He was
fittest to be trusted; paternal affection secured their property and
interest under his care, and the custom of obeying him in their
childhood made it easier to submit to him rather than any other. If,
therefore, they must have one to rule them, as government is hardly to
be avoided amongst men that live together, who so likely to be the man
as he that was their common father, unless negligence, cruelty, or any
other defect of mind or body, made him unfit for it? But when either
the father died. and left his next heir- for want of age, wisdom,
courage, or any other qualities- less fit for rule, or where several
families met and consented to continue together, there, it is not to
be doubted, but they used their natural freedom to set up him whom
they judged the ablest and most likely to rule well over them.
Conformable hereunto we find the people of America, who- living out of
the reach of the conquering swords and spreading domination of the two
great empires of Peru and Mexico- enjoyed their own natural freedom,
though, caeteris paribus, they commonly prefer the heir of their
deceased king; yet, if they find him any way weak or incapable, they
pass him by, and set up the stoutest and bravest man for their ruler.
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