Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1768

Penned notes by Heath for a letter to Thaddeus Ashby.

No date

White envelope has items 1768 and 1755.

     Thank you for your letter of February ___. I have been acquainted with Dr. Harper and his writings for a number of years.

     Your brilliant dialogue with a communist in the Faith & Freedom for December (?) seems to force the confession that when it comes to the performing of the public business — the services and administration of those properties and services which we (the people) must have in common with one another and cannot have separately from others, we do not know of any way to provide them except by the application of physical violence against the persons and properties of all those who, like your hypothetical Henry, are not willing otherwise to submit.

     When it comes to the supplying of separable and particular properties or services we employ the relation of free contract, the process of the market, wherein no coercion or violence is required and no freedom infringed. We do not find it necessary to assault our fellow men in order to obtain the means for his service or defense. In the private field we have further evolved. We employ there the New Testament technology of doing unto Henry in the same manner as we would have Henry do unto us. No right to live is denied, no liberty infringed. But the administration of the public or community property and services has not so evolved. These continue to be administered by conquerors and usurpers or by persons duly elected to succeed them as masters of the Citadel, sovereigns in the state-house, denizens of the City Halls.