"And I think, in the first place, that _no man can_ take upon him to _write against the actual exercise of the government, unless he have leave from the government_, but he makes a libel, be what he writes true or false; for if once we come to impeach the government by way of argument, it is the argument that makes it the government, or not the government. So that I lay down that, in the first place, _the government ought not to be impeached by argument_, nor the exercise of the government shaken by argument; because I can manage a proposition, in itself doubtful, with a better pen than another man; this, say I, is a libel. "Then I lay down this for my next position, that _no private man can take upon him to write concerning the government at all_; for _what has any private man to do with the government_, if his interest be not stirred or shaken? It is the business of the government to manage matters relating to the government; it _is the business of subjects to mind only their own properties and interests_. If my interest is not shaken, _what have I to do with matters of government_? They are not within my sphere. If the government does come to shake my particular interest, the law is open for me, and I may redress myself by law; and when I intrude myself into other men's business that does not concern my particular interest, I am a libeller. "These I have laid down for plain propositions; now, then, let us consider further, whether, if I will take upon me to contradict the government, any specious pretence that I shall put upon it, shall dress it up in another form and give it a better denomination? And truly I think it is the worse, because it comes in a better dress; for by that rule, every man that can put on a good vizard, may be as mischievous as he will, to the government at the bottom, so that, whether it be in the form of a supplication, or an address, or a petition, if it be what it ought not to be, let us call it by its true name, and give it its right denomination--it is a libel." "The government here has published such a declaration as this that has been read, relating to matters of government; and _shall_, or ought _anybody_ to come and _impeach that as illegal, which the government has done_? Truly, in my opinion, I do not think he should, or ought; for by this rule may every act of the government be shaken, when there is not a parliament _de facto_ sitting.