The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. 1. (of 2): With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and England; to which is added a Sketch of Paine by William CobbettConway, Moncure Daniel
Religion
The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. 1. (of 2): With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and England; to which is added a Sketch of Paine by William Cobbett
Conway, Moncure Daniel
Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809
At the time (September) when Chapman began printing Paine's Part II.,
George Chalmers brought to the same press his libellous "Life of Pain."
On learning that Chapman was printing Paine, Chalmers took his book
away. As Chalmers was a government employe, and his work larger. Chapman
returned Paine's work to him half printed, and the Chalmers book was
restored to him. As Chapman stated in his testimony, and so wrote
to Paine (January 17, 1792), that he was unwilling to go on with the
printing because of the dangerous tendency of a part of it, his offer of
a thousand guineas for it could only have contemplated its expurgation
or total suppression. That it was the latter, and that the money was
to be paid by the government, is rendered probable by the evidences in
Chalmers' book, when it appeared, that he had been allowed the perusal
of Paine's manuscript while in Chapman's hands. Chalmers also displays
intimate knowledge of Chapman's business transactions with Paine.
In the light of Pitt's subsequent career it is a significant fact that,
in the beginning of 1792, he should be suspected of stealing Paine's
thunder! And, indeed, throughout Paine's Part Second the tone towards
Pitt implies some expectation of reform from him. Its severity is
that which English agitators for constitutional reform have for a
half century made familiar and honorable. The historical student finds
mirrored in this work the rosy picture of the United States as seen
at its dawn by the disfranchised people of Europe, and beside that
a burdened England now hardly credible. It includes an historical
statement of the powers claimed by the crown and gradually distributed
among non-elective peers and class-elective commoners, the result being
a combination of all three against admission of the people to any degree
of self-government. Though the arraignment is heavy, the method of
reform is set forth with moderation. Particular burdens are pointed
out, and England is warned to escape violent revolution by accommodating
itself to the new age. It is admitted that no new system need be
constructed. "Mankind (from the long tyranny of assumed power) have
had so few opportunities of making the necessary trials on modes
and principles of government, in order to discover the best, _that
government is but now beginning to be known_, and experience is yet
wanting to determine many particulars." Paine frankly retracts an old
opinion of his own, that the legislature should be unicameral. He now
thinks that, though there should be but one representation, it might
secure wiser deliberation to divide it, by lot, into two or three
parts. "Every proposed bill shall first be debated in those parts, by
succession, that they may become hearers of each other, but without
taking any vote; after which the whole representation to assemble, for a
general debate, and determination by vote." The great necessity is that
England shall gather its people, by representation, in convention
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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