[clx. 357]

1822 July 14

Constitut. Code Rationale

Securities Counterforce

4. Legal Responsibility

5. Moral Responsibility

Evidence

This indirect mode of corruption by garbling is not altogether so mischievous as either of the two others. Of the matters kept from publication no such individual selection can be made as in the other case. Still however selection /separation/ in no small degree mischievous can be made and is made. For particulars and examples see the case of England.

As it is only by the power of government that this poisoning /corruption/ and this obstruction can be carried into effect, it is manifestly for the purpose of misrule, for the purpose of giving extension and perpetuity to misrule and thereby to human misery in all its shapes that enmity to mankind /war upon human /the/ happiness of mankind/ in both these shapes is on every occasion exercised /carried on/

But as nations are now [...?] information to any one nation is information to every other applying poison or obstruction to any one press is applying it to every other. Carrying on hostility in any one nation and thereby against that one nation is carrying on hostility against every other. It is still more extensively and effectively an act of hostility against all /the/ nations /of the earth/ than piracy is. For the mischief and terror produced by a pirate is confined to the seas on which his acts of piracy are exercised it is confined within the space of time, never a very long one during which those acts continue to be exercised. But the mischief produced by the suppression of information on the one side on the side of the victims of misrule while false and delusive information in support of misrule is let through may spread itself over all nations, and continue in all times.