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14.

14 [centered]

And such as I have indicated, in its spirit & progress, may every government become,
especially among frel free peoples. They For they bring the
government into existence. They give it shape.
They fix its forms. – They provide its machinery.
But they do not run its constitution in an iron
mold. – They do not hew its forms in stone. They
can not invent any machinery that never wers wears
out. They can stereotype nothing.

They provide for the alteration of the
constitution in the instrument itself; – because the course of events may
make it alterations desirable. They repeal old laws & enact
others – because the times demand it them. They create
new offices or abolish old ones to serve the public convenience. In
short, they make the whole combined operation of
the government instrumental to their peace & pros-
-perity; for the special good of the governed, & not
the governors; except, as themselves are governors.

Officers, magistrates, rulers – these among
us are the servants of the people. They are placed
where there are by the will of the people. At least, they are supposed to be. And they are
chosen to carry out the will of the people. They
are only public conveniences; &, when they arrogate
anything more to themselves, they usurp authority.
Power emanates from the people – & the closer it
is kept, from to the people – the less ordinarily will it be abused.