103. And I hope those who went away from Sparta, with Palantus,
mentioned by Justin, will be allowed to have been freemen
independent one of another, and to have set up a government over
themselves by their own consent. Thus I have given several examples
out of history of people, free and in the state of Nature, that, being
met together, incorporated and began a commonwealth. And if the want
of such instances be an argument to prove that government were not nor
could not be so begun, I suppose the contenders for paternal empire
were better let it alone than urge it against natural liberty; for
if they can give so many instances out of history of governments begun
upon paternal right, I think (though at least an argument from what
has been to what should of right be of no great force) one might,
without any great danger, yield them the cause. But if I might
advise them in the case, they would do well not to search too much
into the original of governments as they have begun de facto, lest
they should find at the foundation of most of them something very
little favourable to the design they promote, and such a power as they
contend for.
104.
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