5 delegat$1 or  
ev] c be delegat$1 by any body1 to any  
body4  ,any su* delegation ( p[] is     
naturally impossible1 = ^! reasons1 viz3
  #a4 ,no man c delegate1 or give to    
ano!r1 any "r ( arbitr>y dom9ion ov]    
himself2 = t w\ld be giv+ himself away z
 a slave4 ,& ?is no "o c d4 ,any        
contract to d s is necess>ily an absurd 
"o1 & has no validity4 ,to call su* a   
contract a con/itution1 or by any o!r   
high-s\nd+ "n1 does n alt] its "* z an  
absurd & void contract4  #b4 ,no man c  
delegate1 or give to ano!r1 any "r (    
arbitr>y dom9ion ov] a ?ird p]son2 = t  
w\ld imply a "r 9 ! fir/ p]son1 n only  
to make ! ?ird p]son 8 slave1 b also a  
"r to dispose ( him z a slave to /ill   
o!r p]sons4 ,any contract to d ?is is   
necess>ily a crim9al "o1 & !re=e        
invalid4 ,to call su* a contract a      

con/itution does n at all less5 its     
crim9ality1 or add to its validity4  ,^!
 facts1 t no man c delegate1 or give    
away1 8 own natural "r to lib]ty1 nor   
any o!r man's natural "r to lib]ty1     
prove t he c delegate no "r ( arbitr>y  
dom9ion :atev]--or1 :at is ! same ?+1 no
 legislative p[] :atev]--ov] himself or 
anybody else1 to any man1 or body ( m54 
,?is impossibility ( any man's delegat+ 
any legislative p[] :atev]1 necess>ily  
results f ! fact t ! law ( nature has   
drawn ! l9e1 & ! only l9e--& t1 too1 a  
l9e t c nev] be effac$ nor              
remov$--betwe5 ea* man's own int]e/ &   
inali5able rights ( p]son & prop]ty1 &  
ea* & e o!r man's inh]5t & inali5able   
rights ( p]son & prop]ty4 ,x1 !re=e1    
necess>ily fixes ! unalt]able limits1 )9
 :i* e man may rightfully seek 8 own    
happ9ess1 9 8 own way1 free f all       
responsibility to1 or int]f]5ce by1 8   
fell[ m51 or any ( !m4  ,all ?is pret5d$
 delegation ( legislative p[]--t is1 ( a
 p[]1 on ! "p ( ! legislators1 s-call$1 

to make any laws ( _! own device1 di/9ct
 f ! law ( nature--is !re=e an entire   
falsehood2 a falsehood ^: only purpose  
is to cov] & hide a pure usurpation1 by 
"o body ( m51 ( arbitr>y dom9ion ov] o!r
 m54  ,t ?is legislative p[]1 or p[] (  
arbitr>y dom9ion1 is a pure usurpation1 
on ! "p ( ^? :o n[ ex]cise x1 & n a tru/
 delegat$ to !m1 is /ill fur!r prov$ by 
! fact t ! only delegation ( p[]1 t is  
ev5 pr(ess$ or pret5d$ to be made1 is   
made secretly--t is1 by secret ballot--&
 n 9 any op5 & au!ntic mann]2 & !re=e n 
by any m51 or body ( m51 :o make        
!mselves p]sonally responsible1 z       
pr9cipals1 = ! acts ( ^? to :om !y      
pr(ess to delegate ! p[]4  ,all ?is     
pret5d$ delegation ( p[] hav+ be5 made  
secretly--t is1 only by secret ballot--n
 a s+le "o ( all ! legislators1 s-call$1
 :o pr(ess to be ex]cis+ only a delegat$
 p[]1 has himself any legal k1 or c (f] 
any legal pro(1 z to :o ! p>ticul>      
individuals 7 :o delegat$ x to him4 ,&  
hav+ no p[] to id5tify ! individuals :o 

pr(ess$ to delegate ! p[] to him1 he _c 
%[ any legal pro( t anybody ev] ev5     
attempt$ or pret5d$ to delegate x to    
him4  ,pla9ly1 a man :o ex]cises any    
arbitr>y dom9ion ov] o!r m5 & :o claims 
to be ex]cis+ only a delegat$ p[]1 b _c 
%[ :o 8 pr9cipals are1 nor1 consequ5tly1
 prove t he has any pr9cipals1 mu/ be   
presum$1 bo? 9 law & reason1 to h no    
pr9cipals2 & !re=e to be ex]cis+ no p[] 
b 8 own4 ,& hav+1 ( "r1 no su* p[] ( 8  
own1 he is1 bo? 9 law & reason1 a nak$  
usurp]4  ,sir1 a secret ballot makes a  
secret gov]nm5t2 & a secret gov]nm5t is 
a gov]nm5t by conspiracy2 9 :i* ! p at  
l>ge c h no rights4 ,& t is ! only      
gov]nm5t we n[ h4 ,x is ! gov]nm5t ( :i*
 y are a volunt>y memb] & support]1 &   
yet y claim to be an hone/ man4 ,if y   
are an hone/ man1 is n y\r hone/y t ( a 
?\ghtless1 ignorant man1 :o m]ely drifts
 ) ! curr5t1 in/ead ( ex]cis+ any       
judgm5t ( 8 own8  ,= /ill ano!r reason1 
all legislators1 s-call$1 "u !          
,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 are     

ex]cis+ simply an arbitr>y &            
irresponsible dom9ion ( _! own2 & n any 
au?ority t has be5 delegat$1 or pret5d$ 
to h be5 delegat$1 to !m4 ,& t reason is
 t ! ,con/itution itself 7,art4 ,i1     
,sec4 #f7 prescribes t3       ,= any    
spee* or debate 7or vote7 9 ei!r h\se1  
!y 7!      ,s5ators & ,repres5tatives7  
%all n be que/ion$ 7held to      any    
legal responsibility7 9 any o!r place4  
,?is provision makes ! legislators      
con/itutionally irresponsible to        
anybody2 ei!r to ^? on :om !y ex]cise _!
 p[]1 or to ^? :o may h1 ei!r op5ly or  
secretly1 attempt$ or pret5d$ to        
delegate p[] to !m4 ,& m5 :o are legally
 responsible to nobody = _! acts1 _c    
truly be said to be ! ag5ts ( any body1 
or to be ex]cis+ any p[] b _! own2 = all
 real ag5ts are necess>ily responsible  
bo? to ^? on :om !y act1 & to ^? = :om  
!y act4  ,to say t ! p ( ?is c\ntry ev] 
h b\nd1 or ev] c\ld b9d1 !mselves by any
 contract :atev]--! ,con/itution1 or any
 o!r--to ?us give away all _! natural   

rights ( prop]ty1 lib]ty1 & life1 into !
 h&s ( a few m5--a m]e conclave--& t !y 
%\ld make x a "p ( ! contract itself t  
^! few m5 %\ld be held legally          
irresponsible = ! disposal !y %\ld make 
( ^? rights1 is an utt] absurdity4 ,x is
 to say t !y h b\nd !mselves1 & t !y    
c\ld b9d !mselves1 by an utt]ly idiotic 
& suicidal contract4  ,if su* a contract
 _h ev] be5 made by "o private          
individual to ano!r1 & _h be5 sign$1    
seal$1 witness$1 ackn[l$g$1 & deliv]$1 )
 all possible legal =malities1 no dec5t 
c\rt on e>?--c]ta9ly none 9 ?is         
c\ntry--w\ld h reg>d$ x1 = a mom5t1 z   
convey+ any "r1 or delegat+ any p[]1 or 
z hav+ ! slighte/ legal validity1 or    
obligation4  ,= all ! reasons n[ giv51 &
 = /ill o!rs t might be giv51 !         
legislative p[] n[ ex]cis$ by ,congress 
is1 9 bo? law & reason1 a purely        
p]sonal1 arbitr>y1 irresponsible1 usurp$
 dom9ion on ! "p ( ! legislators        
!mselves1 & n a p[] delegat$ to !m by   
anybody4  ,yet "u ! pret5se t ?is       

in/rum5t gives !m ! "r ( an arbitr>y &  
irresponsible dom9ion ov] ! :ole p ( !  
,unit$ ,/ates1 ,congress has n[ gone on1
 = n9ety ye>s & m1 fill+ great volumes )
 laws ( _! own device1 :i* ! p at l>ge h
 nev] read1 nor ev5 se51 nor ev] w read 
or see2 & ( ^: legal mean+s x is morally
 impossible t !y %\ld ev] "k any?+4     
,congress has nev] d>$ to require ! p   
ev5 to read ^! laws4 ,_h x done s1 !    
oppression w\ld h be5 an intol]able "o2 
& ! p1 r ?an endure x1 w\ld h ei!r      
rebell$1 & ov]?r[n ! gov]nm5t1 or w\ld h
 fl$ ! c\ntry4 ,yet ^! laws1 :i*        
,congress has n d>$ to require ! p ev5  
to read1 x has compell$ !m1 at ! po9t ( 
! bayonet1 to obey4  ,& ?is moral1 &    
legal1 & political mon/rosity is ! k9d (
 gov]nm5t :i* ,congress claims t !      
,con/itution au?orizes x to impose ^u ! 
p4  ,sir1 c y say t su* an arbitr>y &   
irresponsible dom9ion z ?is1 ov] !      
prop]ties1 lib]ties1 & lives ( fifty    
millions ( p--or ev5 ov] ! prop]ty1     
lib]ty1 or life ( any "o ( ^? fifty     

millions--c be ju/ifi$ on any reason    
:atev]8 ,if n1 ) :at color ( tru? c y   
say t y y\rself1 or anybody else1 c act 
z a legislator1 "u ! ,con/itution ( !   
,unit$ ,/ates1 & yet be an hone/ man8   
,to say t ! arbitr>y & irresponsible    
dom9ion1 t is ex]cis$ by ,congress1 has 
be5 delegat$ to x by ! ,con/itution1 & n
 solely by ! secret ballots ( ! vot]s = 
! "t be+1 is ! height ( absurdity2 = :at
 is ! ,con/itution8 ,x is1 at be/1 a    
writ+ t 0 drawn up m ?an n9ety ye>s ago2
 0 ass5t$ to at ! "t only by a small    
numb] ( m52 g5]ally ^? few :ite male    
adults :o _h prescrib$ am\nts ( prop]ty2
 probably n m ?an two hundr$ ?\s& 9 all2
 or "o 9 tw5ty ( ! :ole population4  ,^?
 m5 h be5 long s9ce dead4 ,!y nev] _h   
any "r ( arbitr>y dom9ion ov] ev5 _!    
contempor>ies2 & !y nev] _h any ov] u4  
,_! wills or wi%es h no m rightful      
au?ority ov] u1 ?an h ! wills or wi%es (
 m5 :o liv$ be=e ! flood4 ,!y nev]      
p]sonally sign$1 seal$1 ackn[l$g$1 or   
deliv]$1 or d>$ to sign1 seal1          

ackn[l$ge1 or deliv]1 ! in/rum5t :i* !y 
impos$ ^u ! c\ntry z law4 ,!y nev]1 9   
any op5 & au!ntic mann]1 b\nd ev5       
!mselves to obey x1 or made !mselves    
p]sonally responsible = ! acts ( _!     
s-call$ ag5ts "u x4 ,!y _h no natural "r
 to impose x1 z law1 ^u a s+le human    
be+4 ,! :ole proce$+ 0 a pure           
usurpation4  ,9 practice1 ! ,con/itution
 has be5 an utt] fraud f ! beg9n+4      
,pr(ess+ to h be5 orda9$ & e/abli%$ by  
we1 ! p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 x has nev]   
be5 submitt$ to !m1 z individuals1 = _! 
volunt>y acceptance or rejection4 ,!y h 
nev] be5 ask$ to sign1 seal1 ackn[l$ge1 
or deliv] x1 z _! free act & de$4 ,!y h 
nev] sign$1 seal$1 ackn[l$g$1 or deliv]$
 x1 or promis$1 or laid !mselves "u any 
k9d ( obligation1 to obey x4 ,v few ( !m
 h ev] read1 or ev5 se5 x2 or ev] w read
 or see x4 ,( its legal mean+ 7if x c be
 said to h any7 !y really "k no?+2 &    
nev] did1 nor ev] w1 "k any?+4  ,:y is  
x1 ,sir1 t su* an in/rum5t z !          
,con/itution1 = :i* nobody has be5      

responsible1 & ( :i* few p]sons h ev]   
kn[n any?+1 has be5 suff]$ to /&1 = !   
la/ n9ety ye>s1 & to be us$ = su*       
audaci\s & crim9al purposes8 ,x is      
solely because x has be5 su/a9$ by !    
same k9d ( conspiracy z t by :i* x 0    
e/abli%$2 t is1 by ! weal? & ! p[] ( ^? 
few :o 7 to pr(it by ! arbitr>y dom9ion 
x 0 assum$ to give !m ov] o!rs4 ,:ile ! 
poor1 ! weak1 & ! ignorant1 :o 7 to be  
*eat$1 plund]$1 & enslav$ by x1 h be5   
told1 & "s ( !m d\btless made to        
believe1 t x is a sacr$ in/rum5t1       
design$ = ! pres]vation ( _! rights4    
,^! *eat$1 plund]$1 & enslav$ p]sons h  
be5 made to feel1 if n to believe1 t !  
,con/itution _h su* miracul\s p[]1 t x  
c\ld au?orize ! majority 7or ev5 a      
plurality7 ( ! male adults1 = ! "t      
be+--a majority numb]+ at ?is "t1 say1  
five millions 9 all--to ex]cise1 ?r\gh  
_! ag5ts1 secretly appo9t$1 an arbitr>y 
& irresponsible dom9ion ov] ! prop]ties1
 lib]ties1 & lives ( ! :ole fifty       
millions2 & t ^! fifty millions h no    

rightful alt]native b to submit all _!  
rights to ?is arbitr>y dom9ion1 or suff]
 su* confiscation1 imprisonm5t1 or dea? 
z ?is secretly appo9t$1 irresponsible   
cabal1 ( s-call$ legislators1 %\ld see  
fit to resort to = ! ma9t5ance ( its    
p[]4  ,z might h be5 expect$1 & z 01 to 
a l>ge degree1 at lea/1 int5d$1 ?is     
,con/itution has be5 us$ f ! beg9n+ by  
ambiti\s1 rapaci\s1 & unpr9cipl$ m51 to 
enable !m to ma9ta91 at ! po9t ( !      
bayonet1 an arbitr>y & irresponsible    
dom9ion ov] ^? :o 7 too ignorant & too  
weak to protect !mselves aga9/ !        
conspirators :o _h ?us comb9$ to        
deceive1 plund]1 & enslave !m4  ,d y    
really ?9k1 ,sir1 t su* a con/itution z 
?is c avail to ju/ify ^? :o1 l y\rself1 
are engag$ 9 en=c+ x8 ,is x n pla91 r1 t
 ! memb]s ( ,congress1 z a legislative  
body1 :e!r !y are consci\s ( x or n1    
are1 9 reality1 a m]e cabal ( sw9dl]s1  
usurp]s1 tyrants & robb]s8 ,is x n pla9 
t !y are /up5d\s blockheads1 if !y      
imag9e t !y are any?+ else ?an su* a    

cabal8 or t _! s-call$ laws impose !    
lea/ obligation ^u anybody8  ,if y h    
nev] be=e look$ at ?is matt] 9 ?is      
light1 ,i ask y to d s n[4 ,& 9 ! hope  
to aid y 9 do+ s c&idly1 & to "s useful 
purpose1 ,i take ! lib]ty to mail = y a 
pamphlet entitl$3       ,,natural ,,law2
 ,,or ,,! ,,sci5ce ,,( ,,ju/ice2 a      
,treatise on ,natural      ,law1        
,natural ,ju/ice1 ,natural ,rights1     
,natural ,lib]ty1 &      ,natural       
,society2 ,%[+ ,t ,all ,legislation     
,:atsoev] ,is an      ,absurdity1 a     
,usurpation1 & a ,crime4 ,"p ,i4  ,9 ?is
 pamphlet1 ,i h endeavor$ to controv]t  
di/9ctly ! proposition t1 by any        
possible process :atev]1 any man1 or    
body ( m51 c become possess$ ( any "r ( 
arbitr>y dom9ion ov] o!r m51 or o!r m5's
 prop]ty2 or1 consequ5tly1 any "r :atev]
 to make any law :atev]1 ( _!           
own--di/9ct f ! law ( nature--& compel  
any o!r m5 to obey x4  ,i tru/ ,i ne$ n 
suspect y1 z a legislator "u !          
,con/itution1 & claim+ to be an hone/   

man1 ( any desire to evade ! issue      
pres5t$ 9 ?is pamphlet4 ,if y %all see  
fit to meet x1 ,i hope y w excuse me =  
sugge/+ t--to avoid v]biage1 & ev]y?+   
indef9ite--y give at lea/ a s+le specim5
 ( a law t ei!r h]et(ore has be5 made1  
or t y conceive x possible = legislators
 to make--t is1 "s law ( _! own         
device--t ei!r has be51 or %all be1     
really & truly obligatory ^u o!r p]sons1
 & :i* su* o!r p]sons h be51 or may be1 
rightfully compell$ to obey4  ,if y c   
ei!r f9d or devise any su* law1 ,i tru/ 
y w make x kn[n1 t x may be exam9$1 & ! 
"q ( its obligation be fairly settl$ 9 !
 popul> m9d4  ,b if x %\ld happ5 t y c  
nei!r f9d su* a law 9 ! exi/+ /atute    
books ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 nor1 9 y\r own 
m9d1 conceive ( su* a law z possible "u 
! ,con/itution1 ,i give y leave to f9d  
x1 if t be possible1 9 ! con/itution or 
/atute book ( any o!r p t n[ exi/1 or   
ev] h exi/$1 on ! e>?4  ,if1 f9ally1 y  
%all f9d no su* law1 any:]e1 nor be able
 to conceive ( any su* law y\rself1 ,i  

take ! lib]ty to sugge/ t x is y\r      
imp]ative duty to submit ! "q to y\r    
associate legislators2 &1 if !y c give  
no light on ! subject1 t y call ^u !m to
 burn all ! exi/+ /atute books ( !      
,unit$ ,/ates1 & !n to g home & cont5t  
!mselves ) ! ex]cise ( only su* rights &
 p[]s z nature has giv5 to !m 9 common )
 ! re/ ( mank9d4