[clx. 309]

1822 July 6

Constitut. Code Rationale

Factitious honor

As to the ways and means of counteracting this instrument of corruption, they be distinguished, and the aggregate mass of them divided into such as are of a negative and quiescent nature, and such as are of a positive and active nature. Negative, the purposed omission or say forbearance to pay in any form the tribute of respect endeavoured to be exacted by the possessor and possession of the symbol or evidence of pretended title: positive by substituting to the tribute thus endeavoured to be exacted - the tribute that would be paid by the manifestation of the outward tokens of respect, tokens of the opposite sentiment: tokens in a word of disrespect

As to these same tokens, the present is not a place for the enumeration or exemplification of them in any detail.

Of one single one it may here be sufficient /not amiss/ to give the /an/ intimation. One of /Among/ the most impressive as well as the most /and at the same time an /a perfectly// unexceptionable way and means is to present to the senses - to present to the eyes and ears of every man by whom this unwarranted order for respect is presented of every individual by whom the annoyance is thus inflated /nuisance is committed/ the demonstration of the injustice /invalidity/ of his pretensions: and this may be in speech or writing, by words or by other signs in the grave stile or in the gay stile, in prose or verse, without music or with music accompanied or not accompanied with music.

How annoying so ever these demonstrations may be to the delinquent, so long as corporal annoyance is not added to them, they will be even if they be all of them added together nothing more than means of self-defence against injuty - systematic injury and purposely /studiously/ elaborated injury