It would be better that nations should wi continue the pay of their soldiers during their lives, and give them their discharge and restore them to freedom and their friends, and cease recruiting, than retain such multitudes at the same expense, in a condition useless to society and to themselves.
In "Rights of Man," Paine proposes a radical reform of military service, suggesting lifetime pensions instead of perpetual enlistment.
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The American constitutions were to liberty what a grammar is to language: they define its parts of speech, and practically construct them into syntax.
They form a common policy throughout Europe, detached and separate from the interest of Nations: and while they appear to quarrel, they agree to plunder.
It was Government dethroning Government; and the old one, by attempting to make a new one, made a chasm.
It was become evident, that no constitution, worthy of being called by that name, could be established on anything less than a national ground.