There are nine hundred and ninety-nine patrons of virtue to
one virtuous man. But it is easier to deal with the real possessor
of a thing than with the temporary guardian of it.
All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or backgammon, with
a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and wrong, with moral
questions; and betting naturally accompanies it. The character of
the voters is not staked. I cast my vote, perchance, as I think right;
but I am not vitally concerned that that right should prevail. I am
willing to leave it to the majority. Its obligation, therefore,
never exceeds that of expediency. Even voting for the right is doing
nothing for it. It is only expressing to men feebly your desire that
it should prevail. A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of
chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority.
There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men. When the
majority shall at length vote for the abolition of slavery, it will be
because they are indifferent to slavery, or because there is but
little slavery left to be abolished by their vote. They will then be
the only slaves.
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