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ity of the people; or if the mischief and oppression has lighted only on some few; but in such cases; as the precedent; and consequences seem to threaten all; and they are persuaded in their consciences; that their laws; and with them their estates; liberties; and lives are in danger; and perhaps their religion too; how they will be hindered from resisting illegal force; used against them; I cannot tell。 This is an inconvenience; I confess; that attends all governments whatsoever; when the governors have brought it to this pass; to be generally suspected of their people; the most dangerous state which they can possibly put themselves in。 wherein they are the less to be pitied; because it is so easy to be avoided; it being as impossible for a governor; if he really means the good of his people; and the preservation of them; and their laws together; not to make them see and feel it; as it is for the father of a family; not to let his children see he loves; and takes care of them。 Sec。 210。 But if all the world shall observe pretences of one kind; and actions of another; arts used to elude the law; and the trust of prerogative (which is an arbitrary power in some things left in the prince's hand to do good; not harm to the people) employed contrary to the end for which it was given: if the people shall find the ministers and subordinate magistrates chosen suitable to such ends; and favoured; or laid by; proportionably as they promote or oppose them: if they see several experiments made of arbitrary power; and that religion underhand favoured; (tho' publicly proclaimed against) which is readiest to introduce it; and the operators in it supported; as much as may be; and when that cannot be done; yet approved still; and liked the better: if a long train of actions shew the councils all tending that way; how can a man any more hinder himself from being persuaded in his own mind; which way things are going; or from casting about how to save himself; than he could from believing the captain of the ship he was in; was carrying him; and the rest of the company; to Algiers; when he found him always steering that course; though cross winds; leaks in his ship; and want of men and provisions did often force him to turn his course another way for some time; which he steadily returned to again; as soon as the wind; weather; and other circumstances would let him?
CHAP。 XIX。
Of the Dissolution of Government。
Sec。 211。 HE that will with any clearness speak of the dissolution of government; ought in the first place to distinguish between the dissolution of the society and the dissolution of the government。 That which makes the community; and brings men out of the loose state of nature; into one politic society; is the agreement which every one has with the rest to incorporate; and act as one body; and so be one distinct common… wealth。 The usual; and almost only way whereby this union is dissolved; is the inroad of foreign force mak ing a conquest upon them: for in that case; (not being able to maintain and support themselves; as one intire and independent body) the union belonging to that body which consisted therein; must necessarily cease; and so every one return to the state he was in before; with a liberty to shift for himself; and provide for his own safety; as he thinks fit; in some other society。 Whenever the society is dissolved; it is certain the government of that society cannot remain。 Thus conquerors swords often cut up governments by the roots; and mangle societies to pieces; separating the subdued or scattered multitude from the protection of; and dependence on; that society which ought to have preserved them from violence。 The world is too well instructed in; and too forward to allow of; this way of dissolving of governments; to need any more to be said of it; and there wants not much argument to prove; that where the society is dissolved; the government cannot remain; that being as impossible; as for the frame of an house to subsist when the materials of it are scattered and dissipated by a whirl…wind; or jumbled into a confused heap by an earthquake。 Sec。 212。 Besides this over…turning from without; governments are dissolved from within; First; When the legislative is altered。 Civil society being a state of peace; amongst those who are of it; from whom the state of war is excluded by the umpirage; which they have provided in their legislative; for the ending all differences that may arise amongst any of them; it is in their legislative; that the members of a commonwealth are united; and combined together into one coherent living body。 This is the soul that gives form; life; and unity; to the common…wealth: from hence the several members have their mutual influence; sympathy; and connexion: and therefore; when the legislative is broken; or dissolved; dissolution and death follows: for the essence and union of the society consisting in having one will; the legislative; when once established by the majority; has the declaring; and as it were keeping of that will。 The constitution of the legislative is the first and fundamental act of society; whereby provision is made for the continuation of their union; under the direction of persons; and bonds of laws; made by persons authorized thereunto; by the consent and appointment of the people; without which no one man; or number of men; amongst them; can have authority of making laws that shall be binding to the rest。 When any one; or more; shall take upon them to make laws; whom the people have not appointed so to do; they make laws without authority; which the people are not therefore bound to obey; by which means they come again to be out of subjection; and may constitute to themselves a new legislative; as they think best; being in full liberty to resist the force of those; who without authority would impose any thing upon them。 Every one is at the disposure of his own will; when those who had; by the delegation of the society; the declaring of the public will; are excluded from it; and others usurp the place; who have no such authority or delegation。
Sec。 213。 This being usually brought about by such in the commonwealth who misuse the power they have; it is hard to consider it aright; and know at whose door to lay it; without knowing the form of government in which it happens。 Let us suppose then the legislative placed in the concurrence of three distinct persons。 1。 A single hereditary person; having the constant; supreme; executive power; and with it the power of convoking and dissolving the other two within certain periods of time。 2。 An assembly of hereditary nobility。 3。 An assembly of representatives chosen; pro tempore; by the people。 Such a form of government supposed; it is evident; Sec。 214。 First; That when such a single person; or prince; sets up his own arbitrary will in place of the laws; which are the will of the society; declarad by the legislative; then the legislative is changed: for that being in effect the legislative; whose rules and laws are pu