What Henry David Thoreau means when he calls government an "expedient" in "Civil Disobedience" is that the government is a tool for the people to use when they need it. Option A is correct.
Whit his claim in “Civil Disobedience,”Henry David Thoreau refered to the fact that citizens of a nation need to disobey the laws introduced by the state if these are not fair. He makes reference to his experience when he protested against slavery and the Mexican War by refusing to pay taxes.