1820 Oct. 18 Spanish liberticide measures 5 Letter 2 Public Discussion 5

 These Sheets Nos 5 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 were not employed in terminis in the Letter

sent.

On this part of the field of thought and action as on every other, whatsoever

law is made finds the gound covered with the mark of liberty. With the exception

of those by which coercion is taken away or modified, no can have place but

coercion is among the effects of it. But coercion is itself an evil: it

therefore ought not to be imposed without /on any other supposition than that of

its being pregnant with/ some more than equivalent good.

In the case here in question, the good if any in contemplation /that is arrived

at/ is the exclusion of some /an/ extensive political danger.

Now in the two cases in question the complexion of the danger is somewhat

different.

From an open meeting the danger in the only shape in which it can be apprehended

is that of mischief – mischief to persons or properties on the spot from some

sudden enterprize. From such a source, how extensive so ever the mischief may be

no permanent source of mischief can be apprehended.