in the arts of first necessity, and they are covered with the aegis of
the law against aggressors from among ourselves.

But the endeavors to enlighten them on the fate which awaits their
present course of life, to induce them to exercise their reason, follow
its dictates, and change their pursuits with the change of
circumstances have powerful obstacles to encounter; they are combated
by the habits of their bodies, prejudices of their minds, ignorance,
pride, and the influence of interested and crafty individuals among
them who feel themselves something in the present order of things and
fear to become nothing in any other. These persons inculcate a
sanctimonious reverence for the customs of their ancestors; that
whatsoever they did must be done through all time; that reason is a
false guide, and to advance under its counsel in their physical, moral,
or political condition is perilous innovation; that their duty is to
remain as their Creator made them, ignorance being safety and knowledge
full of danger; in short, my friends, among them also is seen the
action and counteraction of good sense and of bigotry; they too have
their antiphilosophists who find an interest in keeping things in their
present state, who dread reformation, and exert all their faculties to
maintain the ascendancy of habit over the duty of improving our reason
and obeying its mandates.

In giving these outlines I do not mean, fellow-citizens, to arrogate to
myself the merit of the measures. That is due, in the first place, to
the reflecting character of our citizens at large, who, by the weight
of public opinion, influence and strengthen the public measures. It is
due to the sound discretion with which they select from among
themselves those to whom they confide the legislative duties. It is due
to the zeal and wisdom of the characters thus selected, who lay the